Pathology of Lying, Accusation, and Swindling: A Study in Forensic PsychologyHealy, William
Science
Pathology of Lying, Accusation, and Swindling: A Study in Forensic Psychology
Healy, William
Criminal psychology; Swindlers and swindling
In the school for girls, where this unfortunate child remained
for four years, it is stated that her tendencies to prevarication
were mitigated, but never entirely checked. Her school record
was decidedly good; she was regarded as a bright girl, and
advanced rapidly to the eighth grade. She was tried again in the
world midway in her adolescent period with the most untoward
results. She found temptations offered by the opposite sex
irresistible and began a career of misrepresentation concerning
her own conduct. Through her lies, proper oversight was not
given in the home which received her once more. Pregnancy ensued
and again she had to receive institutional care.
CASE 12
Summary: An extremely interesting case showing strong
development of a tendency to swindling on the part of a young man
of curiously unequal mental abilities, a subnormal verbalist.
Pathological lying in this case quite logically developed into
swindling. The main behavior-tendencies of this individual
closely follow the lines of least resistance, the paths of
greatest success. As a matter of fact, the use merely of his
general subnormal abilities would never have led to as much
advancement as he has enjoyed. His special capabilities with
language have brought him much satisfaction at times, even if
they have also led him into trouble. An astonishingly long list
of legal proceedings centers about this case, illustrating very
well the urgent need for cooperation between courts.
Adolf von X., now just 21 years old, we, through most unusual
circumstances, have had more or less under observation for a
number of years. Correspondence with several public and social
agencies has given us close acquaintance with his record during
this time, and earlier. Our attention was first called to Adolf
in New York, when he was a boy under arrest in the Tombs. A fine
young lawyer, a casual acquaintance of Adolf's through court
work, asked us to study the case because he felt that perhaps
grave injustice was being done. Before his arrest the boy, who
seemed to be most ambitious, had been about the court rooms
looking into the details of cases as a student of practical law.
He had attracted attention by his energy and push; he earned
money at various odd jobs and studied law at night. At this time
the boy was under arrest charged with disorderly conduct; he had
beaten his sister in their home.
We found a nice looking and well spoken young fellow who said he
was 17. Although he had been in this country only three years
from Germany, he spoke English almost without an accent and did
quite well with French also. He had been brought up in Hamburg.
His statement added to that previously given by the lawyer
aroused in us great interest concerning the constructive
possibilities of the case. It seemed as if here was an immigrant
boy for whom much should be done.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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