What Really Causes Violence in Psychosis?
A new study investigates how anger associated with delusions — not simply being out of touch with reality — is critical in determining whether psychosis turns violent.
Szalavitz's latest book is Born for Love: Why Empathy Is Essential — and Endangered. It is co-written with Dr. Bruce Perry, a leading expert in the neuroscience of child trauma and recovery.
Maia Szalavitz
Maia Szalavitz is a neuroscience journalist obsessed with addiction, love, evidence-based living, empathy and pretty much everything related to brain and behavior. She is the co-author of Born for Love: Why Empathy is Essential — and Endangered (Morrow, 2010) and The Boy Who Was Raised as a Dog (Basic, 2006), both with Dr. Bruce D. Perry. Her 2006 book, Help at Any Cost: How the Troubled-Teen Industry Cons Parents and Hurts Kids (Riverhead, 2006) is the first book-length exposé of the “tough love” business. Szalavitz has been published in TIME Magazine, the New York Times, Elle, Scientific American Mind, the Washington Post, New Scientist and Psychology Today, among many others. She has been awarded the American Psychological Associations Division 50 Award for Contributions to the Addictions and the Media Award from the American College of Neuropsychopharmacology.
Articles from Contributor
Are You Happy? You Might Have Hypocretin to Thank
Move over dopamine, there’s a new “pleasure” molecule that could broaden our understanding of the chemistry of joy, laughter, addiction and even anger.
Judge in Aurora Case Calls for Use of ‘Truth Serum’— But Does It Work?
If accused Aurora mass shooter James Holmes wants to enter a plea of insanity in the “Batman” movie theater massacre, he will have to agree to narcoanalysis.
Your Facebook ‘Likes’ May Be More Revealing Than You Think
A study shows that what you ‘like’ on Facebook can predict, with remarkable accuracy, everything from your race to your sexual orientation, political affiliation and personality type.
Rashness & Rumination: New Understanding About the Roots of Depression
Two studies explore some of the developmental roots of depression in childhood and adolescence.
Mental Illness Increases Risk of Being Homicide Victim
Study highlights surprising rate of victimization of the mentally ill
Can’t Do Math? How the Brain Makes Tradeoffs in Favoring Some Skills Over Others
Enhancing one area of the brain means activity in others may suffer.
U.N. Report Suggests Some Autism & Addiction Treatments Are Akin to Torture
So-called treatments for drug users and the disabled in some places of the world—including the U.S.— are far from helpful, says a new United Nations (U.N.) report.
Study Suggests Way to Prevent Patients from Waking During Surgery
Tracking brain activity patterns may lead to better dosing and control of anesthesia.
How Facebook Improves Memory
Checking status updates on Facebook may be just the distraction your memory needs.
How Drug Companies Distort Science: Q&A with Ben Goldacre
What you don’t know about how drugs are tested and marketed could hurt you, says author Ben Goldacre in his book Bad Pharma
Most Common Psychiatric Disorders Share Genetic Roots
Diverse mental illnesses may actually represent variations on a common theme rather than separate disorders.
Just Say No to Talking About Your Own Drug Use with Your Kids
Parents who talk to their kids about their own, past drug may not be helping their kids to avoid drugs.
