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The Psychology of Serial Killers

Jacqueline Llamas

Fender
English IV (3)
11/ 23/ 16

Cultivating a Killer: The Psychology of a Serial Killer

I.

Introduction
A. Thesis: Are childhood traumas responsible for creating serial
killers? Thesis: While serial killers are outliers of human behavior and therefore

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hard to categorize, many have personality disorders which are caused by factors
II.

III.

IV.

such as childhood trauma.

Serial killers are outliers of human behavior
A. Not every serial killer fits the same profile
1. Common characteristics
a) List those characteristics
2. Nature vs Nurture
a) Define nature vs. nurture
b) Give some examples
Personality disorders
A. Define Personality Disorder
1. List the different personality disorders
2. Highlight Antisocial Personality Disorder
B. What Behaviors are visible in different personality disorders
1. Habits
Development of personality disorders
A. Childhood trauma
1. Examples
B. Social factors
1. Examples
C. Restated Thesis:

Final Thoughts

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Jacqueline Llamas
Ms. Fender
English IV Honors
23 November 2016
What creates a serial killer?
Serial killers do on a small scale what governments do in a large one. They are a product
of the times and these are blood thirsty times. Even psychopaths have emotions if you dig deep
enough, but then again maybe they dont quoted by serial killer Richard Ramirez, dubbed the
Night Stalker. When people think of serial killers they often ask themselves How could
someone end up like that? And although we like to say that its because they were born that
way, we seem to forget all of the mental aspects that come with the desire to kill.
Some mental illnesses are developed through time and when given certain environmental
settings, they can develop quicker and more severe. Research has shown that the adolescent
period is the period of continuous brain growth and change that occurs between the ages of

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twelve to thirteen (Giedd 861). At that age, being exposed to certain things could be the trigger
of something that changes and stays imprinted in our brains. Childhood encompasses more than
just a childs home life. Some serial killers actually had nice and supportive families that were in
shock to find out that their sweet child could be capable of such a thing. Serial killers, Ted
Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer are good examples of this. What is interesting about these two killers
is that, at a young age, they discovered things outside of their home, that they say, triggered these
urges and started their obsessions. Ted Bundy said in an interview that the things he learned as a
child were not enough to hold him back from his criminal urges. Both Dahmer and Bundy have
stated that people should not blame their parents for what theyve become because they
themselves made those decisions and are taking full responsibility for them. There were some
serial killers who took no responsibility for their actions and blamed their parents for the way
they turned out; The only thing my mother taught me was that everything she said was a lie and
I learned never to believe anyone about anything quoted by Charles Manson, an American cult
leader who carried out several notorious murderers in the late 60s ("Charles Manson."). Charles
Manson was one out of the many serial killers who had a troubling childhood. He was much
more open about the effects that his mother had on him.
During trials or interviews, many of these killers tended to keep calm, sometimes they
would smile at the memory of their brutal killings, and sometimes they had no emotions at all. At
young ages, mainly around the ages of nine and fifteen, family members or classmates usually
noticed a change in behavior; going from a normal kid to a quiet and isolated one. From this

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age, most of these killers have already been influenced by people or things. Whether it be from
stories they were told, or from something they found along their walk to school that intrigued
them to the point of obsession. Although their behavior was odd, There were usually no concerns
or warning signs that these kids would become killers.
What is interesting about these killers is that not every single one of them fits the exact
same profile, they all have things that make them different from each other, which is what makes
it hard for people to know exactly what types of behaviors are correlated with a killer. Dahmer
was very quiet and introverted but acted so normal, that no one suspected anything that he was
doing. While Charles Manson, expressed his anger and feelings of abandonment by his mother,
by running away and committing petty crimes.
Serial killers can follow the same patterns. Before actually committing crimes, many of
these killers experimented with drugs and began drinking. Consuming a lot of alcohol can affect
the brain as much as it can affect any other part of the body. It can affect the parts of the brain
that control movement, memory, judgement and speech. Dahmer, Bundy and John Wayne Gacy
were heavy drinkers and most of their killings happened after consuming too much alcohol. They
all held in their temptations and their urges. Killing was on their minds but since they were in
control of their actions, they wouldn't act on them as much as they would after they consumed
alcohol. Drugs was a big part of some of their actions too. Certain drugs can affect the way a
person thinks and if a person is already having fantasies about killing people then obviously, the
effects of drugs are going to be serious. Along with drug and alcohol abuse, most of these killers

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witnessed domestic violence between parents or family members. As a kid when we see things
like these we sometimes repeat the action because it is what we think is right. They shared
fantasies, and were pretty isolated while growing up.
Nature vs Nurture is an ongoing debate in psychology. Nature, in this case, is the belief
that our behavior is influenced by genetics and other biological factors. Eye color, having
straight or curly hair, our skin color are all functions of genes that we inherit. It has been proven
that genetics are an important factor in the development of some mental illnesses, including
schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and major depression. Although theres no denying that genes
are an important factor to the development of mental illnesses; mental illnesses are not entirely
genetic. For example twins share genes, but if one twin develops schizophrenia, the other twin
has a 50% chance of developing schizophrenia as well. One study done on twins showed that
genetics had a significant role on their personality; environment had little effect when they were
raised together, but it did have an effect when they were raised apart.
Nurture, in this ongoing debate, is the influence from external factors after experience
and learning on an individual. A child will learn from his or her mistakes as they grow up, by the
time they are older to understand, they will have a better concept of right and wrong and have
behavioral differences. Certain genetic mental illnesses may have an effect on whether or not a
person develops this mental illness, but this could be prevented by the environment in which they
are surrounded. When genes indicate the possibility of the development of mental illness, This
information could be used to help with avoiding negative behavior which would help the

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condition either not develop or develop but not as harshly as it would if these children were
surrounded with a negative environment.
Some of these mental illnesses could be personality disorders. Personality disorders are
deeply ingrained and maladaptive patterns of behaviors of a specified kind, typically manifested
by the time one reaches adolescence and causing long- term difficulties in personal relationships
or in functioning in society. There are ten specific types of personality disorders and they are
sectioned off into clusters. Cluster A is characterized by odd, bizarre and eccentric behavior.
These disorders are, Paranoid personality disorder; having a pervasive distrust of others, no
matter who they are, believing they are trying to hurt or deceive them. Tends to withdraw from
others and to struggle with building close relationships. Schizoid personality disorder; Lack of
interest in social or sexual relationships, lacks emotional response, is indifferent to others and to
social norms. And Schizotypal personality disorder; oddities of appearance, behavior, and
speech. Odd perceptual experiences, and ways of thinking similar to those seen in schizophrenia.
Flat emotions or inappropriate emotional responses. Fear of socializing or discomfort with close
relationships. Magical thinking- believing one can influence people and events with their
thoughts.
Cluster B personality disorders are characterized by dramatic, overly emotional or
unpredictable thinking or behavior. These disorders are, Antisocial personality disorder; A
callous unconcern for the feelings of others, disregards social rules and obligations, is irritable
and aggressive, acts impulsively, lacks guilt and fails to learn from experience. Borderline

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personality disorder; Lacks a sense of self, as a result, experiences feelings of emptiness and
fears of abandonment, suicidal behavior or threats of slef-injury. Histrionic personality disorder;
Depend for their well being on attracting the attention and approval of others, often dramatizes
things for attention, behave in a manner that is overly charming or inappropriately seductive.
And Narcissistic personality disorder; Has an extreme feeling of self-importance, sense of
entitlement and a need to be admired, lacks empathy and readily lies and exploits others to
achieve their aims, envious of others or believes others are envious of them.
Cluster C personality disorders are characterized by anxious and fearful thinking or
behavior. These disorders are, Avoidant personality disorder; Too sensitive to criticism or
rejection, feeling inadequate, inferior or unattractive. Fear of disapproval, embarrassment or
ridicule. Dependent personality disorder; Lack of self-confidence and excessive dependence on
others, fear of disapproval, urgency to start new relationships when close ones have ended. And
Anankastic (Obsessive-compulsive) personality disorder; Excessive preoccupation with details,
rules, lists, order, organization or schedules, desire to be in control, humorless, rigid and
stubborn.
Cluster B has more of what these killers could have and what some of them were
diagnosed with. Antisocial personality disorder is much more common in men than in women
and in many cases those with this disorder, have no trouble finding relationships, making them
seem superficially charming, but these relationships are mostly short and simply for benefit of
oneself. They lack guilt, Fail to learn from experience and acts impulsively. This disorder is the

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mental disorder most closely correlated to crime. Those who have it are more likely to have a
criminal record or a history of being in and out of prison. Three of the most ruthless serial killers
were diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder; Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy and Charles
Manson.
One's personality is the combination of ones thoughts, emotions and behaviors that
makes us all different. Personality forms during childhood with the interactions of our
environments and our genes. Personality disorders are thought to be developed by these two
factors. Certain negative experiences in childhood could influence the development and
vulnerability of a mental illness that is already there. Again, If a child has the possibility of
developing a mental disorder, it can may be avoided if one is careful with the environments that
this child is surrounded in. Manson as a child, was rejected by his mother and was a street kid for
most of his childhood. Gacy was beat by his alcoholic father and was alienated at school because
of his heart conditions, during his childhood. Bundy, although claims to have had a normal
childhood, but he actually had a confusing one, but with someone suffering this mental illness, or
any mental illness, its easy for them to confuse their normal with an actual normal.
Research shows that serial killers are in fact products of their environment rather than a
result of who they are when they are born. They are unaware due to their mental illnesses that
they are doing things that are wrong and often have not been given the proper help to lead them
in the right direction to change that. If a person with these personality disorders, doesnt receive
the proper guidance or help to overcome the disorder, They wont get a good sense of right or

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wrong or reality. Most of these serial killers were or are in need of serious help. If they had a
little love and support they wouldnt have taken the path that they did.