Jeffrey Dahmer Research Paper

Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer is one of Americas most well-known serial killer and sex offender between 1978 to 1991, also known as the “Milwaukee Cannibal”. Dahmer was diagnosed with psychotic disorder, schizotypal personality disorder, as well as borderline personality disorder, although during his trial, he was found to be legally sane. Dahmer confessed and plead quilty to 17 murders, although was only charged with 15, committed in the state of Wisconsin, resulting in life imprisonment for a total of 957 years (Jeffrey Dahmer- Serial Killer Documentary).

Jeffrey Dahmer grew up in a home with a mother, father, and younger brother. His mother was addicted to prescription drugs for anxiety, leaving her passed out and unconscious most times, and

His first kill, happened right after his high school graduation, at the age of 18. Beginning at a very young age, Dahmer showed a fascination with biology, especially by bones and death (Jeffrey Dahmer). This occurred during the concrete operational stage of his development. Due to his behavior not being reprimanded or discouraged, Dahmer then understood it to be acceptable. Taking Jean Piaget’s theory of cognitive development into consideration, Dahmer simply did not get the proper assistance in healing during his childhood (Gyr, J. W. 1967). Most forensic mental health professionals agree that animal cruelty is one of the childhood activities that correlate most strongly with psychopathic, sadistic offending (Davis, 1998; Youngstrom, 1991). Dahmer showed very early signs of abnormality but everyone thought it was just a phase, and once he was an adult, he was so isolated from society that it was difficult for anyone to notice, or

H. J. 2011). Even though found legally sane during his trial, he suffered from borderline personality disorder, which is described as a pattern of instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects, and marked impulsivity. (Tsolas, V. 2005) Dahmer meets all of the following criteria; “significant impairments in self (identity or self-direction) and interpersonal (empathy or intimacy) functioning, one or more pathological personality trait domains or trait facets, the impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are relatively stable across time and consistent across situations, the impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not better understood as normative for the individual’s developmental stage or socio- cultural environment”, and finally “the impairments in personality functioning and the individual’s personality trait expression are not solely due to the direct physiological effects of a substance” (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). He shows significant signs of all of these throughout a number of years by failing to keep relationships with his family, as well as by having extremely unhealthy relationships with his lovers over the years.