Genetics And Environment Affects A Mind Of A Serial Killer Essay

Genetics and Environment Effects on a Serial Killer’s Mind

For a long time, psychologists have been debating the theories of nature vs. nurture. Psychologist often discussed whether genetics or environment affects a person’s behavior. Theorists believe that not only does genetics affects a person’s behavior, but the environment also plays a role. Although many theorists believe either environment or genetics affect a mind of a serial killer, in fact, both environment and genetics affect a mind of a serial killer because genetics affect behavioral disorders while environment affects social disorders and both disorders can create violent behaviors.
Effects of Genetics on a Mind of a Serial Killer
Author John E. Douglas (a well-known criminal profiler), stated “that serial killers are psychopaths who suffer from chronic mental disorders coupled with violent

and aggressive social behavior” (Douglas & Olshaker, 1995). Every person receives half of their DNA from one parent and the other half from the other parent. With the right combination of genes, a person can suffer from mental disorders and behavioral disorders. Furthermore, a serial killer will tend to suffer from behavioral disorders, such as no remorse or lack of feeling. When behavioral disorders, as those listed previously as encounter, people do not care about the consequences of hurting or even killing another human person. This is a vital trait of a serial killer.
Effects of Enivornment on a Mind of a Serial Killer
Moreover, the environment which people live within affects social disorders. Negative environments affect the way people see the world and how they feel about people. Numerous serial killers come from a negative background which includes abuse as a child, substance abuse, poor family life (unstable families, history of criminal activity in the family and terrible relationship with their family) and torturing small animals (Crime Museum, 2014). An environment molds people creating an impact on how people interact and care about others. In other words, an environment that negatively affects a person is more than likely to cause negative behavioral tendencies.
Theory on Environment and Genetics Affecting a Mind of a Serial Killer
An ongoing debate is how environment and genetics affects the serial killer’s mind, but what if the issue in the debate is choosing one or the other and not both: nature vs.

nurture? Perhaps, a mind of a serial killer is created by genetic factors, fueled by environment and ignited by a factor that sets serial killers in the mood to commit murder. Gene-environment suggests that two parts of addiction: initiation (environment) and maintenance (genetics) (Thombs & Osborn, 2013, p. 36). This theory extends beyond addiction but also applies in any behavioral and criminal deviance disorders. Genetics and environment are the key components in creating a serial killer. The serial killer first has the genetic components to cause certain behavioral and social disorders and environment components fuels the genetic components. In other words, environment plays a pivotal role in creating a serial killer bringing those disorders to a dangerous level. John E. Douglas stated, “All of them have had a terrible childhood of abuse or neglect” (Baer, 1991, para. 11). By way of example, environment affects an individual

greatly.
In conclusion, genetics and environment, both affect the mind of a serial killer. There are three components needed to create the mind of a serial killer: genetics (behavioral disorders), environment (social disorders and outlook on people) and a trigger (what sets a serial killer off to kill). Research has shown favorable evidence to support both elements, genetics and environment, creates a serial killer. This is not to say everyone who was abused or has a behavioral disorder will become a serial killer. With that being said, this information is important for profiling potential serial killers and to help prevent their crimes.