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
There was a great deal more to be said about this boy's mental
peculiarities than what was evidenced by the giving of tests.
Our observations of him made at intervals over a period of
several months corroborated entirely the statements of several
others, including members of his own family. The boy was
remarkably unstable in his ideas and purposes. What he
apparently sincerely wanted to do and be at one time was entirely
different at another. His changeableness was shown in many ways.
When he had been found apparently suitable employment or a new
home he often would stay only a few days. The father's first
statement that the boy was a craven was borne out by all that we
saw. He was too cowardly to be ``tough,'' but he was a
persistent runaway and vagrant. He sometimes used an assumed
name. In general demeanor he was good natured, but always
restless. Not the least of his peculiarities was his ready
weeping. It was amazing to see so large a fellow draw down his
chin and sob like a young child. He was easily frightened at
night. Under observation he had peculiar episodes of behavior.
Once in a school-room, without any known provocation, he suddenly
began to cry and scream, picked up a chair and soon had the
entire room cleared out. A moment afterwards he was found
sobbing and bewailing his lot because he ``never had a fair
chance.'' On another occasion his legs strangely gave out and he
had to be carried to bed by his fellows. The next morning a
physician found him with his legs drawn up and apparently very
sensitive over his back and other parts of his body, but with a
little encouragement all his symptoms soon disappeared. He gave
a history of having had convulsions, but this was found to be
untrue. He was a ``bluffer'' among boys; when met valiantly
showed always great cowardice.
We felt much inclined at first to denominate him a case of
abulia, but his stubbornness in recalcitrancy led us to change
our opinion. From the above physical signs and mental phenomena
he was clearly a constitutional inferior.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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