ipl-logo

What Are The Top Three Mental Illnesses In A Serial Killer

1490 Words6 Pages

Inside the Mind
Numerous case studies have been conducted, but none of them have succeeded in identifying the primary driver of a killer's motivation. Scientists have been attempting to identify the primary cause of what motivates someone to create such chaos for centuries. Despite the fact that there are numerous mental illnesses worldwide, all serial killers suffer from at least one of the top three mental illnesses. A significant part of this is played by biological factors, one of which is the transmission of some illnesses which puts that person at a higher risk but not probable to it. Someone who experienced abuse as a child has the possibility that they will grow up behaving erratically.
Top Three Mental Illnesses in a Serial Killer
Serial killers' actions, especially their methods, and mental illness have frequently occurred throughout history, they kill for their own delight and don't care about the consequences. The most difficult thing to comprehend is that serial killers are also others who also suffer from sadness. Individuals who are severely diagnosed with Schizophrenia, Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD), and as well as Antisocial …show more content…

Their thinking, feeling, social, and behavioral process is very different from those who don't have it. Paranoia and delusions brought on by mental illness might result in violent action. Many serial killers who have been interviewed said that things would talk to them and give instructions. In the article called, “The Correlation Of Serial Killers And Mental Illness,” it is stated that the, “...Son of Sam serial killer David Berkowitz claimed to suffer from Schizophrenia and blamed his killing spree on his neighbor's dog who he also claimed was actually Satan, who then instructed him to” (P.g. 1). This quote is a good example of someone who has Schizophrenia, Berkowitz had no sense of what was real and

Show More
Related
1305 Words | 6 Pages

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?

Read More
879 Words | 4 Pages

Just as the heroin addicts need for a fix may drive him to steal, the serial killers commitment to the fantasy pushes him or her to murder. In short, the cycle of the serial killer is no different from the cycle of any other addict, the ending outcome being functionally the same as the heroin addict’s

Read More
1904 Words | 8 Pages

We can all come to an agreement that serial killers are both horrendous and unpredictable human beings. Most acts of violence we hear about are committed by serial killers. Unsatisfied with their previous actions, serials killers look to execute more victims. In most cases, the upbringing of the individual plays a huge role on the killer. Because of their twisted techniques and motives, some of these killers are infamously known to be the most frightening criminals in history.

Read More
2082 Words | 9 Pages

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.,

Read More
1271 Words | 6 Pages

Cases that involve an unidentified serial killer can be hard if the law enforcement doesn’t understand the psychological mind of a serial killer. The psychological mind may seem confusing, but someone can look at smaller parts of becoming a serial killer to help better understand the situation as a whole. Each small area plays an important role in the psychological mind of a serial killer, and each area will have a different effect on that person. First, someone has to know and understand what a serial killer and a psychopath is. Although a serial killer may not be classified as a psychopath, they will still show the traits of one meaning it is important to understand both.

Read More
751 Words | 4 Pages

Along with depression and dementia, the various illnesses defined as psychotic disorders are significant factors in relation to gun violence. It is terrifying to learn that people suffering from these disorders are allowed to carry guns and use them as they please. Psychotic disorders are a collection of severe mental illnesses, including identity disorder, agoraphobia, and most prominently, schizophrenia and bipolar syndrome. Wynne calls schizophrenia “a pervasive impairment in bioprocessing,” meaning that the illness diminishes certain brain functions of a person. He suggests that a patient of schizophrenia might believe that everyone is out to kill them.

Read More
2450 Words | 10 Pages

There are different types of serial killers; some are worse than others. People often wonder why these people do certain things, for example, why they target specific people, or what has influenced their behavior. Taking a deeper look into serial killers a lot can be learned about their childhood and what may have led to them turning out the way they did. Most of the time they do not just wake up one day and decide to kill someone; rather, they are influenced by something or someone. It all starts with looking at their childhood, what their addiction turns into, and what happens to them in the end.

Read More
952 Words | 4 Pages

Mental illness significantly affects many around the world. In fact, about four-hundred and fifty million people worldwide suffer from one or more of the different known mental illnesses. That is one in every four people. Severe mental health issues such as severe anxiety disorder, antisocial personality disorder, schizophrenia, or sensory perception disorder are illnesses which are common among the people responsible for the numerous mass shootings in America. Many believe the possession of firearms in the hands of the mentally ill are the real cause of mass shootings.

Read More
1063 Words | 5 Pages

For one, Devin P. Kelley, who had assaulted both his wife and stepson before committing a shooting in Suther Springs, Texas. This link, while not as complex as the mental illness one, shows that it would be a good idea to look into someone’s past violence. Victor includes a quote from Paul Gill, from University College London which explains this pretty well, stating “‘Having a history of violence might help neutralize the natural barriers to committing violence’” (). Next, Victor writes about the sense of grievance found within the perpetrators.

Read More
1842 Words | 8 Pages

Madison King Mrs. Rose SUNY English 101 22 December 2022 Are Serial Killers Born or Made? Why do people do the things they do? More specifically, why do they kill? Serial killers have been around since as early as the 1800’s, and over time, they’ve developed new methods and practices making themselves more skilled, unique, and difficult to catch.

Read More
1329 Words | 6 Pages

Serial killers that have experienced death at an early age in childhood can suffer from fractured identity syndrome. A serial killer who has had trauma in adolescent years can cause a much more visible fracture in their personality. Following incidents after the trauma can cause the person to explode with their emotion or possibly irrational and harmful things to themselves or others. Given the effect of childhood and the abuse as well as everything that has happened it is implied that something within the person will affect their mental state.

Read More
647 Words | 3 Pages

In the case of the Aurora Colorado shooting, the perpetrator, James Holmes was seeing a psychiatrist that specialized in schizophrenia. He walked into the theater and opened fired. His classmates commented that he would laugh randomly and loudly at nonevents. He struggled to show basic emotions in his early childhood. He even wrote a disturbing story about an old women that hid a gun in her cane and killed wantonly.

Read More
1471 Words | 6 Pages

Many people believe that the main cause of mass shootings are the people who are doing it have a mental health problem, and sometimes they might even be right, but not everyone who has been involved in a mass shooting has had mental health problems. “...data shows that, at most, only around 5 percent of crimes in the U.S. are performed by people with mental illness and that the percentage is the same for violent crimes (link is external)—which means that 95 percent of violent crimes are committed by non-mentally ill individuals” (Psychology Today). There are cases that support that some people have had severe mental health issues, such as schizophrenia. Yet, there are also cases that prove there is very little evidence linking mental health and mass shootings together. There are very few mental illnesses that would make a person want to go and commit such a murder.

Read More
1886 Words | 8 Pages

Looking through multiple studies and scans, killers brains either under or over compensate. The Dana Foundation conducted a brain study on twenty-two serial killers. In the PET scans they discovered a trend, abnormal prefrontal cortexes, under performing. Taking into account an under performing frontal cortex this causes a few things to happen in the brain. The amygdala, an almond shaped structure in the brain, responsible for controlling and feeling emotions, is one of the subcortical structures deep in the brain affected.

Read More
577 Words | 3 Pages

Much of the criminal activity that takes place today is heavily related to the lack of treatment for mental illness. According to the US National Library of Medicine, approximately 60% of shooter in mass shootings that took place in the United States after 1970 displayed symptoms of acute paranoia, delusions, and depression before committing their inhumane acts. I am sure that most of you are aware of the Sandy Hook shooting that took place on December 12, 2012. The perpetrator, Adam Lanza took the innocent lives of 20 students as well as the lives of 6 staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Connecticut. Lanza had displayed key signs of mental illness as young as the age of three.

Read More

More about What Are The Top Three Mental Illnesses In A Serial Killer

Related Topics

Open Document