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Psychology of serial killers
Studies on the childhood of serial killers
The psychology of serial killers
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“One side of me says, I`d like to talk to her, date her.The other side of me says, I wonder what her head would look like on stick”.(Edmund Kemper).Imagine putting yourself in place of those families where some sister`s lost their brothers and some brothers lost their their sisters, women lost their husbands and men lost their wives, parents lost their son and daughters and kids lost their parents.A lot of families are losing their loved ones just because their loved ones are becoming the target of Serial killers.US is 5% of world`s population and 75% of world`s population.Edmund Kemper is one of those serial killers who had kill some families` loved ones only females including his own mother and grandmother.Question rises in everyone`s mind …show more content…
The subjects reported witnessing aggression (42 percent), were forced to comfort an upset parent (49 percent), and had to lie for one or the other (24 percent). The outcome was one in 10 turned to crime, and 8 percent considered suicide. 2) The mothers of these ‘monsters’ tend to breed men that hate females (Moesch 1998). The mothers may be over controlling, overprotective, physically abusive and emotionally abusive (Moesch 1998). According to one psychologist, Sigmund Freud, males try to reach autonomy with their mother. If the child is unsuccessful this will result in rage (Moesch 1998). Many feminists disdain the idea of the mother assisting in the creation of a serial killer.His mother had bad behaviour with him.It does not depend on who raised them.His mother gave him no love which result in hatered for all women in his eyes. 3) Hydraulic theory predicts that after an attack on animal human will become less aggressive.(serial killer notes).Edmund`s case was same because he first kill cat then before going to his grandparents he had already begun learning about firearms but his grandparents took away his rifle after he killed several birds and other
Edmund Emil Kemper III was born on December 13, 1948 in Burbank, CA. He was born to the union of Edmund E. Kemper Jr. and Clarnell Strandberg. After his parents divorced, Clarnell took Kemper along with his two sisters to live by her very high standards and abusive ways. She berated Kemper mentally by having him sleep in a windowless basement because she feared of the harm he may cause to his sisters. In turn, this caused the hatred that he had for her to fester and turn into hatred against all women. On many occasions Kemper would break off the heads and hands of his sister’s dolls and also have them play the game he called “The gas chamber” in which he was the victim to be executed (Fisher, 2003a).
In Mary Shelley’s novel Frankenstein the protagonist Victor Frankenstein creates a monster. The monster in the novel is deprived of a normal life due to his appearance. Like the creature, some serial killers today are killers due to the same rejection. In the novel Frankenstein, Mary Shelley warns that a childhood of abuse and neglect will often result in evil actions.
Jack the Ripper, John Wayne Gacy, Ted Bundy, the Boston Strangler, Jeffrey Dahmer. Despite the years of history that separate these names, they remain indelibly preserved within our collective societal consciousness because of the massively violent and calculated nature of their crimes. Serial killers, both men and women, represent social monstrosities of the most terrifying variety. They are human predators, cannibals in a figurative and, often, literal sense, and are therefore uniquely subversive to society's carefully constructed behavioral tenets. They frighten because they are human in form but without the social conscience that, for many, defines humanity. They capture the public eye because they terrify, but also because they elicit a sort of gruesome curiosity about the human potential for evil; as Robert Louis Stevenson's Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde alleges, wickedness lies within each heart, waiting only for the proper time and impetus to break free.
There have been many reports of serial killings across the globe. These sort of things are revolting and are disturbing to the normal person. But have you ever wondered why people do these despicable acts? What prompts these savage slaughters? Most people have wondered that very thing. There are even popular television shows based on this very topic. Well let me show you the inner workings that make these people tick.
Common psychological disturbances in the stages of making a serial killer are seen in childhood and are usually based upon mental and psychological abuse endured by a child.
In the aftermath of the horrific crimes of serial killers, psychologists attempt to analyze the defects in their personalities that make them commit these atrocities, in order to learn more about the human psyche and its dangerous potential. Jeffrey Dahmer, the “Milwaukee Cannibal” whose crimes were discovered in 1991, is a unique serial killer in his willingness to completely expose and explore the reasoning behind his crimes, which include the rape and murder of 17 men and boys, necrophilia, dismemberment and cannibalism. Dahmer’s honesty and exposition of his crimes have allowed psychologists the opportunity to explore his personality, and allowed them to break new ground in the exploration of the minds of serial killers.
“We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.” These were the terrifying words of one of America’s most infamous serial killers, Ted Bundy, after he confessed to coldly slaughtering thirty women. Every year Hollywood writers go after serial killers like Bundy for their gruesome and bewildering stories; in turn, these writers have created a serial killer stereotype. They cover their faces with masks and stalk their prey in the cover of night’s darkness. They are unknown outsiders, and sometimes even invincible. These faceless murderers horrify masses of people around America. But who are the real killers, the individuals walking around freely in the sunlight without a disguise?
In order to understand the common traits of female serial killers, one has to know the meaning of what a serial killer is. According to a federal law passed in 1998 by the United States Congress, titled: Protection of Children from Sexual Predator Act of 1998, the definition of serial killings is “a series of three or more killings...having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors” (Seria...
Freud (1940) was the first to do the link between sexual abuses during the childhood and adult abnormal behavior. As a result of that serial killer uses sex as a way to let out his or her anger and aggression. The sexually acts of the serial killer is not only about sex, but it is about revenge, power, and control. “Serial killers are unconsciously trying to kill off their repressed sexual pain and powerlessness. Every stab into the victim’s flesh is a stab against their own childhood sexual terror and pain, and the rage that accompanies it is a rage against those who tormented and terrorized” (Knight, 2006, p. 1199-1200).
Some of the traits most male serial killers have as a child include killing animals, auto-erotic activities, physical head injuries, and even bed wetting. The reason why killing animals is very common among serial killers is because it gives young killers great pleasure in knowing they have control over someone’s or something’s life.... ... middle of paper ... ...
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
...o wrestle, liked to run around, ham it up for the camera, and he liked to play with kids and get together with them,” (“Serial Killers). Jeffrey Dahmer had been a normal child until his family moved three times in a short period of time. Afterwards Dahmer’s parents noticed that he had become shy and antisocial. Scientists argue that Dahmer’s genes and brain activity prove why he is a psychopath while psychologists argue that the external factor of moving from town to town is the cause. Though many humans must deal with violent situations and experience horrific events everyday for most of us it does not alter our attitudes and personalities to be mass murderers. All in all, it is true that many children who are victims of abuse become violent in their adult lives but to cross into the category of a serial killer one must be born with a different biochemical makeup.
So what makes a serial killer? Levin points out that contrary to popular belief, serial killers don't just 'snap'; or 'go crazy'; (Douglas, p. 137). Many of the serial killers have been the victims of childhood abuse. Jack Levin stated 'Research shows many serial killers suffered abuse, incest or neglect as children and develop poor self images'; (Douglas, p. 137). Serial killers often have a childhood marked by the absence of any nurturing relationship. 'They often come from families where the parents were absent or ineffective, where authority was not defined, and where they could engage in destructive behavior undeterred-violent play, cruelty to animals, and incidents of arson being some of the childhood behavior patterns noted among many serial killers'; (Clark, p. 206).
A few times each year, our ears perk up when the news is turned on. On occasions there will be news about a murder of a young child or all the way to an old being. Murder is seen as a disgusting happening. Murder is seen as a disgusting hobby. Murder is pure disgust. Eyes fill with hatred when the picture of the serial killer is viewed. They are not human beings, they lack emotion and their eyes are filled with the desire to kill. With quick judgment, people don’t see what’s in the inside. All they see is an emotionless, cold blooded killer. What makes them do what they do? In no way is murder acceptable but there’s always a reason for it and the typical person fails to see what’s through the fog standing between him or herself and the killer. Humans are all born the same, and are shaped to be what they become. There’s always a past that is forgotten but in many cases it isn’t. Serial killers are in the wrong for taking lives from innocent people. Their actions are certainly not justified but they are misunderstood as people do not know what triggers their killing spree.
There are several different types of murderers, with one of the most popular in the media being a serial killer. A serial killer is someone who kills at least three people at different times with time in between murder described as a “cooling off period”. After killing, they feel a sense of relief for awhile, but when it wears off they feel the need to kill again to release their stress. People often times ask the question of why do the perpetrator’s feel the need to kill to relieve the stress they are feeling, and why they continue to do it. There are some factors that link brain anomalies, damage, and faulty genetics to the cause, but other factors include include the childhood development of the killer. Researchers Ressler and Shachtman