Des.

[ZenHalfTimeCrock]

Although I was a bit critical of the first episode, the next two were very good indeed.

Am currently reading Masters’ book On Murder. Here is a brief extract:

‘A psychopath, we are told, has no concept of right and wrong, no understanding that his acts are bad. Nilsen is not psychopathic. He is lucid and cogent.’

This is from a piece that was originally published in 1985.

I disagree with Masters on this point, though only because our understanding of psychopaths has grown since then. We now know them to be affectless and highly manipulative. On an intellectual level they may know that they have done wrong. But the lack of an ability to empathise prevents them from fully grasping the implications of their acts. And they can fake what they consider to be the responses required to take people in.

Having said that, it has been a while since I checked in with the ongoing research on psychopaths. Plus, Masters knew the guy and is therefore on a better position to make judgements, and I would certainly recommend his writing to anyone who wishes to delve more deeply into this subject.

 

[mat]

He played Harold Wilson in The Crown amd was great in that too

He’s one of those actors who is consistently good and stays under the radar with it.

 

[give it to gordon]

Theres a sort of follow up tonight narrated by David Tennant on itv at 9

 

[manclad]

Probably Millwall, they’re all psychos!

No one likes us, we don't care!!!

 

[nellyonthewing]

Think he had to be criminally insane. David Tennant was superb.

 

[Beswick Prize Bands Big Drum]

Why did Tennant have a broad Scottish accent and Nilsen didn't.

 

[Dirty Harry]

Although I was a bit critical of the first episode, the next two were very good indeed.

Am currently reading Masters’ book On Murder. Here is a brief extract:

‘A psychopath, we are told, has no concept of right and wrong, no understanding that his acts are bad. Nilsen is not psychopathic. He is lucid and cogent.’

This is from a piece that was originally published in 1985.

I disagree with Masters on this point, though only because our understanding of psychopaths has grown since then. We now know them to be affectless and highly manipulative. On an intellectual level they may know that they have done wrong. But the lack of an ability to empathise prevents them from fully grasping the implications of their acts. And they can fake what they consider to be the responses required to take people in.

Having said that, it has been a while since I checked in with the ongoing research on psychopaths. Plus, Masters knew the guy and is therefore on a better position to make judgements, and I would certainly recommend his writing to anyone who wishes to delve more deeply into this subject.

I think you're right to question him on it with the current understandings mate (of Cluster A,B,C's and Bipolar that is) and he would have a right, obviously, to clarify his thoughts now given how much it's moved on over even the last 10 years let alone 35, and I'm sure he'd pretty much come to a similar conclusion (imo).

Why were you critical of the first episode bud ? was it the just the content of the show etc itself or the actual research of the disorders and how they manifest and present ?

 

[manimanc]

I always thought Nilsen was Danish!

 

[Dave Ewing's Back 'eader]

I wiki-ed the psycho whilst first episode was on - only died a couple of years ago. But felt the pain! Should have been hanged a dozen times, quartered and dragged up and down Cranley Gardens on a pallet!

 

[denislawsbackheel]

His initial sentence was life and he’d have been out in 2008 if the govt hadn’t introduced whole life tariffs and added him to the list.