Smith 1
Rachel Smith
Mr. William Boyle
LIBA 102 True Crime
20 April 2017
The Psychology of a Serial Killer
Many people would say that a serial killer’s brain is in some ways different from the average mind. However, what exactly is different within a serial killer’s mind? The psychology of serial killers may differ based on anything from life experiences, to personal fetishes, to different brain structure. Studies do, in fact, show that there is a link between criminal behavior and brain abnormalities. The average human being does not have the ability to go on a killing spree without being overcome with guilt. However, a serial killer’s psychology, whether developed as a result of circumstance or genetics, allows a serial killer to indulge in murdering with little or no remorse for their actions, and without these key elements, serial killers would act as normal human beings.
John Wayne Gacy, also known as The Killer Clown, killed 33 men in a time span of six years and buried them in different places on his property (Guy). The average human is not capable of this type of behavior, especially with no obvious motive behind the murders. It appears that Gacy showed no remorse and the murders had no effect on how he acted in his everyday life. He was described as a lively man who dressed up as a clown to amuse the community kids. John Wayne Gacy had the ability to hide his life as a serial killer, and live a seemingly normal life to the public. In the end he claimed multiple personality disorder; however, he was considered sane and found guilty, receiving the death penalty (Guy). While Gacy was guilty of the murders he committed the question still remains: What psychological factors allowed or even drove him to commit the murders?
Theodore Robert Bundy, better known as Ted Bundy, murdered 36 women, possibly more, in the short time span of four years (Guy). Not only did Bundy murder his victims, but he also fulfilled his sexual desires with the corpses. Bundy was what many people would consider an outstanding citizen. He was very kind, a seemingly thoughtful man, and he even worked at a suicide prevention center. Even after speculation of the murders began, Ted Bundy had many psychologists fooled because he was a seemingly sane man. Ted Bundy lived such an ordinary life apart from his killings that no one believed a man like Ted Bundy could be responsible for the murders, even though most evidence pointed straight at him (Rule). What makes the situation even more bizarre is that Ted was said to have been a very attractive man, so why would he need to fulfill his sexual desires in such an insane way? In Ted Bundy’s last interview, he described his perfect early home life; therefore, his urge to kill was not a result of a circumstance, rather an addiction. Ted Bundy admitted to being addicted to pornography, which eventually led to his addiction to violent pornography, which eventually led to necrophilia. Bundy claimed to be in a sort of trance that he would come out of the morning after a killing, and immediately regret his actions; however, he would be unable to stop himself from doing it again (Princep). While Ted Bundy was driven by addiction it is clear that his psychological makeup was not that of a normal human being due to his ability to commit these murders repeatedly.
Jeffrey Dahmer was another serial killer who killed and dismembered 17 males between 1978 and 1991. He too had engaged in necrophilia, and even cannibalism. Dahmer was said to live in an imaginary world where he wanted to have power over his victims. He stated that once a victim was in his apartment he could not stop himself from committing the murders and having his way with the men. Many psychologists claimed that Jeffrey Dahmer was on the line for personality disorder. While it is clear that Dahmer went into psychotic trances, he was found clinically sane and guilty for the murders (Guy). Again, a normal human being does not have the psychological differences that allow one to go off on a killing spree, much less be involved in necrophilia or cannibalism.
While it is evident that serial killers have psychological differences, or a different thought process, there are several theories about where this psychological difference comes from. Dr. Helen Morrison, a forensic psychiatrist, believes that a chromosome abnormality is linked to serial killers’ behavior. The abnormality becomes evident within the male during puberty. Brain scans of the men with the chromosome abnormality reveal that they never develop the feeling of fitting in within the world, which prevents them from feeling anything, including sympathy towards their victims, making it ultimately easy for them to murder. However, this is just one theory of psychological difference that occurs within a serial killer (Borreli).
The second, more well-known theory of the psychological differences within a serial killer, is the theory that their brains perform at a lower activity level. Psychopaths have low orbital cortex activity which is the area of the brain that controls ethical behavior, decision making, and impulse control. Lower activity in the orbital cortex makes it easier for a person to be violent, drink often, and seek self-satisfaction more frequently, such as with sexual desires. However, neuroscientist Jim Fallon who conducted a study of psychopath’s brains for more than 20 years, discovered that he too had low orbital cortex activity. This discovery, along with the study of the early lives of serial killers, has shown that low orbital cortex activity alone does not typically drive a serial killer to murder. Studies show that around 70 percent of serial killers were mistreated during their youth, and even 50 percent experienced psychological abuse. However, the factor of lower brain activity allows a person to lose their sanity more easily, thus becoming a serial killer (Borreli).
Along with chromosome abnormality and low orbital cortex activity within the brain, a third factor often plays an important role in creating a serial killer. This factor is genetic makeup. There are twelve genes that are connected to violence and hostility. However, one particular gene, monoamine oxidase A, which is also known as the “warrior gene”, controls serotonin within the brain (Hagerty). Serotonin helps regulate a person’s mood. It helps control one’s emotions, keeping depression and anxiety to low levels. (Scaccia). A mutation within the “warrior gene” prevents serotonin from having a stabilizing effect on the brain; therefore, a person with this version of the gene will be less likely to have emotional control (Hagerty).
While all three factors can certainly effect one’s reactions in certain situations, the psychological differences developed as a result of circumstance, rather than genetics, also point serial killers in the direction of becoming a murderer. There are three major psychological differences within a serial killer; however, there are also different types of serial killers, such as the ones previously described, that are likely the result of varying circumstances. Theodore Robert Bundy’s killings, for example, were a result of pornographic addiction from a young age. His serial killings stemmed from a sexual desire that eventually became violent, leading to serial killing and his practice of necrophilia (Princep). John Wayne Gacy, aside from his obvious psychological differences, also became a serial killer as a result of circumstance. During his youth, Gacy was abused by his father and very troubled over his sexuality. His dad was a drunk, who not only abused the children, but Gacy’s mother also. John Wayne Gacy suffered from a congenital heart problem that disabled him from playing with other kids, which lead to further feelings of detachment (biography.com/editors). It is safe to say that Gacy did not have the easiest childhood. Along with the psychological differences, Gacy was destined to be a serial killer. Jeffrey Dahmer was a seemingly normal child until he had a correctional surgery for a hernia and his personality changed suddenly. After his family moved around a lot and he received a little brother, Dahmer became distant, associating with very few people and staying mostly to himself. His necrophilia compulsion began at a young age; however, he did not act on this until after his parents divorced (biography.com/editors). While Dahmer was not abused at a young age, he too had psychological differences, and lived through some difficult circumstances that are believed to have lead him to his life of killing.
Although Jeffrey Dahmer and John Wayne Gacy did not go through the same circumstances, they did face difficulties within their young life; and while Ted Bundy did not necessarily face difficult circumstances, he did face a serious, violent addiction. These three serial killers are not the only serial killers that, along with their psychological make-up, faced addictions or circumstances that led them into violence. Donald Henry Gaskins was also a serial killer that resulted from psychological abnormality and circumstance. Gaskins murdered 80 boys and girls in North Carolina, but not until after abusing and molesting them. He was known for having an irregular attitude, becoming violent at times. Donald Gaskins later revealed that he had urgent feelings that would push him to rape and murder his victims, and that this was the only thing that could satisfy those feelings. While he definitely does face some psychological differences, Gaskins also faced a difficult childhood. He was constantly ridiculed for his size when he was a boy, earning him the name “Pee Wee”. Pee Wee had a violent stepfather, and became a troublemaker in school, always picking fights with the other children. He dropped out of school at a young age, and shortly after led a life of crime. He robbed and paid women for sex, and molested young boys with the help of two of his good friends, Marsh and Danny. The gang eventually broke up, leaving Gaskins to live a life of crime on his own. This landed him in reform school which eventually led to prison, which eventually led to his first murder and his life went downhill from there (crimemuseum.org). Donald Henry Gaskins faced a difficult early life, and the inability to resist inhumane urges which points towards a psychological malfunction. And the pattern just continues.
Looking back at the past four serial killers described, each one has faced a difficult circumstance or addiction within their early lives, each has faced an urge that has only been satisfied by murdering and in most cases molestation of their victims, each one was unable to stop themselves from what a psychologically normal human being could resist from doing or just altogether never have the desire to do. While there is definitely a pattern within serial killers one question must still be asked. If there is such a definite pattern amongst serial killers, could what scientists have discovered about the three key psychological differences within a potential serial killer, combined with similar difficult circumstances and addictions help identify a serial killer before he/she becomes one?
Using what is known about the psychological differences, behavioral patterns, and addictions and circumstances of some of the most notorious serial killers, researchers have developed a list of warning signs for potential serial killers. While people possessing these certain behavioral patterns cannot be automatically deemed as a serial killer, the list has been developed by researching and monitoring serial killers themselves. From analyzing past serial killers, serial killers or potential serial killers are said to have very antisocial behavior. Some are arsonists, meaning that they have an obsession with starting fires. Many harm animals, which likely comes from the psychological factor that causes inability to sympathize with one’s victims. As discussed and proven in the previous serial killers described within this papers, many serial killers do not have a great home life or solid family structure and often suffer from abuse or mistreatment. Drug and alcohol abuse is another key factor. This, along with the distorted psychology, likely allows a serial killer to deal with the grave things that they have done. Jeffrey Dahmer was an alcoholic and Theodore Robert Bundy also drank to deal with his problems. Ted Bundy was oftentimes drunk when he committed his murders which in all reality may have a lot to do with his “waking up from a trance and realizing what he had done the next day”. Ted Bundy was also involved in voyeurism, another factor that is said to be part of a developing or already developed serial killer. Many serial killers were very smart, regardless of what their actions may say for them, which allowed them to kill as many people as they did before being caught. The last characteristic of a serial killer, or potential serial killer, is the inability to hold a steady job (Frese).
While these characteristics are based off of serial killers and criminal behavior in the past, the behavioral patterns alone do not exactly alone point to a serial killer or potential serial killer. The three psychological factors, along with a difficult childhood, bad circumstances, or uncontrollable addiction create the perfect storm for a serial killer. And one does not oftentimes work without the other. As Jim Fallon discovered that, in fact, he himself possessed the three psychological differences of a serial killer, he did not face difficult circumstances, an abusive childhood or an uncontrollable addiction. The psychological factors do not oftentimes create a serial killer without the rough circumstances or addiction and vice versa. All in all, be kind to everyone you meet because you could interact with a potential serial killer who has the right psychological factors and be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
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Medically Reviewed by Debra Rose Wilson, PhD, MSN, RN, IBCLC, AHN-BC, CHT on
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