compiled by All Things Crime Blog Staff
Although the so-called “experts” don’t seem to be able to agree completely on the psychological underpinnings of that frightening man/beast known as the Serial Killer, many serial killers do seem to share certain traits including alcohol and substance abuse, psychological and sexual abuse during childhood, and a tendency toward an active fantasy life while living an essentially anti-social existence. Throw in an preference for auto-eroticism over normal sex with a partner, a childhood propensity for bed-wetting, a love of voyeurism or fetishism, a tendency to abuse and/or kill animals, and a history of head injuries and the profile begins to emerge. This certainly does not mean that anyone who manifests four or five of these traits is or will become a serial killer, but if your boyfriend or girlfriend seems to fit this bill, you should maybe consider “getting out of Dodge”.
The following analysis of the 10 Most Common Traits of Potential Serial Killers comes to us courtesy of Hestie Bernard Gerber at ListVerse.
Alcohol and substance abuse
Children who are exposed to alcohol and substance abuse in the womb may suffer from serious birth defects including small eye openings, mental retardation and brain and central nervous system issues. Growing up in a home where substances are abused can be even worse. ADHD, attachment disorders, feelings of inadequacy, depression and behavioral problems are common. According to the FBI, the childhood homes of more than 70 per cent of serial killers experienced problems related to substance abuse. Oddly, there have actually been very few serial killers who were actually addicted to alcohol and substances – but many of them are known to have encountered such things in their youth.
Psychological abuse during childhood
According to interviews with known serial killers, 50 per cent of them suffered emotional abuse and neglect during their childhood. Discipline generally took the form of humiliation and was characterized by its arbitrary and destructive nature. Even a child who is merely neglected is likely to suffer substantial developmental failures. The child often becomes desensitized and comes to believe that the emotionally barren world that surrounds it is normal. Thus, the child grows up devoid of empathy for others. Emotional abuse naturally impairs a child’s self-esteem, and interferes with his ability to function adequately, succeed academically, and form healthy, intimate relationships. This is why serial killers tend to drift from job to job and rarely have successful relationships.
Sexually stressful events in childhood
This is a big one. Violent sexual events during childhood have serious adverse affects on an individual’s development. More than one known serial killer was forced to dress up as a girl as a form of punishment. Witnessing violent sexual acts between family members and/or parents was also common. Many were sexually abused, most often by parents or family members. Some contracted venereal diseases as teenagers or were punished for masturbating as children. Experiences of this ilk often lead to violent fantasies that continue into adulthood. The childhood abuse pattern leads to social isolation, learning difficulties (46% of serial killers never finished high-school), self-control issues and even seizures. This research into child abuse serves as compelling confirmation that serial killers are made – not born.
Bed-wetting
Even though bed-wetting in itself has been discredited as a predictor of later violent tendencies, it is thought to be related to arson and animal cruelty in some way. Research indicates that persistent bed-wetting past the age of five is demeaning for a child, especially if parents or other authority figures or school children tease or belittle them about it. The child may then act out against animals or use arson to channel their anger and frustration. Over 57 per cent of serial killers were bed-wetters until an unusually advanced age.
Growing up lonely and isolated
Serial killers often grow up in highly dysfunctional families. These families often move around a lot move resulting in the child being constantly uprooted which makes it hard to develop meaningful relationships with peers. Thus, the child often ends up a “loner.” Serial killers are rarely remembered by classmates, almost as if they weren’t even there. This is the price of having no real friends. As they are frequently bullied by other kids, anti-social tendencies fester and develop at an early age. A careful observer will note that this child soon starts dabbling in arson and theft and the use of dangerous weapons, and displays hostility and aggression, and a complete disregard for the rights of others.
Fantasies
Serial killers’ fantasies focus on violation and control. In fact, the research suggests that serial killers could remember NO positive fantasies they had as children. Some would fantasize about mutilating themselves or their genitals. At some point the fantasy shifts from themselves to others – they begin to fantasize about mutilating victims rather than self. Serial killers in the making do not broadcast these horrible fantasies to others; rather, they dwell on them privately. At some point before the first murder is committed, the fantasies moves from mere mutilation to the actual taking of life. Afterwards, the fantasies take on an anal quality; the serial killer needs to commit each successive murder with increased skill and efficiency.
Preferring auto-erotic activities
Serial killers did not “party” during their teenage years. No normal sexual experimentation with members of their peer group; rather, they preferrred masturbation and other auto-erotic activities such as pornography. Often, there was obsessive masturbation – as in the case of Andrei Chikatilo, who had profound scarring on his penis due to the violence that accompanied his masturbation.Without any positive social structure in his life, the killer is unable to take part in a normal sexual relationship, and thus is forced into solo sexual activities. These future killers often find titillation in lurid tales of sex and murder that can also serve as an extra form of arousal – linking sex, murder and death.
Developing voyeurism and fetishism in adulthood
From an early age, many serial killers are intensely interested in voyeurism and fetishism as well as other paraphilias. This often starts with the relatively harmless peeping-tom syndrome, before moving on to house-breaking, rape, and murder. Given that elements of bondage and dominance feature so strongly in most paraphilias, it is no surprise that this is often the route followed after adolescence.
Acting out fantasies on animals
99 per cent of serial killers admitted that they initially acted out their violent fantasies on animals before graduating to human beings. Given the dysfunctional families that give rise to most serial killers, such pathological and abnormal behavior may be ignored or completely missed – as in the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, whose father was unperturbed by the fact that his son was dissecting animals. These acts of animal cruelty are a great source of pleasure to young killers, and they manage to perfect the art completely – before moving on to their human victims.
Physical injuries
Head injuries from accidents, repeated head trauma suffered during physical abuse or birth injuries have been suggested as a very important link to aggressive and violent behavior. Damage to the limbic brain, hypothalamus or temporal lobe — areas involved with hormones, aggression, emotion and motivation – may cause bouts of spontaneous aggression. These injuries may also result in seizures and forms of amnesia. 70 per cent of serial killers received extensive head injuries as children or adolescents. Some researchers believe that the pre-frontal cortex (the area involved in planning and judgement) does not function properly in psychopaths.