Anatomy of Malice

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After World War II, as the Allies held an international war crimes trial in Nuremberg, psychiatrist Douglas Kelley and psychologist Gustave Gilbert sought to understand the psychology of Nazi leaders through extensive interviews, IQ tests, and Rorschach inkblot tests. Initially perceived as demonic maniacs, the psychological evaluations revealed a more complex picture. The unsettling findings led to portions of the data being concealed for decades, sparking heated debates. Gilbert attributed the war criminals' malice to depraved psychopathology, while Kelley considered them ordinary men shaped by their environment. Who was correct? Drawing on his extensive psychiatric experience and advancements in the field since Nuremberg, Joel E. Dimsdale reevaluates the findings and closely examines four key figures: Robert Ley, Hermann Goering, Julius Streicher, and Rudolf Hess. Utilizing modern diagnostic tools, he uncovers a wide spectrum of psychological pathology. This exploration takes readers on a complex and troubling journey to understand the depths of extreme evil.