Jeffrey Dahmer was a serial killer and sexual offender who committed his crimes between 1978 and 1991 and is widely known to this day. After sexually abusing, murdering, and dismembering his 17 male victims he was found to perform sexual acts to the corpse or even consume them. This gave way to his well known name of the “Milwaukee Cannibal”. Though given multiple diagnoses during trial he was deemed sane and sentenced to 17 life sentences in prison. As a young child, Dahmer was neglected by both of his parents. His mother, Joyce Dahmer, suffered from various illnesses and stayed in bed for weeks while his father, Lionel Dahmer, worked at a university which consumed most of his time. Jeffrey’s parents also had marital problems causing arguments …show more content…
Dahmer’s behavior can be explained with the help of psychopathy. Dahmer clearly demonstrates need for stimulation/prone to boredom, conning/manipulative, and pathological lying which are all apart of the psychopathy test. Dahmer’s need for stimulation is seen continuously through his alcohol abuse all throughout high school and his adult life. This constant intake of alcohol could have impaired Jeffrey’s judgement, cause him to act more impulsively, and long term alcohol abuse can cause damage to his brain or other internal organs. Dahmer also exhibits his need for stimulation through his 17 male murders executed throughout many years. Since Jeffrey is prone to boredom he acted in a way that would overall excite him which most see as morally wrong.Conning/manipulation is consistently shown through his murders. He lured his victims away from the public's eye through manipulating them. Psychopathy usually looks for consistency across each criminal act in the way they act or react to situations. Throughout Dahmer’s criminal behaviors we can clearly see that he consistently manipulated all 17 of his male victims. Dahmer also pathologically lied throughout his life including when he told one of his teachers the guidance counselor was aware of his alcohol abuse due to his problems at home and during one of his murders. He lied to police stating one of his victims, who was clearly intoxicated, and him were romantically involved and brought him back to his home where he proceeded to knock unconscious and murder