How does mental illness affect the criminal behaviour of serial killers? PDF

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An EPQ essay of 5000 words based on the research around serial killers and how various forms of mental illness affect the way they behave criminally (such as murder, various forms of assault, necrophilia etc.)....

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How does mental illness affect the criminal behaviour of serial killers? Overview: The generic answer to the aforementioned question is that various mental illnesses have a clear and almost undeniable causal link to violent and aggressive behaviour, especially that of serial offenders, more specifically those versed in homicide. Though there happens to be some other explanations and links in both biological and psychological perspectives. However, it is very apparent that often there is the unnecessary and downright harmful assumption that all people with mental illnesses are violent, potential criminals. Though the preoccupation here is not on all mentally ill people; instead it is focused on serial killers and how mental illness acts as a catalyst and is commonly a key aspect of a killer’s behaviour when they are acting illegally. Serial killers will be used in reference to those who have committed three or more serial murders over varying periods of time, as is the FBI’s definition of serial killing outlined in 1988, to involve three or more homicides committed separately with a “cooling off period” between them (Gerberth & Turco, 1997). ! All of the secondary data that will be referenced and included throughout has been researched to ensure it provides evidence and weight in terms of the links of a serial killer’s actions and their mental illness. Eysenck’s Theory is specifically relevant due to his focus on dimensions of personality, which could be argued to stem from mental illness, and how they can combine to form a criminal personality. There is application to speculate on his theory and to apply it to the actions of criminals and speculate how their personality affects the way they kill. Also, there will be some mention of illnesses, as analysed by medical professionals, which suggest that many mental illnesses cause violent behaviour which could, and have, progressed to crime. Overall, there will be a generalised definition of ‘criminal behaviour’ as there are numerous ways in which serial killers behave and many researched convicted serial killers have proven to display a

greater psychopathology, which is a clear indication of mental illness. Though there will be some mention of obsessive behaviours that stem from mental illness as well. Thus, the mental illnesses that will be included are predominantly those which have explicit links to violence, such as antisocial personality disorder. ! Literature Review: The research that has been conducted in the form of secondary data and includes numerous internet articles, published theories such as Eysenck’s Theory of Criminal Personality and a thesis on serial killer development all relate to criminal behaviour and can be speculated on and linked to serial murderers and mental illness’ impact on these behaviours. ! This research culminates in the conclusion that serial killers with advanced psychopathology and suggestions of mental illness have a greater likelihood of behaving violently and impulsively, both in general and when they are committing crimes. From this it can be assumed that these types of killers will lack strong motives due to their impulsive natures and will often act irrationally without feelings of guilt or remorse for any violent and aggressive actions. It goes without saying that the majority of research into the mentality of serial killers will have been mainly preoccupied with recognised serial killers whose heinous acts have become documented in the academia of sociology, psychology and medicine. However, this doesn’t mean to say that the research on these killers and their mental backgrounds is not without its controversies and claims, therefore some of the research will be fairly reliable, while others seemingly questionable. There is proof of a clear relationship between mental illness and violent criminal behaviour, though there is understandably some hyperbole when producing information on the subject. For this project, the most reliable and sound evidence will be put forward, and it should be recognised that the evidence and research that exists is solely based on convicted criminals. !

There is quite an interest nowadays among many people in society regarding serial killers of both the past and the present, and in their methods, motives, and backgrounds as people. Criminal psychology has become truly relevant in recent years and can provide some insight on the backgrounds of serial killers, for example their mental illnesses (if they have them) and how this links to their methods and motives when they are engaging in criminal activities, more specifically homicides. ! One form of mental illness that is highly relevant is antisocial personality disorder (better known as sociopathy). People with this illness are said to feel no remorse or guilt for their actions and often provoke, exploit, and antagonise others. It is said they “often violate the law” (Mayo Clinic, 2019) and become criminals because of this, and they have violent, uninhibited behaviours which could be assumed to translate into their offences. Thus, it could be suggested that perhaps a serial killer with antisocial personality disorder would behave impulsively, likely lacking strong motives and behaving aggressively in their murders. ! There has been recognition of some key factors, identified by the Grounded Theory Method, in books written about famous serial killers such as Gary Ridgway, Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez, that may prove a link to their criminal activity, that being trauma and neurological complications (Sharma, 2018). These are likely to carry a causal link to mental illness as we know it today, which is a clear motivator in terms of the murderous escapades of these particular serial killers. There are clear obsessive behaviours relating to the copious numbers of victims of these men, for example Ridgway claimed to have up to 80 victims and Ramirez had 15 victims in a small span of just two years and his stalking tendencies are more than enough evidence. ! Furthermore, “studies find greater psychopathology among violent offenders, especially convicted homicide offenders, and higher rates of violence perpetration and victimisation among those with mental illness. Emotion dysregulation may be one way in which mental illness contributes to violent and/or criminal

behaviour” (Webermann, Brand, 2017). This government-produced article shows an unquestionable link between emotion dysregulation (caused by mental illness) and violent criminal behaviour, which can also be applied to convicted serial killers. It is clear and generally agreed that there is somewhat of a link between mental illness and the potential for violence and this theory can be projected onto serial killers. However, there is a lack of research and overall accordance with the exact symptoms and psychopathology that lead to violence. There has been a myriad of studies on psychopathology among convicted homicide offenders, using arrest records, which report the types of mental illnesses that were represented in the studies. For example, Flynn et al. (2011) used the UK and Wales National Confidential Inquiry into Suicide and Homicide by People with Mental Illness (NCI) between 1997 and 2004 studying a population of 4752 convicted offenders who were 90% male. This study showed that 8.22% had substance abuse disorder, 6.71% had personality disorder, 6.32% with mood disorder, 5.8% with schizophrenia and 68.33% showed no diagnosis. We can see that although there are small percentages with mental disorders, there is a similar amount for each of the disorders. Rodway et al. (2014) used the same resource as Flynn between 2003 and 2005 and found that among a population of 28 convicted offenders, 90% being male once again, 50% had schizophrenia or delusional disorder, 21% had personality disorder, 15% with substance abuse disorder, 4% with mood disorder and 10% showed no diagnosis (Webermann, Brand, 2017). There is a stark difference in these two studies, part of this can be explained by the vast difference in the sizes of the population, which will heavily impact how representative the data that has been obtained is. However, it can obviously be assumed that there is somewhat of a link between mental illness or disorders and criminal behaviour, in the case of these studies, homicidal tendencies. Although it cannot be questioned that there is a correlation between serial killers and mental illness, there are still questions as to the connection between the effect of mental illness and the ways serial killers choose to kill their victims and what their motives were. “Psychological disorders such as depression, stress and mental health problems in general, can sometimes result in violent

behaviour (Whitman & Akutagawa, 2004)” (Lee, 2014). This idea that mental illness can result in violent behaviour allows the assumption that serial killers who have mental illnesses have the ability to act violently when committing homicides. ! Eysenck and his theories are particularly important in modern psychology, one of his main studies is focused on dimensions of personality and behaviour. There has been a rise of models of personality which aim to identify and categorise signs and traits of abnormal behaviour. By applying these models to behaviours deemed as abnormal, such as anti-social behaviour and criminal activities, we can designate criminal behaviour to corresponding personality traits (Bundy, 2015). The evaluation and use of these models such as the HEXACO model of personality, the Eysenckian PEN model and the Big 5 to categorise criminal behaviours with personality traits (which may link to mental illness) initiates investigation into intervention and prevention. Eysenck’s Theory of Criminal Personality claims that personality is biologically based and that there are dimensions of extraversion and neuroticism that make up personality traits which can be measured with a personality questionnaire. Extraversion is a biological need for a high or low level of environmental stimulation, based on the arousal level in both central and autonomic nervous systems. So, if people have elevated levels of extraversion, they need more stimulation from the environment, which could include criminal behaviour. Neuroticism is about the stability of personality and someone with high neuroticism could be reactive and volatile and potentially more likely to engage in criminally offending behaviour. There is now another dimension identified by Eysenck as psychoticism which relates to anti-social, aggressive, and uncaring elements of behaviour. Eysenck (1964) believed there was a criminal personality that would include those who scored highly on all three dimensions of personality (tutor2u, 2018). This existence of a criminal personality with such prominent levels of psychoticism, neuroticism, and extraversion (not in all cases it could be argued) could suggest a clear link to mental illness as in some cases personality could be said interpreted as unstable and easily volatile, as well as aggressive. With such an obvious potential link of mental

illness to criminal personality there is little question that this can be related to serial killers and how the criminal personality of aggression and violence from volatile traits leads to them killing. However, there is significant controversy surrounding Eysenck’s theories as individuals who score elevated levels of psychoticism are usually linked to criminal acts but without any reference to the procedure used by Eysenck. For example, whether it is self-reports of the population as a whole or samples of offenders, levels of neuroticism are higher among criminals than those of the general population and in samples of self-reports extraversion is higher within the general population rather than offender samples (SAGE, 2014). ! “Researchers have (also) compared criminals with antisocial versus borderline personality disorders and found some differences in the nature of their crimes.” (Sansone, 2009). It was found by Barros et al that criminals who have clinical antisocial personality disorder tend to be more conniving and plan with thought towards details. On the other hand, it was found that those with borderline personality disorder were much more impulsive and unpredictably violent in their actions (Sansone, 2009). This study could lead to the presumption that killers with antisocial personality disorder are more likely to be methodical in their actions and more meticulous in their planning and may have a more well-thought-out motive in terms of their murders. ! Though psychopathy is not officially a mental illness, it is often seen as one and is diagnosed as a remarkably similar disorder, therefore for the purpose of this project psychopathy will be considered as somewhat of a mental illness. In a study which was led by Stone, 86.5% of the serial killers that were researched met the Hare criteria for psychopathy in terms of personality traits, and roughly 50% showed signs of ‘schizoid’ personality in terms of the definition set out by the Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-IV). As well as this, 87.5% of the participants were deemed as having sadistic personality disorder. All of the killers that were involved in this research were male and their murders were of a sexual nature. 93% of the killers that showed psychopathy were

also found to have sadistic personality disorder, while 50% of them were found to be ‘schizoid’. These three subgroups (‘schizoid,’ sadistic, psychopathic) are all types of personality disorder according to the Hare criteria (Morana, Stone, Abdhalla-Filho, 2006), ergo it can be assumed that the mental disorders seen in these killers were highly likely to affect their murders and the motives for them, thus driving the offenders to kill while consequently involving sexual elements. ! There are two groups that etiological theories about serial killers are separated into, the one that is most relevant in this case is the psychological perspective. These generally cogitate on mental illnesses or disorders, trauma stemming from childhood and other influences in reference to observational learning and how behaviour is witnessed and replicated. Research on the psychological elements and explanations of serial killing link to the plausibility of childhood occurrences, especially abuse and abandonment, being the predominant catalyst that leads someone down the path of serial killing. Some research which subsidizes the theory that physical and psychological abuse gives rise to the evolution of serial killers is a study by Cleary and Luxenburg (1993) with more than 60 serial killers, which showed a pervasive part of the killers’ childhoods contained some form of abuse. To further this, studies on the influence of childhood abuse on adults who later become serial killers showed that those who were abused emotionally, physically, and sexually were “three times more likely” than those who were not victims of abuse to behave with “extreme” violence in adulthood (Dutton & Hart, 1992). The paradigm of abuse and neglect has the potential to lead to the progression of mental illness and it has been suggested by multiple researchers, Weatherby, Buller, McGinnis (2009), that there is an explicit, considerable link between mental disorders and violent crime. Weatherby et al. (2009) maintain that the inability of those with schizophrenia to identify emotion through facial expressions, along with other symptoms of the illness, affects their ability to function in social situations, and increases potential for criminal behaviour, especially that which is violent due to their impairment in terms of social functioning. A symptom of schizophrenia that is of further

relevance is delusions, which can easily be seen as potential causation for serial killing behaviour. There are also links to serial killing behaviour with other mental illnesses such as antisocial personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder and borderline personality disorder. It has been established by researchers that serial murderers are manipulative, deceitful but disguised as “charming,” as well as impulsive and a lack of feelings of remorse. These traits are signs of antisocial personality disorder and other similar illnesses. (Sharma, 2018). ! We can see that many infamous criminals who have has moments of infamy in the media have been diagnosed with mental illnesses and we can potentially link these illnesses to their crimes. Schizophrenia is one mental disorder that is one of the most commonly diagnosed in criminals, especially serial killers, to be diagnosed with. There are many symptoms of this illness, some of which are hallucinations, delusion, and detachment from emotional processes. Some examples of serial killers who have been diagnosed with schizophrenia are David Berkowitz (also known as the “Son of Sam”) who had six victims and claimed his neighbour’s dog had told him to do it, Ed Gein was the influence of fictional killers Norman Bates, Leatherface and Buffalo Bill, Gein mutilated and killed his victims while keeping “trophies”, James Eagen Holmes is currently on trial for the “Batman murders” and has been diagnosed with schizophrenia by 20 different doctors (Forensics Colleges, 2015). The ways these men have killed can be analysed and links may be formed between their methods and the fact that they have been diagnosed with schizophrenia. For example, Berkowitz’s diagnosis with paranoid schizophrenia is a clear link to his motive for killing as he claimed he did so because his neighbour’s dog ‘told him to.’ The next disorder that has been the diagnosis of some notorious killers is borderline personality disorder which has traits of impulsivity, powerful mood swings and struggles with close relationships and it seems to be more prominent in women. Some well-known killers that have been diagnosed with this illness are Aileen Wuornos, who inspired the movie “Monster,” committed seven murders, and was also diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder, Jeffrey Dahmer, infamous for his cannibalistic

tendencies, he also struggled with considerable substance abuse, and Kristen H. Gibert who had four victims at a hospital where she worked, she delivered fatal doses of epinephrine to the patients (Forensics Colleges, 2015). This disorder and the impulsiveness that appears as one of its traits may lead to the lack of a tactical motive and may lead to more opportunistic killings. Another mental disorder that has been seen in some of the most merciless serial killers of the United States is antisocial personality disorder. This is very prominent in prison populations, shown in up to 47% of male inmates and up to 21% of female inmates, the main trait of this illness is disregard for emotions of others and means that people may act aggressively without remorse and lie easily, also they are prone to offending behaviour. Three main serial killers that have been diagnosed with this mental disorder are Ted Bundy, the infamous serial killer and necrophile of the 1970s, John Wayne Gacy who raped and killed 33 victims in the same decade, and Charles Manson who was the leader and instrumental director of murders in his cult (Forensics Colleges, 2015). The aggressive trait of antisocial personality disorder suggests that killers with this disorder may be more likely to act violently in their murders without a second thought towards their actions. ! One serial killer who is relevant to this topic is also a rather infamous figure, Tsutomu Miyazaki, more famously known as the Otaku Killer. Miyazaki, who is now deceased, was a Japanese “vampirist” serial killer who was also a paedophile, necrophile, abductor and once cannibal. He had a total of four victims and during his trial in court he blamed his actions on what he called “Rat Man,” an alter ego who apparently coerced him into committing the murders. The killer targeted young girls between four and seven years old and would choose his victims based on opportunity in order to abduct and isolate them, before killing them by strangulation. His signature was to leave silent phone calls to the families of his victims and would keep “trophies” of their clothing and body parts. In terms of his mental health, psychologists diagnosed ...