Mind of the Mafia

Session Submission Type: Pre-arranged Panel

Abstract

During the last decades, we have become accostumed to reading on the news about brutal mafia crimes in our country, which are often striking and of high symbolic content. They usually concern wars between bloody rival mafia groups, which results in numerous deaths. For this reason, we consider mafia men as self-centered, cold and emotionally detached people, who have no remorse and are unable to feel empathy or pity for others, even less for their victims, who they do not hesitate to plunder, break the law and kill. In a few words, this is the profile of a psychopath.
From this consideration arises the interest of the authors for the possible relationship between psychological/psychopathological profiles of men of the mafia and these men and especially the relationship of the psychopathic dimension in men and women of the mafia.
In terms of differential diagnosis, it is important to distinguish antisocial, from dissocial, from psychopathy. Professor Felthous will explain.
In addition to traditional tasks, women play important roles in the criminal field, when their man is absent (arrested or fugitive). Women are then delegated temporary authority and are used in positions of command only because men need serve in. Prof Carabellese will focus on this aspect.
The relationship between psychopathology and mafia men follows long enduring traditions, as demonstrated by the very casual use of mental illness in numerous mafia trials shown by Dr. De Rosa and Prof. Sapogna.
The forthcoming, massive investments of the European community in northern Italy constitute the focus of Professor Travaini’s presentation.
Finally, the Foggia mafia, the so-called Foggia Society is among the most ferocious and brutal criminal organizations in southern Italy. Dr. Parente and Dr. Carabellese will focus on the origins this organizationstructure and its specific fields of interest.

Subtopic

• Topic 2: Types of Offending / Organized Crime

Chairs

• Alan R. Felthous, Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA

• Felice Carabellese, University of Bari

Individual Presentations

• Overview of antisocial, dissocial, and psychopathy in men of the mafia - Alan R. Felthous, Saint Louis University, School of Medicine, Saint Louis, MO, USA

• Overview of psychopathy in women of the mafia - Felice Carabellese, University of Bari

• Overview of using of insanity in mafia trials - Gaia Sampogna, University of Campania Vanvitelli; Corrado De Rosa, Department of Mental Health Avellino, Department of Psychiatry, University of Campania Vanvitelli

• Trends In Organized Crime During Covid-19 In The Italian Scenario - Guido Travaini, Vita-Salute S. Raffaele University

• Overview of “The Foggia Society” - Fulvio Carabellese, University of Bari; Lia Parente, University of Bari