Psychology of Serial Killers

By:Steve Christiansen & Rob Kissner

***WARNING-Graphic Photos

Presentation Learning Objectives Definition of homicide Three types murder F.B.I. definition of serial killing Who are serial killers? The insanity defense

The M’Naughten rule The ALI/MPC test The irresistible impulse test *Guilty but mentally ill (GBMI)

Four major risk factors

Presentation Learning ObjectivesAnti-social personality disorderKey features of psychopathyMacDonald triad of serial killersDiphasic personality formationPsychological signature of serial killersTechnology to help capture killersConclusion and questions

Homicide:

• The killing of one human by another.

Three Types of Murder

Homicide

Justifiable

Excusable Criminal Homicide

Citizen Police Manslaughter Murder

First Degree Murder

(premeditated)

Second Degree Murder

Felony Murder

SERIAL

SPREE

MASS

F.B.I Definition of “Serial Killing”

“The term ‘serial killings’ means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors” (Title 18, United States Code, Chapter 51, and Section 1111).

Who are serial killers?• Average age 30 years old• 95% male, 5% female (Why more men than women?)• 73% white, 22% black, 1% other• Average or low IQ median IQ of 95 from sample of 174

serial killers• Fetishism-sexual attraction to a part of the body or object• Partialism-atypical sexual interest in a part of the body

(armpits, breasts, buttocks, navel, hands and feet are most common)

• Necrophilia-sexual attraction to corpses• Varying degrees of psychopathy

– QUESTION-How do fetishes or partialism develop?

The Insanity Defense• The legal concept referring to the

criminal’s state of mind at the time the crime was committed. It requires that, due to mental illness, a defendant lacks moral responsibility and culpability for the crime and, therefore, should not be punished.

(Source: Forensic and Legal Psychology, 2012)

Test #1-The M’Naughten Rule (Right-Wrong Test)

• M’Naughten Rule (1843)-at the time of committing the act, the party accused was unable to distinguish right from wrong because of a disease of the mind (over 50% the states in U.S. use this test)

• Question-Why is this hard to prove in court?

Test #2-ALI/MPC Test for Insanity(American Law Institute, Model Penal Code)

• ALI/MPC Test –also known as the substantial capacity test, the ALI/MPC test states a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct, as a result of mental disease or defect, he/she lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality (wrongfulness) of his/her conduct or to conform his/her conduct to the requirements of the law

(used by Federal Government and a few states)

Test #3-Irresistible Impulse Test

• The defense must show the defendant knew his or her actions were wrong and were unable to resist the urge to commit the crime.

Interview 0 to 3 min.

GBMI-Guilty But Mentally Ill• Defendant is found guilty

and is sentenced to prison for a period consistent with that verdict. Defendant receives treatment for mental health issues while in prison or is transferred to a secure mental health facility

(13 states currently use this).

Interview 18 min. to 24:50

Dennis Rader-BTK Killer

Jeffrey Dahmer1978-1991

• Serial Killer• Rapist• Body dismemberment• Cannibalism • Killed 17 boys and men• Received 15 life sentences• Killed in 1994 by fellow inmate• Dahmer Interview 0-4min.

The Four Major Risk Factors

1. Antisocial personality pattern2. History of antisocial behavior3. Antisocial attitudes4. Antisocial associates Nicole Simpson

Anti-social personality disorder• A pervasive pattern of disregard and violation of the

rights of others, occurring since age 15 years old.– Deceitfulness and manipulative-lying, conning others– Impulsive or failure to plan ahead– Aggressive/irritability-repeated fights or assaults– Reckless disregard for safety of self or others– Consistent irresponsibility-work behavior/financial

responsibility– At least 18 years old– Lack of remorse-indifferent to or rationalizing harm to others– Behaves in a ways likely to be arrested

• Outward appearance of normal behavior• Unresponsive to social control

– (Source-Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.)

Key Features of Psychopathy• Disregard for right and wrong; manipulative • Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others; superficial

charm • Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain

or for sheer personal pleasure • Intimidation, dishonesty and misrepresentation • Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, impulsiveness,

aggression or violence • Lack of empathy for others and lack of remorse about

harming others • Irresponsible work behavior • Failure to learn from the negative consequences of

behavior

FBI-ProfilingOrganized Killers Disorganized Killers

Average to above intelligence Below average intelligence

Socially competent Socially inadequate

Skilled work preferred Unskilled work

Sexually competent Sexually incompetent

High birth order status Low birth order status

Father’s work stable Father’s work unstable

Inconsistent childhood discipline Harsh discipline as a child

Controlled mood during crime Anxious mood during crime

Use of alcohol with crime Minimal use of alcohol with crime

Precipitating situational stress Minimal situational stress

Living with partner Living alone

Mobility with car in good condition Lives/works near crime scenes

Follows crime in the media Minimal interest in the media

May change jobs or leave area Significant behavioral change (drug or alcohol use)

MacDonald Triad of Serial Killers

Bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis) (after age 12)

Fire SettingCruelty to animals

Diphasic (two) Personality FormationWHO AM I?

• One phase is the fantasy life where the child has complete control and then the adult. This is the hidden personality that dreams and fantasizes about killing.

• The other phase is the shell that walks through the real world and has little energy or effort committed to it.

The Psychological Signature• Signature killers comprise the majority of

serial killers• The signature is the psychological “calling

card” or “personal stamp” that he leaves at each crime scene and what fulfills him

• The “signature,” crudely put, is “what the killer gets off on” based on years of violent dreams and fantasies

(Source: John Douglas, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2010)

The Signature• The signature is often an

unconscious pattern that may include: – type of victim selected– method used to control

the victim– types of wounds inflicted– any post-mortem activity

with the body– body disposal or dump

site

Technology to capture killers

• REJIS-Regional Justice Information Services• MULES-Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement

Service• NCIC-National Crime Information Center• HITS-Homicide Investigation Tracking System• AFIS-Automated Fingerprint Identification

System (Che Sims story)

Conclusion and Questions• Serial killers are not born violent. They

become killers after years of fantasizing about fulfilling their anti-social needs.

• The signature drives a person into a diphasic personality formation, a public personality that may seem very normal/friendly and the “human hunter” personality to satisfy deep psychological needs.

• There is no cure for serial killers.