Four Questions About Violence

The Sunday Times bestselling author of The Devil You Know and leading forensic psychiatrist Dr Gwen Adshead reckons with our attitudes towards violence and punishment. 'One of the most distinguished and brilliant minds in psychiatry.' Marina Cantacuzino, The Forgiveness Project 'A bold message.' Sunday Times Is violence normal? Aren't they all evil? Does trauma cause violence? And can we change violent minds? For Dr Gwen Adshead, these are the most common questions she is asked about her work as a psychiatrist and psychotherapist in secure hospitals and prisons. Her answers are drawn from over thirty years of working with violent perpetrators and the insights she has gained from listening to the stories of those who have committed brutal acts. Dr Adshead pays attention to an aspect of humanity we often find hard to comprehend and invites us to do the same as she considers the motivations, the risk factors, the social roots of violence as well as the rehabilitation of offenders. Compassion is central to her approach as she delves into the development of the mind and deepens our understanding of the human capacity for cruelty but also for change. Expanding on her galvanising 2024 Reith Lectures and including a new essay on good mental health, this is a potent, humane and transformative read. Gwen Adshead's new book Unspeakable: The Language of Trauma and Healing will publish in February 2026