The psychology of a serial murderer

The psychology of a serial murderer

Abstract

The subject of serial murder has been of concern globally both in the public and media. The courts of law and governments have tried to come up with strategies and policies to stop serial murder, but they have not been very successful in combating it. Despite numerous attempts to halt serial murder, the public still knows very little about serial killing. Also, little academic research has been conducted on theoretical explanations for the subject. Crime has not been explicitly defined, and there I a dire need to explore crime and serial murder at deeper levels. There are many theories of serial killing that have been established by academia. It is difficult to single out a single theory that is superior to the other. The best way to understand serial murder is through integrating the serial murder theories. However, biological, sociological, and psychological approached cut across all theories of serial murder. This paper shall study serial killing as a subject while integrating a few theories of the subject. For better results, the paper shall also draw similarities among treatments and solutions for serial murder from these theories.

Introduction

There is no single definition of serial murder because it is an extensive subject area. Different researchers view the subject from different angles. For instance, the definition of serial murder may vary depending on the number of victims, the sex of the murderer, the motives behind the killings, and the number of people killed, among others. Generally, the definition of serial murder has been restricted to the extent that it has a specified age range and gender of murders. Most researchers have found out that the majority of serial killers are men, while the female makes the majority of victims of the crime. Therefore, we can generally define a serial killer as any offender who kills over time. The offender can be either male or female, even though males are said to be major offenders. The definition also implies that serial murder covers murderers who are transient and geographically stable. In most cases, there is a relationship between the serial killer and the victim. There is very little evidence of stranger-to-stranger occurrences of murder. The motivation for serial murder can vary from material gain to pleasure. Serial killing is considered a sad and fearful act across the world. Murder is hardly praised even in religions that have some prevalence of death. Different researchers have established that most serial killers have similarities in emotional development issues.

The psychology of a serial murderer

The psychology of a serial killer begins at the infancy stage. Infancy is the most critical stage of human beings in terms of human development. Infancy is a key determinant of the development of a person’s personality. For instance, children develop emotions such as affection and remorse in their first 12 months after birth. Children require adequate physical touch and attention from their caregivers or parents at their tender age. Failure to provide them with adequate attention and physical touch may lead to substantial personality disorders in their adulthood. If apparent is observant enough, it is possible to determine if their child has a psychopathic personality before the age of 2. Psychopathic can be detected in earlier development stages of a child through a range of emotions such as lack of affection, sympathy, or remorsefulness. It happens that the majority of serial killers are children who were adopted. The basic explanation of the fact underlies the idea that infant bonding is imperative to personality development. As an illustration of proof, serial killers such as Joel Rifkin and David Berkowitz are said not to have had proper attention at their infancy. They were adopted after their mother gave up on them at the very early stages of development.

Just like infancy, early childhood is a critical factor in the formation of a serial killer. Most serial killers were on their own when young. They hardly intermingled with their peers in playgrounds and other social activities. Most serial killers also suffered some learning problems such as dyslexia, and some may have weight problems when young. Other children who became serial murderers were bullied at their childhood, maybe due to their weight or skin color, leading them to develop secret aggressive fantasies. Such children find themselves between mysterious forces working against them, which bothers them and makes them feel tormented. Aggression and loneliness begin at the early ages of a child, and these may lead to the development of fantasies, an excellent recipe for a serial killer in the making.

The relationship between a child and a mother also critically determines if a child will be a serial killer. Slightly the majority of male serial murderers were raised by single mothers. Some single mothers lack the capability to grow an all-rounded male child. Some of these mothers tend to raise men who naturally hate females. If a single mother or even a mother from a complete family is abusive, overprotective, controlling, or emotionally abusive, the male child raised under this environment is likely to be toxic. Research has been consistent that male children try to reach autonomy with their mothers. A male child may turn rage if he fails to succeed in life. From statistics, a whopping 66% of known serial killers were raised with dominant mother figures.

There is a strong positive correlation between childhood trauma and the development of serial killers. Mental and physical trams have lasting effects on an individual. Research conducted in 2016 found out that 74% of serial killers experienced psychological abuse, while 42% suffered from physical abuse right from their tender age. Sexual abuse also has a significant effect on the development of a child, as 35% of serial killers witnessed sexual abuse at their tender age. Additionally, 43% of serial killers were victims of sexual abuse themselves. Accidents that cause head damage can also cause head trauma, which is also a significant cause of the development of serial killers, accounting for 29% of them. Head trauma is one of the non-modifiable factors that makes a person a serial killer. Accident-prone children may become serial killers as a result of psychopathic behavior as the brain’s defense mechanism as a result of the accident.

Biological trait theories suggest that infancy and early childhood contribute significantly to aligning serial killers with their biological traits. Biological factors do control human behavior, thus can raise critical behavioral implications. The study of the brain has established that neurological and physical abnormalities, especially impairment of executive brain function, are closely linked to aggression. A significant number of serial killers have been found to have a neurological disorder. It is, therefore, likely that some of these serial killers are reacting to hereditary factors or chemicals in their brains. It is not true that all cases of serial murder are purely intentional or pure evil.

Additionally, the development of unconscious personality in the early stages of childhood development has an impact on how the child’s behavior for the rest of their lives. It means that if a child experiences negative acts or behaviors in their childhood, they suffer from the residual effects of these experiences. A child develops three aspects of life in their childhood; id, ego, and superego. The id is responsible for sexual and food drives, and it is considered primitive. The ego, on the other hand, is meant to offer a guide to align a person to society’s social norms while the superego incorporates values and morals. Most killers tend to rely more on the personality that supplies unconscious drives of food and sex hence get overwhelmed by the primitive id. This explains why children who did not receive the proper care when they needed it most, such as David Berkowitz, became serial killers. He was significantly affected in his way into adulthood because he was adopted. According to psychodynamic theory, a weak ego leads a person into committing a crime. In other words, serial killers tend to manifest their oppression feelings from their early ages in the form of brutal murders.

Lastly, the Organized/Disorganized Typology theory of serial killers suggested that serial killers fall into either organized or disorganized offenders. The behavioral and personality characteristics can be detected from the evaluation of the crime scene. A forensic investigation can establish the behavioral personality characteristics of the person that murdered the crime scene. According to the theory, an organized offender comes from an average organized life. Also, an organized offender tends to be intelligent, socially competent, and demonstrates calculative moves. Sometimes it becomes hectic to investigate an organized offender because the crime scene of such an offender suggests that the killer properly planned the execution. Most of the organized serial killers are careful enough such that they do not leave easy trace channels such as blood or fingerprints behind. The disorganized serial killer, on the other hand, can have their ways traced easily. They usually conduct opportunistic killings and close to the offender’s place. Disorganized killers are socially inadequate and are not very intelligent. Also, disorganized serial killers tend to find difficulties in maintaining their social relationships.

Theories of serial murder

Biological theories

Various biological explanations have attempted to explain serial murder through chromosomal abnormalities. The condition of having an extra Y has been closely linked to criminal behavior. Head trauma also, as discussed in the introductory section above, may lead to aggressive and violent behavior. An imbalance in hormones and sugar levels of a person may cause aggressive behavior. Biology also establishes that criminals have distinct physical features from non-criminals. However, this theory has been highly criticized because those who belong to this school of thought believe that women are virtually invisible within the criminal acts. According to Lombroso, the only crimes that are associated with women are abortion and prostitution. He also adds that the sexual nature of women forces them to engage in abortion and prostitution. Empirical evidence downplays these claims and establishes that women mostly engage in prostitution for monetary gains. However, the theory is still instrumental in understanding criminology from the biological perspective. The theory helps society in identifying criminals without much struggle. His findings influenced many other scientists, especially those interested in popular culture and criminology. Therefore, various biological explanations account for violence and serial murder.

Psychological theories

The instinct and impulsive theories attempt to answer whether people have innate qualities that direct them to crime and aggressive or violent behavior. The attachment theory focuses on the way we were raised right from infancy through maturity. A bond between a child and their mother is very critical for the development of a child, as discussed in the section above. Any abnormal break from the attachment and bonding process may lead a child to a life of crime and delinquency. The theory, as indicated by Aileen Wuornos, further states that the media influences the development of violent behavior on a child. Television programs, movies, and the books children read can contribute towards making a person violent. There has been a long discourse that links human nature and criminal conduct. Research has also established that most neurotic extraverts are most likely to become offenders because of their unique lifestyle conditions. They tend to learn social control through socialization because they can hardly learn well under normal circumstances. Therefore, the psychological theories are interested in individuals and the attachment of these individuals to their parents and other key individuals around them. It is not clear whether people learn violence through natural or instinctive ways. A dysfunctional or abnormal emotional adjustment environment and other factors that encourage deviance are factors that may lead a person to become a serial murderer.

Sociological theories

Sociological approaches attempt to explain how human behavior in our societies may lead to the making of serial murderers. Social approaches are concerned with social rules and processes that develop relationships between people in associations, institutions, or societies. It is broadly concerned with our social conduct as social beings. Several key theories have been developed to explain how deviant and criminal behavior apply to serial murder. For instance, structural sociological theories establish that deviance is correlated with certain social conditions in a person’s society. The processual theories, on the other hand, describes how people make their way to deviant acts. The major difference between structural and processual theories is that structural approaches attempt to ask why deviance is more established while the processual viewpoint examines why individuals decide to subscribe to deviant behaviors. The strain theory is one of the major sociological approaches. The strain theory states that the strains and pressure the society puts on young people to become successful by whatever means forces many into deviance. The labeling theory, on the other hand, suggests that if a person is branded and deviant, and the labeling is reinforced, the person eventually accepts the label and becomes deviant. This theory also indicates that labeling affects a person’s self-concept, hence making a young person demonstrate deviant behavior. The control theory suggests that a lack of proper control over a child is a strong causal factor for deviant behavior.

A comparison of theories of serial murder

Biology, psychology, and sociology perspectives discussed above all attempt to explain the same phenomenon. However, they all have different approaches since they try to explain the same thing but from different approaches. Biological perspectives suggest that criminal behavior is caused by internal factors that develop in a person from infancy. Some internal body factors, such as lack of sufficient bonding and attachment predispose a person to criminality. This viewpoint is primarily focused on our biological processes. The theories under this category have a strong influence on our behavior. Since most of the biological factors are non-modifiable, individuals have less or no control over them. It, therefore, suggests that such individuals have no control over their aggression and violent behaviors since they are victims of nature.

Psychology, on the other hand, links our interactions between our thought processes and the development of violent behavior. The theories under this category are also concerned with an individual. The point of difference from the biological school of thought is where psychology looks at individuals in terms of their relationship with others. The psychology approaches categorically agree that psychological disorders can sometimes result in the development of criminal behaviors. However, there is an overlap between biological and psychological disciplines since psychological factors such as antidepressants are treated through biological ways. It would not be possible to identify mental causes and disorders if there was no psychology.

Sociology looks at deviance and criminal behavior from a different point of view. The sociological version rejects both biological and psychological views and suggests that a person is deemed deviant or criminal if they go against the standards set by society. Sociological theories are interested in our actions as social beings, and how we conform to standards established by our societies. Sociology differs from biology and psychological approaches based on agency. Some sociologists view people as self-governing creative beings, while structuralisms believe that we live in a social structure and that our actions are structurally predetermined by micro-phenomena.

Possible solutions to serial murder

Following research done by different entities, there is little known solutions and treatment of serial murder. However, it is possible to reduce the possibility of a person becoming a serial killer if their aggressive and violent tendencies can be curbed. It is pretty much difficult to treat a serial murderer once they have started killing, but it would be easier if the deviance behavior were detected much earlier. If detected at tender ages, treatment might succeed in preventing them from reinforcing their deviance and violent behavior. If an upcoming serial murderer is hospitalized after demonstrating strong homicidal fantasies, it is possible to prevent them from being actual murderers. Biological solutions can be administered through the use of drugs such as anti-psychotics and genetic screening. Practices such as cognitive-behavioral methods and other cognitive methods are some of the psychological efforts that can help reduce aggressive and violent behavior. On sociological grounds, the solution lies within reforms in our society. Some societies have poor access to education, health, employment opportunities, and money. This affects their social statuses and, consequently, behavior development. A reform to have equal access to opportunities, education, and money will help reduce the rates of serial murderers.

Conclusion

This paper has established that serial murder is a multi-dimensional subject. Three approaches are significant in understanding serial murder; biological approaches, psychological approaches, and sociological approaches. The psychology of murder has established that the psychology of a serial killer begins at the infancy stage. Lack of proper parenting, adequate bonding, and attachment increases the likelihood of the child becoming a serial killer. Mothers who are abusive, dominant, and protective were also found to be significant contributors to making serial murderers. Some factors that lead to deviant behavior such as head trauma due to accidents are beyond the control of the victim. Luckily, the paper has established a few treatment options for the menace. Biological factors can widely be treated through drug administration, while cognitive-behavioral methods can help in reducing aggressiveness and violent behavior. Sociological causes can be treated through reforms in our societies geared at attaining equality.