Towards a theory of psychopathy and social distress

Robert W. Rieber

pp. 443-447

in: Stam, Leendert Mos, Warren Thorngate, Bernie Kaplan (eds), Recent trends in theoretical psychology, Berlin, Springer, 1993

Abstract

A new phenomenon has arisen in American public life. From Ivan Boesky to Ollie North, from defrocked television evangelists to Wedtech profiteers, the public has lately been introduced to a different breed of lawbreaker. These are no ordinary white collar criminals; these are successful, welleducated men at the very top of their professions and they break the law casually, even self-righteously, as if the only sin lay in being incautious enough to get caught. The public's lack of shock is no less noteworthy-there is interest, but no outrage, as if this were expectable behavior.The deeper significance of this is explored in terms of the institutionalization of social distress. A theoretical model is presented in order to discuss this problem.