THE PSYCHOLOGY OF SPIES AND SPYING

Core messages from The Psychology of Spies and Spying:

• The view that in the world of intelligence, it is trust not betrayal which dominates the mindset.

• The importance of developing trust between agents and handlers, between agencies and their government and ultimately the public.

• How handlers, operating in environments of complete secrecy, need to manage dark side behaviours because agents are selected for their access to secrets, not for their qualities.

• Why motivation is rarely simple since it is invariably a combination of many issues.

• How fiction writers are good at developing plots and the characterisation of spies, but few capture the motivation of agents well.

• Twelve agent case studies in which most were motivated by ideology, had significant misfortune in their youth and offered their services rather than being coerced into betrayal.

• An insight into many of the techniques and gadgets used in the spying world.

PLUS a unique insight into President Putin’s psychology.