Podcast Summary
Understanding the Mind of a Serial Killer: Serial killers are individuals who kill multiple people, often for sexual gratification, and their motivations and methods vary greatly. Forensic psychologists like Dr. Louis Schlesinger study their behavior to better understand this phenomenon.
Serial killers, such as those discussed in the podcast like the Gilgo Beach killer and infamous figures like Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy, are individuals who kill people in a series, most commonly for sexual gratification. It's important to note that there are different types of serial killers, including those motivated by money or power, and the dynamics, motivations, and methods vary greatly. The term "serial killer" refers to any individual who kills multiple people over time, but the focus of public fascination and research is often on the sexual serial killer. Understanding the motivations and methods of these individuals is a complex issue, and requires the expertise of professionals like forensic psychologist Dr. Louis Schlesinger, who dedicates his career to studying this phenomenon.
Serial Sexual Murder: Killing for Sexual Gratification: Serial sexual murder is the repetitive act of killing for sexual gratification, involving a fusion of sex and aggression. Reasons for this behavior are complex, possibly influenced by biological, psychological, and environmental factors.
Serial sexual murder is a complex phenomenon that is not well-defined or understood. It is not listed as a paraphilia in diagnostic manuals, and there are no national statistics on its occurrence. Serial sexual murder is defined as the act of killing repetitively for sexual gratification, and it involves a fusion of sex and aggression. Human sexuality is diverse, and this behavior can be seen as another form of abnormal sexual arousal. The aggressive act itself becomes eroticized, and the sexual instinct is very strong. Serial sexual killers compulsively repeat their crimes, and the sexual gratification they seek goes beyond just killing. The reasons why people become serial sexual killers are not fully understood, but it is believed that a combination of biological, psychological, and environmental factors may contribute.
Understanding the Complexity of Serial Sexual Murder: Serial sexual murder is a rare and complex phenomenon with no clear-cut causes or personality traits, requiring ongoing research to understand motivations and behaviors.
Serial sexual murder is a complex phenomenon with no clear-cut causes or personality traits. It's not due to trauma or poor parenting, and it's been documented since the 1800s. The best understanding we have is that it's a biopsychosocial phenomenon with a heavy emphasis on neurobiology. However, it's important to note that the number of people who become serial sexual murderers is very small. Despite its popularization in media, there have been very few empirical studies on the disorder in the past 20 years, with only 22 peer-reviewed articles published. There are generally two types of individuals who commit sexual murder: those who plan their crimes carefully and leave little physical evidence, and those who act out spontaneously. Understanding the motivations and personality traits of serial sexual murderers remains a complex and ongoing area of research.
Understanding the Difference Between Psychopathy and Sociopathy: Psychopaths lack emotional attachment and plan complex crimes, while sociopaths act on impulses due to personality disorders. Both may struggle with remorse.
The distinction between psychopathy and sociopathy, though often used interchangeably, holds significance in understanding criminal behavior. Psychopaths, who may appear normal with a "mask of sanity," lack emotional attachment to others and can plan and inhibit their impulses, leading to a higher number of victims and more complex crimes. Sociopaths, on the other hand, have less planning ability and may act on impulses due to disorders like borderline personality or schizotypal personality. The official diagnosis for such disorders is Antisocial Personality Disorder, but psychopathy and sociopathy are important concepts in understanding criminal behavior. It's important to note that a personality disorder does not cause someone to commit violent acts, but rather influences how they are carried out. Regarding remorse, both psychopaths and sociopaths can feel emotions, but their ability to experience and express remorse or regret may be impaired due to their underlying disorders.
Understanding the Complexity of Serial Killers' Remorse: Serial killers, often men, can hide their crimes from loved ones and society, expressing remorse when caught or not at all. Their intelligence levels vary, debunking the myth of them being evil geniuses.
Determining the remorse of serial sexual murderers is a complex issue. While some may express regret when caught, others may not feel any remorse towards their victims or themselves. These individuals, who are predominantly men, often have a mask of normality and can form attachments to people, leading some to have an entourage. Contrary to popular belief, many are married or in committed relationships, with their partners often unaware of their crimes. The public's perception of serial killers as evil geniuses with high IQs is not accurate, as many have average or below-average intelligence and do not use their intelligence in productive ways to carry out their murders. The complexity of this disorder goes beyond that of conditions like depression or PTSD.
Female Serial Killers and their Motivations: Despite common belief, female serial killers' motivations differ from male serial killers and are not always sexual in nature. Limited research exists, and misconceptions from media and folklore can hinder investigations.
The abduction is the hardest part of a serial killer's crime for them, making sex workers an often targeted group due to their job description. However, female serial killers are rarely sexual in their motivations, and the profile of female serial killers differs significantly from that of male serial killers. There is limited research on this topic, and misinformation from media and folklore can potentially harm investigations by altering the killers' plans. Contrary to popular belief, serial sexual killers do not always have a distinct signature, and the concept is more complex than often portrayed in fiction. My research, published in the Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and Law in 2010, supports this notion.
Serial killers exhibit unique behaviors towards some victims: 70% of serial killers display an unusual act with one victim, which varies in timing and nature, challenging assumptions and emphasizing the importance of comprehensive research
The behavior of serial killers is not consistent across all their victims. In fact, in 70% of cases, a serial killer will perform an unusual act with one victim that they do not repeat with others in the series. This could be something as significant as mutilation or something more subtle. The timing of this unique behavior also varies, with some killers doing it in the beginning, middle, or end of their spree. These findings challenge common assumptions and highlight the importance of thorough research in understanding the complexities of serial killers' behavior. It's important to note that while it's possible to develop a profile of a serial killer based on their behavior, such profiles cannot be used as definitive evidence in court due to the lack of scientific evidence meeting the legal standards for admissibility. Additionally, there have been limited studies on the brains of serial killers due to ethical concerns and the scarcity of accessible cases.
Understanding Serial Sexual Murderers: Serial sexual murderers don't always have a history of sexual assault or rape, but a conviction is common. They often seek to hide their identity, not seek fame.
While studying certain disorders or criminal behaviors may require access to specific facilities or resources, such as VA hospitals for PTSD or rehab centers for alcoholism, research on serial sexual murderers presents unique challenges. Contrary to popular belief, these offenders do not necessarily have a history of sexual assault or rape, but if they do sexually penetrate a homicide victim in their series, there is an 80% chance they have a conviction for sexual assault or rape in their rap sheet. This information can be invaluable in investigations when other background details may not be readily available. Additionally, contrary to the media portrayal, serial sexual killers do not necessarily desire fame, but rather strive to hide their identity to continue their crimes. However, some may engage in actions that increase the likelihood of getting caught. It's important to note that while some serial sexual murderers may target victims based on specific physical characteristics, this is a rare occurrence.
Serial killers often don't confess to their crimes: Half of serial killers don't confess, instead they keep their secrets, revealing them to family or in suicide notes
Vulnerability and routine behavior patterns can make individuals targets for criminal obsession, and this vulnerability may not always be obvious. Serial killers sometimes confess to crimes they didn't commit, but this is an aberration. Most serial killers don't confess, and their motivations for acting out on their violent sexual fantasies often involve a precipitating factor. While many people have disturbing sexual fantasies, the number of those who act on them is much smaller. The study on serial killers and their confessions is ongoing, but initial findings suggest that 50% of them don't confess to the police. Instead, they keep quiet, revealing their secrets to family members or in suicide notes. Understanding these patterns can help us better identify and protect potential victims and bring perpetrators to justice.
Understanding the Complexities of Serial Sexual Killings: DNA evidence plays a crucial role in investigating and prosecuting serial sexual killings, but it's not always available and the causes are complex and multifaceted, involving psychological factors and precipitating events.
The causes of serial sexual killings are complex and multifaceted, often involving precipitating events and fragile male psychology. DNA evidence has become a game-changer in investigating and prosecuting these crimes due to its persuasive nature in court, but it's not always available. Lastly, the fascination with serial sexual killers and their crimes disproportionately affects women, who make up a large portion of crime show viewers. They are drawn to these cases to learn how to avoid becoming victims and to satisfy their curiosity about the intricacies of the human mind.
Understanding the Emotional Impact of Child Abuse Cases: Empathy and intervention are crucial in addressing the complex and disturbing issues of child abuse, including identifying red flags and preventing future tragedies.
The death of a child is a devastating experience for families, communities, and even entire countries. When a child's death is the result of heinous acts, such as sexual gratification or other forms of violence, the emotional impact can be especially profound. Women, who may be more empathetic and understanding, often become deeply involved in trying to understand the backgrounds of those responsible and working to prevent such tragedies in the future. From a mental health perspective, identifying and addressing red flags such as sexual burglaries and repetitive fire setting can help prevent the development of such cases. The speaker, Dr. Schlesinger, emphasized the importance of empathy and intervention in addressing these complex and disturbing issues. Speaking of Psychology is a podcast produced by the American Psychological Association, exploring various topics related to psychology and mental health. For more information, visit www.speakingofpsychology.org or subscribe on Apple, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get podcasts.
