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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
This goal of this study by Ansevics and Doweiko was to present developmental themes in the lives of serial murderers with an emphasis on childhood. A preliminary conceptual framework is suggested for clinicians to better predict these violent offenders.
METHODOLOGY:
A non-experimental, exploratory literature review was employed to inductively create a preliminary profile of the development of the serial murderer. Eleven investigative popular books and reported documents were reviewed. Each document reviewed the case of one offender so the number of serial murderers reflected in this study is eleven.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
Overall, the authors found that serial murderers represented a subtype of borderline personality disorder. Each of the eleven murderers had suffered a significant loss at about the age of five. Most had serious family problems growing up including violence (nine of eleven), serious disturbance (six of eleven), and overly close attachment of the murderer to his mother (all eleven) who was dominant and physical or emotional absence of the father. Despite apparent adjustment in adolescence, the men had serious problems--sadistic/violent fantasies (nine of eleven), exhibitionism (nine of eleven), and petty theft (all eleven). Relationship patterns for all eleven included lack of dating in high school, first sexual experience after high school, puritanical views about women, and melodramatic views of love. Ten of the eleven expressed great rage toward women after their only adult relationship ended. Other characteristics included above average intelligence, no history of chemical abuse (nine of the eleven), and social drinking (nine of eleven). Use of violent pornography and rape were also common. Murder was seen as an adaptation to internal or external adaptive demands. Overall, these characteristics were most closely aligned with borderline personality disorder. The authors sketched out a proposed serial murder typology. This typology reflected a process that begins in childhood with major loss, dominant demeaning mother, verbal/physical abuse, above average IQ, "mama's boy" syndrome, and being the favorite or only son of the mother. In preadolescence/adolescence, it was argued, there is demonstration of compulsive neatness in appearance, activity in sports, criminal activity, shyness, puritanical morality, lying, violent pornography/sexual fantasy, sexual deviance (such as exhibitionism), physically or emotionally absent father, and a lack of chemical addiction. In young adulthood it was argued that the offender may display theft/burglary, first sexual experience, affiliation or fascination with police, significant rejection in love relationship, advanced education, mood swings and expressions of anger, charming personality, manipulation, no evidence of adult enuresis, and progression from rape to murder over time.
AUTHORS' RECOMMENDATIONS:
The authors recommended that serial murderers be viewed within the framework of borderline personality disorder with strong evidence for the typology described. Clinicians, they argued, should be alert to these developmental histories to enable early intervention during childhood or adolescence.
EVALUATION:
The serial murderer is one of the least understood yet most feared criminals in present time. This study offers a review of available knowledge about this offender. The synthesis of more documentary information allows us to see a beginning profile of individuals at risk for intervention. Despite the question of whether such criminal patterns can be prevented, any effort toward this end is worthwhile. This area needs further study. The use of secondary sources in this study has given the research community a starting point to begin further research, but it cannot substitute for original data collection and comparative study to test this typology of serial murderers. (CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
KW - Child Development
KW - Juvenile Development
KW - Youth Development
KW - Life Course
KW - Childhood Predictors
KW - Childhood Risk Factors
KW - Adult Offender
KW - Adult Violence
KW - Homicide Offender
KW - Violence Prediction
KW - Violence Causes
KW - Serial Homicide
KW - Homicide Causes
KW - Family Environment
KW - Childhood Victimization
KW - Offender Characteristics
KW - Case Studies
KW - Family Relations
KW - Parent Child Relations
KW - Mother Child Relations
Language: en |