The Psychology of Serial Killers - Essay Example

The Psychology of Serial Killers Thesis ment My focus is to underline how the aesthetic interpretation of serial killers in most of the novels and media suppresses their real monstrous side creating a falsified image for the heartless. The book I chose for my analysis is "The Bad Seed" by William March. The main character in the novel is Rhoda Penmark an eight year old sociopath. She commits one murder after another just because the person has something she desires. The only person who discovers her terrible secret is Christine Penmark, Rhodas mother. Just like any other crime novel, "The Bad Seed" is filled with numerous twists and turns, presenting a detailed flashback on the roots of the evilness. The research on the novel is divided into five different parts. The chapter “Summary of the Bad Seed” gives a brief plot about the novel, the various characters starting from Rhoda’s victims Claude Daigle, Leroy Jessup and Clara Post. The nature of various other characters like Edna, Clara Posts daughter and Reginald Tasker who doubts Rhoda and gives details about Bessie Denker, the supposed psychopath grandmother of Rhoda are given. Rhoda is an eight year old near ‘perfect daughter’ of Christina and Kenneth Penmark couple. She is always perfect in her manners and appearance, skilled in playing piano and murdering people without raising any suspicion. She simply kills because her victims always have something she wants. Claude has the penmanship medal, Clara has the snow sphere and Leroy suspects her. The second chapter “Truth behind Aestheticism” explores the general characters of a sociopath and explains how Rhoda fits into all of them. Sociopath’s are very different from psychopaths. They live in a very organized way and usually think they own whatever they set their eyes on. They simply remove anything between themselves and the objects they desire, no matter even if it is people (Kerns, 2007). They use their aesthetic nature as a cover. In the novel, Rhoda shows all the characteristics defined by Kerns. She plays the piano loudly to suppress the death cries of Leroy. She simply uses her perfect appearance and mannerisms to make attract people and deceive them easily. She creates various distractions easily using her age and innocent appearance to escape from being caught. The third chapter “Monster in a Mask” explores the differences between the monsters in normal people and Rhoda or sociopath’s and serial killers in general. Every person wishes to achieve what they want. Children cry arrogantly to get what they want. People in power commit mass murders to retain their power (Castledon, 2007). Several adults indulge in various vicious acts starting from plotting against the co-workers to cheating others for materialistic gains. But, the serial killers are of a different category. They simply kill for enjoyment as killing itself is their best gain (Panzram, 2002). These people are biologically programmed to commit such horrible acts and stay free of guilt. But the birth of such devilish serial killers occurs only once in a while says noted psychologists (Skrapec, 2001). The fourth chapter “Cowardice and the Monster inside” explores how people who are not able to achieve anything on their own out of the talent, resort to such extreme means. Rhoda, who is unable to win the medal herself resort to kill Claude who actually wins it. Similarly many serial killers kill because they feel inadequate and cannot control their life well. They strike at the most un-expectable time and mostly innocent, scary people who do not stand up for themselves (Hickey, 2006). Several serial killers themselves have admitted to killing because of fear or frustration instead of the excitement it creates (Gaskin, 1992). The fifth and the final chapter “The Ugly Truth behind Serial Killing” shows how the mainstream media portrays the serial killers as heroes in a false manner just for sensation making them addicted to the violent acts (Seltzer, 1998). The serial killer who gets caught blame the society easily defending themselves as the unfortunate as in “The Gates of Janus” (Brady, 2001). But the ugly truth is that the common public is trained to believe them instead of condemning them. There is no glory in achieving something by killing or cheating a person rather than trying for it directly and accepting the defeat with dignity. Serial killers are pathetic people who lack that bravery. They might give a thousand reasons starting from biology to societal evils for their acts, but the only true reason for their constant killing is their unconsciousness and hidden fears. 1. Brady, Ian and Wilson, Colin. The Gates of Janus. Los Angeles: Feral House, 2001. Ian Brady, known widely as the "Moor Murderer" speculates his view on serial killing. He blames the self-cantered modern society for his misdemeanours. A child pornographer and convicted killer, Ian consider himself free from all religious and societal moral norms. He simply talks from the perspective of a killer justifying himself. This book is not the one to read, remember and follow. It can simply be used to understand how serial killers look at the world and what runs behind their cold heart. 2. Castleden, Rodney. Serial Killers: They Kill to Live. UK: Futura Publications, 2007. Rodney Castleden puts political leaders like Saddam Hussein, Henry VIII and many other dictators at par with well known fictional serial killer characters like Jack the Ripper and John Wayne Gacy. Castleden calls them tyrant killers. She states these people create an impression for the mass working under them that murder is not a very great crime after all. These historical figures killed a huge number of people, but did not murder any of them specifically because of a grudge. 3. Gaskin, Donald and Earl, Wilton. Final Truth: The Autobiography of a Serial Killer. 1992. Gaskin, a well known serial killer offers his debate on why he killed. Contemporary to media portrayal of the serial killers, Gaskin says he was not aesthetical in the least bit. He claimed he killed because of fear and losing control over his life rather than killing for excitement or out of heroic bravery. The book is an account of the real monstrous side hidden in every man, which comes out when situation prompts. 4. Hickey, Eric. Serial Murderers and Their Victims. 4th Ed. Thomson Higher Education, 2006. Author Eric Hickey analyses the reasons behind the serial killings of various eras. He explores over 400 serial murders taken place over various time periods and explores what type of people are chosen as victims by the serial killers. His psychological and sociological analysis pinpoints only vulnerable people who do not stand up for themselves. This book proves once again serial killers are just pathetic beings striking if the situation is favorable, mostly out of fear not bravery. 5. Kerns, M. Jeanne. Sociopath Vs Psychopath: There is a Difference. 15th September, 2008. 12th February, 2013. Jeanne describes the characteristics of sociopaths in a very detailed manner to differentiate them from the usual psychopaths. She refers to the works of David Lykken, working for the University of Minnesota as a behavioural geneticist. She says sociopaths are usually very charming, manipulative and feel they are entitled to everything they lay their eyes on. They lack the empathy or guilt the normal person feels and cannot actually love someone. They are extremely careful not to be spotted out. 6. Panzram, Carl and Schecter, Harold. Panzram: A journal of Murder. Amok Books, 2002. This book is a memoir written by Panzram, the most notorious serial killer in American history. The book glorifies the excitement he gets while hurting someone. The serial killer actually declares he has no heart and does not have any will to reform himself. Panzram is a real psycho character who enjoys inflicting pain without any remorse or pretence to hide. 7. Seltzer, Mark. Serial Killers: Life and Death in Americas Wound Culture. New York: Rutledge, 1998. Seltzer places his focus primarily on the media portrayal of serial killers as aesthetical beings. He strongly argues these monsters are not connected to wee bit of artistic sense as the base of every great art is love. He argues the normal American public is made addictive to violence through the media. They are hypnotized to believe it serial killers are doing what is natural to them instead of gathering them against the monstrous creatures. Seltzer argues public is prey to such aesthetic portrayals of serial killers just like consumerism. 8. Skrapec A. Candice. "Phenomenology of Serial Murder Asking Different Questions". Homicide Studies. Vol.5. No. 1, 2001. Skrapec says there are many would-be serial killers living among us. Many people do not dare to live out the fantasies that excite them. But, they are unable to control themselves once they cross the line once and get addicted to the pleasure of killing. Fortunately, it is very rare to find a bon stereotypical serial killer. Most of them commit crimes out of circumstances and to save themselves rather than the urge to simply kill. The work elaborates on the various phenomenologies associated with psychopaths as the title states. Read More