1. Psychology of Serial Killers
By:
Steve Christiansen & Rob Kissner
***WARNING-Graphic Photos

2. Presentation Learning Objectives
Definition of homicide
Three types murder
F.B.I. definition of serial killing
Who are serial killers?
The insanity defense
The M’Naughten rule
The ALI/MPC test
The irresistible impulse test
*Guilty but mentally ill (GBMI)
Four major risk factors

3. Presentation Learning Objectives
Anti-social personality disorder
Key features of psychopathy
MacDonald triad of serial killers
Diphasic personality formation
Psychological signature of serial killers
Technology to help capture killers
Conclusion and questions

4. Homicide:
The killing of one human by another.

5. Three Types of Murder
SERIAL
SPREE
MASS

6. F.B.I Definition of “Serial Killing”
“The term ‘serial killings’ means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors”
(Title 18, United States Code, Chapter 51, and Section 1111).

7. Who are serial killers? Average age 30 years old
95% male, 5% female (Why more men than women?)
73% white, 22% black, 1% other
Average or low IQ median IQ of 95 from sample of 174 serial killers
Fetishism-sexual attraction to a part of the body or object
Partialism-atypical sexual interest in a part of the body (armpits, breasts, buttocks, navel, hands and feet are most common)
Necrophilia-sexual attraction to corpses
Varying degrees of psychopathy
QUESTION-How do fetishes or partialism develop?

8. The Insanity Defense
The legal concept referring to the criminal’s state of mind at the time the crime was committed. It requires that, due to mental illness, a defendant lacks moral responsibility and culpability for the crime and, therefore, should not be punished.
(Source: Forensic and Legal Psychology, 2012)

9. Test #1-The M’Naughten Rule (Right-Wrong Test)
M’Naughten Rule (1843)-at the time of committing the act, the party accused was unable to distinguish right from wrong because of a disease of the mind (over 50% the states in U.S. use this test)
Question-Why is this hard to prove in court?

10. Test #2-ALI/MPC Test for Insanity (American Law Institute, Model Penal Code)
ALI/MPC Test –also known as the substantial capacity test, the ALI/MPC test states a person is not responsible for criminal conduct if at the time of such conduct, as a result of mental disease or defect, he/she lacks substantial capacity either to appreciate the criminality (wrongfulness) of his/her conduct or to conform his/her conduct to the requirements of the law
(used by Federal Government and a few states)

11. Test #3-Irresistible Impulse Test
The defense must show the defendant knew his or her actions were wrong and were unable to resist the urge to commit the crime.
Interview 0 to 3 min.

12. GBMI-Guilty But Mentally Ill
Dennis Rader-BTK Killer
Defendant is found guilty and is sentenced to prison for a period consistent with that verdict. Defendant receives treatment for mental health issues while in prison or is transferred to a secure mental health facility
(13 states currently use this).
Interview 18 min. to 24:50

13. Jeffrey Dahmer 1978-1991 Serial Killer Rapist Body dismemberment
Cannibalism
Killed 17 boys and men
Received 15 life sentences
Killed in 1994 by fellow inmate
Dahmer Interview 0-4min.

14. The Four Major Risk Factors
Antisocial personality pattern
History of antisocial behavior
Antisocial attitudes
Antisocial associates Nicole Simpson

15. Anti-social personality disorder
A pervasive pattern of disregard and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years old.
Deceitfulness and manipulative-lying, conning others
Impulsive or failure to plan ahead
Aggressive/irritability-repeated fights or assaults
Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
Consistent irresponsibility-work behavior/financial responsibility
At least 18 years old
Lack of remorse-indifferent to or rationalizing harm to others
Behaves in a ways likely to be arrested
Outward appearance of normal behavior
Unresponsive to social control
(Source-Diagnostic & Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 5th ed.)

16. Key Features of Psychopathy
Disregard for right and wrong; manipulative
Persistent lying or deceit to exploit others; superficial charm
Using charm or wit to manipulate others for personal gain or for sheer personal pleasure
Intimidation, dishonesty and misrepresentation
Hostility, significant irritability, agitation, impulsiveness, aggression or violence
Lack of empathy for others and lack of remorse about harming others
Irresponsible work behavior
Failure to learn from the negative consequences of behavior

17. FBI-Profiling Organized Killers Disorganized Killers
Average to above intelligence
Below average intelligence
Socially competent
Socially inadequate
Skilled work preferred
Unskilled work
Sexually competent
Sexually incompetent
High birth order status
Low birth order status
Father’s work stable
Father’s work unstable
Inconsistent childhood discipline
Harsh discipline as a child
Controlled mood during crime
Anxious mood during crime
Use of alcohol with crime
Minimal use of alcohol with crime
Precipitating situational stress
Minimal situational stress
Living with partner
Living alone
Mobility with car in good condition
Lives/works near crime scenes
Follows crime in the media
Minimal interest in the media
May change jobs or leave area
Significant behavioral change (drug or alcohol use)

18. MacDonald Triad of Serial Killers
Bed wetting (nocturnal enuresis) (after age 12)
Cruelty to animals
Fire Setting

19. Diphasic (two) Personality Formation WHO AM I?
One phase is the fantasy life where the child has complete control and then the adult. This is the hidden personality that dreams and fantasizes about killing.
The other phase is the shell that walks through the real world and has little energy or effort committed to it.

20. The Psychological Signature
Signature killers comprise the majority of serial killers
The signature is the psychological “calling card” or “personal stamp” that he leaves at each crime scene and what fulfills him
The “signature,” crudely put, is “what the killer gets off on” based on years of violent dreams and fantasies
(Source: John Douglas, Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2010)

21. The Signature
The signature is often an unconscious pattern that may include:
type of victim selected
method used to control the victim
types of wounds inflicted
any post-mortem activity with the body
body disposal or dump site

22. Technology to capture killers
REJIS-Regional Justice Information Services
MULES-Missouri Uniform Law Enforcement Service
NCIC-National Crime Information Center
HITS-Homicide Investigation Tracking System
AFIS-Automated Fingerprint Identification System (Che Sims story)

23. Conclusion and Questions
Serial killers are not born violent. They become killers after years of fantasizing about fulfilling their anti-social needs.
The signature drives a person into a diphasic personality formation, a public personality that may seem very normal/friendly and the “human hunter” personality to satisfy deep psychological needs.
There is no cure for serial killers.