'They are psychopaths': The man who gets inside the minds of Australia's worst killers

[EuTuCroquet?]

'They are psychopaths': Inside the minds of Australia's worst killers

Tim Watson-Munro knows what it means to stare into the eyes of evil.

For four decades, the forensic psychologist has been analysing the minds of some of the worst criminals of our times: terrorists, mass murderers, sex offenders, torturers of children.

"A lot of the criminals I've seen, particularly at the violent end of the spectrum, it's constant urban warfare for them," he says.

Watson-Munro has worked with about 20,000 people, but a guy by the name of Johnny Cribb sticks out in his mind as the worst.

"He was a prisoner in Parramatta Jail where I started 40 years ago. He had abducted a mother in the Hills District of Sydney, with her three children," Watson-Munro says.

"He kept them captive for three days and ended up killing the lot of them.

"He is the closest I've come, I believe, to evil simpliciter."​

 

[Jennifer17]

A great man who has battled his own demons and is honest about it. I love the title of his book 'A Shrink in the Clink'.
Is In the clink a slang term for jail in the US?

 

[EuTuCroquet?]

A great man who has battled his own demons and is honest about it. I love the title of his book 'A Shrink in the Clink'.
Is the clink a slang term for jail in the US?

bbm

Indeed it is!

 

[Bohemian]

'They are psychopaths': Inside the minds of Australia's worst killers

Tim Watson-Munro knows what it means to stare into the eyes of evil.

For four decades, the forensic psychologist has been analysing the minds of some of the worst criminals of our times: terrorists, mass murderers, sex offenders, torturers of children.

"A lot of the criminals I've seen, particularly at the violent end of the spectrum, it's constant urban warfare for them," he says.

Watson-Munro has worked with about 20,000 people, but a guy by the name of Johnny Cribb sticks out in his mind as the worst.

"He was a prisoner in Parramatta Jail where I started 40 years ago. He had abducted a mother in the Hills District of Sydney, with her three children," Watson-Munro says.

"He kept them captive for three days and ended up killing the lot of them.

"He is the closest I've come, I believe, to evil simpliciter."​

Scary stuff!

 

[Betty P]

Years ago, I read the book "The Murder Room" about the Vidoq Society. There was an extensive interview with Richard Walter, a psychologist who has spent his career working in the prison system.

https://www.amazon.com/Murder-Room-Sherlock-Holmes-Perplexing/dp/1592406351

Richard Walter (psychologist) - Wikipedia

His observations were the same. The most diabolical killers cannot be fixed. They are truly evil people, never to be trusted. They spend all their time plotting crimes and manipulating people to bring them harm.

I'm amazed that anyone chooses to go into this professional field. The psychological pressure working with these hardened, evil people every day is great. No wonder so many of them have PTSD.

ETA: I also agree with Watson-Munro about the problems of early sexualization of children because of easy access to pornography online today. It has a damaging effect on these kids who don't yet understand the emotional context of sexual behavior. As they age, it can morph into addiction to more serious pornography and sexual activity, completely desensitized and disconnected from emotions or empathy for their targets.

 

[Cliff Hardy]

Richard Fidler, of ABC radio fame, did an excellent interview with Watson-Munro. But I can't find it on-line anymore.

I notice Hugh Remington and others have interviews with him uploaded.

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