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Mental Illness In Serial Killers

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Albert Einstein once said “Technological progress is like an axe in the hands of a pathological criminal.” Giving a criminal a device to search anyone in the entire world, can be an end to someone’s life. Criminals find way to make themselves feel better, whether it’s hurting others or themselves. There are many reasons on the possibility behind the criminal of violent perpetrators; those reasons being, they could have a mental illness, they lost people they cared about, or maybe they’re not in their right minds. Many people do have mental illnesses, but some of those people do not commit crimes. It varies because it depends what had happened in their lives. The main mental illness that criminals mainly have is schizophrenia. “Schizophrenia—a wide-ranging (and often misdiagnosed) mental illness—lists symptoms ranging from hallucination and delusions to emotional flatness and catatonia. It is one of the most common mental disorders diagnosed among criminals, especially serial killers.”(Dangerous Minds 2013-2015). Although, this illness can be treated so …show more content…

Serial killers have different vibes than the rest of the individuals. In other words, they have something encoded/implanted something in their brain to make them do what they do. “The most broadly recognized mental disorder associated with serial killing is Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD).”(Pemmet 2013). This is also one of the mental conditions, they have a trait that manipulates and exploits people. It was also said that the murderer has a low heart rate which can cause the brain to act differently than anybody else. “Schizoid and Schizotypy personality disorders are known to share similarities with schizophrenia, but again, on their own the probability of them being implicated in serial murder is low to nonexistent.” (Pemment 2013). Some symptoms are alike and it’s very hard to tell which disorder they

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Mass murderers and serial killers are nothing new to today’s society. We learn about them in TV shows, books, research papers, in our classes, etc. Psychologists have spent decades trying to uncover the truth behind these killers’ madness. Serial killers vary in their behaviors, techniques, desires, mental illnesses and their personal lives. Have you ever heard of the Tamiami Trail Killer?

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Serial Killers As the world turns graciously, killers are bound to be all around and are on the brink of murderous acts. Serial killers are known to murder a handful of people or more over a small time period. According to the FBI, more than seventy percent of serial killers are known to use drugs and alcohol, and rigorously resulting to harm of the body. Some killers are known to suffer from child abuse and are in need of stronger social skills.

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To begin with,” mental illness is a condition that impacts a person’s thinking and his or her ability to relate to others and function on a daily basis (mayo foundation for medical education and research). “Schizophrenia, borderline personality disorder, and antisocial, borderline disorder are the most broadly recognized mental disorders associated with serial killers.” Over 51 million people suffer from schizophrenia a brain disorder in which people interpret reality abnormally (psychology today). “Ed Gein, who is the inspiration for Norman Bates, David Berkowitz, who is also known as the son of man and Richard Chase, who killed people and drank their blood were all diagnosed with schizophrenia. Next is Borderline personality disorder which is characterized by impulsive behaviors, intense mood swings and feelings of low self-worth and is said to affect far more women than men.

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However, research has consistently found that certain mental health disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder and psychosis, are associated with an increased risk of violent behavior (Monahan, 1992).Studies of the relationship between mental health issues and antisocial behavior typically examine a range of behaviors, including violent crime, aggression, and substance abuse. For example, a study by Swanson and colleagues (2006) found that individuals with serious mental illness were no more likely to commit violent crimes than individuals without mental illness, but were more likely to be victims of violent crime. However, other research has found that individuals with certain mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, are at increased risk of violent behavior (Fazel et al.,

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In order for them to be considered a serial killer each kill has to be a separate event that is controlled by pleasure or psychological thrill (Research Guides: Serial Killers: Introduction, 2023). Serial killers most often become egocentric due to their lack of guilt and empathy, these classifications characterize serial killers as psychopaths (Research Guides: Serial Killers: Introduction, 2023). To hide their psychopathic tendencies and appear to be normal most killers wear a “mask of sanity”(Research Guides: Serial Killers: Introduction,

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A person may hear the word Sociopath and anticipate that they are a serial killer. However, not every person who is diagnosed with Sociopathy has the urge to dispatch all that they encounter. For example, an article was printed about a woman who was scrutinized for having Sociopathy, but she was never a serial killer. She was visiting Washington D.C. one year when she confronted a man who was inflicting her. She felt the excitement and adrenaline rush through her body as she thought the thought of choking this man to death, but she never did.

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Introduction In light of deciding whether serial killers should be placed in maximum security prisons versus mental institutions it is important to analyze of the scientific functions of one’s brain. Studies have indicated a direct correlation between serial killers and brain abnormalities but also show evidence of more functional brains with disorders having personality disorders, thus having abnormalities but lacking the title of mental insanity. While considering the brain abnormalities commonly seen in serial killers, legally speaking only one-fifth of serial killers are considered mentally insane in the court of law. Presently, The Criminal Justice System states “To be classified as legally insane, an individual must be unable to

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Due to the absence of family or having family problems, many serial killers tend to have a feeling of loneliness and find fear in all relationships and have a sensation of seeking control and killing them to prevent rejections of any kind. Childhood trauma plays a significant role in shaping the psychology of a serial killer, and understanding these past experiences can help understand why serial killers become serial killers. Mental illnesses can also play a significant role in the psychology of serial killers. The FBI talks about how there is a myth of whether serial killers have a mental condition or if they are extremely

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The various traits that define a serial murderer have evolved and been debunked throughout history. Serial killers develop what is known as the triad of symptoms in children. They frequently start fires, torture animals, and wet the bed. It is claimed that 60% of murderers wet their beds after puberty, yet this is not a significant element. Other qualities include high intelligence, an obsession with law enforcement, and authoritative people.

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Many have wondered how and why they do what they do. Many have also wondered if there was a way to identify who might become one, and if there are any warning signs to prevent them. In order to understand a psychopath or serial killer one needs to know how to define them, common

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Psychological Effects of Murder Once an individual has acted irrationally, opposite from one’s own preferences and beliefs, the individual will have a difficult time fitting into the society that they once associated themselves with. They will begin to feel isolated from their close friends and family members. This is commonly seen among criminals who do not medically suffer from a mental disorder, and have had time to reflect on their actions while incarcerated. Individuals who have committed first degree murder also have a difficult time controlling their inner thoughts and expressing their own emotions. This greatly impacts their day to day lives and often makes it unbearable for them to suppress their unconscious thoughts.

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The National Alliance on Mental Illness reports that mental health conditions are seen in 20% of state prisoners and 21% of local prisoners. These numbers do not include the 70% juveniles with various mental health conditions. Statistics show that there is an obvious correlation between your mental health and crime. Serial killers are often born with some type of mental disorder, which can be an explanation to why they inhumanely take the lives of others. Their action is just natural instinct to their disorder and can explain why individuals do unthinkable things because they are genetically inclined to

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Introduction I. Look around this school and think about exactly how many students are here daily. How would you feel if I told you that one out of every twenty five people are sociopaths(Pratt 2006).The fact of the matter is that not everyone who is a sociopath is a serial killer but oddly enough it has been proven that all serial killers are sociopaths. II. I have chosen serial killers that I found intriguing and that I thought not many people would know a lot about.

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