Research Paper
In this assignment, you will select one (1) topic: a serial murderer Whichever topic is selected, an introduction to the individual should be detailed followed by a 11-14 page analysis of the theories that might be used to explain or support the individual’s move into criminality or the underpinnings of the policy. The paper (a total of 16-18 pages) should incorporate a Christian Worldview throughout or have a specific section of dedicated to Christian Worldview. It is extremely important that you keep the paper between 16-18 page requirement. Each paper must be thorough but not exhaustive. Also, I use the King James Version (1970), Holy Bible. My research paper is on Jeffrey Dahmer and the theories to explain is criminality is social learning theory, social control theory, and psychological theory.
School of , Liberty University
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Abstract
Keywords:
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1
References
Jeffrey Dahmer: His Complicated,
Comorbid Psychopathologies and
Treatment Implications
Abigail Strubel, M.A.1
Abstract ~ The American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer was afflict-
ed with a unique constellation of psychological and personality
disorders, as well as severe social skill deficits. The study of such
a case can illuminate possible links between seemingly distinct
disorders, such as pedophilia and substance abuse, and attempted
treatment of such a person could prove a useful research means
into developing treatment protocols for clients with similar disor-
ders. The author examines a journalist’s account of Dahmer’s
behavior as the primary source of information about his disorders,
incorporating scholarly sources as a secondary means of gaining
insight into this unique case.
“Fantasies, behaviors, or objects are paraphilic only when they
lead to clinically significant distress or impairment (e.g., are
obligatory, result in sexual dysfunction, require participation of
non-consenting individuals, lead to legal complications, interfere
with social relationships)” (American Psychiatric Association
1: John Jay College of Criminal Justice, New York, NY, USA
The New School Psychology Bulletin
Volume 5, No. 1, 2007
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[APA], 2000, p. 568). It is difficult to think of a person who bet-
ter meets these criteria than Jeffrey Dahmer, who may have suf-
fered from a combination of paraphilias, depression, substance
dependence, Asperger’s Disorder, disordered personality, and
social skills deficits. This “perfect storm” of pathology led him
to become one of the worst serial murderers of the 20th century
and posed unique treatment implications.
The sad, strange case of Jeffrey Dahmer highlights a number of
issues concerning personality, identity, impulse control, paraphil-
ia, and impaired social interaction and functioning. Practitioners
are quite unlikely to encounter another such client. However,
interconnections and similarities among Dahmer’s numerous
pathologies – especially substance dependence, paraphilias, and
possibly Asperger’s Disorder – suggest etiological factors and
sequelae these disorders may share, and provide us with insight
into how these conditions might emerge, interact, and respond to
treatment.
The following is a critical examination of Dahmer and his psy-
chopathological behavior in the context of psychiatric diagnoses
as listed in the DSM-IV-TR. Due to the unavailability of Dahmer
himself (deceased), trial transcripts, and transcripts of interviews
conducted by mental health professionals, this examination is in
part based on the detailed account of his life and actions as out-
lined in the book The Man Who Could Not Kill Enough: The
Secret Murders of Milwaukee’s Jeffrey Dahmer, by Anne
Schwartz (1992). Schwartz was the first reporter called to the
scene after the police made gruesome discoveries in Dahmer’s
apartment. Her book provides a brief biography of Dahmer;
detailed descriptions of how he stalked, sedated, killed, dismem-
bered, and utilized his victims; and interviews with forensic
experts who examined Dahmer. Scholarly journal articles and
other source material were also used for this examination of
Dahmer’s psychopathologies.
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It is important to state that, in my opinion, Dahmer was never
floridly psychotic. His actions at all times clearly indicated that
he knew what he was doing was wrong and was trying to conceal
evidence of it. For example, a neighbor recalled how Dahmer
“always ‘sneaked’ into his apartment by opening the door just
enough to squeeze his body through and then immediately shut-
ting the door” (Schwartz, 1992, p. 15). When neighbors com-
plained about a foul stench, Dahmer claimed it was due to rotten
meat.
Possible Axis I Comorbid Disorders: Paraphilias,
Depression, Substance Dependence,
and Asperger’s Disorder
Necrophilia. Necrophilia refers to a sexual interest in dead peo-
ple or body parts (APA, 2000). Dahmer’s father noticed four-
year-old Jeffrey’s fascination with animal bones collected from a
crawl space underneath their house (Silva, Ferrari, & Leong,
2002). As a child, Dahmer collected dead animals from the road-
side, curing their pelts with a chemistry set or burying them in a
backyard cemetery where he would ultimately return to bury the
remains of his first murder victim (Schwartz, 1992). However,
Dahmer did not enjoy torturing animals to death, as did many
serial killers in their youth (Nichols, 2006); he was merely
obsessed by their viscera. During high school, Dahmer played
clarinet and tennis, wrote for the school paper, and got decent
grades, but he was unpopular and still fascinated with dead ani-
mals (Schwartz, 1992). Silva et al. (2002) believe this fascina-
tion became eroticized at adolescence, when Dahmer began
another lifelong obsession: compulsive masturbation, which at
times coincided with dissections of dead animals.
Dahmer found the heat radiating from a body he had cut into sex-
ually arousing (Schwartz, 1992). However, Dahmer was not a
sexual sadist; he derived no pleasure from others’ terror or pain.
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Dahmer had wanted to train as a medic during his army service
but was unable to inject others with a needle and draw blood. He
preferred to drug his victims and strangle them while they were
unconscious. According to forensic psychologist James Fox, an
expert in serial murder, most serial killers enjoy torturing their
victims before finally killing them, relishing their victims’ cries
of agony and pleas for mercy, feeling powerful and dominant,
and in contrast, Dahmer usually sedated and killed his victims
quickly, not wishing them to suffer (as reported by Schwartz,
1992).
In Dahmer’s apartment, police found skulls, body parts preserved
in formaldehyde or in the refrigerator, and a fastidiously organ-
ized scrapbook of dead victims, posed in varying stages of dis-
memberment. Dahmer masturbated in front of the skulls and
photos, and kept the head of one of his victims in his locker at
Ambrosia Chocolate. He also planned to build a shrine of skulls
and skeletons, which he claimed would channel supernatural
power to him (Schwartz, 1992). However, the “shrine” seems
more erotic than supernatural. According to Nichols (2006), it
might have helped Dahmer maintain a connection to his victims,
remembering the time they had shared. Nevertheless, Dahmer
did dabble in occult beliefs and culture, favoring heavy metal
music and horror movies (Nichols, 2006) and identifying with the
evil, omnipotent Emperor of the Star Wars movie series
(Schwartz, 1992). Perhaps Dahmer was seeking a belief system
or identity – possible evidence of borderline personality disorder
(see below). Silva et al. (2002) connect Dahmer’s “fetishistic
necrophilia,” a combination of fetishism, the sexual fixation on
an inanimate object or body part, with necrophilia (APA, 2000),
to his “defective integration of appreciation of human objects”
(p.1350). In other words, Dahmer could not relate emotionally to
other people, the root of any paraphilia.
Cannibalism. Paraphilic cannibalism refers to the sexual pleasure
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the paraphile derives from consuming human flesh (APA, 2000).
Dahmer initially only admitted eating one victim’s bicep, saying
“it was big and he wanted to try it” (Schwartz, 1992, p. 33) – as
though the size would obviate the impulse. However, on July 12,
1991, Dahmer put another victim’s head and heart in the refriger-
ator (found by arresting officers on July 22) “to eat later”
(Schwartz, p. 108). Coworkers said Dahmer brought meat for
lunch topped with “‘my special gravy'” (Schwartz, p. 27) but
refused to give them a taste. Dahmer also kept chopped human
flesh, shaped into patties, in his freezer. Dahmer later said he ate
his victims to keep them with him forever, just as he kept and
masturbated before their skulls.
Pedophilia. Dahmer was arrested several times for exposing him-
self to children or molesting them, and eluded capture after many
similar incidents. His adult victims were all young and boyish.
It is unclear whether Dahmer was molested by a teenage neigh-
bor as a child, as many pedophiles seem to have been. His father
claimed he was, but Dahmer denied it and no charges were ever
filed (Schwartz, 1992; Nichols, 2006). However, denial of
molestation that actually took place is not unusual, especially
among men.
Some pedophiles seek children as sex partners because their
social skills are weak; they are better able to manage an
encounter with children than an interaction with other adults
(Masters, Johnson, & Kolodny, 1995). In 1988, Dahmer lured a
13-year-old boy into his apartment with an offer of $50 to take
some photos. He served the boy liquor laced with a tranquilizer,
the boy posed nude, and Dahmer fondled him. After the boy told
his parents, the police were called and Dahmer was arrested.
Dahmer claimed he did not know the boy was a minor, denied
fondling him, and said the drugging was an accident – he used
that cup to take his own tranquilizers and hadn’t washed it out
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because he was usually the only one who drank from it. He also
wondered how an allegedly drugged victim could provide such a
coherent statement (Schwartz, 1992). Pedophiles are commonly
quite defensive and often externalize blame for their actions onto
their victims or their use of alcohol (Masters et al., 1995).
Dahmer ultimately pled guilty, however, to second-degree sexu-
al assault and enticing a child for immoral purposes. At his sen-
tencing hearing, the prosecutor said the drugging could not have
been inadvertent; the boy remembered Dahmer pouring powder
in the mug and urging him to drink (Schwartz, 1992). Dahmer
routinely crushed sedatives before bringing home a victim; he
could then discreetly add the powder to the victim’s drink
(Nichols, 2006). Dahmer had malingered sleeping troubles in
order to obtain a prescription for the sedative Halcion from his
physician (Schwartz, 1992).
Exhibitionism. Dahmer’s exhibitionism could be seen as an out-
growth of his pedophilia (APA, 2000), evidence of his extremely
poor social skills and impaired social judgment, or containing
elements of both. In August 1982, Dahmer was charged with
drunk and disorderly conduct for exposing himself to a crowd of
people, including children. About four years later, he was arrest-
ed for lewd and lascivious behavior after masturbating in front of
two 12-year-old boys, and he confessed to about five previous
incidents of public masturbation. Charges were reduced to dis-
orderly conduct; Dahmer was sentenced to one year of probation
and ordered to seek therapy, which he failed to do (Schwartz,
1992).
Depression. Paraphilias are frequently comorbid with depressive
symptoms, which may coincide with increasingly frequent and
intense incidents of paraphilic behavior (APA, 2000). Right
before his arrest, Dahmer sought and killed victims with alacrity
while reporting depressive symptoms to his probation officer.
Two weeks before his arrest, he said losing his job would be a
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good reason to kill himself (Schwartz, 1992).
Substance dependence. Dahmer had a long history of the instru-
mental use of alcohol; a high school classmate recalled Dahmer
drinking from a cup of scotch on his desk. When Dahmer entered
college, he drank during classes, often passing out on his way
back to the dorm. Dahmer dropped out after one year and enlist-
ed in the army, carrying with him a portable bar that included a
martini kit. On weekends, Dahmer listened to Black Sabbath on
headphones and drank until he passed out. He was dishonorably
discharged for alcohol abuse (Schwartz, 1992).
Paraphilias are frequently comorbid with alcohol or substance
abuse, and serve a similar purpose; engaging in either activity is
often compulsive, providing a way for the user to block or avoid
painful emotions. However, alcohol or substance abuse is some-
times secondary to a paraphilia-disinhibiting the paraphile and
enabling him to engage in actions he might wish to commit but
feel unable to when sober (Masters et al., 1995). According to
defense expert Carl M. Wahlstrom, M.D., Dahmer had to drink in
order to murder his victims, since he did not enjoy killing
(Schwartz, 1992), although as a necrophile he enjoyed dismem-
bering the corpses and creating photographs of meticulously
arranged body parts.
Asperger’s Disorder. According to his father, as a young child
Dahmer did not hold eye contact, showed wooden facial expres-
sions, held his body stiffly, had trouble interacting with other
children, and was emotionally distant (Silva et al., 2002). In
Dahmer’s own words,
The subtleties of social life were beyond my grasp. When
children liked me, I did not know why. Nor could I formu-
late a plan for winning their affection. I simply didn’t know
how things worked with other people…. And try as I might,
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I couldn’t make other people seem less strange and unknow-
able. (Silva et al., p. 1349).
Dahmer had no friends in elementary or high school, college, or
the army. As an adult, his homosexual encounters never led to
relationships; he had no friends and avoided contact with his
coworkers or neighbors. He usually had to offer men or boys
money to lure them into his apartment. In bars he drank alone,
ignoring people who tried to pick him up, until he spotted an
attractive victim. He was not close with his parents. His loving
relationship with his grandmother seemed to be the only one such
in his life (Schwartz, 1992).
Silva et al. (2002) believe Dahmer’s autistic fixation on dead bod-
ies and body parts allowed him to reimagine them as love or sex
objects devoid of independent thought and emotion, and hence to
develop his many comorbid paraphilias-themselves disorders
characterized by a high degree of compulsiveness, as are sub-
stance abuse and Asperger’s. Moreover, Dahmer’s meticulous
fascination with body parts from a young age is itself indicative
of Asperger’s, as much as his social impairments, physical awk-
wardness, and lack of impairments in language, self-care, or cog-
nitive functioning. Silva et al. further note that people with
Asperger’s have trouble recognizing faces they do not know and
may view strangers as threatening-as young Jeffrey viewed his
peers. All of Dahmer’s victims were recent acquaintances (Silva
et al., 2002, p. 1351).
Dahmer’s isolation from other adolescents, and the resultant lack
of normalizing peer contact, may also have led him to form and
maintain unusual (i.e., paraphilic) fantasies. Silva et al. (2002)
believe that Dahmer’s impaired neurology thus led not only to
social isolation but also to his bizarre sexual development and
loss of those social controls that might have kept him from com-
mitting his crimes. Autistic deficits in social awareness might
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also be implicated in Dahmer’s pedophilia and exhibitionism, two
activities that are legally prohibited and extremely stigmatized in
the U.S. Psychological assessment, the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory, conducted on Dahmer indicated that he did
not mind meeting strangers, could initiate a conversation, and
enjoyed making friends (Nichols, 2006). This does not cohere
with a diagnosis of Asperger’s Disorder.
Fitzgerald (2005) notes that borderline personality disorder
(BPD) and Asperger’s can be difficult to differentiate in adult-
hood, since both impair interpersonal functioning and share sev-
eral features: problems with identity, impulsivity, suicidal behav-
ior, mood lability, feelings of emptiness, uncontrollable rage, and
“transient, stress-related paranoid ideation” (p. 452). Virtually all
of these factors characterized Dahmer. Fitzgerald (2005) states
that evidence of Asperger’s symptoms in childhood should
incline the clinician to diagnose that disorder. However, several
facts and events in Dahmer’s life seem to argue against a diagno-
sis of Asperger’s. In one notorious incident, police caught
Dahmer chasing a naked, bleeding, 14-year-old and went back
with both to Dahmer’s apartment. Dahmer had a decomposing
corpse in his bedroom but was able to convince the police noth-
ing illegal was happening. “Such was his ability to remain con-
trolled and convincing under pressure” (Nichols, 2006, p. 245).
Dahmer’s early years were marked by significant emotional neg-
lect and a high degree of parental conflict. A child who is not
held, soothed, and attended to might not develop proper object
relations, feeling lonely and isolated from everyone else. A diag-
nosis of Asperger’s might not be necessary to account for
Dahmer’s poor social skills as a child and comorbid paraphilias
as an adult; his emotionally depleted childhood could suffice
(Nichols, 2006).
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Possible Personality Pathology: Borderline
or Not Otherwise Specified
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). Paraphilias are frequent-
ly comorbid with personality problems and/or “emotional imma-
turity” (Masters et al., 1995, p. 450; APA, 2000). Three psychol-
ogists who examined Dahmer after his arrest for molesting the
13-year-old found him uncooperative, angry, resistant to change,
evasive, manipulative, emotionally unstable, and lacking insight
(Schwartz, 1992). These traits, taken together, suggest BPD.
Pleading for clemency, Dahmer said, “‘What I’ve done has cut
both ways. It’s hurt the victim, and it’s hurt me…. I don’t know
what I was thinking when I did it. I know I was under the influ-
ence….'” (Schwartz, 1992, pp. 68-69). Perceiving oneself as the
victim of one’s own crimes and externalizing blame onto others
or onto substance abuse are typical borderline defenses (Millon,
Blaney, & Davis, 1999).
Dahmer told his probation officer his life lacked purpose-a pos-
sible sign of the chronic emptiness experienced by someone with
BPD. Moreover, Dahmer had a strong reason to hate and fear
abandonment. During his parents’ bitter divorce, they fought
over custody of Dahmer’s younger brother. At 18, the emotion-
ally immature Dahmer did not require legal custody. His mother
took his brother and left Dahmer alone in the house with no food
or money. After this experience, Dahmer committed his first
murder. He picked up a hitchhiker, got drunk with him, and had
sex with him. But when the victim wanted to leave, Dahmer
crushed his skull with a barbell (Schwartz, 1992).
In his confession, Dahmer said he killed his victims to prevent
them from leaving him (Schwartz, 1992). Dahmer’s violent
behavior-which he had to drink himself almost into a stupor to
commit-was not instrumental aggression, as an antisocial type
would employ to intimidate or control others, but a desperate
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attempt to prevent abandonment. Dahmer left dead, naked vic-
tims lying around his apartment so he could sodomize them at
will, using condoms to protect himself. He kept dead bodies in
the bathtub when he had no time to dismember them, and often
took showers with them. In an attempt to turn some victims into
helpless obedient zombies that would never leave, Dahmer
drilled holes in their skulls and injected muriatic acid into their
brains. Most died immediately, although one allegedly walked
around for almost two days after this treatment. Dahmer’s social
skills did not enable him to develop and maintain friendships, so
he resorted to relying on corpses for companionship. He initial-
ly considered stealing an 18-year-old male corpse from a funeral
parlor or robbing graves (Schwartz, 1992).
Dahmer’s identity disturbance, a possible aspect of BPD, includ-
ed denial of and inability to accept his homosexuality. Sex with
silent corpses (or with viscera rather than masculine genitals and
orifices) was possibly another way Dahmer denied he was having
sex with men. And just as Dahmer externalized blame onto his
underage victims, he projected hatred onto his adult victims
instead of hating himself, a typical borderline defense.
According to James Fox, Dahmer chose victims who were more
flamboyantly homosexual than he was (as reported by Schwartz,
1992). Jentzen, Palermo, Johnson, Ho, Stormo, and Teggatz
(1994), the forensic team that examined Dahmer’s apartment and
possessions and autopsied his victims, concluded that the mur-
ders, rooted in unconscious hate of his victims, were the result of
his “ambivalent homosexuality” (p. 283).
Personality Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (PD-NOS). Silva
et al. (2002) retrospectively examined Dahmer via records,
including videotaped interviews, and rated him a 22 on the
Psychopathy Checklist-below the cutoff score of 30, but still
above average. They assigned him a diagnosis of “Personality
Disorder Not Otherwise Specified, With Schizoid, Antisocial,
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and Schizotypal Traits” (Silva et al., 2002, p. 1355). Noting that
psychopathy and Asperger’s share affective features, such as lack
of empathy and shallow affect, Silva et al. hypothesize that these
disorders also might share underlying neurobiological deficits.
However, other evidence does not support a diagnosis of psy-
chopathy. According to James Fox, many people have difficult
childhoods but few grow up to be serial killers; victims of child
abuse are more likely to become nonviolent psychopaths, such as
used-car salesmen, dishonest businessmen, or con men who
delight in fleecing unsuspecting consumers, taking pleasure in
others’ pain (as reported by Schwartz, 1992). Moreover, Dahmer
lacked the “inflated self-appraisal and superficial charm” (APA,
2000, p. 703) of the most severely antisocial types, among whom
most serial killers are found. Since Dahmer does not fit any of
the current DSM personality disorder classifications, yet clearly
suffered from significant personality deficits, perhaps PD-NOS is
the best diagnosis for him.
Psychosocial Issues. The hallmark of a maladaptive paraphilia is
disruption of the sufferer’s functioning in several realms – social,
occupational, and “other important areas” (APA, 2000, p. 566),
such as personal hygiene. Dahmer’s apartment was tidy, but
when the carpet was pulled up, the wood floor beneath was
extensively stained with blood. A terrible stench emanated from
the apartment, and his neighbors often complained. Dahmer also
had poor money management skills, possibly due to the frequent
purchase of chemicals to sedate his victims and destroy their
corpses, and he was in danger of being evicted for nonpayment
of rent (Schwartz, 1992).
Close to his arrest, Dahmer’s personal grooming declined
markedly. This could possibly have resulted from his frenzied
killing activities, which might have left him little time for per-
sonal care or laundry; his comorbid depression; or both. On July
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14, 1991, Dahmer was fired from his job for chronic lateness and
absences. He told his probation officer that he went home, drank
steadily, and was ashamed to see her because he had not bathed
or shaved for three days; his clothes were filthy, possibly due to
his necrophilic activities. Overall, however, Dahmer concealed
his crimes to a remarkable extent and kept his job for a surpris-
ing length of time despite deteriorating performance. Had one of
his intended victims not escaped and led police to his apartment,
it is unclear how long Dahmer might have continued (Schwartz,
1992).
Treatment Implications
Personality disorders and paraphilias are notoriously resistant to
treatment (Masters et al., 1995; Millon et al., 1999). Comorbidity
renders successful treatment even more difficult. However,
Dahmer’s arrest and sentence to life in prison created a potential
opportunity for several layers of intervention, assuming that suf-
ficient resources would have been granted toward his treatment.
Within the confines of a prison, where treatment adherence could
be monitored, perhaps a combination of psychotherapy, psy-
chopharmacology, and hormone therapy could have addressed
Dahmer’s paraphilias, depression, substance abuse, and social
skill deficits.
Paraphilia treatment often involves behavior therapy intended to
decondition the paraphile from maintaining maladaptive sexual
fantasies and behaviors (Masters et al., 1995). Some methods
include masturbatory satiation, a form of aversion therapy. The
paraphile masturbates to orgasm using sexual fantasies that are
not maladaptive, then continues masturbating-since post-orgasm
masturbation is uncomfortable or unpleasant – to paraphilic mate-
rial and fantasies (Masters et al., 1995). This therapy could have
been employed with Dahmer. He enjoyed ordinary homosexual
pornography, routinely viewing it before he went in search of a
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victim (Nichols, 2006). It seems unlikely, however, that a cor-
rectional system would sanction deliberate provision of pornog-
raphy to an inmate. Other aversion modalities involve pairing
paraphilic fantasies with simultaneous concerns about being
arrested or unpleasant odors. However, a man accustomed to
dwelling with the stench of decay would probably not respond
strongly to any aversive odors, such as ammonia, the therapist
could employ.
Social skills training, a form of cognitive-behavioral therapy,
could have been used to teach Dahmer better ways of interacting
with his peers, and his enforced presence among thousands of
other men could have provided a uniquely convenient source of
potential friendships, even romantic relationships, which he
might have been encouraged to develop. Insight-oriented thera-
py might not be effective with a personality-disordered individ-
ual (Millon et al., 1999). However, Dahmer was intelligent and
might have responded to object relations therapy aimed at help-
ing him overcome the deficits in his upbringing and develop a
better sense of object permanence and constancy, leading to bet-
ter, more mature relationships with other people (St. Clair, 2000).
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) have been shown
to decrease sexual drive and help paraphiles reduce their offend-
ing behaviors (Bradford, 1999). Serotonin and norepinephrine
reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs), especially bupropion, have been
shown to be effective at treating many forms of compulsive or
impulsive behavior, such as pathological gambling (Dannon,
Lowengrub, Musin, Gonopolski, & Kotler, 2005) obsessive-com-
pulsive disorder (Bradford, 1999), and nicotine addiction
(O’Brien, 2005). In other words, SNRIs decrease behaviors sim-
ilar to the behaviors associated with paraphilias, which are con-
sidered quite compulsive (Millon et al., 1999). Dahmer might
have benefited from treatment with a medication cocktail con-
taining an SSRI and an SNRI, for example. This might simulta-
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neously have ameliorated his depression, although it would have
been necessary to monitor him closely for signs of mania or
hypomania, which antidepressants can sometimes induce.
Hormone therapy has been shown to reduce paraphilic behavior
and fantasies (Thibaut, Cordier, & Kuhn 1996; Briken, Nika, &
Berner, 2001). However, this therapy is only effective while the
agent is in the client’s bloodstream; clients who discontinue hor-
mone therapy have been shown to relapse within 8 to 10 weeks
(Thibaut et al., 1996). The restrictive prison environment could
have compelled Dahmer to receive regular hormone therapy
injections, thus ensuring adherence. Similarly, Dahmer could
have been strongly encouraged to participate in substance abuse
rehabilitation programs offered by the prison to treat his alco-
holism, although since his alcohol use was primarily instrumen-
tal (Schwartz, 1992), he may not have required treatment when
the situations and settings in which he abused alcohol were no
longer possible.
Summary
In prison, Dahmer was baptized a born-again Christian – perhaps
as a way to deny his homosexuality and paraphilias, perhaps in
yet another attempt to forge an identity or connect with other peo-
ple, or perhaps out of sincere atonement for his crimes. He never
obtained any psychiatric treatment or psychotherapy aside from
his minister’s pastoral counseling. After being stabbed in one
non-lethal attack, he was beaten to death by another inmate less
than three years after beginning his life sentence. Dahmer’s
mother wished to submit his brain to scientific study, but his
father was opposed. Eventually, all of Dahmer-first his body and
then his brain-was cremated (Nichols, 2006).
A case examination of one individual can often be limited in its
generalizability to others, especially if the individual is quite
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unique. Since the subject of this study is deceased, and conse-
quently was unavailable for interview, and because trial tran-
scripts and transcripts of Dahmer’s interviews with psychologists
and psychiatrists also were unavailable, no definite conclusions
can be drawn. That is a definite weakness of this case examina-
tion. However, Dahmer presented with such an unusual and
severe admixture of pathologies and committed such extreme
acts that a close study of him could possibly illuminate etiologi-
cal links and useful treatment approaches between seemingly dis-
tinct yet comorbid disorders, such as pedophilia and substance
abuse.
Moreover, the attempted treatment of such an individual could
have served as an experiment in the development of treatment
protocols for clients with some of the same or similar disorders.
As more and more pedophiles who complete their prison terms
are deemed dangerous to others and civilly committed to “treat-
ment facilities” that offer further confinement but little in the way
of actual therapy (Davey & Goodnough, 2007; Rizzo & Vendel,
2003), it behooves forensic practitioners and criminal justice offi-
cials to consider how best to cope with this increasing population,
protect their civil rights against unlawful imprisonment, and
develop means to protect children from their depredations. These
treatment facilities could serve as laboratories for cutting-edge
research into pedophilia and its treatment or cure, or, at the very
least, serve as sources for participants of research on the best
ways to enable pedophiles to live in an open society without
endangering children.
References
American Psychiatric Association (2000). Diagnostic and statis-
tical manual of mental disorders (4th ed., text revision).
Washington, DC: Author.
Bradford, J. M. W. (1999). The paraphilias, obsessive compul-
Dahmer Psychopathology and Treatment56
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sive spectrum disorder, and the treatment of sexually deviant
behavior. Psychiatric Quarterly, 70, 209-219.
Briken, P., Nika, E., & Berner, W. (2001). Treatment of paraphil-
ia with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonists.
Journal of Sex and Marital Therapy, 27, 45-55.
Dannon, P. N., Lowengrub, K., Musin, E., Gonopolski, Y., &
Kotler, M. (2005). Sustained-release bupropion versus nal-
trexone in the treatment of pathological gambling: A prelim-
inary blind-rater study Journal of Clinical
Psychopharmacology, 25, 593-596.
Davey, M., & Goodnough, A. (2007, March 4). Doubts rise as
States hold sex offenders after prison. New York Times.
Retrieved August 19, 2007, from http://www.nytimes.com
Fitzgerald, M. (2005). Borderline personality disorder and
Asperger syndrome. Autism, 9, 452.
Jentzen, J., Palermo, G., Johnson, L. T., Ho, K. C., Stormo, K. A.,
& Teggatz, J. (1994). Destructive hostility: The Jeffrey
Dahmer case. A psychiatric and forensic study of a serial
killer. American Journal of Forensic Medical Pathology,
15, 283-294.
Masters, W. H., Johnson, V. E., & Kolodny, R. C. (1995). Human
sexuality. New York: HarperCollins.
Millon, T., Blaney, P. H., & Davis, R. D. (1999). Oxford textbook
of psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press.
Nichols, D. S. (2006). Tell me a story: MMPI responses and per-
sonal biography in the case of a serial killer. Journal of
Personality Assessment, 86, 242-262.
O’Brien, C. P. (2005). Anticraving medications for relapse pre-
vention: A possible new class of psychoactive medications.
American Journal of Psychiatry, 162, 1423-1431.
Rizzo, T., & Vendel, C. (2003, June 28). As sexual predator
returns to jail, Kansas reviews treatment regimen. Kansas
City Star. Retrieved August 19, 2007, from
http://www.vachss.com/av_dispatches/archive/crane_ks.ht
ml
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Schwartz, A. E. (1992). The man who could not kill enough: The
secret murders of Milwaukee’s Jeffrey Dahmer. New York:
Birch Lane Press.
Silva, J. A., Ferrari, M. M., & Leong, G. B. (2002). The case of
Jeffrey Dahmer: Sexual serial homicide from a neuropsy-
chiatric developmental perspective. Journal of Forensic
Science, 47, 1347-1359.
St. Clair, M. (2000). Object Relations and Self-Psychology (3rd
ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.
Thibaut, F., Cordier, B., & Kuhn, J. (1996). Gonadotrophin hor-
mone releasing hormone agonist in cases of severe paraphil-
ia: A lifetime treatment? Psychoneuroendocrinology, 21,
411-419.
Dahmer Psychopathology and Treatment58
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Fall 2012
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RUl11ling head:
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
by
Tamara Higgs
A Research Proposal Presented in Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Masters of Criminology
REGIS UNIVERSITY
December 2012
JEFFREY DAHivIER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT ii
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPA TIIT AND NEGLECT
by
Tamara Higgs
Has been approved
November 2012
, Faculty Facilitator
, Thesis Advisor
, Faculty Chair
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT iii
Abstract
It is the intent of this paper to examine the relationship between Jeffrey Dahmer’s
Childhood neglect, his fascination with death, and its later influence on his adult psychopathic
behavior. After defining the nature of serial killers and the impact of childhood abuse combined
with a fascination with death, the focus of this case study will shift to the long term impact ofthe
abuse and neglect suffered by American serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer. Using the social learning
theory, the author will examine how this neglect and abuse tie into his later life as a sexual serial
killer. Additionally, the theories proposed by the author will be analyzed by professionals in the
field of childhood development.
Keywords: Jeffi’ey Dahmer, Serial Killer, Social Learning TheOlY, Neglect, Abuse, Anti-
Social Behavior, Animallvlutilation
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1 , ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 1
INTRODUCTION …………………………………………………………………………………………….. I
Description of a Serial Killer ………………………………………………………………………. 2
Criteria to Define Serial Killers ………………………………………………………….. 2
Serial Killer Traits ……………………………………………………………………………. 3
Typology of Serial Killers …………………………………………………………………. 3
Description of Childhood Abuse …………………………………………………………………. 5
Types of Abuse ………………………………………………………………………………… 6
Psychological Impact of Abuse ………………………………………………………….. 8
Jeffrey Dahmer’s Childhood ……………………………………………………………………….. 8
Exposure to Abuse and/or Violence ………………………………………………….. II
Anti-social Behavior ……………………………………………………………………….. 12
Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………. IS
CHAPTER 2 …………. ” ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 16
REVIEW OF LITERATURE ……………………………………………………………………………. 16
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 16
Social Learning Theory …………………………………………………………………………….. 1
7
Childhood Abuse and Neglect ……………………………………………………………………
19
Anti-social Behavior ………………………………………………………………………………… 24
Violence against Animals …………………………………………………………………………. 28
Serial Murder and/or Violence …………………………………………………………………… 33
Chapter Slll111nary …………………………………………………………………………………….
39
CHAPTER 3 …………………………. , …………………………………………………………………………
41
METHODS …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 41
Subject Selection ……………………………………………………………………………………… 41
Instrumentatioll ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 42
Data Collection ……………………………………………………………………………………….. 43
Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………. 44
CHAPTER 4 ……………………………………………………………………………………………………..
46
DATA ANAL YSIS ………………………………………………………………………………………….. 46
Introduction …………………………………………………………………………………………….. 46
Interviews ………………………………………………………………………………………………..
47
Organizations and Research Studies ……………………………………………………………
50
Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………. 52
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT v
CHAPTER 5 …………………………………………………………………………………………………….. 53
RESULTS ……………………………………………………………………………………………………… 53
Suggestions for Future Study …………………………………………………………………….. 53
Chapter Summary ……………………………………………………………………………………. 55
REFERENCES …………………………………………………………………………………………………..
56
APPENDIX A …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
64
APPENDIX B …………………………………………………………………………………………………….
65
APPENDIX C ……………………………………………………………………………………………………. 67
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT I
Chapter 1
Introduction
Throughout history, people around the world have been captivated by the topic of serial
murderers, primarily because they cmmot understand why an individual would be willing to take
not only one life but multiple. Numerous sociologists and criminologists have dedicated their
entire lives to the research of individuals who prey upon other human beings. As a result, there is
never a shortage of information about what makes a serial killer and even how that serial killer
grew up. With an estimated 500 serial killers living and working in unsuspecting communities,
understanding the origins andlor causes for their anti-social and psychopathic tendencies is of the
utmost interest and importance to researchers and law enforcement officials (Federal Bureau of
Investigation, 2005). Statistically, these sadistic individuals are believed to be responsible for
3500 to 5000 murders every year (Victims of Violence, 201Ib). Current research on individuals
with anti-social and psychopathic tendencies has revealed copious amounts of information on the
serial murderer’s psyche, biological development, and environmental development; very little
research has focused on the elements of a serial murderer’s youth, which may have played a
crucial part in violent behavior later in life. In this exploratory case study, the author will focus
on the American serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, tracing the source of his psychopathic tendencies
back to his childhood neglect and resulting emotional abuse, his fascination with death, and
discussing how this may have influenced his opinion of the value of his own life in comparison
to the value of the lives of his seventeen young victims.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 2
Description of a Serial Killer
Criteria to Define Serial Killers. There are three different types of individuals who kill
multiple victims: mass murderers, spree killers, and serial killers. According to the Federal
Bureau ofInvestigation (FBI) (2005), these individuals differ based on the number of victims,
motivation, and time between kills. A mass murderer is defined as an individual with four or
more kills occurring at one time with no discernible cooling down period in between the murders
(Federal Bureau ofInvestigation, 2005). In order to be classified as a spree killer, an individual
would need to kill two or more individuals with no cool down period between murders (Federal
Bureau ofInvestigation, 2005). Defining a serial killer, however, has proven to be more of a
challenge. In the past, the number of murders needed to qualify as a serial killer has ranged from
two to ten murders, occurring in multiple locations, and with a cooling down period between
murders (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005). Currently, law enforcement has made the
decision to keep the number of murders on the low end, two or more victims, so that law
enforcement is able to respond quicker to potential serial murder investigations (Federal Bureau
of Investigation, 2005). Additional criteria for serial killers include the serial killer being a
stranger to the victim while also having no potential for financial gain as the crimes are generally
psychologically motivated (LaBrode, 2007). While the victims are generally random, they may
still have a symbolic meaning to the killer. For example, John Wayne Gacy Jr. killed “worthless
little queers and punks” (LaBrode, 2007, p. 154) because his own father was highly homophobic
and expressed that homophobia by being physically and verbally abusive toward him; due to
John Wayne Gacy J1′.’S close attachment to his mother and sister, his father saw him as a
homosexual and frequently called him a “manmla’s boy” and a “little sissy” (Bell and Bardsley,
N.D., p. 1).
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 3
Serial Killer Traits. Contrary to popular belief, not all serial killers are white males. The
Federal Bureau of Investigation has made it a point to announce that serial killers come from all
ages, races, genders, and socioeconomic statuses (Federal bureau ofInvestigation, 2005).
However, an average serial killer profile states that serial killers are generally, but not always, a
“white male, low-middle socioeconomic status, in his 20s or 30s, has a history of childhood
abuse or neglect, is sociopathic [and/or] psychopathic, is a chameleon to his enviromnent, and
appears normal to others” (LaBrode, 2007, p. 154). While these two statements may appear
contradictory, they are in fact quite accurate; serial killers come young and old, male and female,
and classified from all different races. In 2007, an eight year old Indian boy, Amardeep Sada,
became the youngest serial killer in the world after strangling three infants over the course of a
year (Foster, 2007). One final characteristic that many serial killers tend to have in common is
the sexual gratification they receive by taking the life of another human being. Also known as
sexual sadists, these individuals incorporate their deviant sexual fantasies into their killings
(
LaBrode,
2007).
Typology of Serial Killers. There are many different forms in which a serial killer may
manifest, and the two main groups are described as organized and disorganized (Victims of
Violence, 20 11 b). Organized killers will be highly methodical, planning every nuance of a
murder in advance and even stalking their victims until they have fully planned the entire crime,
including the escape (Victims of Violence, 2011 b). Organized killers will be very intelligent,
methodical, and social, will likely be married with children, will come across as channing and
successful, and will bring their own vehicle and weapon when they commit a murder (Victims of
Violence, 2007). Organized killers will watch the media coverage of the crimes and will only be
harder to capture the longer they continue to be free (Victims of Violence, 20 11 b).
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 4
Where organized killers are neat and clean, disorganized killers will be impulsive and
will make things up as they go (Victims of Violence, 20 11 b). Unlike the organized killers,
disorganized killers generally do not have a personal mode of transportation and will typically
kill near where they live (Victims of Violence, 2011b). They may be socially awkward and either
unemployed or employed with a low skilled job (Victims of Violence, 2011b). Often times,
serial killers will take a ‘trophy’ from their victims. With an organized killer, this is going to be
something long term and clean, like jewelry. A disorganized killer is prone to ‘overkill’ and will
often take a body part as a trophy
(Victims of Violence, 2011b).
In addition to organized and disorganized killers, law enforcement can further categorize
a serial killer by classifying one as either a visionary killer, a mission oriented killer, a power-
control killer, or a hedonistic killer (Victims of Violence, 2011 b). Hedonistic killers are
individuals who are usually schizophrenic and believe they are being ‘told’ to kill by an outside
force. Mission oriented killers are individuals who believe it is their responsibility to rid the
world of certain types of people, such as prostitutes, gays, or a certain race (Victims of Violence,
2011 b). Power-control killers are often individuals who feel they lack or have lacked power or
authority at one point in their lives. These individuals will kill in a manner that gives them the
ultimate power: the power over life or death (Victims of Violence, 2011b).
The hedonistic killer is the most common form of serial killer and is further classified as
a comfort, lust, or thrill killer (Victims of Violence, 2011b). A comfort killer will usually kill for
some form of momentary gain or other benefit that will provide some form of comfort (Victims
of Violence, 2011 b). An example would be a homeless person who kills other homeless
individuals in order to obtain the victims’ belongings or a wanner location to live. A lust killer is
a sexual predator whose sexual gratification is increased based on the amount of pain andlor
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 5
mutilation inflicted upon the victims. Jeffrey Dahmer was the perfect example of this type of
serial killer since the mutilation of his victims would continue long after they died. The final
category of hedonistic killer is known as a thrill killer. This hedonistic killer thrives on fear and
death (Victims of Violence, 2011 b). An example would be an individual who stalks his or her
victims and sends threatening messages prior to killing his or her victims.
Description of Childhood Abuse
Throughout the years, there have been countless studies conducted on child neglect
and/or abuse and its long term impact on social, emotional, and even physical development in
adolescents. A common conclusion found in many of these studies reveals adolescents who have
grown up witnessing violence in their homes and/or in their cOlmnunities have a higher
likelihood of suffering from long term emotional, physical, and mental trauma. These children
will also suffer with difficulties associated with “attachment, regressive behavior, anxiety and
depression, and aggression and conduct problems. [Additionally, victims of abuse] may be more
prone to dating violence, delinquency, further victimization, and involvement with the child
welfare and juvenile justice systems” (Finkelhor, Turner, Ormrod, Hamby, and Kracke,
2009).
Overall, children who witness violence at a young age become desensitized to the violence and
many times will integrate this behavior into their own attitudes when relating to others.
Abuse comes in many shapes and forms affecting individuals from all races, ages,
socioeconomic statuses, religious backgrounds, and sexual orientations (Alabama Coalition
against Domestic Violence, 2010). Children who are abused will typically encounter the abuse
from members of their own family or from individuals who are very close to the family. This
form of abuse is generally defined as any form of assault, intimidation, battery, sexual assault, or
any criminal offense committed by a relative or person(s) living in the same house as the victim
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 6
which has caused the victim harm (Batiol & Bartol, 2011). Abuse often becomes evident in the
adolescent years of many serial murderers, and like many other victims of abuse, they will
continue this cycle of violence. The term “cycle of violence” is used in cases of abuse as a way
to explain the continuous cycle of violence that is commonly found in the family history of the
abused and the abuser (Finkelhor et a!., 2009). Although abuse and serial murder are two
different acts, research has shown that serial killers will often look for certain characteristics in
their victims. The characteristics can be race, sex, color and length of hair, job occupation, sexual
orientation, height, weight, and/or age (National Museum of Crime and Punishment, 2008).
Often times, the victim choice will in turn be based on the serial killer’s experiences with abuse
as a child, and the characteristics of the abuser or perceived wrongdoer in the serial killer’s past
will become the same characteristics that the serial killer seeks in the present when determining
the next victim.
Types of Abuse. Child abuse is defined as “any act or series of acts of commission or
omission by a parent 01′ other caregiver (e.g., clergy, coach, teacher) that results in harm,
potential for hat’111, or threat ofhann to a child” (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention,
2012, p. 1). While a few of those children who experienced abuse as a child may grow up to be
serial killers, for the most part, abused children do not develop this extreme response to
childhood abuse. However, some do, and it is for this reason one must understand the types of
childhood abuse and how each form of abuse may physically, emotionally, and psychologically
traumatize a child for the rest of his or her life.
The first form of child abuse discussed in this analysis is physical abuse in which force is
deliberately used “against a child in such a way that the child is either injured or is at risk of
being injured” (Victims of Violence, 2011a, p. I). In situations of physical abuse, the child may
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
be subjected to beating, hitting, shaking, pushing, choking, biting, burning, kicking, being held
under water, or genital mutilation (Victims of Violence, 201Ia). The long term effects of being
physically abused as a child depend on the severity of the abuse, the ability of the child to cope
with the abuse, the availability of a support system for the child to turn to for support or help,
and several other factors. Children who are physically abused are more likely to encounter
physical, psychological, behavioral, academic, sexual, interpersonal, self-perception, andlor
spiritual consequences as a result of childhood abuse.
7
Sexual abuse is defined by the Federal Child Abuse Prevention and Treatment Act as the
“employment, use, persuasion, inducement, enticement, or coercion” of an underage child to
engage in or assist in any sexually explicit or inappropriate act or simulation of an act, or the
“rape, statutory rape, molestation, prostitution, or other form of sexual exploitation of children,
or incest with children” (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008b, p. I). Sexually abused
children suffer many ofthe same long term consequences as physically abused individuals
including low self-esteem, depression, and relationship difficulties (Child Welfare Information
Gateway, 2008a).
Childhood neglect is defined as “the failure of a parent, guardian, or other caregiver to
provide for a child’s basic needs” which may consist of physical, medical education, and/or
emotional needs (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008b, p. 1). Neglect ofa child at a
young age is especially traumatic to psychological development as a child needs human
interaction in order to develop healthy social skills. A child who is neglected at a young age is
also at an increased risk for anti-social traits, borderline personality disorders, and violent
behavior as he or she gets older (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2008a; Finkelhor et aI.,
2009).
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 8
Emotional abuse is defined as a “pattern of behavior that impairs a child’s emotional
development or sense of self-worth” and is one of the hardest forms of abuse to prove as it is
almost always combined with another form of abuse (Child Welfare Information Gateway,
2008b, p. 1). Since emotional abuse is generally found along with other forms of abuse, the long
term consequences for this form of abuse are the same as physical abuse, sexual abuse, and
neglect. Emotionally abused victims tend to see themselves as having less value due to their
abuse and are more prone to developing low self-esteem, depression, suicidal thoughts, anger,
and many additional psychological consequences.
Psychological Impact of Abuse. Individuals who have experienced neglect and/or abuse
tend to employ different methods for handling the abuse. While depression, suicidal thoughts,
anti-social disorders, and many other forms of psychological consequences exist for the victims
of neglect andlor abuse, research has discovered additional roles which may lead to further risks
associated with the previously mentioned forms of abuse. Gender is one such risk. According to
research funded by the Canadian Department of Justice and conducted by the Victims of
Violence (20 11 a) organization, female victims “tend to internalize, and are more prone to low
self esteem, suicidal thoughts, eating disorders, or other psychological disorders. Boys, on the
other hand, are more likely to externalize [their abuse] by becoming more aggressive and violent
toward others” (Victims of Violence, 2011a, p. 1). This research was also confirmed in research
studies by the Child Welfare Information Gateway (2008a) and by researchers Finkelhor et a!.
(2009) and Baldry (2003).
Jeffl’ey Dahmer’s Childhood
One male child who showed aggressive and violent tendencies as he matured was JeftJ’ey
Dahmer. Having grown up in a family who outwardly appeared to be loving and perfectly
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 9
normal, Jeffi’ey Dahmer’s childhood differs from the childhood of many serial killers. Although
interviews with Dahmer’s family tell ofa happy young boy who loved animals and nature, his
family also speaks of an unexplainable darkness that crept into their little boy (Dahmer, 1994).
His father, Lionel Dahmer (1994), would later write a book titled A Father’s StD/Y. His book
explores the nightmare he endured while raising a little boy the best he could and simultaneously
finding his every attempt to raise young Jeffrey Dahmer ending in failure. “It is a pOlirayal of
parental dread … the terrible sense that your child has slipped beyond your grasp, that your little
boy is spimling in the void, swirling in the maelstrom, lost, lost, lost (Dahmer, 1994, p. 14).”
Lionel Dalllller does explain that there were several family issues that may have inevitably
harmed Jeffrey Dahmer in a psychological nmmer. Jeffrey Dahmer faced many potentially
traumatizing situations as a child. One of these was his surgery for a double hemia when he was
approximately four years old. Jeffrey Dahmer was terrified his penis had been cut off
(Dalnnervideos, 2012f). Lionel Daimler claims Freudian psychology would argue that this
perceived castration may have been what led him to cut off the penises of his later victims
(Dahmervideos, 2012f). Throughout Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood, he frequently witnessed his
mother under the effects of her anti-anxiety drug, Equanil. Additionally, both of his parents were
more involved in their own lives and generally left him to fend for himself, and he witnessed
countless verbal altercations between his parents which would eventually lead to his parents’
divorce when he was eighteen (Dalnner, 1994). Additional research into the divorce of Jeffrey
Dahmer’s parents also explores the possibility that Jeffrey Dahmer may have developed
abandonment issues when he found that he could no longer contact his mother and little brother
after his parents’ divorce. Lack of contact with his mother and little brother coupled with the fact
that his father spent large amounts of time working on his PhD at Iowa State University, rather
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
than at home in order to avoid family turmoil, may have compounded Dahmer’s feelings of
isolation and abandonment.
10
Jeffrey Dahmer’s experience with neglect may not have been the only negative factor in
his childhood; there were also unsubstantiated rumors that he may have suffered sexual abuse
from a peer in his neighborhood. The rumors of Jeffrey Dahmer being molested by a
neighborhood boy when he was eight were never confirmed and were even adamantly denied by
Jeffrey Dalnner’s father (Dahmervideos, 2012). If the alleged sexual assault actually occurred, it
could explain why he would have chosen to target young boys and men to rape, torture, and kill.
On the other hand, Jeffrey Dalnner’s choice of victims could also be nothing more than the
actions of a sexually confused young man who was terrified of being left alone or abandoned.
Jeffrey Dahmer would later confess that the cannibalism made him feel like his victims were a
permanent pati of him. (Dalnnervideos, 2012b).
In 1994, Stone Phillips interviewed Jeffrey Dahmer and his family in a very candid
interview. During this interview, Jeffrey Dahmer and his parents all agreed that he was a normal
little boy, just a little quiet. Jeffrey Dalnner’s mother, Joyce Flint, smiles as she recalls her oldest
son, referring to Jeffrey Dalnner as a wonderful and fun little boy who would join her in doing
“all the things normal people do” (Joyce, 2012 c, 4:04). Joyce Flint further states that she never
saw any warning signs and claims she would have gotten him help if she had ever noticed
anything out of the ordinary (Dahmervideos, 2012e). Whether or not Joyce Flint and Lionel
Dalnner were truly oblivious to Jeffrey Dahmer’s behavior may never be fully known, but what
camlOt be denied is the abuse and neglect which Jeffrey Dalnner experienced as a child. Combine
this with witnessing multiple heated arguments and rumors of physical altercations between
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 11
Joyce Flint and Lionel Dahmer, and a very grim picture is painted of the home in which Jeffi’ey
Dahmer was raised.
Exposure to Abuse andlor Violence. Jeffrey Dahmer never experienced physical abuse,
and the sexual abuse he was rumored to have experienced was never substantiated, implying that
the neglect and subsequent emotional abuse were the primary influencing factors for Jeffrey
Dahmer’s later murders. There have been countless studies showing how detrimental early
childhood abuse can be on a child’s development and how it may lead to anti-social behavior,
increased violence, and numerous additional symptoms (Kotch et aI., 2008; Victims of Violence,
2011 a; Victims of Violence, 2011 b; Trickett, Negriff, Ji, & Peckins, 2011). In Jeffrey Dahmer’s
life, these symptoms became evident as Jeffrey Da111ner withdrew from others and instead chose
to internalize his feelings of frustration rather than seek help for the increasingly disturbing
thoughts which manifested in his mind.
In the 1994 Stone Phillips interview, Jeffrey Dahmer confessed that he had never had a
real deep conversation with his father, Lionel Dahmer; conversations he did have with his father
were always superficial (Dahmervideos, 2012b). Lionel Daillner, himself, admitted that he
learned everything about his son’s state of mind during the trial and in Jeffrey Dahmer’s
confessions (Dalunervideos, 2012b). Joyce Flint also appeared to be caught off guard by her
son’s actions, claiming she never saw the warning signs and was never even informed of the
issues with her son until news of his arrest and crimes began playing in the media
(Dahmervideos,2012e).
Interpersonal violence was another matter that neither of Jeffrey Dahmer’s parents found
to be a serious issue when raising Jeffrey Dal11l1er or his younger brother. Joyce Flint claimed it
was something she grew up with and therefore saw nothing wrong with it (Dahmervideos,
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 12
2012f). This reaction to interpersonal violent exposure is often how individuals in violent homes
view violence; since they experienced it as a child, it must be normal or have little or no impact
on children who reside within the home. This is a phenomenon which has been analyzed in
multiple research stndies, and in nearly every case, violent exposure has been shown to have a
significant impact on the child’s psychological and social development (Sousa et a1., 2011;
Mustanoja et a1., 2011; Baldry, 2003).
Anti-social Behavior. As a child or adolescent, most individuals have skipped a class,
harassed a classmate or sibling, or uttered a swear word at a peer. Generally, if this individual is
caught, he or she will be reprimanded for the behavior and will think twice before committing
the offense again. However, for some individuals this is not the case. Children who continually
behave in a manner which is considered inappropriate or a blatant violation of another
individual’s rights are diagnosed with conduct disorder. Conduct disorder is often found to
develop in children when they are in late childhood or early adolescence and will generally
consist of bullying, damaging propeliy, lying, and/or stealing without remorse (Johnston, 2009).
Where childhood misconduct will typically stop once the child is caught and reprimanded,
children with a conduct disorder are selfish, lack guilt, and generally do not get along well with
others, making it very difficult to treat the misconduct since they will not see their behavior as
wrong (Johnston, 2009). Due to this lack of guilt, these individuals are prone to violent and often
unprovoked aggressive behavior against other individuals and/or animals (Johnston, 2009). If
conduct disorder is not properly diagnosed and treated, with medication or by removing the child
from the problem enviromnent, the child is likely to begin displaying anti-social tendencies.
Anti-social behavior is characteristically defined as behavior in which an individual knowingly
violates an individual’s rights aod/or the laws and standards of society in a maoner that is not
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 13
generally considered illegal (Bartol and Bartol, 2011). Anti-social behavior is officially defined
as a “mental health condition in which a person has a long-term pattern of manipulating,
exploiting, or violating the rights of others” (U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2010, p. 1). Curt
Bartol and Anne Baliol (2011) asseli that the younger these actions develop, the more likely
these individuals are to engage in more serious behavior as they get older (Baliol and Bartol,
2011). “Seriously anti-social children are likely to progress in a spiral of escalating and more
severe anti-social and violent behavior over time” (Bartol and Bartol, 2011, p. 140).
For those unfortunate children who grow up with abuse and neglect, often times their
cries for help are overlooked or ignored. “If a conduct disorder pattern is present prior to the age
of fifteen, it is strongly associated with an increased risk of violent behavior into middle age
(Bartol and Bartol, 2011, p. 49).” Children whose cries for help are ignored or overlooked will
become involved in deviant behavior, and from there, they will gradually turn toward more
illegal and even deadly activities. This behavior was particulady evident with Jeffi’ey Dahmer.
At the age of four, Jeffrey Dahmer’s Father had noticed Jeffrey Dahmer had a particularly odd
fascination with a pile of bones that had been raked out from under his childhood home. While
this odd behavior was noticed, Lionel Dahmer did nothing to deter his son’s interest with death,
and as a result, his son’s interest grew. By the time Jeffrey Dahmer was in his teens, his interest
in death had turned into an obsession. When he was in ninth grade, he was assigned a fetal pig
and told to dissect the animal as a part of his grade; he later took the animal home and kept the
skeleton (Dahmervideos, 2012a). This obsession eventually led to Jeffrey Dahmer frequently
riding his bike along roads, collecting the bodies of animals which had been hit by cars, and later
mutilating and displaying the bodies in a macabre maimer (Dahmer, 1994). Following his arrest,
Jeffrey Dahmer was asked why he continued to mutilate animals after he completed the first one;
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 14
his only response was that he did not know why. “It became a compulsion and it switched from
animals to humans. I still don’t understand it. I don’t know why” (Dahmervideos, 2012a, 6:50).
In the 1994 interview with Jeffrey Daimler and his parents, Jeffrey Dahmer appeared
calm, relaxed, and even pleasant when talking about the crimes he committed. While he
appeared to genuinely feel remorse for his actions, he did not feel that he could stop killing.
Jeffrey Dahmer even claims to not have any recollection of his second murder, which he
believed to be the murder which pushed him over the edge (Dahmervideos, 2012b). Jeffrey
Dahmer’s Father, Lionel Dahmer, strongly believed that it was his own unacted upon desires that
were carried down into Jeffrey Dahmer; where Lionel Dahmer would fantasize about harming
people (the neighborhood bullies) in his dreams, Jeffrey Dahmer would act on these desires in
real life, beginning with animals and later with humans (Dahmervideos, 2012f). Lionel Dahmer
further stated that it may have been Jeffrey Dahmer’s strong sexual drive which led him to
sexually assault, dismember, and cannibalize his victims (Dahmervideos, 2012f).
In interviews with Jeffrey Dahmer, he appeared just as perplexed by his actions as
everyone else, claiming the urge to kill was uncontrollable, unavoidable, and something he could
not understand. Jeffrey Daimler admitted he began having fantasies of death mingled with sex by
the time he was 14 or 15 years of age, and it was at that age that he felt he was at a point of no
return (Dalmlervideos, 2012a). Jeffrey Dahmer claimed his fantasies consisted of picking up a
hitchhiker, holding him hostage, and doing whatever he wanted with him (Dalmlervideos,
2012b). Tln’ee years later, all of the pieces fell together. One night, while driving home to a once
again empty home, Jeffrey Dahmer drove past a hitchhiker and was unable to stop himself. “All
the parts were there that just made it possible to happen” (Jeffrey, 2012b, 1:35). Steven Hicks
was only 19 years old when he was murdered.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 15
Chaptel’ Summary
Media sources, movies, books, and even television shows have managed to keep a deep
fascination with the concept of a serial murderer thriving year after year. Those who have taken
the time to research these disturbed individuals have classified the types of serial killers as either
organized or disorganized killers, allowing society to further define serial killers based on the
mmmer in which they kill. In addition to being either organized or disorganized, a serial killer
can be a visionary killer, a mission oriented killer, a power-control killer, or a hedonistic killer
(Victims of Violence, 2011b).
For those who wish to understand why a serial killer kills, research will generally lead
them to stories of childhood abuse or neglect as a precursor to violent andlor anti-social
tendencies. Many serial killers are exposed to some form of neglect, physical, sexual, and/or
emotional abuse as a child; however, Jeffrey Dahmer only experienced neglect and emotional
abuse as a child making his case rather unique. Jeffrey Dahmer began to display anti-social
behavior as a result of regular and long term neglect as a child. It is believed that this neglect is
what led Jeffrey Dahmer to devalue life and develop anti-social traits which would later develop
into full fledged psychopathic tendencies as he got older.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 16
Chapter 2
Review of Literature
Introduction
This chapter presents the current and/or influential research studies and data gathered on
childhood neglect/abuse and how that neglect/abuse later impacts on adult serial murder and/or
violent tendencies. Over the years, various research studies have been conducted to study the
phenomenon of neglect/abuse and its resulting effect on a child’s social and psychological
development. The studies delve nlllher into how the child’s development may influence his or
her adult behavior. By showing how neglect/abuse can influence a child’s behavior and
personality, researchers have been able to more effectively solidify the comlection between
abuse/neglect and increased likelihood of anti-social behaviors, various personality disorders,
and increased criminal and/or deviant
behavior.
The following reviews will summarize the pellinent literature relating to this analysis’s
subject maMer; particular focus will be given to those studies which analyze the long term
impact of neglect and abuse on child development. Additional elements which will be reviewed
are: child/parent attachment, witnessing domestic violence as a child, anti-social behavior and
personality disorders, and studies relating to childhood abuse and animal torture and/or
mutilation. Specifically, this literature review chapter is arranged into five subcategories: (a)
social learning theory, (b) childhood abuse and neglect, (c) anti-social behavior, (d) violence
against animals, (e) serial murder and/or violence.
Data was obtained for this literature review using the Regis University online database
and various additional online databases for scholarly research. The primary databases used were:
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 17
Sage journals, Wiley Online Library, Google Scholar, and federally funded organizations for
both the United States and foreign governments. The most commonly used keywords or phrases
were: Jeffrey Dahmer, child abuse, child neglect, anti-social, psychopath, serial killer, social
learning theory, and many additional variations and/or combinations of each of those terms. In
the following literature review, miicles were chosen based on the quality of research, relation to
proposal topic, and readability.
Social Learning Theory
The social learning theory is the belief that an individual learns celiain behaviors from his
or her environment through observational learning (McLeod, 2011; Bandura, 1977). Heng Choon
(Oliver) Chan, Kathleen M. Heide, and Eric Beauregard (2011) used the social learning theory
and routine activities theory as the foundation for their research on sexual homicide. Through the
use of these two criminological theories, Chan et al. (2011) were able to research the motivation
process fi·om which an individual becomes “motivated to sexually kill, decides to sexually kill,
and acts of that desire, intention, and opportunity” (Chan et aI., 2011, p. 228). Their analysis of
sexual killings conclnded by stating that a sexual killer not only requires the correct state of mind
for the act but must also have the correct environmental cues for the crime to occur. Also known
as the routine activities theOlY, these environmental cues will generally consist of a “motivated
and potential offender, an attractive and suitable target, and an ineffective or absent capable
guardian protecting against a violation” (Chan et aI., 2011, p. 232). Chan et al. (2011) also
claimed that individuals who conmlit sexual killing are generally exposed to regnlar and long
tenn sexual violence and other criminal behavior starting from early childhood, usually from a
parent or caregiver. Jeffrey Dahmer was used to illustrate Chan et al.’s (2011) claims since he is
a well known American serial killer and because he witnessed multiple domestic disputes and
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 18
altercations between his parents. He was also chosen as an example due to his experiences with
parental neglect as a child and adolescent; as a result of that neglect, he was denied the child-
parents interaction he needed for proper social development. Additionally, Chan et al. (2011)
suggested communities combat the issue of child neglect by encouraging individuals to take part
in parenting classes, high schools to teach child development or parenting classes, and parental
support groups.
When defining the causality of psychopathic tendencies, there are numerous theories
which pertain to biological and environmental factors and their influence on the development of
psychopathic behavior. Using the Social Learning and Individual Trait Theories, Rebecca
LaBrode (2007) analyzed the lives of several different serial killers “to assess the similarities and
differences between their histories, crimes, and personalities” (LaBrode, 2007, p. 151) and found
a startling number of connections between the targeted serial killers. The targeted serial killers
were Gary Ridgeway, Ed Gein, Ted Bundy, Jeffrey Dahmer, BTK (Demlis Rader), John Wayne
Gacy Jr., and Ed Kemper. All of these individuals displayed anti-social personality disorder traits
as well as psychopathic tendencies and similarities in the crimes they committed, their
personalities, and their histories. “Gary Ridgeway (The Green River Killer), Jeffrey Dahmer, Ed
Kemper, and Henry Lee Lucas all engaged in necrophilia, which involves engaging in sexual
activity with deceased individuals” (LaBrode, 2007, p. 154). While they grew up in different
times, locations, and with different family upbringing, all of these individuals had a history of
“abuse, trauma, insecure attachment, loss or abandonment of a parent or caretaker, anti-social
behavior, head injury, and low arousal levels” (LaBrode, 2007, p. 154-155). Even the
victimology of these individuals shares a common theme as each chose a primary characteristic
that all their victims shared. For example Jeffrey Dahmer targeted young men, John Wayne Gacy
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
Jr. targeted adolescent boys, Ted Bundy targeted college aged women with long hair, and Gary
Ridgeway targeted prostitutes (LaBrode, 2007).
19
Following Labrode’s (2007) analysis of common themes found amongst serial murderers,
Richard B. Felson and Kelsea Jo Lane (2009) conducted a research study which stated that
offenders will commit crimes based on what they have been exposed to. Using data gathered
from State and Federal Correctional Facilities, Felson and Lane (2009) came to the conclusion
that offenders who were exposed to sexual abuse as a child were more likely to commit sexual
crimes as an adult, patiicularly targeting young children as their victims, while physically abused
offenders were more likely to commit violent offenses (Felson & Lane, 2009). This data resulted
in Felson and Lane’s (2009) encompassing question: “[W]hat exactly do children model when
they are mistreated” (Felson & Lane, 2009, p. 489)7 Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory
claimed “behavior modeled is often the same as the behavior observed” (Felson & Lane, 2009, p.
489) which would imply mistreated children are more likely to transfer the violent treatment they
received as children to those they encounter when they reach adulthood (Bartol & Baliol, 2011;
Felson & Lane, 2009).
Childhood Abuse and Neglect
There are numerous methods for disciplining a child when he or she misbehaves, but
none quite as controversial as physically harming a child. While many parents who spank their
misbehaving child do so in a malmer which is more startling than harmful, even this can have
long term psychological impacts on a young child’s development. Kathryn Maguire-Jack,
Andrea N. Gromoske, Lawrence M. Berger (2012) recently conducted a study which targeted
children under the age of five years in hopes of determining whether “spanking at ages 1 and 3 is
adversely associated with cognitive skills and behavior problems at ages 3 and 5″ (Maguire-Jack
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 20
et ai., 2012, p. 1). Known as the Fragile Families and Child Wellbeing Study, their study worked
with 4,898 U.S. children born between 1998 and 2000. The majority of the children were fi’om
unmarried families with lower incomes (Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012). Data was obtained through
telephone or in-person interviews at the child’s birth and then again when the child was within
the one, three, or five year age range (Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012). Spanking levels were recorded
by researchers who obtained the information purely by asking the mother of the targeted child to
rate how often she spanked her child, or how often her spouse/partner spanked the child, on a
five point scale (Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012). The scale ranged from: “[(1)] never in the past
month, [(2)] once or twice, [(3)] a few times this past month, [(4)] a few times a week, [(5)] or
every day or nearly every day” (Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012, p. 5).
While the amount of spanking was not recorded in a statistically reliable maimer, the
behavioral, cognitive, and emotionality problems were measured in a manner which was far
more reliable. Behavioral problems were measured by using the Child Behavior Checklist, which
compares how the child displays externalized and internalized behavior problems (Maguire-Jack
et ai., 2012). The child cognitive development was measured using the Peabody Picture
Vocabulary Test III which is frequently used to measure children’s language and cognitive
abilities (Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012). The final test was only obtained from the children when
they were in the 1 year age group. This test measured each child’s tendency to become easily
aroused, often intensely, which is frequently associated with later cognitive skills, behavior
problems, and consequentially an increased risk of parental stress and maternal spanking
(Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012). Using the Emotionality, Activity, and Sociability (EAS)
Temperament Survey for Children, Maguire-Jack et ai. (2012) were able to measure each child’s
emotional development. Conclusions gathered from this study showed “spanking at age one was
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 21
associated with a higher level of spanking and externalizing behavior at age [three], and
spanking at age [three] was associated with a higher level of internalizing and externalizing
behavior at age [five]” (Maguire-Jack et aI., 2012, p. 1, 10-13). Additional conclusions showed
that a link “between spanking at age [one] and behavioral problems at age [five]” were often
signs the child was exposed to ongoing spankings from the age of one to the age of five
(Maguire-Jack et aI., 2012). The authors were not able to conclude that spanking a one year old
child had any effect on cognitive skills at either three or five years of age (Maguire-Jack et aI.,
2012).
Jonathan B. Kotch et al. (2008) all conducted an in-depth research study on early
childhood neglect (birth to two years of age) and the impact it had on later childhood aggression
(ages four, six, and eight). Using a study group made up of 1318 at risk children, Kotch et al.
(2008) gathered reports of aggressive behavior from the child’s primary caregiver and repOlis of
child maltreatment from the Child Protective Service. Known as the LONGSCAN study, this
study made use of the Modified Maltreatment Classification Scheme (MMCS) in order to gather
a more accurate interpretation of neglect, physical abuse, sexual abuse, and emotional
maltreatment (Kotch et aI., 2008). According to MMCS, physical abuse is an intentional act of
hanning a child by a caregiver or responsible adult which physically injures the child; this does
not include ear piercing, circumcision, or any other form of culturally accepted physical harm
directed at a child (Kotch et aI., 2008). Sexual abuse is any intentional exposure, contact, or
interaction of a sexual nature between a child and a caregiver or responsible adult which results
in sexual gratification or monetary profit for the adult (Kotch et aI., 2008). Sexual abuse would
also include any and all injuries which were a direct result of the sexual act (Kotch et aI., 2008).
Physical neglect was defined in two different ways in the MMCS: first as failure to provide and
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 22
second as a lack of supervision. These two definitions are explained in a literal sense. A failure
to provide means caregivers or responsible adults who fail to meet the physical needs of the child
(Kotch et aI., 2008). The physical needs of the child include the requirement of adequate food
and shelter. Lack of supervision included parents and responsible adults who fail to adequately
supervise a child both inside and outside the home (Kotch et aI., 2008). Bringing a child into an
unsafe enviromnent, allowing a child to be supervised by an unsafe or unsuitable guardian, or
inadequate supervision of the child are all examples of the child having lack of supervision
(Kotch et aI., 2008). After reviewing the data obtained from the LONGS CAN study, Kotch et al.
(2008) were able to conclude that only early childhood neglect was a significant predictor of
higher aggression scores. Additionally, Kotch et al. (2008) were able to conclude that “early
abuse, later abuse, and later neglect were not significantly predictive” of future aggressive
behavior in children (p. 725).
Cindy Sousa et al. (2011) explored the effects of child abuse in combination with a child
witnessing his or her parents being domestically violent toward each other and compared this to
the likelihood of the same child developing anti-social tendencies as an adolescent. Data
gathered for this study was performed longitudinally over approximately 16 years on 457
children who were approximately four years of age during the first wave of the study,
approximately eight years of age during the second wave of the study, and approximately
eighteen years of age during the third wave of the study. Abuse was measured based on the
amount and degree of disciplinary action taken against a child, which included biting, slapping,
and hitting a child with a hard object (Sousa et aI., 2011). Domestic violence was measured by
recording the amount and degree of “physical violence (hit, punch, kick), threats to do physical
harm, and breaking things” (Sousa et aI., 2011, p. 119). Sousa et al. (2011) concluded from the
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
findings that a stronger parent -child attachment as well as reducing the likelihood of a child
witnessing domestic violence could reduce the risk of anti-social behavior as the child reaches
adolescence.
23
Children who witness domestic violence between their parents are not only at a higher
risk of developing anti-social behavior, (Souta et a!., 2011) but according to Susamm Mustanoja
et a!. (2011), these children are also increasingly vulnerable to bullying behavior, both as the
victim and the bully. As part of the STUDY -70 project, the research study “consisted of 508
(208,40.9% males; 300, 59.1% females) adolescent inpatients aged 12-17 years (mean 15.4
years; [standard deviation]!.3) consecutively admitted to Unit 70 at Ou1u University Hospital,
Department of Psychiatry, between April 2001 and March 2006″ (Mustanoja et a!., 2011, p.
496). As a method for determining the amount oftrauma these adolescents had experienced, a
survey was taken from each individual asking if the adolescent had witnessed 01′ been the victim
of a violent crime, witnessed domestic violence (“involving threatened 01′ actual harm to parent”
(Mustanoja et a!., 2011, p. 497)), or been subjected to physical and/or sexual abuse both isolated
01′ reoccurring. This information was compared to data gathered on the participant’s experience
with bullying, which the researchers defined as threatening or intimidating behavior directed
toward another individual on three 01′ more occasions (Mustanoja et a!., 2011). Mestanoja et a!.
(2011) concluded the study by revealing the increased likelihood of aggressive behavior, in the
form of bullying, for both boys and girls. Boys showed a statistically significant association
between bullying behavior and witnessed interpersonal violence between their parents; Girls
showed that their bullying behavior was significantly associated with “witnessing a violent
crime, to being a victim of violent crime, to witnessing [interpersonal violence between her
parents], and to physical abuse by [her] parents” (Mustanoja et a!., 2011, p. 498; Sousa et a!.,
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 24
2011; Kotch et aI., 2008; Maguire-Jack et aI., 2012; Bartol & Bartol, 2011; Felson & Lane, 2009;
LaBrode, 2007).
In 2011, researchers Penelope K. Trickett, Sonya Negriff, Juye Ji, and Melissa Peckins
conducted a survey on child abuse and neglect and the substantial effect this has on society. Over
the last several decades, there has been a great deal of research on child neglect and abuse and
each of these studies “indicate such maltreatment is associated with a number of mental health
problems, including internalizing and externalizing problems, as well as other maladaptive
developmental problems in childhood and beyond” (Trickett et aI., 2011, p. 3). After reviewing
these research studies, Trickette, et a1. (2011) were able to conclude that a significant number of
additional research studies need to be conducted on the societal impact of child abuse and
neglect. TIllS would be beneficial to communities since it would provide additional information
needed by child welfare and other similarly focused organizations in order to create intervention
programs which may be able to reduce the number of abused and/or neglected children in
society. Additionally, data resulting from the research by Trickette, et a1. (2011) found
intervention programs to be generally successful when treating abused or neglected
children.
Anti-Social Behavio.·
Anti-social behavior is the intentionally destructive behavior which results in physical or
mental harm to an individual, property loss, and/or results in a significant impact on the physical
or mental well-being of another person (Sentse, Dijkstra, Lindenburg, Onnel, & Veenstra,
2010).
In the 2010 Dutch study, known as TRIALS, researchers were hoping to determine how much of
an impact parental protection and supervision has on the development and prevention of anti-
social behavior in adolescents. The study group consisted of 1023 participants, with an average
age of 13.51 years, and primarily included young girls (55.5%) (Sentse et aI., 2010). TRIALS
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 25
researchers focused on two main questions in this study. The first pertained to the level at which
parents set rules, protected their children, and supervised their actions (Sentse et a!., 2010). By
asking this question, the researchers were able to compare overprotective and domineering
parents to the under supervised and laid back parents in order to determine which of these two
styles leads to a higher likelihood of anti-social behavior. The results of this question revealed
that both parenting styles could lead to children which anti-social tendencies (Sentse et a!.,
2010).
Adolescents with higher levels of maturity who were overprotected were not given the
chance to explore adult privileges, such as autonomy, and this restriction resulted in adolescents
engaging in more anti-social behavior as a way to asseli their independence. Adolescents whose
parents allowed them to be independent and self sufficient were also at a higher risk for anti-
social behavior because they were allowed to roam the streets without supervision, and often
times, free-living adolescents tend to engage in anti-social behavior (pranks, theft, bullying … ) or
develop friendships with other anti-social individuals in order to feel a sense of belonging
(Sentse et a!., 2010). The second research question in the TRIALS study asked whether anti-
social behavior in adolescence is to some degree a result of miscommunication between over
protective parents and adolescents who make every effort to be independent and self sufficient
(Sentse et a!., 2010). This qnestion revealed adolescents who matured early or were male were
still at an increased risk. However, if the parents were willing to monitor their children without
blatantly monitoring their activities, they were able to reduce the children’s likelihood for
developing anti-social behavior (Sentse et a!., 2010). Sentse et a!. (2010) measured anti-social
behavior through the use of an Anti-social Behavior Questionnaire to determine the level of anti-
social behavior in the adolescent participant. The questionnaire also provided questions for
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 26
obtaining the number offriends which displayed mild to severe anti-social behavior, through the
participant’s self admission. The parents’ parenting style was obtained by administering the ‘My
Memories of Upbringing for Children’ questionnaire. TRIALS also obtained information on the
amount of unsupervised wandering, parental knowledge, and biological maturation of the
adolescent (Sentse et aI., 2010).
Childhood and adolescent neglect has long been known to be linked to the development
of aggressive and/or anti-social behavior. In John F. Knutson, David DeGarmo, Gina Koeppl,
and John B. Reid’s (2005) study, they chose to explore how much of an impact one’s parenting
style will have on this particular topic. Taking into account that many studies have failed to
directly connect childhood neglect to future aggressive or anti-social behavior, the authors’ took
care to acknowledge that neglect is often associated with other forms of child maltreatment
andlor socioeconomic disadvantages (Knutson et aI., 2005). As a result, Knutson, et al. (2005)
concluded that their research study needs to make a special effolt to control or regulate the
elements of child maltreatment and socioeconomic disadvantages, in addition to providing “well-
specified operational definitions of neglect” (Knutson et aI., 2005, p. 93). In order to accurately
record the impact of “neglectful parenting, poor supervision, and puni tive parenting in the
development of children’s aggression”, 218 children ranging from 4 to 8 years of age were
selected from disadvantaged families across two different states: southeastern Iowa and north
central Wisconsin (Knutson et aI., 2005, p. 92). In an effort to ensure a diverse collection of
study participants, individuals were reclUited with particular focus on the degree of their
urbanization and ethnicity (Knutson et aI., 2005). Following an initial stlUctured interview and an
in-home assessment, a study that was used to obtain background information on the participants,
results were obtained purely from three laboratory sessions which were approximately 90
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 27
minutes apiece (Knutson et ai., 2005). The first of the three laboratory sessions was conducted
approximately 26 days after the initial interview and in-home assessments. This first part of the
session requested that the mothers of the children take a literacy test, known as the Reading and
Spelling subtests of the Wide Range Achievement Test, followed by a recorded parent-child
interaction experiment (Knutson et ai., 2005).
The experiment section consisted of the child learning a new board game and later
teaching the rules to the parents. This experiment measured how well the child and parents
interact and communicate. While the child was initially learning the rules ofthe board game, the
parents were asked to discuss the “most important of the child issues identified in the [initial]
questionnaire” (Knutson et ai., 2005, p. 97). The second part of the session consisted of a role-
play scenario which tested the child’s social problem solving skills (Knutson et ai., 2005). An
example of this task was having the parents and child preparing for a play-date with an
individual the child generally dislikes (Knutson et ai., 2005). The third part allowed the parents
and child time to freely interact with each other for ten minutes; the fourth part of the study
requested that the parents instruct the child to put all the toys away. All of these interactions were
recorded and analyzed by a “professional team of four behavior coders at Oregon Social
Learning Center (OSLC) using the Interpersonal Process Code” (Knutson et ai., 2005, p. 96).
Results ofthe study fell short in that the researchers were not able to establish an exact
connection between “neglectful parenting, poor supervision, and punitive parenting in the
development of children’s aggression” (Knutson et ai., 2005, p. 92). “In short, [the] replicated
data suggest the addition of snpervisory and care are impOltant independent effects within
developmental models; however, much more work on neglectfhl parenting, harsh discipline, and
social disadvantage in the development of aggression is required” (Knutson et ai., 2005, p. 92).
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 28
Conduct disorder is a serious behavioral problem occasionally found in late childhood
and early adolescence; it is usually self serving and can even be violent behavior which the
individual does not see as wrong. The most common forms of conduct disorder are vandalism,
drug or alcohol use, manipulation, bullying, arson, and truancy (A.D.A.M. Medical
Encyclopedia, 2011). Lindon J. Eaves, Elizabeth C. Prom, and Judy L. Silberg (2010) researched
this phenomenon and its connection to the development of anti-social behavior when linked with
inter-parental violence, inconsistent parenting, and/or parental neglect. For tins study, researchers
gathered data on “childhood adversity, parental antisocial behavior, and longitudinal adult and
juvenile anti-social behavior” (Eaves et aI., 2010, p. 425) by assembling a study group which
consisted of 1,412 families with particular focus on families which contained adolescent twins.
By studying the anti-social behavior of both the parents and the children, Eaves et a1. (2010)
were able to conclude “the longitudinal study of twins and their parents makes it possible to
demonstrate there is a direct causal effect of childhood adversity on child conduct disorder over
and above any indirect genetic correlation” (p. 425).
Violence against Animals
While Jeffrey Dahmer adamantly denied ever hanning a living animal, it is well known
that he collected the bodies of dead animals and mutilated them in some rather extreme ways.
Heather Piper (2003) made an attempt to understand adolescent animal abuse by relating it to
interpersonal violence within the home. Theoretically, a child who was abused or neglected is
going to find an outlet for the frustration felt as a result of that abuse or neglect. That outlet can
take many forms, and according to Piper (2003), one possible outlet comes in the form of animal
abuse. Simply put “adults who are abusing animals are also likely to abuse their children and
[sic] children who abuse animals are also more likely to be victims of abuse” (Piper, 2003, p.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 29
162). Piper (2003) even goes so far as to suggest that animal abuse may be an indicator of child
abuse or domestic violence within a family. However, Piper (2003) strongly encourages
individuals to not let their preconceived notions interfere with the true causes of animal abuse.
While media sources like to portray animal abuse as the gateway to serial murder, one must
understand that not every animal abuser is in a violent or abusive home nor is every animal
abuser fated to become a serial killer. Piper (2003) goes on to argue that most stndies on animal
abuse and later violence against humans suffer from “fundamental fallacies of logic” (Piper,
2003, p. 165) since there is no real proof that animal abuse will lead to homicidal tendencies later
in life. Many research studies which focus on this phenomenon target very specific populations,
such as criminals or serial killers, and do not account for the large nnmbers of children who
abnse animals and grow up normal. Piper (2003) suggests that a better definition of animal abuse
may help clarify the nature of the abuser. For example: In China, dogs and cats are regularly
killed and eaten and it is not seen as abnormal. The social stigmas associated with various forms
of animal abuse are going to change based on the individual, the location, and even the animal
being abused.
A child who grows up witnessing interpersonal violence between his or her parents will
often replicate the violence as a show of frustration or because it is something seen by the child
as normal. In a long term Italian study conducted by researcher Anna C. Baldry (2003), the
association between the witnessing of parental domestic violence and OCCUITence of animal abuse
perpetrated by the child witness was analyzed. According to the American Psychological
Association, children who are exposed to domestic violence will often act out in ways similar to
children who have experienced some form of abuse (Baldry, 2003). Animal abuse is frequently
regarded as a form of anti-social behavior and as a severe form of conduct disorder, both of
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 30
which are commonly associated with child abuse (Baldry, 2003). In order to test her theories
regarding tltis phenomenon, Baldry (2003) obtained parental permission to evaluate 1,392 Italian
youths in regards to domestic violence and animal abuse. These participants ranged in age from 9
to 17 years of age and were “45.9% girls and 54.1 % boys” (Baldry, 2003, p. 259, 263). The
pm1icipants were recruited fro11113 different schools, four elementary (28.5%), six middle
(47.3%), and three high schools (24.1%) in and around the province of Rome (Baldry, 2003). In
an effort to obtain relevant information on the participants, each individual was asked to reveal
the number and species of pets within the household. Socioeconomic status was another aspect
of interest in this stndy and was obtained by asking the participants about their parents’ jobs,
their house size, the number of residents living within the home, and the district in wltich the
residence resided (Baldry, 2003). Animal abuse was measured using the P.E.T. (Physical and
Emotional Tormenting against Animals) Scale for preadolescents and adolescents (Baldry,
2003). This test analyzed both the child’s experiences with animal abuse and the occasions when
the child witnessed animal abuse by a family member or peer. Animal abuse was determined to
be most prevalent among boys (66.5%) who witnessed animal abuse, while girls (33.5%) were
more likely to internalize the trauma in the form of depression or victimization as school (Baldry,
2003). Domestic violence was measured through a modified version ofthe Conflict Tactic Scale
which was adapted for youth participants (Baldry, 2003). The scale examined physical, verbal,
and emotional abuse with particular focus on father against mother and mother against father
domestic violence (Baldry, 2003). Baldry (2003) concluded the study by stating the results were
strongly supportive of the cOlmection between domestically violent homes and pm1icipants who
where abusive toward animals. As with many similarly focused studies (Piper, 2003; Dadds,
Whiting, & Hawes, 2006), Baldry (2003) encouraged individuals to not assume interpersonal
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
violence and animal abnse is automatically going to turn a child into a violent criminal as an
adult.
31
There are very few childhood behavioral problems that carry with them the ominous
nature and stereotyping commonly found among children who have abused animals (Dadds et
aI., 2006). Often times, children who abuse animals will be looked upon as violent future
criminals. Dadds et al. (2006) stepped forward to stonewall this misconception by looking deeper
into the phenomenon of childhood violence against animals. In order to effectively examine the
relationships between animal abuse and adult violent behavior, Dadds et al. (2006) chose to look
at this issue according to two primary factors. The first ofthese factors was the possibility of
animal abuse being the warning sign for a child who is a risk for developing psychopathic
tendencies (Dadds et aI., 2006). The second factor focuses on family problems as the source of
the conflict (Dadds et aI., 2006). Dadds et al. (2006) performed a research study by obtaining 131
pmiicipants fi’om five schools in Queensland, Australia; the students ranged in age fi’om 6 to 13
years of age and consisted of 67 males and 64 females. Data was obtained tlu’ough self-
administered questiOimaires which the participants were asked to return using the provided return
envelope. Using the Children and Animals Inventory, researchers were able to classify the
degree of animal cruelty based on nine dimensions of cruelty. The nine dimensions of cruelty
consisted of: severity or degree of pain inflicted upon the animal, frequency of the animal abuse,
duration or average time spent abusing the animal in one session, when the last act of abuse was
committed (recency), diversity of animals abused (example: dogs, cats, birds … ), level of
concern for the abused animal (sentience), whether the child attempts to hide the act
(covertness), whether the act was committed alone or with others (isolation), and whether the
child regrets the acts of abuse(empathy) (Dadds et aI., 2006). Additionally, the child’s
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 32
externalization was tested using the Child Behavior Checklist-Revised-Parent Form, the child’s
potential for psychopathic behavior was tested using the Antisocial Process Screening Device,
and family conflict was measured by the conflict subscale of the Family Environment Scale
(Dadds et ai., 2006). As a result of these tests, Dadds et ai. (2006) not only concluded that male
children were more likely to engage in animal cruelty than females but that there is also a high
correlation between psychopathic behavior and animal cruelty. Dadds et ai. (2006) also strongly
sUPPOlied future studies which may be able to further understand the cOlmections between these
variables and provide information which could be used as an early warning system for troubled
children.
After numerous studies had shown a significant correlation between animal abuse and
domestic violence, many individuals felt it was time this data was implemented as a preventative
method. Using a study sample of 860 college students, Sarah DeGue and David DiLillo (2009)
attempted to show why many U.S. jurisdictions have chosen to adopt legislation which would
allow “child and animal welfare investigators to refer families with substantiated child
maltreatment or animal cruelty for investigation by parallel agencies” (DeGue & Delillo, 2009,
p. 1036). Over the years, there have been numerous studies conducted on victims of domestic
violence, child maltreatment, and child neglect (Dadds et ai., 2006; Baldry, 2003; Piper, 2003;
Trickette et ai.,2011; Mustanoja et ai., 2011; Sousa et ai., 2011; Kotch et ai., 2008; Maguire-Jack
et ai., 2012; Felson & Lane, 2009; LaBrode, 2007), and the vast majority of these studies have
shown a correlation between these cases and reports of animal abuse.
In many homes, animals are considered another member ofthe family, and as a result,
they are vulnerable to domestic violence, maltreatment, and/or neglect (DeGue & Delillo, 2009).
The student participants from DeGue and Delillo’s (2009) study were obtained from three
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 33
universities across the Midwest and west, California, Nebraska, and Ohio, were 75.6% female,
70% white, and had an average age of20.1 years. Demographic and retrospective repol1s of child
maltreatment and domestic violence within the participant’s family of origin were obtained using
the Computer-Assisted Maltreatment Inventory (DeGue & Delillo, 2009). This test allows
researchers to obtain a more accurate repol1 of each participant’s childhood “sexual abuse,
physical abuse, psychological abuse, neglect, and exposure to domestic violence” (DeGue &
Delillo, 2009, p. 1043). The respondent’s experience(s) with violence against animals was tested
using a modified version of Boat’s (1999) Inventory on Animal-Related Experiences, known as
the Animal Violence Inventory (A VI) (DeGue & Delillo, 2009). Excluding hunting and routine
farm activities, DeGue and Delillo (2009) defined animal abuselneglect as denial of the basic
necessities (food, water, medical treatment, excessive confinement, and cleanliness) or the
intentional infliction of pain or injury (beating, fighting, and engaging in sexual acts with the
animal) on any domesticated or wild animal. Conclusions derived from this data showed that
approximately 57.9% of participants who witnessed or participated in animal clUelty as a child
were also exposed to child maltreatment andlor domestic violence as a child (DeGue & Delillo,
2009).
Serial Murder and/ol’ Violence
Throughout history, there have been serial killers. Often times, these individuals are
morphed into monsters or creatures to better explain their actions, vampires for example, and
other times they are merely psychopathic individuals who have infiltrated one’s society,
unidentified and fulfilling a need that even they may not fully understand. According to
numerous research studies, these monsters andlor psychopathic individuals have been victims of
abuse, witnesses to inter-parental violence, and perpetrators of animal abuse andlor mutilation. A
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
serial killer is by definition someone who has committed three or more murders of people
previously unknown to the individual with a “cooling off” period in between the murders
(Haggerty, 2009). This definition leaves much to the imagination and occasionally fails to
include dictators who order the murders oflarge numbers of individuals, operate death camps,
andlor oversee death marches (Haggerty, 2009). According to Haggerty (2009), this is a
significant flaw which has made researching serial murderers a challenging subject.
34
Haggeliy (2009) explained the role bureaucracy plays in modern serial murder by
underlying several modern phenomena connected to modern serial murders. The first of these
phenomena is mass media and the resulting celebrity culture. For example, Casey Anthony, OJ
Simpson, and numerous others have paved the way for countless individuals to reach celebrity
status tlu’ough alleged criminal acts within today’s modern society (Haggerty, 2009). Since serial
murder is still a relatively rare occurrence within our society, mass media has only recently
begun to playa significant role in exploiting the enigma that is serial murder. Today,
mesmerized individuals can satisfy their need for tales of serial murder through countless true
crime and detective novels, movies and police dramas, and even in comic books and serial killer
collector cards (Haggerty, 2009). Jeffrey Dahmer, himself, is memorialized in modern society
with his own action figure, collector cards, movies, a comic strip, and other memorabilia (Jarvis,
2007).
The second phenomenon which aids in modern serial murder is the realization that we are
a society of strangers. In generations past, neighbors were very close and often times knew in
depth information about each other, each other’s family, and personal predilections which offered
a significant amount of protection against serial killings, also known as stranger killings
(Haggerty, 2009). Often associated with a period of enlightenment which strongly focuses on
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 35
scientitic thought and reason, modern culture has led to a society which can rationalize dark
thoughts of murder and even genocide (Haggeliy, 2009). For example, Hitler’s Germany was
able to rationalize the mass genocide of millions because they felt it was for the best, a means to
an end, and better yet, a way to remove the weak from society (Haggerty, 2009).
Following the rationale of Hitler’s mass genocide against those who did not meet his
patiicular standard of humanity, society has fueled a generation of serial killers who are able to
rationalize their murders by dehumanizing their victims. For example: Jolm Wayne Gacy J1′. did
not refer to his victims as humans but instead as “wolihless little punks and queers” (Hhiler,
2011). Modern society has also assisted in the stereotyping of vulnerable victims. Current
statistics show that women in particular are affected by this phenomenon as women currently
account for sixty percent of serial killer victims (Haggerty, 2009). While serial murder is far
from being a novel concept, the advancements of modern society have only aided in making
serial murders more mainstream and profitable.
In today’s society, individuals do not need to look far in order to find some SOli of serial
killer memorabilia, glorification, or even glamorization. Murder, violence, and blood are hot
conlll0dities which draw the attention of countless individuals around the world. Jarvis (2007)
explored this phenomenon and researched the impact it has on the serial consumer. Beginning
with the manner in which violent crime is marketed, Jarvis (2007) refers to serial murder as a
spectacle to be consumed by a society which craves violence. Ultimately, this article attempted
to uncover the “less transparent links between the normal desires which circulate within
consumer society and monstrous violence” (Jarvis, 2007, p. 326). While Hollywood has their
share of serial killing villains (vampires, zombies, Freddy Krueger, ect), the real world of serial
killers has made actions figures, comic books, t-shirts, and even trading cards for some of the
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 36
most famous real life serial killers in history, including “superstars” Ted Bundy, John Wayne
Gacy Jr., and Jeffrey Dahmer (Jarvis, 2007). Jarvis (2007) claimed individuals Hock to serial
murder because ofthe way serial killers can blend into a crowd, becoming unknown and deadly.
After analyzing numerous Hollywood serial killer movies, Jarvis (2007) was able to reveal that
most movies which revolve around a serial killer tend to be focused on either mass consumerism
(Campbell’s soup in the Movie Seven or personal fitness in American Psycho) or the style of
murder (Jeffrey Dahmer and his cannibalism, Ted Bundy and his manipulation of good
Samaritans, John Wayne Gacy Jr. and his fascination with clowns and young boys and men)
(Jarvis, 2007).
Whether made into celebrities or not, serial killers are detrimental to society. Conduct
disorder accounts for numerous adolescent behaviors found to be socially offensive or
destructive to modern society and have often been cOlmected to later, more serious offenses. In
the Stephen D. Singer and Christopher Hensley (2004) analysis of one well known form of
conduct disorder and its cOlmection with later serial murders, children with a predilection for fire
starting were observed under the scope of the social learning theory. According to the social
learning theory, serial murder is a trait learned through personal experiences and the individual’s
response to said experiences (Singer & Hensley, 2004). Often times, these experiences are
humiliating to the individual or provoke a high amount of frustration in the individual. In Jeffrey
Dahmer’s case, he experienced vast amounts of neglect fi’om his parents as a child, and it is
theorized that he internalized the behavior by acting out (conduct disorder) which later evolved
into an anti-social and psychopathic behavior as he got older. Singer and Hensley (2004)
explained that the resulting frustration may even result in the individual’s later victim choice.
Ted Bundy displayed a tendency to focus on specific traits in his victims by only killing women
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 37
who resembled a young woman who ended a relationship with him in college (Biography, 2012).
Data for the Singer and Hensley (2004) case study was obtained by studying the lives oftlU’ee
notorious serial killers who also had a history of fire starting; the serial killers were Carl
Panzram, Ottis Toole, and David Berkowitz (also known as Son of Sam). Through detailed
examinations of the individuals’ lives, Singer and Hensley (2004) were able to reveal a strong
correlation between the abuse, humiliation, and neglect experienced by these individuals as
children and how those experiences may have resulted in their later fascination with arson and
serial murders.
Despite an international fascination with serial murders, there are still relatively few
studies or organizations with an agreed upon definition of who or what constitutes as serial
murder. In the study by William B. Arndt, Tammy Hietpas, and Juhu Kim (2004), patiicular
effort was made to define the characteristics of male serial murderers, their crimes, their victims,
and any additional information found to be relevant to the study. These efforts resulted in a
collection of definitions pertaining to male serial murder ranging from very basic to very specific
in nature (Amdt et aI., 2004). For Amdt et aI.’s (2004) study, 285 individual cases were
reviewed. In order to be considered for Arndt et aI. ‘s (2004) study group, the cases had to meet
the requirements ofthree or more murder victims committed by a male, had to be within the
United States during the 1900s, and the murders needed to be committed separately over a time
period of hours to years. Once these 285 individual cases were accepted into the study, they were
further classified according to the motivation of their suspects’ victims: whether the killings were
sexually motivated or non-sexually motivated, whether the suspects were geographically stable
or transient during the murders, and finally whether the suspect( s) was killing within a team or
individually (Arndt et aI., 2004). Results of the examination by Arndt et aI. (2004) revealed
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 38
nearly half of serial murders are sexually motivated killings (48%), and 60% of the research
cases pertained to geographically stable individuals which were found to have a killing career
half the length of a transient killer. Only 16% of the suspects worked as a team, and while most
of the study suspects targeted female victims, those who targeted men generally had a higher
victim count (Arndt et aI., 2004). Additional conclusions put the average starting age to be
around 26 years of age with the majority of the suspects being White, followed by African
American (16%) (Arndt et aI., 2004). Hispanic and Asian suspects were found to be poorly
represented within the study; Arndt et al. (2004) suggested that additional research studies should
be implemented to study these two groups.
In 2005, researchers Willem H. J. Martens and George B. Palermo concluded a study on
loneliness; researching the impact it may have on the development of violent and/or anti-social
behaviors or attitudes. Focusing on serial killers, Dennis Nilsen and Jeffrey Dahmer in particular,
Martin and Palermo (2005) chose their target population based on the amount of loneliness the
individuals experienced while growing up. In the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, he was neglected by
his parents for most of his life, and as a result he was always looking for ways to keep himself
from being alone (Martin & Palermo, 2005). Jeffrey Dahmer’s father neglected his son to finish
a PhD in chemistry, and Jeffrey Dahmer’s mother was a drug addict who had little time for him
(Martin & Palermo, 2005). When his younger brother was born, the minimal attention Jeffrey
Dahmer received from his parents became even harder to obtain. Following his parents’ divorce
when he was 18 years of age, his mother promptly took his brother and abandoned him to live
alone in his parents’ old home (DaImler, 1994). After his mother’s abandonment, Jeffrey Dahmer
sought to satisfy his need for company by seeking out young attmctive boys and men, drugging
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
them, having sex with them, and ultimately murdering, dismembering, and sodomizing their
bodies.
Martin and Palermo’s (2005) second serial killer analysis focused on Demlis Nilsen.
39
Dennis Nilsen was the child of a Norwegian soldier who was rarely around and a Scottish mother
who showed little to no interest in her son; as a child, he was unable to develop a close bond with
either parent. The only individual he was able to form an emotional bond with was his
grandfather who died suddenly when Dennis Nilsen was only 6 years old (Mmiin & Palermo,
2005). Following his parents’ divorce and his mother’s remarriage when he was 8 years old,
Dennis Nilsen found himself pushed into the background by his mother who was now more
interested in her new family (Mmiin & Palermo, 2005).
From similarities between Jeffrey Dahmer and Dennis Nilsen, Mmiin and Palermo (2005)
were able to conclude that loneliness can have a significant impact on anti-social and homicidal
behaviors. According to Mmiin and Palermo (2005), this extreme loneliness may lead to
“internal rigidity, social-emotional and moral numbing, indifference, hostility, and anger” (p.
305). However, the authors also argue that an individual can be helped if those around the
individual know what warning signs to look for. “Substance abuse; depression; social-emotional
incapacities; lack of social suppOli and guidance; a violent, criminal, or indifferent environment;
and a lack of self-esteem are all warning signs of loneliness that individuals who works with or
around juveniles should be watching for” (Mmiin & Palermo, 2005, p. 306).
Chapter Summary
Childhood is one of the most influential stages of an individual’s development, and by
exposing a child to violence and/or neglect, one may be inevitably impacting the development of
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 40
a child’s self image or the image of those with which the child interacts. In this chapter, the
author has reviewed numerous articles on the social learning theory, childhood abuse and
neglect, anti-social behavior, violence against animals, and finally serial murder andlor violence.
Through these reviews, significant evidence has been presented which shows the impact abuse
andlor neglect can have on one’s psychological development. Individuals who were abused,
neglected, andlor exposed to violence as a child were found to be at an increased risk for
personality disorders andlor criminal behaviors, including animal abuse and even serial homicide
(DeGue & Delillo, 2009; Dadds et aI., 2006; Baldry, 2003; Piper, 2003; Trickette et aI.,2011;
Mustanoja et aI., 2011; Sousa et aI., 2011; Kotch et aI., 2008; Maguire-Jack et aI., 2012; Felson
& Lane, 2009; LaBrode, 2007). Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory was also reviewed in
order to add validity to the claim that a child’s social and family environment may have a
considerable impact on the child’s psychological development.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
Introduction
Chapter 3
Method
41
The case study will focus on the neglect and abuse suffered by Jeffrey Dahmer
throughout his childhood but will also provide theories which may account for his adult serial
murders. Using available qualitative data on the social learning theory, serial homicide, animal
and childhood abuse and neglect, interviews with Jeffrey Dahmer prior to his death, and
interviews with professionals in the field of child development, the author intends to shed light
on the potential consequences of childhood neglect and abuse. This case study was reviewed and
approved by the Regis University Institutional Review Board (IRB) as an exempt study on
October 10,2012. The IRB approved this case study under the exempt category
45CFR46.l01.b(4) and as IRB #12-299. This chapter is organized into four subsections: (1)
subject selection, (2) instrumentation, (3) data collection, (4) data analysis.
Subject Selection
Jeffrey Dahmer was chosen as the target population ofthis case study because he came
from a family without physical or sexual abuse, yet he still became one of America’s most
notorious serial killers. Born May 21,1960, Jeffrey Dahmer was the first child born to Lionel
and Joyce Dahmer and would remain the only child until his younger brother, David, was born
December 1966 (Dahmer, 1994). For most of Jeffrey Dahmer’s young life, his Father was a
graduate student working full time in order to finish his PhD in chemistry and had little time to
spare with his son. Joyce Dahmer was frequently plagued with mental health problems combined
with an addiction to anti-anxiety drugs. Consequentially, neither parent had much time to
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 42
dedicate to the development of young Jeffrey Dahmer and to steer him away from an obsession
with death. Neglect was a way of life for Jeffrey Dahmer. Ifhe had a problem, he intemalized it
because he knew his family could never spare the time to uncover the dark secrets which festered
within his mind.
What makes Jeffrey Dahmer different from other serial killers is that he grew up without
physical, verbal, or sexual abuse, and he did not have any severe health issues (other than a
double hemia surgery when he was approximately four years of age). However, he was subjected
to neglect and emotional abuse, both of which are commonly found among children in today’s
society. With single and dual working parents becoming a normal occurrence in modem
families, many children are being exposed to much ofthe same abuse experienced by Jeffrey
Dalnner, yet very few ofthese children grow up to become violent or homicidal as adults.
Instrumentation
This analysis will not be integrating a large research group but will instead be
interviewing several professionals in the field of child development andlor psychology. In order
to reduce the amount of preconceived notions when it comes to the nature of serial killers, the
interviewed individuals will not be informed of the true focus of this analysis until after they
have completed four of the five questions. This precaution is to ensure the interviewee will not
let a preconceived stance toward the origin of serial killers influence the answers to the
questiomlaire. The questions are asked in an open-ended style, and the interviewees are
encouraged to answer to the best of their knowledge.
The first question in the questionnaire asks: “In your opinion, is psychopathic or
antisocial behavior learned through life experiences (bullying, neglect, abuse … ) or is an
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 43
individual born with these tendencies” (Appendix A)? This question will help determine whether
the patticipant believes violent crimes to be a result of an individual’s biological or genetic
make-up (nature) or as a result of the environment in which they were raised (nurture). The
second question asks palticipants: “How much of an impact do you believe adolescent
abuse/neglect would have on the development of psychopathic or antisocial tendencies”
(Appendix A)? Third, the patticipant is asked: “What type(s) of child or adolescent abuse/neglect
do you believe would have the most significant impact on adult violence (Physical, Sexual,
Emotional, or Neglect)” (Appendix A)? Questions two and three are to determine the
interviewee’s stance on abuse and neglect and how it may influence later, violent behavior. The
fourth question asks: How likely do you think an abused child would be to project this violence
on to another person or animal? Explain” (Appendix A)? This question reveals the interviewee’s
stance on the relationship between child abuse/neglect and animal cruelty. Once the first four
questions have been asked, the interviewee is then informed that tllis study pertains to serial
murder and Jeffrey Dahmer in patticular. The fifth question is the only question which directly
asks questions about Jeffrey Dahmer, and it is as follows: “Jeffrey Dahmer experienced neglect
and emotional abuse as a child. How much of an impact do you believe this abuse had on his
behavior and eventual murders of 17 young men” (Appendix A)?
Data Collection
According to Babbie (2010), when examining a social phenomenon which is documented
by media sources (newspaper, magazines … ), an unobtrusive research method is the most
effective method for data collection. In tllis case study, data will be obtained through the review
or content analysis “of human communication” (Babbie, 2010, p. 320). The abuse and neglect
experienced by Jeffrey Dahmer as a child is a primary focus in this case study and will,
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 44
therefore, be critically analyzed and compared to numerous studies conducted on abuse, neglect,
animal cruelty, and serial killers in general. Data gathered over the course of this case study will
consist primarily of qualitative research that has been conducted on Jeffrey Dahmer’s life
(interviews, biographies … ) and on abuse/neglect (websites, organizations, government
sources … ). For information pertaining directly to Jeffrey Dahmer, the majority of the
information will be coming from the biography, A Father’s StOlY, written by Jeffrey Dahmer’s
father, Lionel Dahmer, and from publicly available interviews with Jeffrey DaInner. The
interviews will provide information on his life, his state of mind, and reactions from those who
knew him. Secondary sources on the social learning theory, child abuse and neglect, serial
killers, and animal cruelty were obtained from journal articles, government atticles, online
databases, and organizations which specialize in abused and/or neglected children. Primary
sources were obtained from firsthand interviews with the target population, which in this case
study will consist of the interviews with Jeffrey Dahmer. Additional primary sources will consist
of interviews with individuals who specialize in child development, intervention, and addictive
behavior.
Chapter Summary
While this case study aimed to expose the long term impacts of child abuse and neglect in
the American serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, this chapter focused on the methodology which was
used within this case study. One of the first things the author did was explain why Jeffrey
Dahmer and his experiences with domestic violence, abuse, and neglect were chosen as the focus
ofthis case study. The author also used this chapter to explain which sources were most
beneficial to this study and why. Additionally, the author used an open ended survey to obtain
additional information and points of view from professionals within the field of child
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 45
development, intervention, and rehabilitation. The survey and the logic behind each of the survey
questions was discussed within this chapter; however, the results of the surveys and collected
data will be analyzed in chapter four.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
Introduction
Chapter 4
Data Analysis
46
Data or content Analysis is the “study of recorded human communication” (Babbie,
2010, p. 320). As previously mentioned in this case study, data found valid and pertinent to this
study was obtained throughjournal articles, newspaper clippings, biographies, interviews, and
numerous federal and private organizations. After each source had been read and critically
analyzed, the obtained information was written in a brief outline fOlm which made the
information easier to find should it be needed for additional analysis at a later point. Once the
study outline was constmcted, the author constructed supplementary questions which the author
considered valid to this case study’s primary focus. These supplementary questions can be found
in appendix A.
Government and Private Organizations, such as Child Welfare (2008a, 2008b, & 2009),
The Center for Disease Control (2012), and Victims of Violence (20lla & 2011 b) were of great
assistance when attempting to understand the inner workings of abused andlor neglected
children. These sources were able to add valuable statistical and firsthand knowledge of children
who, like Jeffrey Dahmer, developed anti-social and psychopathic tendencies as a result of
childhood abuse and neglect. The sources were also of particular value when reviewing the
impact of a child witnessing domestic violence andlor heated arguments between parents or
responsible caregivers. Similar to children who experience abuse and neglect, children who
witness inter-parental violence or arguments are at a higher risk of developing psychological,
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
developmental, and behavioral difficulties (Child Welfare Information Gateway, 2009;
Mustanoja et aI., 2011; Sousa et aI., 2011; Kotch et aI., 2008).
Interviews
47
Interviews and biographies about the life of Jeffrey Dahmer were invaluable in this study
since there was no way to directly interview Jeffrey Dahmer following his murder by a fellow
inmate in 1994. The interviews questioned Jeffrey Dahmer’s motivations for murder,
cannibalism, and necrophilia and revealed both startling and heartbreaking revelations fi’om
Jeffrey Dahmer and both his parents. By watching and analyzing the interview by Stone Phillips
of Jeffrey Dahmer, the author was able to get Jeffrey Dahmer’s view on the biography written by
his Father as well as the opinion of Jeffrey Dahmer’s Mother, an insight into Jeffrey Dahmer’s
life that is not very easy to find.
The interviews conducted by the author for this case study were also helpful in
understanding the impacts of child abuse/neglect, animal cruelty, and how those incidents
influence child development leading into adulthood. The first of the paliicipating respondents
was Gopa Ka Ross (2012), an expeli in child intervention and art education. Ross (2012)
received her Bachelor’s degree in Art education, her Master’s degree in Art Education with an
emphasis in 31i therapy, and she is a certified Early Childhood SpecialistlInterventionist.
Additionally, Ross (2012) specializes in children age 0 (pregnancy) to 6 years of age.
With over 35 years of experience in this field, Ross’s (2012) immediate response to the
question regarding the development of psychopathic or anti-social behavior was to state that
children can be born with these issues as well as develop them through life experiences.
Additionally, Ross (2012) explained that anti-social and psychopathic behavior can be
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 48
genetically inherited from the individual’s parents. These tendencies are often times undiagnosed
and may not even be diagnosable due to our current knowledge of and the mysteries sUll’ounding
the human brain. However, Ross (2012) stated that these inherited tendencies can be treated with
“proactive pro-social intervention by caring parents, teachers, or therapists” (Appendix B). These
children may still need medication to make up for issues untreatable by intervention methods,
but given time, they should be able to develop positive functional interactions with others (Ross,
2012).
In regard to adolescent abuse/neglect and its impact on the development of anti-social or
psychopathic tendencies, Ross (2012) stated that while abuse/neglect could have a negative
impact on adolescent aged children, abuse/neglect would have a more significant impact on
children during their early years. Through Ross’s (2012) 35+ years of experiences, sexual abuse
is the one form of abuse that she has never seen fail to manifest itself in one form or another.
However, Ross (2012) also claims that both physical and sexual abuse can be connected with
higher levels of adult aggression or violence. Emotional abuse is what Ross (2012) referred to as
the “ghost in the nursery” (Appendix B). The’ ghost’ is often associated with neglect, a loss of
self-esteem, emotionally violent outbursts, and manifestations of unadulterated rage as a teen
(Ross, 2012). Jeffrey Dahmer internalized these traits until his teen years when he displayed the
‘ghost’ by dissecting animals around 15 years old; these violent outbursts would transfer to
humans when he was 18 years old.
Building on the “ghost in the nursery” reference, Ross (2012) responded to the question
of childhood abuse and its potential projection on to another person or animal by stating
“children with a history of abuse/neglect do repeat the abusive acts they experienced” (Appendix
B). Sometimes, however, this violence against other people or animals is seen as a way to
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 49
retaliate or express their anger/frustration for the abuse and mistreatment that they have
experienced (Ross, 2012). Confusion is another element of this transference of rage and
frustration, as the children become old enough to realize that someone should have been there to
protect them and/or take care of them (Ross, 2012). Abused/neglected children are, therefore,
likely to hurt, bully, and/or abuse others as a way to vent the frustration they feel for their
suffering (Ross, 2012). When asked how this abuse and neglect may have influenced Jeffrey
Dahmer, Ross (2012) admitted to knowing very little about Jeffrey Daluner and his crimes. In
order to avoid adding a bias point of view, the author has chosen to remove any and all
discussion between the author and Ross (2012) which pertained to Jeffrey Dahmer.
The second participant was Robert Gregg (2012) who specializes in the drug and alcohol
counseling of adult offenders. Gregg (2012) has worked in the counseling field for 34 years;
previously he worked iu family counseling but is currently working as a drug and other addiction
counselor. Since we were unable to meet in person, this questionnaire was completed through
email. Any confusion regarding the questions in the questionnaire was sent directly to an email
attached to the author’s cellular phone, where emails were promptly received and responded to.
When asked whether or not anti-social and psychopathic behavior is something an
individual is born with or learns through life experiences, Gregg (2012) stated that he believes
these behaviors to be learned. He defended this stance by explaining individuals who have
experienced abuse in the past are frequently found to abuse others (Gregg, 2012). This assCliion
has been confirmed by multiple research studies throughout the years (Child Welfare
Information Gateway, 2008a; Finkelhor et aI., 2009; Kotch et aI., 2008; Trickettet aI., 2011;
Victims of Violence, 2011a; Victims of Violence, 2011 b). When questioned about the impact of
adolescent abuse/neglect, Gregg (2012) responded by stating “adolescence is a critical time of
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
development … any abuse or neglect could develop into psychopathic or antisocial tendencies”
(Appendix C). The third question on the questiOlmaire allowed Gregg (2012) to further define
childhood/adolescent abuse by asserting his belief that physical abuse or neglect results in a
higher degree of acting out in a violent manner.
50
When asked if a child’s experience with abuse could resnlt in the projection of violence
on to other living creatures, Gregg (2012) stated that it would be very likely and referred to a
phenomenon known as the poisonous pedagogy. According to Alice Miller (N.D.) and Robert
Slagle (N.D.) this phenomenon is found in dysfunctional families whose parents belittle or
shame their children into repressing their emotions or behaviors which the parents find to be
offensive. Slagle’s (N.D.) article claims “this wounding of the inner child [may later become] the
basis for compulsive/addictive behavior in adults” (Slagle, N.D., p. 1). This could explain Jeffrey
Dahmer’s behaviors as an adult since his parents had little or no time set aside to spend with him
or help him develop a healthy self-esteem or self-worth. The emotional abuse and neglect at the
hands of his parents effectively stunted Jeffrey Dahmer emotional development, in that he
became unable to share his problems with his parents out offear of being a burden. Gregg (2012)
ultimately felt Jeffrey Dahmer’s childhood emotional abuse and neglect were contributing
factors to his adult sadistic behavior; however, Gregg (2012) also felt that Jeffrey Dahmer was a
“volitional free-agent” who in the end chose to commit murder (Appendix C).
Organizations and Reseal’ell Studies
SimplyPsychology.org is a private organization which was found to be particularly useful
when researching Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, in which, “behavior is learned from
the environment through the process of observational learning” (McLeod, 2011, p. 1). Albert
Bandura’s (1977) social learning theory, is a form of operant conditioning, in which an
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 51
individual’s behavior can be changed based on positive, negative, or neutral reinforcement
(McLeod, 2007). Bandura’s (1977) theory was used in this case study as a way to explain Jeffrey
Daimler’s attitude toward his victims. Since Jeffrey Dahmer was neglected as a child, this may
be why he lacked empathy for his victims. Since his own parents did not value his well-being as
a child, it may have led to his inability to value the well-being of his victims. By comparing the
social learning theory to the information within the gathered atiicles and studies, it is believed
the resulting data will show a strong correlation between neglect/abuse and the possible (but not
guaranteed) development of psychopathic tendencies as an adult.
Following an extensive review of current literature on abuse, neglect, antisocial behavior,
serial killers, and the social learning theory, the key issues were compared to the author’s theory
that some, but not all, children who have experienced abuse/neglect as a child are at an increased
risk of displaying antisocial or violent behavior as they grow into adulthood. After comparing
and contrasting the literature with the focal point of this case study, the author was able to
confirm that most research stndies do confirm that child neglect, abuse, and even the witnessing
of domestic violence will have an impact on child development and later criminal behavior.
There is, however, very little information to explain why some children appear to be impervious
to violence, abuse, and neglect as a child and appear to grow into socially acceptable adults. Ross
(2012) suggests that the reason some abused/neglected children still grow into contributors to
society is due to other caregivers providing the support and boundaries such children need as
they develop. This shows that as a society, researchers need to conduct further long term
research studies on this phenomenon. By increasing the general understanding of the
development of antisocial and psychopathic behavior in children and adults, we may be one step
closer to predicting and preventing future violent behavior by abused and neglected children.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 52
Chapter Summary
After gathering all of the relevant data in previous chapters, this chapter’s purpose was to
compile and analyze the results. Begimling with the published literature on Jeffrey Dahmer, child
abuse/neglect, antisocial behavior, animal abuse, and the social learning theOlY, the author was
able to gather conclusions and theories which bolstered the author’s hypothesis that abuse and
neglect can have detrimental impacts on children and adolescents. The 1994 interview with
Jeffrey Dahmer was able to provide insight into why Jeffrey Dahmer murdered 17 young boys
and men. Additionally, the interview gave Lionel Dahmer and Joyce Flint’s point of view about
Jeffrey Daluner as a child and adolescent, their marital disputes and how that may have impacted
Jeffrey Dahmer, and what they believe may have led their son to murder. The interview results,
with Ross (2012) and Gregg (2012), were analyzed. By answering the survey questions, Ross
(2012) and Gregg (2012) provided the viewpoint of two professionals, and their expert opinions
of the long term impacts of child abuse and neglect were presented and compared with literature
studies. The results of the data collection revealed several discrepancies and questions the author
feels warrant further study which will be discussed later in the next chapter.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 53
Chapter 5
Results
This case study focused on Jeffrey Dahmer and the abuse and neglect he experienced as a
child. Using information obtained from various government and private organizations, websites,
interviews, and jonrnal articles, the anthor was able to conclnde that the abnse and neglect
experienced by Jeffrey Dahmer may very well have had a significant impact on his later actions
as a sexual serial killer. Through the criminological theOlY, known as the social learning theory,
the author was able to argue that Jeffrey Dahmer’s experiences with abuse and neglect may have
led him to becoming one of America’s most notorious serial killers. The social learning theory
suggests that Jeffrey Dahmer became homicidal because he was denied the child-parent
interactions which could have helped him obtain a healthy sense of social development. While
Jeffi-ey Dahmer’s childhood abuse and neglect appears to be a common trend among serial
killers, it is not commonly found among children or adolescents who have experienced abuse
andlor neglect at a young age. However, the research obtained during this case study was not
entirely suppOllive of the author’s hypothesis; existing research showed discrepancies and
provided valid arguments which the author feels are deserving of further research.
Suggestions for Future Study
As result ofthis exploratory case study, the author was confronted with several
inconsistencies in regards to the case study’s hypothesis. The most significant of these
discrepancies was revealed during the interview with Ross (2012) when she stated that she
believed anti-social behavior could be inherited from an individual’s parents. This was a
possibility which the author initially overlooked when creating the thesis statement before being
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 54
enlightened by not only Ross’s (2012) statements but also the Stone Phillips interview with
Jeffrey Dahmer (Dalnnervideo, 1994). Piper (2003) clarified one common misconception in
regards to animal and child abuse when she stated that society has long been diluted into
believing children who abuse animals are doomed to become violent and disturbed individuals.
This belief is false as many children who abused animals at one point have still grown up to lead
normal and productive lives. Another discrepancy which became apparent during this case study
is the belief that adolescent abuse/neglect at a young age is going to have an equally significmlt
impact on the potential development of violent and/or aggressive behavior as the child ages
(Kotch et ai., 2008; Maguire-Jack et ai., 2012). This belief is also false. While there are some
children who become violent as a result of being abused or neglected, it is not a certain outcome.
Many children or adolescents who are abused do not become violent or aggressive. While none
of these inconsistencies are novel concepts, the author had not taken these ideas into account
when designing tins case study.
As a result of this case study, the author strongly believes that there are several questions
which need to be answered if society ever wants to fully understand the phenomenon of child
abuse/neglect and its impact on the development of violent behavior as an adult. The first of
these questions is why some abused or neglected children turn violent while others are perfectly
fine. Researchers need to study what environments, support systems, and other influential factors
help an abused or neglected child cope. Second, there needs to be research on child abuse/neglect
outside ofthe criminal population. Many of the studies found during research within this case
study focused primarily on individuals who have been arrested for violent behavior. Researchers
need to study abused individuals who have not been mTested and are from all socioeconomic
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 55
statuses, races, demographics, etc .. By nanowing the research focus to criminals, the researchers
are limiting the study’s potential, which may result in an important element being overlooked.
Chapter Summary
This chapter summarized the results of this exploratory case study and allowed the author
to conclude that child abuse and neglect can have an impact on later violent behavior. However,
this is not the case for all abused/neglect child and adolescents since many abuse/neglected
children and adolescents are able to live normal lives as they grow into adults. The author
discussed the need for further research in this field using the two main discrepancies found
within the case study.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
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Mustanoja, S., Luukkonen, A., Hakko, H., Rasanen, P., Saavala, H., Riala, K., and The STUDY-
70 workgroup. (2011). Is exposure to domestic violence and violent crime associated
with bullying behavior among underage adolescent psychiatric inpatients? Child
Pi,ychiatlJI & Human Development, 42(4), 495-506. doi: 1O.1007/s10578-011-0222-9
National Museum of Crime and Punislmlent. (2008). Serial killer victim selection. Retrieved
from: htlp:llwww.crimemuseum.org/library/seriaIKillers/seriaIKillerVictim.html
Piper, H.. (2003). The linkage of animal abuse with interpersonal violence: A sheep in wolfs
clothing? Journal of Social Work, 3(20, 161-177. doi: 1 0.1177/14680173030032003
Sentse, M., Dijkstra, J.K., Lindenberg, S. Onnel, J.,and Veenstra, R. (2010). The delicate
balance between parental protection, unsupervised wandering, and adolescents’
autonomy and its relation with anti-social behavior: The TRAILS study. International
Journal of Behavioral Development, 34(2), 159-167. doi: 10.1177/0165025409350949
Singer, S.D. and Hensley C .. (2004). Applying social learning theory to childhood and
adolescent firesetting: Can it lead to serial murder? International Journal of Offender
Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 48(4), 461-476.
doi: 10.1177 10306624X04265087
Slagle, R. (N.D.). The family: Cornerstone of civilization. Retrieved from:
http://urantiabook.org/archive/ww 1 1 slagww l.htm
Sousa,C., Herrenkohl, T.L, Moylan, c.A., Tajima, E.A., Klika, BJ., Herrenkohl, RC., and
Russo J.M .. (2011). Longitudinal study on the effects of child abuse and children’s
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exposure to domestic violence, parent-child attachments, and anti-social behavior in
adolescence. JOlll’l1al of Interpersonal Violence, 26(1), 111-136.
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JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
Appendix A
Abused Child. Violent Adult?
1. In your opinion, is psychopathic or antisocial behavior learned through life experiences
(bullying, neglect, abuse … ) or is an individual born with these tendencies?
2. How much of an impact do you believe adolescent abuse/neglect would have on the
development of psychopathic or antisocial tendencies?
3. What type(s) of child or adolescent abuse/neglect do you believe would have the most
significant impact on adult violence? (physical, Sexual, Emotional, or Neglect)
64
4. How likely do you think an abused child would be to project this violence on to another
person or animal? Explain?
Once the previous foul’ questions have been answered I will then reveal that this paper is
focusing on Jeffrey Dahmer. It is believed that this will prevent the interviewee from being
influenced by what they know of Jeffrey Dahmer or other well lmown serialldllers.
5. Jeffrey Dahmer experienced neglect and emotional abuse as a child. How much of an
impact do you believe this abuse had on his behavior and eventual murders of 17 young
men?
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
AppendixB
Abused Child. Violent Adult?
Survey questions: Gopa Ka Ross
1. In your opinion, is psychopathic or antisocial behavior learned through life experiences
(bullying, neglect, abuse … ) or is an individual born with these tendencies?
65
Both – Many children are born with antisocial and/or psychopathic tendencies inherited
(bipolar disease and schizophrenia) Ef, with proactive pro-social intervention by caring
parents, teachers, or therapists – children can learn positive jill1ctional interaction with
others, yet ojien may need medication also.
2. How much of an impact do you believe adolescent abuse/neglect would have on the
development of psychopathic or antisocial tendencies?
Development oj antisocial/psychopathic in teen years can be fi’om abuse/neglect, yet most
ojien, the pattern oJboth abuse/neglect and dysjill1ctional psychopathic behavior
emerged in early years.
3. What type( s) of child or adolescent abuse/neglect do you believe would have the most
significant impact on adult violence? (Physical, Sexual, Emotional, or Neglect)
Violent adult behavior can be/i’om any oJthe above abuses or neglect, yet
physical/sexual abuse seemed to reflect physically mirroring violence – emotional abuse
is the “ghost in the nurselY” manifesting in rage in teen years ojien coupled with neglect,
loss oj self esteem and emotional violent outbursts.
4. How likely do you think an abused child would be to project this violence unto another
person or animal? Explain?
Children with a histOlY oj abuse/neglect do repeat the abusive acts they experienced or
are violent with others and animals expressing anger/jhlstration or even a misguided
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 66
fascination of the suffering they can cause – perhaps retaliation for their own struggles
with pain and conjilsion- angel’ and questioning why was a responsible adult not there
to protect them and in tUI’11 act it out and hurt/bully/abuse others in outbursts.
Once the previous four questions have been answered I will then reveal that this paper is
focusing on Jeffrey Dahmer. It is believed that this will prevent the interviewee from being
inflnenced by what they lmow of Jeffrey Dahmer or other wellimown serialldllers.
5. Jeffrey Dahmer experienced neglect and emotional abuse as a child. How much of an
impact do you believe this abuse had on his behavior and eventual murders of 17 young
men?
The respondent did not know a lot about Jejji-ey Dahmer. Author explained his life, his
alcohol addiction, and mother’s mental illness as well as anti-anxiety drug lise during
pregnancy caused a passionate response in the rel>pondent.
“His lIlother was mentally ill, he was mentally ill. ”
Start: 6:45 PM
End: 8:30 PM
11/19/2012
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT
Appendix C
Abused Child. Violent Adult?
Survey questions: Robert A. Gregg
MA in guidance and counseling. Been a counselor for 34 yrs. Presently works with drug and
other addictions and has worked in family counseling.
1. In your opinion, is psychopathic or antisocial behavior learned through life experiences
(bullying, neglect, abuse … ) or is an individual born with these tendencies?
I believe that this behavior is learned Abused victims have a tendency to become
abusers themselves.
2. How much of an impact do you believe adolescent abuse/neglect would have on the
development of psychopathic or antisocial tendencies?
67
I believe that adolescence is a critical time of development. Any abuse or neglect could
develop into psychopathic or antisocial tendencies.
3. What type( s) of child or adolescent abuse/neglect do you believe would have the most
significant impact on adult violence? (Physical, Sexual, Emotional, or Neglect)
Pertaining to violence, it would seem that physical abuse/neglect would lead to acting out
of violence.
4. How likely do you think an abused child would be to project this violence unto another
person or animal? Explain?
It is velY likely. John Bradshaw referred to this as the poison pedagogy.
JEFFREY DAHMER: PSYCHOPATHY AND NEGLECT 68
Once the previous four questions have been answered I will then reveal that this paper is
focusing on JeffI’ey Dahmer. It is believed that this will prevent the interviewee from being
influenced by what they know of Jeffrey Dahmer or other wellirnown serial killers.
5. Jeffrey Dalnller experienced neglect and emotional abuse as a child. How much of an
impact do you believe this abuse had on his behavior and eventual murders of 17 young
men?
J believe that Jeffi’ey Dahmer’s childhood neglect and emotional abuse contributed to his
sadistic behavior. He is also a volitional }i’ee-agent who chose to cany out his mass
murder behavior.
Statt: 11118/2012; 4:11 pm
End: 11119/2012; 5:06 pm
- Regis University
- CPS Disclaimer
- Higgs Capstone Project
ePublications at Regis University
Fall 2012
Jeffrey Dahmer: Psychopathy and Neglect
Tamara Higgs
Recommended Citation
What is Serial Murder?
The American public is fascinated by hor-
ror and cruelty. Fictional characters like Hanni-
bal Lecter and Michael Myers amuse movie go-
ers; but while these interesting beings and their
crimes sometimes seem far-fetched, they can be
all too close to reality. What happens when the
characters of a movie come to life, or cinema
imitates reality? Just mentioning “Helter Skelter”
or “Zodiac” can send chills down the spine of the
biggest horror film fan. Anyone who has a com-
mon knowledge of Jeffery Dahmer or Ted Bundy
knows they are far from fictional. Bonnie and
Clyde, David Berkowitz and Jack the Ripper are
all real as well. They are all infamous serial killers.
According to Eric W. Hickey, author of
“Serial Murderers and Their Victims,” serial mur-
derers include “any offenders, male or female,
who kill over time” (Hickey 12). It is doubtful that
anyone would disagree with Hickey’s definition,
but some experts may choose to be a bit more
descriptive. Due to the qualifications of a serial
homicide, there tends to be a general consen-
sus among reactions to serial killings by the public
but not necessarily upon the reasons for which
one may commit such an atrocious act. The
crime should not be confused with a spree kill-
ing, which involves the murder of many victims
without a relationship or extended period of time
existing between the killings.
How often are Serial Murders Committed?
While murdering multiple victims is a ter-
rible form of homicide, these instances only ac-
count for 4.4% of all homicides as of 2005. Despite
this small fraction, there has been an increase of
1.3% since 1975. Although these percentages
seem very low, they should still be taken seriously
due to the cruelty of the crime. Again as of 2005,
Inside the
Mind of a
Serial Killer
Nick Zeigler
Sociology
300: Criminology
Dr. Kurtz
DATE NEEDED
4% of all homicides included two victims, .6% in-
volved three victims, .1% involved four victims,
and .05% involved five or more victims (Bureau
of Justice Statistics). While these numbers prove
that killings with many victims are rare, they are
still the stories that are embedded in our minds,
and often times in history.
Why do Serial Homicides Occur?
It is difficult to prove why serial murders are
committed but some educated guesses have
been made as to the reasons for which some
of these terrible acts of violence occur; “Various
theses of the aetiology of serial murder exist, most
of which chooses to align with a psychiatric, so-
ciological or biological explanation” (Mitchell).
D. Jay Schaibly mentions in his article What Twists
a Man so far as Murder? three correlates to serial
murder called the McDonald Triad. According
to Schaibly,
The triad is the name given to the set of
characteristic (sic) that serials (sic) killers are evi-
dent of in their youth. The “typical” serial killer is a
sociopath or psychopath that during childhood
was subject to three diagnoses: fire starting (py-
romania), prolonged bed-wetting, and animal
torture. All of these things correlate to a phase in
life in which the young person is curious of certain
things new to them.
Shaibly’s article begs the question; do
we have the power to thwart serial killings be-
fore they occur? His correlates definitely show
a strong support for a biological explanation to
the crime, but the three characteristics are also
related to poor social treatment (Shaibly).
Who does the Crime Effect?
Potential murderers often feel the crime
will benefit them psychologically, perhaps fullfill-
ing them internally. This depends upon the state
of mind of the killer, which of course is the most
troubling and confusing aspect of the murder
to begin with. The offender often discovers that
their fullfillment disappears and they soon get
the urge to kill again. The murderer also suffers
from the act due to incarceration and a possible
death sentence if they are caught. Obviously
victims suffer by losing their lives and of course
the families of victims go through a great deal of
grieving. Finally, society suffers from fear. People
may be afraid to leave their houses or allow their
children to play in the streets. Daily life is inter-
rupted when a serial murderer is on the prowl.
Reactive Measures to Capture Murderers
Methods of catching serial killers that are
designed to be reactive have also been intro-
duced throughout history. Of those, the most
popular is criminal profiling. While the previous
policies attempt to disuade potential future se-
rial killers, profiling deals with catching the mur-
derer after he has committed the crime. It is a
process used to narrow the suspects in a case to
those who posess certain qualities or character-
istics. These specific traits are based on research
and have been known to exist in similar offenders
in the past. Although a very useful tool, profil-
ing does not seek to find a specific suspect, but
gives investigators an idea of what to look for in
a suspect. This policy has been developing over
many years largely in part to the Investigative
Support Unit created in the 1950’s by FBI employ-
ees Pat Mullany and Howard Teten. It is con-
troversial, however, as to who exactly created
criminal profiling (Meyer). Although profiling be-
came popular in the 1950’s due to its extensive
development, aspects of the process were used
long before then. One of Jack the Rippers vic-
tims, Mark Kelly, was examined by Thomas Bond.
Bond suggested that due to the nature of the
Schemata | Fall 09
evidence, police should be looking for “a quiet,
innoffensive looking man, probably middle aged
and neatly dressed” (Petheric). Despite the cur-
rent excitement of new developments in criminal
profiling, the techniques have existed since the
1880’s (Petheric). Profiling techniques have aid-
ed in the capture of many criminals and as they
become more advanced, the process becomes
even more effective in identifying potential sus-
pects. While it is important to improve the accu-
racy of profiling to apprehend murdurers, it may
prove more important to the future of our society
to design proactive policies to intervene before
a homicide takes place.
Proactive Measures to Prevent Serial Homicide
Even in the 21st century, little is known
about the mind of a serial killer; therefore, it is
extremely difficult to formulate a policy designed
to address the problem. Murder laws and harsh
punishments are supposed to deter crime but the
number of serial murders is still on the rise. As we
see in the McDonald Triad, the development of
the potential serial killer begins with early warn-
ing signs. While not all kids who torture animals,
set fires, and have prolonged bed-wetting turn
out to be serial killers, such problems should be
addressed during childhood since a correlation
exists. A psychological problem called Extreme
Conduct Disorder refers directly to two of Mc-
Donald’s characteristics.
Diagnosis signs for Conduct Disorder in-
clude aggression towards people as well as ani-
mals. In fact, Garret D. Evans, Doctor of psychol-
ogy directly lists torturing animals as one sign of
Conduct Disorder. Doctor Evans also states un-
der his category of property damage that, “fire
setting with intent to damage property” is anoth-
er characteristic. Unfortunately Conduct Disor-
der does not adress the problem of bed-wetting
(Evans). It is not known how it develops, but pop-
ular theories suggest it stems from “inconsistent
parenting” and “maternal deprivation,” both of
which will be shown to connect with the forma-
tion of a serial killer (American Psychological As-
sociation).
The first steps in creating policies dealing
with serial killers should target early warning signs
of criminal behavior. Legal policies dealing with
animal torture include animal treatment laws.
Animal rights activists fight for more “freedom” for
animals, and many activists have advertisements
which can be very informative. Many young
children who posess such a problem can receive
psychological treatment as well. There are also
laws involving each animal species describing
whether or not they may be killed by a liscensed
hunter in a specific manner. As for Pennsylvannia
State law, no child under the age of 12 is permit-
ted to get a hunting license. Other states have
similar laws setting age limits and requirements,
and any child who does not fall under these re-
quirements is contradicting policy whether they
are aware of it or not.
There are also legal policies against set-
ting fires. Arson is a very serious crime for which
programs have been designed to address the
behaviors of those who commit the act. In many
cases, judges require guilty arsonists to attend
classes on the topic. Kirkpatrick (2002) quotes an
investigator from the National Fire Protection As-
sociation as saying, “Arson is a way of lashing out
resentment for the environment in which people
find themselves.”
The third aspect of the McDonald Triad is
prolonged bed-wetting. While there are policies
to deal with animal torture and arson, prolonged
bed-wetting is viewed normally as a biological
problem that is usually delt with within the family.
Parental literature exists on the subject to advise
Sociology
parents and inform them on prevention tech-
niques.
Gottfredson and Hirschi’s Self-Control Theory
In order to refine preventative measures
and establish new ones, it would be helpful for
law enforcement officials to understand why the
crime occurs. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to
tell because most criminals have different vari-
ables in their lives that may or may not have in-
fluenced their behavior. Thus it is very difficult to
derive a general theory of crime. On the other
hand, many criminals do have similarities which
provide criminologist with information that can
help them to theorize. Two very important crimi-
nologists, Travis Hirschi and Michael Gottfredson,
attempted to explain why crime is committed in
their theory of Self-Control.
Self-Control Theory suggests that crimes
are committed due to a lack of self-control,
which is a result of poor parenting during child-
hood. Gottfredson and Hirschi even go as far as
to say that self-control is fully formed by the fifth
grade. Those who develop poor self-control will
fail throughout life in adapting to social norms.
They also state that people with low self-control
are impulsive, insensitive, risk-taking, non-verbal,
and short-sighted. Additionally, Gottfredson and
Hirschi believe in versatility, which refers to the
capability of the theory to predict any type of
crime from street to suite, male to female and
juvenile to senior (Lilly, Cullen and Ball 108, 2007).
Compatibilities between Self-Control Theory
and Serial Homicide
In his book To Kill Again, Donald J. Sears
states, “the serial killer’s childhood is marked by
a lack of nurturing and love. He usually grows up
in a neglectful, abusive, and even violent atmo-
sphere, where important needs are not met” (79).
As a result, many kids who grow up in this type
of environment have trouble controlling emo-
tions and establishing meaningful relationships as
they grow older. The relationship with one’s par-
ents, the first connection a human builds in his or
her life, provides structure and lesson, teaching
us how to interact with others. Speaking meta-
phorically, if this so-called “lesson” is absent or
not taught correctly, the individual will lack the
knowledge to connect with others in physical,
emotional, spiritual, and sexual relationships (80).
Here Sears refers to what Gottfredson and Hirschi
would suggest is improper childhood socializa-
tion on the part of the parents (Lilly, Cullen and
Ball 108). This improper socialization should be
interpreted as anything from abuse to neglect,
or simply not correcting negative behaviors.
As explained previously, the McDonald Tri-
ad proposes early warning signs of future violent
behavior. Fire setting, prolonged bed-wetting,
and violence toward animals are not the only
early behaviors that provide insight into a child’s
troubled mind, but these activities, among oth-
ers, could easily be ignored by a neglectful par-
ent. In allowing this sort of behavior to continue,
parents are promoting the improper socialization
of their child. Children displaying these behav-
iors need attention, prevention lessons, or even
psychological help. Self-Control Theory clearly
addresses this concept of neglect that Sears
presents in its idea of improper childhood social-
ization.
Gottfredson and Hirschi also claim that
self-control is developed around the fifth grade.
This idea can also be paralleled to the develop-
ment of a serial murderer because, as presented
in the triad, early warning signs develop during
childhood. These two criminologist attempt to
accurately pinpoint the age in which such char-
acteristics develop, which may not be possible,
Schemata | Fall 09
but they do strongly state their belief in a youthful
onset of the traits which can be analogous to the
development of a killer.
One major issue not directly explained of
serial murders in Self-Control Theory is why some
children who are raised improperly become
criminals and others do not. Furthermore, an in-
dividual’s degree of criminality becomes impor-
tant here because it is yet another variable in
the equation of Self Control. While Gottfredson
and Hirschi do not address this problem directly,
their theory does provide an answer as to why
this behavior may occur in some individuals and
not others who have similar backgrounds. Peo-
ple with low self-control are impulsive. The major
aspect that separates killers from non-killers, both
of whom have deprived childhoods, is intense
frustration (Sears 85). The intense frustration de-
scribed by Sears can lead to the lashing out or
impulsiveness that Gottfredson and Hirschi claim
plagues victims of low self-control. Secondly,
people with low self-control are insensitive and
risk-taking. Most killers are insensitive to the pain
they cause and quite obviously take the risk of
being put to death for their crimes.
Self-Control Theory and the crime of se-
rial homicide are very compatible. Serial killers
do appear to have low self-control, and much
of their lack of ability to establish meaningful re-
lationships, according to Sears, stems from depri-
vation during the childhood years. Also, many
of the characteristics of individuals with low self-
control can serve as possible explanations as to
why murderers kill. The theory’s characteristic
of impulsiveness also explains why some people
with poor childhoods resort to murder and others
do not. But does the theory work for those who
commit the crime but never had a rough child-
hood? Ted Bundy and David Berkowitz grew up
without violence or abuse. It may appear that
these two men had quality childhoods, but a
lack of violence and abuse does not necessar-
ily mean “good quality.” Any omission of love,
care, nurturing, and expression of emotion can
also result in improper childhood development
of social skills. In other words, while Bundy and
Berkowitz may not have been abused, they were
most likely neglected. Thus Self-Control Theory
does prove very compatible with serial murder,
but there are some incongruous factors as well.
Incompatibilities between Self-Control Theory
and Serial Homicide
Gottfredson and Hirschi were largely igno-
rant of three major factors when they developed
the theory of Self-Control. The theory lacks the
ability to differentiate between improper social-
ization by gender and the types of crimes com-
mitted. They also disregarded the correlation
between improper socialization and its effects
on social bonds in adulthood (one of Hirshi’s own
ideas). Finally, the researchers disregarded any
evidence that shows possible biological fac-
tors that may contribute to criminal behavior.
Although it seems that sociological issues carry
more weight in creating a serial killer, it is impor-
tant not to exclude other variables, since we are
not attempting to derive a “general theory” of
serial killing.
According to the Bureau of Justice statis-
tics, a vast majority of serial killers tend to be white
males (Bureau of Justice Statistics). Self-Control
Theory is incapable of explaining this phenom-
ena because Gottfredson and Hirschi do not dis-
tinguish between the types of crime and the sex
of the offender. In 2000, 50.9% of the white popu-
lation was female (U.S. Census Bureau, female)
and 49.1% of the white population was male (U.S.
Census Bureau, male). If sex is not relevant to
the theory, the proportion of female to male se-
Sociology
rial killers should be closer to the ratio of female
to male whites throughout the United States.
Gottfredson and Hirschi may have been a bit ig-
norant to suggest that their theory is a “general
theory of crime,” or they have simply forgotten to
address the differences that take place in the im-
proper socialization of males in comparison with
that of females. Along the same lines, one would
expect to see, proportionally to the population,
more minority serial killers as well.
Hirschi also wrote a theory suggesting that
people commit crimes as a result of poor social
bonds with society. This theory can also be par-
alleled to the behavior of the typical serial killer
because killers can become frustrated by their
inability to establish meaningful relationships
with others. A correlation might exist between
the weak social bonds of Bond Theory and the
improper socialization of children in Self-Con-
trol Theory. Weak social bonds may be a result
of a lack of nurturing as a child. As previously
mentioned, a baby’s first bond is formed with his
mother and then his father. This primary relation-
ship provides an example for future connections.
If the parent-child relationship is weak, it is likely
that future relationships will be feeble as well.
Therefore, social bonds could be useful in accor-
dance with Self-Control Theory to explain serial
killing. Despite Hirschi’s development of both the
Bond and Self-Control theories, he failed to make
this connection.
Many researches state that biological jus-
tifications would be more efficient at explaining
the heinous acts of a serial murderer. Brain in-
juries, genetics, and chemical imbalances have
been linked to murders and this relationship is il-
lustrated by Sears and Hicky in their books. De-
spite the popularity of biological reasoning in
criminological literature, Self-Control Theory is
incompatible with the logic. In no way did Gott-
fredson and Hirschi give any credit to the previ-
ously mentioned explanations in accounting for
the commission of any type of offense.
Self-Control Theory is quite deficient in
many ways. Its authors failed to address a varia-
tion in the improper socialization between sexes
and between races. Hirschi also ignores the con-
cepts of his Bond-Theory, which could possibly
have a relation with some of the aspects of his
Self-Control Theory, especially regarding crimes
of impulsive violence. On the other hand, serial
killers may be difficult to understand because
many of their behaviors do not seem impulsive
whatsoever. The term “impulsive” in this case
is more or less used to describe the reaction to
a breaking point in the individual’s life which
causes them to act out. It is a motivating force.
Finally, there is an inconsistency between litera-
ture on serial killers and Self-Control in regard to
the credit they give to biological causes of crime.
Does the Theory Work?
Without ignoring the discrepancies of Self-
Control Theory, it is more compatible with serial
homicide than not. At the theory’s core, it states
that crime is a result of improper childhood rear-
ing which is very comparable to the sociological
development of the serial killer. Literature on the
crime and the theory are also harmonious in ex-
plaining the early age of emerging, potentially
dangerous characteristics. Finally, Self-Control
Theory makes clear why some children with in-
sufficient childhood development on the part of
their parents commit murder and others do not.
People with low-self control are impulsive and
high frustration levels can cause them to act on
impulses due to a lack of ability to express them-
selves and relate to others.
While Self-Control Theory is very accurate
at depicting what preambles may lead to the
Schemata | Fall 09
formation of a killer, it is difficult to tell where such
knowledge has a place in a reactive criminal
justice system. It is also difficult to understand a
mind so troubled. In fact, we may have trouble
understanding serial killers because many times
they do not seem to be troubled at all. For the
average person it is hard to understand how
someone so normal can commit an act so evil.
Works Cited
Bureau of Justice Statistics. Homicide Trends in
the United States. 11 July 2007. 13 September
2007 trnd. htm>.
Hickey, Eric W. Mind of a Killer: An Investigation
of Serial Homicide. 2007. 12 September 2007
htm>. Kirkpatrick, Sarah. International Encyclopedia of
Justice Studies. December 2002. 8 October 2007
htm>. Lilly, J. Robert, Francis T Cullen and Richard A
Ball. Criminological Theory: Context and Con-
sequences. Thousand Oaks: Sage Publications,
2007.
Meyer, C. B. Criminal Profiling Research. January
2000. 10 October 2007 filing.ch/introduction.html>.
Mitchell, Edward W. The aetiology of serial mur-
der: Towards an integrated model. 1997. 21
September 2007 venoutsos/Serial_Killer_Theses.htm>.
Petheric, Wayne. Crime Library. 10 October 2007
profiling/profiling2/2.html>.
Sears, Donald J. To Kill Again: The motivation and
development of serial murder. Wilmington, De:
SR Books, 1991.
Shaibly, D. Jay. What Twists a Man so far as Mur-
der? (Serial Killers). 16 April 2003. 24 Septem-
ber 2007 ments/69562>.
U.S. Census Bureau. “Female Population by Age,
Race, and Hispanic or Latino Origin for the Unit-
ed States: 2000.” 2001. 29 October 2007 www.census.gov/population/cen2000/phc-t9/
tab03 >.
—. “Male Population by Age, Race and Hispanic
or Latino Origin for the United States: 2000.” 2001.
29 October 2007 ulation/cen2000/phc-t9/tab02 >.
*Title art by John Piazza
Sociology INVITED REVIEW
Page 444
Micro Disasters: The Case of Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer ABSTRACT AUTHOR CORRESPONDENCE ETHICAL APPROVAL STATEMENT OF INFORMED CONSENT DISCLOSURES & DECLARATION OF CONFLICTS OF INTEREST KEYWORDS INFORMATION mailto:jmjentze@med.umich.edu Page 445 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS Downloaded from www.afpjournal.com by an AFP Journal subscriber INVITED REVIEW INTRODUCTION
Many individuals think of disasters as large scale DISCUSSION
The Scene
On July 23, 1991, personnel from the Milwaukee Po- Personnel from the Milwaukee County medical exam- ing room area contained recently purchased hardware Scene photographs were essential, not only for the The evaluation of the scene allowed investigators Page 446 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS Image 1: Kitchen and dining area of the apartment shows the muriactic acid and degreaser agents. Polariod photos of victims are on Page 447 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS Image 2: Dahmer recreated the photograph over the black table by posing his victims on the table and taking their picture for souvenirs. Page 448 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS Image 3: The hall closet containing cholorform and ether bottles Dahmer used to sedated and kill his victims. Note the cleaned skulls Page 449 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS Autopsy Findings
Forensic pathologists initially analyzed the body parts The paint was removed from the defleshed skulls, revealed the presence of a single hole surrounded by These autopsy findings were communicated to Image 4: Two cleaned skulls, one with four drilled holes used to infuse acid into the brain. Below the skulls is a briefcase containing Page 450 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS Psychological Analysis
The detailed scene investigation and autopsy exam- A forensic psychiatrist constructed Dahmer’s psycho- Dahmer was a controlled, organized serial killer who Identification
Unlike some major disasters, those of a more limited Dahmer’s apartment, four could be identified with fin- The majority of victims were African-American males Media and Family Relations
In addition to the usual crush of media attention that CONCLUSION
In addition to the overwhelming chaos disaster in- The multidisciplinary investigation that followed pro- Page 451 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS ORIGINAL ARTICLE
Figure 1: The chronology of the murders demonstrates an increasing frequency and loss of control. Victims were eight black males, one Asian male, and one White male, ages 14-33.
May 24, 199 1
Tony
Hughes June 30, 1991 Turner September 2, 1990 Age 23
April 7, 1991 Lindsey July 5, 1991 Weinberger May 27, 1991 Sinthasomphone Ma 99 Ju 19 Ju 19 Au st 90 pt be 99 Oc be No mb 19 De mb Ja ar 99 Fe ua 19 Ma h 1 1 Ap 19 July 15, 1991 Age 23 July 19, 1991 Bradehoft May 20, 1990 Smith February 18, 1991 Straughter Page 452 ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS of Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer drugged, strangled, and Limited mass casualty incidents generally do not re- police indifference and threatened lawsuits only add- No matter the size or extent of a disaster, the forensic REFERENCES
1) Keller RC. Fatal isolation: the devastating Paris heat wave of 2003. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000433-199412000-00002 CJUS 700
Research Paper Instructions
In this assignment, you will select only one (1) topic : a serial murderer. · If you select a serial murderer, you will write a 3-4 page biography of the individual followed by a 11-14 page analysis of at least 3 theories that might be used to explain why the individual committed the crimes they committed. Each theory must be explained in reference to the individual’s biography and in great detail. In other words, as noted in the constraints above, you will have some limited flexibility in choosing your topic. The research paper should be between 16 and 18 pages, making sure that you fit in that range. The project must use current APA style and appropriate headings are expected. The page count does not include the title page, abstract, reference section, or any extra material. You must incorporate a Christian Worldview throughout your paper The Research Paper is due by 11:59 p.m. (ET) on Friday Oct. 9. CJUS 700
Research Paper Grading Rubric
Criteria
Levels of Achievement
Content
(70%)
Advanced
92-100%
Proficient
84-91%
Developing
1-83%
Not Present
Total
Abstract
4.75 to 5 points
No more than a page – typically between 150 and 250 words; concise summary of the key points of the paper.
4.25 to 4.5 points
Fewer than 150 words; concise summary of the key points of the paper.
1 to 4 points
Abstract is not clear or does not summarize the key points of the paper.
0 points
Not present
Thesis and Introduction
23 to 25 points
The thesis or research statement is well constructed; introduction provides sufficient background on the topic and previews major points.
21 to 22.75 points
A thesis statement is introduced, conveys a biblical worldview, and aligns with the title and body of the paper.
1 to 20.75 points
The thesis and/or introduction are poorly written or do not align with the title and/or body of the paper. 0 points
Content and Focus
36.75 to 40 points
The content is comprehensive, accurate, and is related to assignment prompt.
33.5 to 36.5 points
The content is either: not comprehensive, not accurate, or is not related to the assignment prompt.
1 to 33.25 points
The content is not comprehensive, not accurate, and is not related to assignment prompt. 0 points
Major Points and Support
32.25 to 35 points
The major points are stated clearly; are supported by specific details, examples or analysis; and are organized logically.
29.5 to 32 points
The major points are not stated clearly but are supported by specific details, examples, or analysis.
1 to 29.25 points
The major points are not stated clearly and are not supported by specific details, examples, or analysis. 0 points
Christian Worldview
18.5 to 20 points
Dedicated Christian Worldview section exists or is woven throughout the paper; showing the integration of the subject matter, critical thinking, and Christian Worldview.
17.25 to 18.25 points
General tenets of a biblical worldview are introduced and convey a basic understanding of supporting literature.
1 to 17 points
Some biblical concepts are presented but may be narrow in scope, not representing the most essential principles, or may not be congruent with supporting literature. 0 points
Conclusion
13.75 to 15 points
The conclusion is logical, flows from the body of the paper, and reviews the major points.
12.75 to 13.5 points
Conclusion is either: not logical, does not flow from the body of the paper, or does not review the major points.
1 to 12.5 points
Conclusion is not logical, does not flow from the body of the paper, and does not review the major points. 0 points
Structure (30%)
Advanced 92-100% Proficient 84-91% Developing 1-83% Not Present Total
Grammar, Spelling, and Page Count
Correct spelling and grammar are used throughout the outline. There are 0–2 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Paper is 16-18 pages (3-4-page introduction, followed by a 11-14-page analysis). There are 3–5 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Paper is not 16-18 pages. There are 6–10 errors in grammar or spelling that distract the reader from the content. Paper is not 16-18 pages. 0 points
Current APA Format Compliance
There are 0–1 minor citation errors in current APA format in the required items.
16.75 to 18.25 points
There are 2–3 minor citation errors in current APA format in the required items.
1 to 16.5 points
There are more than 3 citation errors in current APA format in the required items. 0 points
Format Structure and Sources
Overall paper is structured per APA: running head, page numbers, title page, spacing, indentions, margins, and headings. At least 15-20 sources, including the Holy Bible and no more than 2 books, are used. Few errors in paper structure per APA: running head, page numbers, title page, spacing, indentions, margins, and headings. Less than 15-20 sources, including the Holy Bible and no more than 2 books, are used. Multiple errors in paper structure per APA: running head, page numbers, title page, spacing, indentions, margins, and headings. Less than 15-20 sources, including the Holy Bible and no more than 2 books, are used. 0 points
Professor Comments:
Total:
/200
Page 2 of 2 Chapter6 Narcissism, Sadism, and Loneliness The Case of Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer George B. Palermo Abstract Jeffrey Dahmer, the notorious Milwaukee, Wisconsin, serial killer, was charged with 15 counts of first-degree intentional homicide. The homicides took place between 19 87 and 1990 and were discovered during the summer of 1991. Dahmer pleaded not guilty by reason of mental disease or defect. The author was the court-appointed forensic psychiatric expert in the case. This chapter reports historical and psychological features of Dahmer the man and Dahmer the killer. INTRODUCTION A society that stresses conformity, individualism, and hedonism may create confusion and frustration in its members and, at times, plunge them into a moral crisis. Such a type of society reduces reason to mere calculation. “Reason can [then] impose no limits on the pursuit of pleasure, [or] on the immediate gratification of every desire, no matter how perverse, insane, criminal, or merely immoral” (1). The above social panorama easily brings about behaviors on the part of some individuals that are socially perturbing and unacceptable. From: Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes Edited by: R. N. Kocsis © Humana Press, Totowa, NJ 85 86 Palermo Indeed, without minimizing personality factors, one could opine that such a social climate breeds psychopathic behaviors and, at times, serious criminal acting out. Holmes and DeBurger, writing on serial murder, expressed their view that the social and cultural context in which the killer and victims live may be a cofactor in the genesis of serial murder. They stated that “socialization is unfortunately saturated with norms, values, beliefs and behavioral models that carry strong potential for normalizing violence in interpersonal relationships” (2). They were referring to the excessive violence in mass media entertainment in the United States, to the anonymity and dehumanization of urban society, and to the great mobility of Americans as possible facilitators of criminal acting out. Undoubtedly, all of the above factors play a significant role in unleashing the antisocial homicidal fury of a psychopathic serial killer. Antisocial behavior should be viewed as a continuum of increasing degrees of psychopathy. Such behaviors range from the simple antisocial personality disorder to the psychopathic personality disorder, with its severe antisocial conduct. The socially destructive hostility of a psychopath is often an unconscious means to overcome feelings of worthlessness. It gives persons who are filled with anger a spurious sense of pseudo-omnipotence that allows them to control and dispose of their innocent and unsuspecting fellow humans. Such psychopathic behaviors are strictly connected to the widespread phenomenon of serial killing. In its worst manifestations psychopathic behavior becomes malignant, similar to malignant narcissism (3). Psychopathy is a social construct that describes a combination of personality traits and socially deviant behaviors. Attention to this phenomenon has been given during the past centuries by numerous scholars, from Lombroso to Cleckley to Kernberg and Hare. The psychopath has been described by them all as a selfish, impulsive, aggressive, loveless, remorseless, callous, twodimensional person—a person able to use emotions when it is to his advantage. A distinction, however, should be made between the ordinary psychopath (who acts antisocially, is frequently impulsive, and whose crimes are characterized by an affective reaction, consciously related to actively pursuing materialistic gains) and the malignant type of psychopath (a clearly predatory, violent individual whose goal is the gratification of vengeful or sexual sadistic fantasies). With the malignant type of psychopath, the antisocial behavior is repetitively similar. Such a psychopath is akin to the malignant narcissistic individual described by Kernberg (4). He displays a combination of narcissism, egosyntonic antisocial aggression, sadism, and paranoid features. He voices distrust and feelings of rejection and of not being accepted. Morally restless, he Narcissism, Sadism, and Loneliness: Jeffrey Dahmer 87 disregards society’s values. Halleck (5) accurately described the psychopath as an extremely egocentric individual who wants to suit the world to his needs. Those traits are an integral part of a serial killer’s personality. Generally, the serial killer is a lonely person, cold, distant, callous, and ruthless in his violence. He entices his victims with an apparently charming but deceitful and manipulative approach. His purpose is to achieve complete control over them. Contrary to the common psychopath, the malignant psychopath/serial killer is able to control his impulsivity. Although able to control his impulses, he uses his sadistic fantasies in the construction of a murderous scenario, typical of a predator. He is able to organize, program, and direct his destructive impulses, unleashing them at the most opportune moment for achieving what he wants. The malignant psychopath/serial killer has difficulty forming lasting bonds with others, exhibiting a deficit in object relations. Psychoanalysts theorize that this is a consequence of his misperception of his mother’s behavior during the infantile period. That could well explain this killer’s lack of empathy, his ambivalence and noncaring attitude toward others. Also, he tends to misinterpret social cues. However, Blair and colleagues (6), looking at psychopaths in relation to the Theory of Mind, or mentalizing, which tests an individual’s capacity to appreciate the mental states of others (thoughts, desires, hopes, feelings), found that psychopaths do not have a deficit in mentalizing but appear to lack the emotional apparatus to feel empathy or guilt. This is typical of the malignant psychopath/serial killer who, even though aware of the feelings of his victims, disregards them. Indeed, it is through the reification of the victims that he is able to carry out the sadistic torture and killing. The U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) summarized the personality traits of the serial killer as “a sense of social isolation, preference for autoerotic activities and fetishes, rebelliousness, aggression, chronic lyinglack of trust and commitment to a world of rules and regulations[and a] personal affective life dependent on fantasies” (7). In fact, fantasies play a large role in the criminal conduct of narcissistic, lust serial killers, who often spend a great deal of time imagining how they will go about their criminal actions. Morally restless and often nonsocial, disregarding society’s values and norms, they create fantasies that become the primary source of emotional arousal. Typical of serial killers are sadism, narcissism, and loneliness. During the 18th century, the erotic and licentious writings of the libertine Marquis de Sade shocked the world with their descriptions of cruel sadistic violence and unbound perverted lust. De Sade believed that instincts are the motivating force in life and that pleasure is the most important goal for which one should aim. His books about debauchery and acts of sexual violence were written while he was in jail for crimes of poisoning and sodomy, and his life ended in a 88 Palermo lunatic asylum (8). Years later, in 1869, Richard von Krafft-Ebing coined the term sadism; the term acquired the meaning of a sexual perversion in which the pervert forced upon the subject of his sexual attraction physical or moral suffering, deriving sexual pleasure from his actions (9). The infliction of pain seems to be part of the complete mastery of another person. As one killer stated, the most radical aim of a sadistic act is to make the person suffer because there is no greater power over another person than inflicting pain. Nevertheless, it has been hypothesized that rather than to express cruelty in and of itself, the object of sadism is to procure strong emotions (10). Brittain’s seminal work in 1970 laid the foundation for a possible typology of a sexual sadist. His description is basically that which fits some presentday sadistic murderers. He described the sadist as a secretive male individual who is generally nonviolent in everyday life, but he is obsessive, insecure, and narcissistic, often suffering from hypochondriasis, a loner with a rich fantasy life. He believed that the sexual sadist creates sadistic scenes in his fantasies that he later acts out in his killings (11). This type of killer is single and may hate his mother; his perversion starts early in life; and he exhibits an interest in pornography and is excited by cruelty. Brittain’s description of the sexual sadistic murderer is remindful of Jeffrey Dahmer who, a typical charming psychopath, behaved well even on apprehension but hid behind his calm and socialized appearance destructive sexual fantasies. FANTASY Many of the fantasies found in the serial killer, as stated above, are sadistic sexual fantasies. Sexual fantasies, at times violent in type, are also present in juvenile offenders and, when frequent, may degenerate into sadistic sexual fantasies. In such cases, they are sometimes the forerunners of homicidal acting out. According to MacCulloch et al., the sadistic sexual fantasies have their origins at the time of traumatic episodes, such as sexual or physical abuse during early childhood (12). It has been theorized that the sadist may suffer from an arrest of psychosexual development, possibly at the anal stage (the anal-sadistic stage), or from a neurotic regression to that level. Fantasies of rape or murder were found in 86% of the cases of adults in one study of serial sexual homicide conducted by Robert Prentky and colleagues (13). Similarly, Janet Warren and colleagues found evidence of violent fantasies in 80% of their cases (14). The important role of sadistic fantasies, especially repetitive masturbatory fantasies, in these killers was emphasized by MacCulloch et al., and that of daydreaming and compulsive masturbation was reported by Prentky and colleagues and by others (15,16). Although Sigmund Freud first viewed sadistic Narcissism, Sadism, and Loneliness: Jeffrey Dahmer 89 drives as primary instincts camouflaged by the drive to dominate, he later came to believe that sadism is the excessive outward manifestation of the death instinct (17). The gratuitous cruelty of sadism is possible because of insufficient control by the basic mechanism of defense. It can be theorized that the behavior of the sadistic, power- and control-driven serial killer reflects the conduct of a curious child during the demolition of his toys. MALIGNANT NARCISSISM Various theories of behavior can be considered when trying to understand the serial killer’s malignant narcissism. Kohut(18) hypothesizedthat a narcissistic trauma suffered by the child during the process of individuation does not enable him to tame the archaic, grandiose, and exhibitionistic self, which is necessary for wholesome development. Therefore, because of this inability to develop properly, the child—future adult—carries within himself not only a disappointing parental image but an image of his archaic grandiose self. This could explain the serial killer’s deeply rooted destructive hostility and his feelings of omnipotence. Mahler (19), instead, posited that if hampered in his efforts while in the process of individuation and while attempting to distance himself from his mother the child may become frustrated and develop a neurosis. He then becomes extremely ambivalent toward his mother, whom he sees as a castrating person; a mounting rage takes root because of his difficulty in achieving a reasonable separation from her. He develops feelings of hostility, frustrated dependence, and a tendency to explosive behavior. These are all particular psychological characteristics of serial killers. Klein (20) theorized that during infancy the child perceived his mother’s breast in an ambivalent way, not only as a source of nourishment but as a frustrating object. This ambivalence may be translated into paranoid anxieties and fears, which lead to ambivalent relationships during adult life if not corrected. A tendency to paranoia is present as a feature of the personality disorder of the serial killer. Narcissistic tendencies, part of the grandiose self described by Kohut, are often present in the serial killer. Originally described by Freud, narcissism was later subdivided by Kohut into primary and secondary narcissism. Primary narcissism is seen as the investment of libidinal energy in the achievement of object love, empathy, and possible creativity; secondary narcissism is the withdrawing of the original psychic libidinal energy from objects back to the ego. The latter mechanism seems to be present in the psychodynamics of serial killers. They are indeed not only pathologically narcissistic but unrealistically grandiose, and their exaggerated self-importance is fragile and sensitive to shame. 90 Palermo Walsh expressed his belief that when aggression is expressed sadistically, it leads to an increase in self-esteem and the confirmation of grandiosity (21). Serial killers assume a detached stance that eventually erupts into destructive fury. Almost without exception they choose vulnerable victims who are easy to dominate. Itis apparentlyindifference, not hatred,towardthe victimthat allowsthe killer to depersonalize him or her, and the experience of killing seems to increase the killer’s willingness to kill again, even more brutally. In so doing, he asserts his pseudo-superiority, which covers up for his basic feelings of inadequacy. LONELINESS Serial killers generally are basically lonely persons. Loneliness appears as a feeling and a state of separation from others. Preconscious awareness of the immediacy and accessibility of others, as well as a memory of past togetherness, are prerequisite for loneliness. Infrequently loneliness involves some kind of choice and willful separation (22). Loneliness is an ancient nemesis. It can involve excruciating physical as well as mental suffering and is implicated in numerous somatic, psychosomatic, and psychiatric diseases (23). It is a mundane yet arcane human affliction that is often hazardous to health and hostile to happiness. There are distinctive types of loneliness, such as emotional (Eros loneliness), social (friendship loneliness), cultural, ethical, ontological, existential, communicative, epistemological, and metaphysical (24). Thus, extreme loneliness may lead to internal hardening, social and moral numbing, indifference, and anger. Philosophically speaking, loneliness has been described as the defining feature of human awareness and the fundamental question of human existence (25). Jaspers viewed it as a possible springboard to self-realization and as a presupposition of communication (26). However, not every lonely human being is able to make the step from loneliness to communication. Longlasting loneliness may lead to the painful belief in one’s inability to be a part of humankind and to severe distortion of reality. One result of social isolation is an associated lack of the possibility to utilize the constructive psychosocial, emotional, and moral feedback of others. In a retrospective study of a Dutch population of violent, forensic psychiatric patients (n = 634), Martens (27,28) found that a systematic distortion of reality, as well as too much contact with the harsh dimensions of reality (when these negative experiences concerning reality differ fundamentally from the reality experiences of other people), may result in pathological loneliness, social isolation, and devastating feelings of being cast out and thrown away. However, severe social isolation and correlated loneliness may also be the consequence of a lack of social support, neglect and/or emotional/physical abuse, mental Narcissism, Sadism, and Loneliness: Jeffrey Dahmer 91 disorders and associated cognitive impairments, and social-emotional and moral incapacities (29). A study by Seidman et al. found that sex offenders were both more lonely and more deficient in intimacy than other offenders and community controls (30). Intimacy seemed to be the most important deficit among the sex offenders they studied. In another study indicating a link between loneliness and sexual offending, child sexual offenders reported significantly more emotional loneliness than did nonsexual offenders (31). People who are lonely are bound to focus on their inner conflicts; and because of their tendency to withdrawing from others, their ability to express love and warmth in a normal relationship is greatly diminished. Deviant sexual and nonsexual fantasies take the place of normal socialization, and at times they become destructive and fuel antisocial acting out. Many psychopathic killers verbalize feelings of loneliness together with low self-esteem and feelings of shame for not being able to live up to family and societal expectations. THE LUST KILLER The description and dynamics of the lust killer or sexual sadistic killer are the same as those of the larger group of serial killers. In a study of serial killers by Stone, 71 of 77 male subjects met the criteria for SPD (sadistic personality disorder) (32). The classification of the FBI subdivides the serial lust killer into the disorganized asocial murderer and the organized nonsocial murderer. The disorganized asocial murderer frequently suffers from a serious mental disorder, is usually of below average intelligence, is socially inadequate, is an unskilled worker, is sexually incompetent, has a low birth order status, and was harshly disciplined as a child by a father who was an unstable provider. He claims to be rather anxious during the perpetration of his crimes, uses small amounts of alcohol, and reacts strongly to even minimal environmental stress. He usually lives alone and lives and works near the crime scene. He has little interest in the news media, and his behavior is often erratic. The organized nonsocial, lust murderer, on the other hand, is of average to above-average intelligence, is socially competent, is often a skilled worker, is sexually competent, and usually displays a personality disorder. He has a high birth order status. His father held a stable job, and his childhood discipline was inconsistent. He is usually well controlled during the offense, even though he uses moderate amounts of alcohol before or during the crime. A mixed form of organized/disorganized serial killer also may be encountered. 92 Palermo JEFFREY DAHMER: THE MAN AND THE KILLER1 Typical of the organized, nonsocial lust murderer, Jeffrey Dahmer made local, national, and international news at the time of his apprehension in 1991 following the discovery of his crimes. Dahmer, a white man, was 31 years old when examined by the author to ascertain his mental status and his criminal responsibility at the time of his killings. He was tall, well developed, and well nourished. He had a light complexion, his hair was brownish-blond, and his face was unshaven. His posture was erect and his ambulation normal; on observation, there was no evidence of neurological deficits, unusual facial mimicry, tics, or mannerisms. He sat up straight in his chair, a bit tense only during the first part of the many hours of interviews, and his attitude was one of cooperativeness and friendliness. Calm and free from any obvious emotional lability, his speech was clear and understandable. His answers and statements were coherent, relevant, and logical. He spoke without any circumstantiality or tangentiality, and his thinking did not show any disorganization or delusional or hallucinatory ideas. He generally provided direct and full answers to questions posed to him, and he appeared to have a high level of intelligence. He showed reflective capacity and unimpaired and rational thinking. He assumed complete responsibility for all of the murders with which he was charged. He was emotionally tranquil and at ease as he recounted the many memories pertinent to his offenses. He gave the impression of being happy to be able finally to unburden his conscience of his horrendous crimes. Dahmer recounted a number of changes of residence for family reasons as he was growing up. He described himself as surrounded by arguing parents at home and “arrogant jerks” in school. He claimed that during adolescence he was prone to violent fits of anger and occasional rage and said that his deceitful behavior at home was frequently reprimanded. He became angry when he was found to be lying but eventually would admit his wrongdoing. He denied sibling rivalry with his younger brother, David. He said that his father’s strict demands and his mother’s unpredictable and argumentative behavior, toward both his father and himself, angered him; and he spoke of their frequent arguing during a long predivorce period. However, he also recalled that he and his father often used to massage each other’s backs, almost as a routine; he voiced no sexual feelings about it. When he was not sulking, he would often express his resentment by destructive activity in his backyard. As an adolescent Dahmer was interested in taxonomy and collected insects. He claimed that when he was 15 or 16 years old and attending biology dissection classes at school he developed an interest in dissecting animals, using formaldehyde to preserve them. They were mostly dogs and foxes but also smaller animals that he found dead on the road. His intention was to keep the bones and make a statue out of them, he said, but he never actually did so. He remembered taking home from school the head of a pig and keeping the skull. He graduated from high school at age 18 with a C grade average. During his early adolescence Dahmer was involved in homosexual experimentation on a few occasions and also in streaking (running naked). At age 13 he began to drink alcohol, alone and with friends. However, most of his heavy drinking and marijuana smoking (three or four joints daily) started at age 17. He experienced some drunkenness and hangovers, and several times he passed out. He said that he did not think highly of himself during childhood and adolescence. That was probably the beginning of the low self-esteem that he later claimed. He described himself as a loner who frequently became upset with classmates and others who teased him, but said that he never got into fights. He was unable to express his anger openly for fear of retaliation. That inability may have been an expression of his deep feelings of inadequacy as well as aggression. He stated that he had never enjoyed sports, always thinking that the other guys were better than he. He was envious of them and stated that at times felt so angry that he had thoughts of killing them. He said that he masturbated daily while looking at pictures of good-looking men in magazines—trim with good muscle tone, youngish, not older than 30. He stated that he admired their physical appearance and when he imagined himself in bed with them it was always as a male practicing sodomy. He enjoyed sodomizing people but abhorred the thought of being sodomized himself. He stated that he had no racial preferences in his fantasies. He had never had any heterosexual experiences. At one time while he was growing up, Dahmer was disturbed about his increased weight due to his continuous use of marijuana. He attended college in Florida, but while there he felt directionless and without clear ideas. At college his drinking (mostly beer) increased, and he felt isolated and lonely. He was shy and somewhat uncomfortable when having to start new relationships. He felt attracted to men and helpless and frustrated in his desire to change his sexual orientation and his social timidity; he was basically withdrawn and sad. After a semester at college, at his father’s suggestion, he joined the army; and he seemed 94 Palermo to be proud of having gone through basic training. He became a medic and after 2 weeks he was transferred overseas to Germany. He had been taught CPR (cardiopulmonary resuscitation) and basic first-aid, including how to set bones and stop bleeding. While overseas, he drank heavily—a six- or twelve-pack of beer a night—and at times other alcoholic drinks. At camp, he was involved in a few fights and yelling matches, for which he was punished. His sexual activity, he claimed, was limited to looking at pornographic magazines and masturbating himself. He disclaimed any romantic or nonromantic homosexual relations at that time, stating that he was afraid of engaging in any such relations while in the army. In reply to specific questioning, he stated that while stationed in Germany he never killed anybody. (Interpol had questioned him about several unsolved murders that had taken place at the time of his military service there.) Honorably discharged from military service, Dahmer returned to the United States. After a brief period in Ohio with his father, at his father’s suggestion he moved to Milwaukee to live with his paternal grandmother, hoping that by living with her his heavy drinking might diminish. At first, he limited his drinking mostly to weekends, but eventually he began to drink more. He went to local taverns and often got drunk, returning home at 2 to 3 a.m. or occasionally staying out all night. On three occasions he was arrested for drunkenness and jailed overnight. He was fired from his job at the city’s blood plasma bank after 1 year because of poor performance. He had been ambivalent about the job; and, ironically, he stated that he did not like to stick people with needles. He did temporary odd jobs until he was hired by a local chocolate manufacturing company where he worked for 7 years. Dahmer claimed that during the time he resided at his grandmother’s he began to go to church with her, attempting to stop drinking, stop his homosexual behavior, and turn his life around. He claimed that he did not drink for 2 years until one day, while in a public library quietly reading a book, one of the library patrons handed him a note inviting him to have sex with him downstairs in the library bathroom. Even though he had dismissed the offer, he claimed that the episode changed his life for the worse. While still living at his grandmother’s house, again drinking heavily, Dahmer began going to porno bookstores, gay bars, and Chicago bathhouses. At the bathhouses he started his homosexual behavior again and, wanting to be in control of the relationship, began to give his occasional sexual partners drinks containing dissolved sleeping pills. He sodomized his partners and left the locale when they were still asleep for fear of being sodomized himself, to Narcissism, Sadism, and Loneliness: Jeffrey Dahmer 95 which he had previously agreed. The bath house patrons reported his behavior to the management, and he was denied further admittance. In 1989, he moved to his own apartment in the inner city because, he stated, he wanted a place of his own that was close to work and had low rent. He stated that he did not want his drinking behavior to upset his grandmother any longer and, at the same time, wanted to be free of her supervision. Even more central to this move was the fact that by that time he had been turned out of the bathhouses and had no place to go to engage in homosexual relations. Shortly after his move, he was charged with and convicted of second degree sexual assault for enticing a child for immoral purposes and was placed on probation for 5 years, during which period he had to report to the state correctional service. When specifically questioned about the offenses with which he was currently charged, Dahmer explained in a calm and spontaneous fashion that his 15 homicide charges did not include his killing a white male victim after a rendezvous in a hotel in Milwaukee and his taking the victim’s body from the hotel in a large piece of luggage to dispose of him. Nor did it include that of a young man his own age whom he had killed after a brief encounter when he was 18, and whose dismembered body he had buried in the backyard of his family’s home in Bath, Ohio. Asked whether he remembered how far back his mixture of homosexual and homicidal fantasies and behavior went, he said that when he had been about 15 years old and out for a walk a few miles from his home he saw a good-looking young man slightly older than he and he began to fantasize about hitting him on the back of the head with a baseball bat and then having sex with him. He admitted to frequent sadistic sexual fantasies after that, in which he eventually killed his victim. While discussing each murder Dahmer was coherent, relevant, and logical. In a calm, controlled, perfunctory way he went into specific details about the enticement and sexual seductions of his victims, love-making, use of drugged drinks, the way in which he killed them by strangling or stabbing, and the trophy collection of some of their skulls. He also recounted his photographing the dead persons or parts of the dead bodies. He explained what he did with the dead bodies—dismembering them, disemboweling them, cutting them to pieces and then boiling the flesh in a large boiler he had purchased for that purpose to get rid of the stench of the many accumulated cadavers. He added that in some cases he attempted to preserve some body parts. He also defleshed six of his victim’s skulls. It was evident that on each and every occasion his murderous actions were performed in a calm, calculated, prearranged plan. He described how he obtained all the necessary items for his heinous crimes and how he felt compelled to secure his apartment with a high quality security system. 96 Palermo CONCLUSIVE REFLECTIONS Repressed hostility, frustrated acceptance, and intense fear of rejection by his peers were freely voiced by Dahmer when specifically questioned about them. He claimed to suffer from intense loneliness, and his remarks that he did not want to lose his victims but wanted to keep some mementos of them testify to that. He said that at times he lay next to the cadavers of his victims, kissing them. He attributed the motivation for his actions to lust. He described his maneuvering to keep some of the victims in a zombie-like state and how he intended to make fetishes out of some of their body parts. Parts of the victims’ bodies, isolated bones, or entire skeletons and skulls found in his apartment testify to their symbolic fetishism for him. Sexual sadism seemed to be at the base of his desire to keep his victims sedated while sexually abusing them and drilling holes into their skulls. The latter was done in order to inject muriatic acid into their brains so he could dissolve the brain substance and obtain, as he wished, a perfect nonsectioned skull. He claimed that occasional anthropophagy climaxed some of the murderous scenes. During the various examinations, Dahmer clearly stated that in his life and at the time of his homicides he always wanted to be in control. Asked about the main theme of his fantasies, he replied that they were more about lust than power and said that he believed that he had made them the most powerful thing in his life. He admitted to getting a thrill from the killing. He drank moderate amounts of alcoholic beverage while carrying out his criminal acts but said that he was always aware of what he was doing. He demonstrated only lip-service remorse for what he had done. Sexual immaturity, perverse sexuality, frustration, passivity, loneliness, fear of nonacceptance by a hostile world, and a mixture of emotional detachment and aggressive hostile behavior are encountered in the psychopathology of the personality of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer’s ambivalence about his own confused sexuality and his feelings of anticipated rejection by others brought about compulsive, sadistic sexual behavior, destructive of the object of his pseudo-sexual attention. Dahmer was a loner as a child, growing up in a dysfunctional family. Frequent quarrels between his mother and father lead to his hostile feelings toward them. A neurotic, depressed mother and a frequently absent father who was absorbed in his career did not allow Jeffrey Dahmer a complete masculine identification. Since adolescence, he had medicated his anger and frustration with alcohol. He was greatly ambivalent about his homosexual tendency, felt frequently frustrated by it, and eventually channeled his hostility into sadistic behavior against people who accepted his homosexual advances. Attraction Narcissism, Sadism, and Loneliness: Jeffrey Dahmer 97 and rejection exploded in his first murder at age 18 while he was alone in his parents’ home in Ohio. After strangling, in a fit of rage, his first young victim by exercising pressure on his throat from behind with a weight-lifting bar (someone he had met casually who was not himself a homosexual), he destroyed the body by cutting it into pieces that he buried in his backyard. Later, in Milwaukee, Dahmer actuated a methodical program of enticing to his home 15 young victims, mostly in their twenties, who were attracted by his promises of money for posing for photographs and an unspoken exchange of sexuality. He had sex with them, sodomizing them, frequently after having handcuffed them and offering them intoxicating drinks containing soporific substances. Afterward, while they were still under the effect of the soporific substance, he killed them and he later dismembered their bodies. The survivor of his last encounter stated that Dahmer had been charming, calm, and completely normal in his behavior when he invited him to his apartment. He described him as the opposite of the person who dismembered his victims’ bodies, boiled the body parts to destroy the flesh and to keep the bones and skulls as fetishes, and/or photographed symbolic body parts and whole naked bodies in sexually suggestive positions—a typical signature for him—because, he later said, he wanted to keep them as mementos—to keep him company. In the author’s view, Dahmer’s destructive behavior and his symbolic fetishes were the expression of his deep ambivalence about his own homosexual behavior and a love–hate relationship with his victims. He was clearly sadistic in his cruelty to his victims. His sexual involvement with his victims was paraphilic in nature. Even though his behavior was not due to psychosis, he showed ananchastic features; and it was of a programmed, meticulous, distorted sexual type. With his tendency to act on weekends, he showed calculated planning with risk avoidance. Because most of his victims were black, he told the author, the media interpretation that his behavior was racially oriented concerned and frightened him. He was afraid of possible retaliation by the Black prison community. In that, he seemed to have foreseen the future because he was eventually killed in prison by a Black inmate. A possible explanation for Dahmer’s abhorrent conduct is that he was driven by compulsive hostile aggressivity. His violence was so profound that he killed, cut, dismembered, and dissected in an obsessive, sadistic way, the body that attracted and repelled him at the same time—a body that he wanted to torture and destroy because he felt that by doing so he would be able to get rid of his inner, torturing homosexual drives and unwanted attraction to men—a body he really did not love, contrary to what he wanted to believe or wanted others to believe. The possible anthropophagy of his young victims may have been the expression of his desire to incorporate and make his own their attractive qualities, or perhaps it simply demonstrated a superstitious, atavistic tribal belief. His actions may have, in some way, saved him from committing suicide. Even his sadism was the exercising of power and violence upon another for the assertion and preservation of Self. He joined a long list of sexual murderers. He shared with them not only a deeply violent, destructive hostility but also boredom, loneliness, sadism, and narcissism.2 REFERENCE Palermo, G. B. (2008). Narcissism, sadism, and loneliness. In Serial murder and the psychology of violent crimes (pp. 85-100). Humana Press. Retrieved from https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Hannah_Scott5/publication/227235896_The_Gentler_Sex/links/542ec56c0cf277d58e8eef6d/The-Gentler-Sex #page=98 In understanding the darkness of human behavior, one need to know what triggers a person’s mental that lead them to become a serial killer. There is a growing curiosity about serial killers which criminologist is still trying to understand the motive. Depictions of a serial killer are insane, mentally disturbed, antisocial, and no remorse for their actions. The fulfillment serial killers gain is during the killing of their victims. The gratification a serial killer get is different compared to a person who killed only one time. Serial killers have a chronic and overwhelming desire to commit murder. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, also known as Milwaukee cannibal or monster, was a sadistic serial killer and sexual predator in the late 1970s and early 1990s. Jeffrey raped, tortured, and dismembered his victims. Psychologically, Jeffrey was a troubled child and issues with social skills. During his upbringing he experienced no attention and had unusual desires about cadavers. In Dahmer’s adulthood, his psychosocial current situation didn’t change and was in fact aggravated. This paper will briefly discuss Dahmer’s life from childhood to adulthood. The usage of three criminological theories that explains the relationship between Dahmer’s personality using Freud’s theory of the id, super-ego and ego, Fromm’s theories form clear cut explanations and understanding why Dahmer was a sadist and necrophiliac; and Adler’s different theories explaining his violent and impulsive behaviors and thoughts. Biblical content will also explain Dahmer’s spiritual behavior.
Keywords: Loneliness, nemesis, narcissistic tendencies, psychopathy, serial killer, malignant narcissism, lust killer
Conclusion (Please revise and shorten to 1 ½ pages)
Most serial killers are not always isolated, socially awkward, monsters, and may not be viewed as strange. Serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer thrived for control, fantasy, power, paraphiliac and sadistic. In Romans 12:21 says, “Don’t let evil control you, but do good to conqueror it” (KJV, 1970). He said that at times he lay next to the corpses of his victims, kissing them. “No one shall go near a dead body or defile it no matter who it is” (Lev.21:11, KJV, 1970). Jeffrey would have sex with his dead victims that made him unclean and displayed a behavior of necrophilia. He attributed the motivation for his actions to lust. Sexual sadism seemed to be based on his desire to keep his victims sedated while sexually abusing them and drilling holes into their skulls. The latter was done to inject muriatic acid into their brains to dissolve the brain substance and obtain, as he wished, a perfect non-sectioned skull. He claimed that occasional anthropophagy climaxed some of the brutal scenes. In 1 Thessalonians 5:22 states that, “Keep away from all types of evil” (KJV, 1970). Abstinence from all forms of evil intentions keeps your path good with God. Fantasy was another of Jeffrey’s dilemmas. He was asked about his fantasies’ central theme, he replied that they were more about lust than power and said that he believed that he had made them the most powerful thing in his life. Luke 1:37 says, “Nothing is impossible for God” (KJV, 1970). God is the all-powerful and nothing can compare to his glory. He admitted to getting a thrill from the killing. He drank moderate amounts of an alcoholic beverage while carrying out his criminal acts but said that he was always aware of what he was doing. He demonstrated only lip-service remorse for what he had done. Afterward, while they were still under the effect of the soporific substance, he killed them and he later dismembered their bodies (Lax, 2018). The survivor of his last encounter stated that Dahmer had been charming, calm, and completely normal in his behavior when he invited him to his apartment. He described him as the opposite of the person who dismembered his victims’ bodies, boiled the body parts to destroy the flesh and to keep the bones and skulls as fetishes, and/or photographed symbolic body parts and whole naked bodies in sexually suggestive positions, a typical signature for him, since, he later said, he wanted to keep them as mementos—to keep him company. In the author’s view, Dahmer’s destructive behavior and his symbolic fetishes were the expression of his deep ambivalence about his own homosexual behavior and a love–hate relationship with his victims. He was clearly sadistic in his cruelty to his victims. His sexual involvement with his victims was paraphilic in nature. Even though his behavior was not due to psychosis, he showed ananchastic features; and it was of a programmed, meticulous, distorted sexual type (Lax, 2018). With his tendency to act on weekends, he showed calculated planning with risk avoidance. Because most of his victims were black, he told the author; the media interpretation that his behavior was racially oriented concerned and frightened him. He was afraid of possible retaliation by the Black prison community. In that, he seemed to have foreseen the future because he was eventually killed in prison by a Black inmate. Luke 12:3 says, “what is done in the will be brought to the light even things in private” (KJV. 1970). God see all that is done in the dark and in the light. God knows your beginning and end he wrote your book. Repentance is at hand. 2 JEFFREY DAHMER AND CRIMINALITY 1 In understanding the darkness of human behavior, one need to know what triggers a person’s mental that lead them to become a serial killer. There is a growing curiosity about serial killers which criminologist is still trying to understand the motive. Depictions of a serial killer are insane, mentally disturbed, antisocial, and no remorse for their actions. The fulfillment serial killers gain is during the killing of their victims. The gratification a serial killer get is different compared to a person who killed only one time. Serial killers have a chronic and overwhelming desire to commit murder. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, also known as Milwaukee cannibal or monster, was a sadistic serial killer and sexual predator in the late 1970s and early 1990s. Jeffrey raped, tortured, and dismembered his victims. Psychologically, Jeffrey was a troubled child and issues with social skills. During his upbringing, he experienced no attention and had unusual desires about cadavers. In Dahmer’s adulthood, his psychosocial current situation didn’t change and was in fact aggravated. This paper will briefly discuss Dahmer’s life from childhood to adulthood. The usage of three criminological theories that explains the relationship between Dahmer’s personality using Freud’s theory of the id, super-ego and ego, Fromm’s theories form clear cut explanations and understanding why Dahmer was a sadist and necrophiliac; and Adler’s different theories explaining his violent and impulsive behaviors and thoughts. Biblical content will also explain Dahmer’s spiritual behavior.
Keywords
Loneliness, nemesis, narcissistic tendencies, psychopathy, serial killer, malignant narcissism, lust killer Born as Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer on May 21st, 1960 in Evangelical Deaconess Hospital in Milwaukee, Wisconsin with auburn hair and blue eyes (Masters, 2020). Jeffrey parent’s where Joyce and Lionel Dahmer. Joyce had a difficult pregnancy; she experienced frequent morning sickness and muscle spasms which she was administered an injection by Dr. Spyres (Masters, 2020). Dahmer’s mother demanded attention, suffered from depression, anxiety, attempted suicide by taking Equanil, in other words a minor tranquilizer (Masters, 2020). His mother recorded the events of her son’s life; first accident, steps, tooth and scolding in a scrapbook. During Jeffrey’s toddler moments, he was spanked by his father at the age of nine months (Masters, 2020). “Fathers, anger should not be provoked in a minor, but discipline and teach them about the Lord when raising them” (KJV, 1970, Ephes. 6:4). The Dahmer family had no family bond. Jeffrey’s mother, Joyce gave birth to another boy in December of 1966, which Jeffrey named, David (Masters, 2020). At the age of four, in 1963, Jeffrey contracted an ear infection, mild case of pneumonia, and a hernia which later he would undergo a double hernia operation that caused him great discomfort (Masters, 2020). In Psalm 41:3 states, “Even in your sickbed God sustains you; and through illness, God restores your health” (KJV, 1970). With the faith in God, the pain that Jeffrey was feeling after his hernia surgery would never exist. “He of little faith” (KJV, 1970, Matt. 8:26). Yet, he knew about God because in his early age, he knew about prayer. Brian Masters (2020) states that Jeffrey would say the Lord’s prayer, ending the prayer asking God to make him a good boy, amen and his father was a Lutheran. Jeffrey started showing signs of awkwardness, not able to socialize with other boys in his class, and frustration, while attending Ames nursery school (Masters, 2020). Exposed to a world of chemistry through his father, Jeffrey would use what he learned, by implementing it on the animals. Jeffrey attended the Revere High School and he felt like an outsider, lonely, shy, and it was hard for him to make friends due to his awkward behavior. Jeffrey continued to display an antisocial behavior. It showed in his isolation from others and developed into a drinking problem as early as 13 years old (Masters, 2020). The people of the neighborhood remember Dahmer as shy and lonely which in turn took effect on him psychologically. When Dahmer was about to turn18 years old, his parents decided to get a divorce. His mother, Joyce took David and he ended up residing with his father. Once the divorce creed was in place, Joyce parted with bitterness, no communication network, and no forwarding address in case Jeffrey wanted to talk with his mother or brother (Masters, 2020). Upon graduating from high school and accepted into Ohio State University, where he skipped classes and spent his time ingesting alcohol. His classmates told to avoid him, and his picture was blacked out by the director of national honor society. In 1982, Jeffrey was sent to reside with his paternal grandmother in West Allis. Jeffrey’s grandmother said that his behavior grew increasingly strange and she found a stolen mannequin in his closet and a 357-magnum gun. It is also during this time that he was arrested once again in 1982 and 1986 for indecent exposure. Jeffrey’s grandmother (paternal) put him out because she was tired of him staying out late, foul smell, and weird behavior in the summer of 1988 (Masters, 2020). Jeffrey moved to the west side of Milwaukee near his place of work, Ambrosia Chocolate Factory. Just a day after moving into his new apartment, Jeffrey was arrested for drugging and a sexually fondling a thirteen-year-old boy. Upon receiving a spank on his hand, Dahmer ended up receiving five years’ probation and register as a sex offender. Jeffrey’s first murder was after he had graduated from high school. When he consumed the first taste for killing, his life as a serial killer began. Dahmer was charged with fifteen counts of first-degree murder and convicted him for fifteen life terms a basic life sentence. Serial killer, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer would spend the rest of his life, incarcerated at the Columbia Correctional Institution in Portage Wisconsin. There were two attacks on his life the first in July 1994 where he was attacked with a razor blade and survived with shallow wounds. During the second attack in November 1994, Jeffrey and a fellow inmate were attacked with a bar from a weight machine and he succumbed to the head trauma, which later ended his life (Masters, 2020). Case Study: Jeffrey Dahmer University of Central Florida: PPE3003-16Fall 0W59 Lindsey Storey, Jordana Stengel, Genesis Reyes-Reyes, Isabelle Perez Jeffrey Dahmer Born: May 21, 1960. 1978-1991: American serial killer & sex offender: murdered 17 boys; rape, necrophilia, dismemberment, & cannibalism involved. Died: November 28 1994; beaten to death by fellow inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution Life: Normal childhood until age 10. Enjoyed dead animals in lieu of common interests. Started drinking in high school; eventually gets discharged from the army due to his alcoholism. Moved to Florida to live with his grandma while continuing necro-obsession by dissecting/dissolving dead squirrels. Arrested for indecent exposure in 1986, asked to leave his grandma’s house in 1988. One day later, arrested for drugging/molesting 13 year old boy and given 5 years of probation. Tried to turn later victims into zombie-like slaves. Police found many body parts and pictures of such in his apartment. Tried in 1992, got 15 life sentences for 15 accounts of murder, a total 957 years. Declared himself a born-again Christian and died of severe head trauma sustained from another inmate. Summary Sigmund Freud Freud’s Defense Mechanisms Erich Fromm’s Theories Comparing Dahmer to Fromm’s Sadist Dahmer kept the human remains of his victims in the freezer Comparing Dahmer to Fromm’s Necrophiliac Alfred Adler’s Theories Alfred Adler’s Theories (cont.) Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories (cont.) Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories (cont.) Jeffrey Dahmer’s Last Video Interview References Alfred Adler 1870 – 1937. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://www.adler.edu/page/about/history/about-alfred-adler Alfred Adler. (2007, August 28). In Encyclopedia Britanic. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Adler Erich Fromm. (n.d.). In Erichfromm.net. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.erichfromm.net/photographs/ References cont. Fromm’s Credo. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://fromm-online.org/en/das-leben-erich-fromms/fromms-credo-eines-humanisten/ Jeffrey Dahmer Biography. (2016, July 21). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://taylorhenrysite.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/bibliography/comment-page-1/ Jeffrey Dahmer | Crime Library | Serial Killers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/jeffrey-dahmer/ Mitchell, G. (n.d.). Alfred Adler & Adlerian Individual Psychology. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.mind-development.eu/adler.html Montaldo, C. (2015, November 28). Profile of Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://crime.about.com/od/serial/a/dahmer.htm?p=1 References Cont. Sigmund Freud. (n.d.). In BBC. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/freud_sigmund.shtml [shuddupplz]. (2008, month Date). Jeffrey Dahmer Interview – Extended Footage. Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErB0R4wlB64 THE MAIN THEORIES OF FREUD / JUNG / ADLER. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.changingstates.co.uk/adler.html Waxman, O. B. (2016, July 22). How Police Caught Jeffrey Dahmer. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://time.com/4412621/jeffrey-dahmer-cannibal-murderer-25th-anniversary-arrest/
Jeffrey M. Jentzen
Disasters are commonly experienced as major devastating events that exceed the resources of an agency to respond, with effects em-
anating throughout a community or region. There are, however, those events that are more measured, more subtle, and with few actual
deaths, which still distract investigators from their daily duties and routines and project long lasting and crippling effects to a community
or nation. Disasters can occur from natural forces or be the result of human activity. Most forensic pathologists who practice over a signif-
icant time will encounter one or the other types of disaster, sometimes more than a few. In my own career, I have witnessed large-scale
disasters, such as hundreds of deaths occurring as the result of a major heat wave, to small-scale disasters such as factory explosions or
small airplane crashes at sea—each with their own challenges. In addition to the extent of the initial disaster, many require the detailed,
exhaustive evidentiary recovery and examination of a crime scene. The Jeffrey Dahmer case, although only involving 11 actual victims,
required a major disaster response, and continues to influence and affect a community over 25 years later. Acad Forensic Pathol. 2017
7(3): 444-452
Jeffrey M. Jentzen MD PhD, University of Michigan Department of Pathology
Roles: Data acquisition, analysis and/or interpretation, manuscript creation and/or revision, approved final version for publication, accountable for all aspects of the work,
principal investigator of the current study.
Jeffrey M. Jentzen MD PhD, NI2D19 NIB, 300 North Ingalls, Ann Arbor MI 48109-5427, jmjentze@med.umich.edu
As per Journal Policies, ethical approval was not required for this manuscript
STATEMENT OF HUMAN AND ANIMAL RIGHTS
This article does not contain any studies conducted with animals or on living human subjects
No identifiable personal data were presented in this manuscsript
The author, reviewers, editors, and publication staff do not report any relevant conflicts of interest
FINANCIAL DISCLOSURE
The author has indicated that he does not have financial relationships to disclose that are relevant to this manuscript
Forensic pathology, Jeffrey Dahmer, Serial murder, Serial killer
ACADEMIC FORENSIC PATHOLOGY: THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF MEDICAL EXAMINERS
©2017 Academic Forensic Pathology International • (ISSN: 1925-3621) • https://doi.org/10.23907/2017.037
Submitted for consideration on 21 Jun 2017. Accepted for publication on 27 Jul 2017
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events that result in numerous fatalities; however, di-
sasters can occur on a smaller scale and still have pro-
found effects on the community at large and, in par-
ticular, the investigators responsible for dealing with
the aftermath. The social science literature suggests
that disasters, in addition to demonstrating a commu-
nity’s preparedness, also reflect the realities of social
isolation, economic inequalities, and failures of polit-
ical will (1). The Jeffrey Dahmer case, although only
involving 11 actual victims, required a major disaster
response, exposing the capacity to respond to and in-
vestigate a major crime that continues to influence and
affect a community over 25 years later. The Jeffrey
Dahmer case presented unusual dynamics due to the
nature of the murders, intense media coverage, and
sexual orientation of many of the victims. The ma-
jority of the victims were homosexual and had been
reported missing by their families for many weeks to
months. The media published the grim details of the
murders and methods of disposal. The trial was fol-
lowed closely and watched around the world.
lice Department encountered a naked man in hand-
cuffs running in the street. The individual escorted the
officers to Jeffrey Dahmer’s apartment, where the vic-
tim alleged he had been drugged and assaulted. After
officers gained access to the residence, Dahmer was
quickly taken into custody. The victim showed the of-
ficers the decapitated head of male in the refrigerator
he had previously seen and a full criminal investiga-
tion commenced (2).
iner’s office responded to the scene. Per established
routine, medical examiner personnel worked closely
with the Milwaukee police department independent-
ly photographing and documenting the scene and its
evidence. Within the restricted crime scene, the din-
implements such as tape, a hammer, handsaw, and an
electrical drill in the bedroom. They also encountered
numerous human body parts including seven skulls,
three of which were painted. There were four intact
human heads, one dissected postcranial skeleton in a
portable freezer, and three partially skeletonized bod-
ies in a 55-gallon drum. The freezer compartment of
the refrigerator contained what was later identified
as a human heart and large muscle filets packaged in
plastic bags. Other evidence, including large boxes of
muriatic acid, degreasing solvents, Polaroid photo-
graphs of victims (both alive and in various states of
dissection), desiccated male genitals, and hands were
recovered (Image 1).
documentation of the initial scene, but in the continu-
al review and analysis of the evidence over time. By
their very nature, disasters have a way of dulling the
senses of even the most experienced investigators,
creating a “fog-of-war,” where the ability of the inves-
tigator to comprehend the meaning and significance of
evidence, including time and space, can be clouded.
For example, the kitchen had no food material—only
a can of Crisco grease—which supported later allega-
tions of cannibalism. There was a large art deco table
with a large fish tank. Photographs found elsewhere in
the apartment showed Dahmer had documented nu-
merous victims that had been posed on the table prior
to, during, and after dismemberment (Image 2). Des-
iccated male genitalia, scalp hair, hands, and skulls
supported the fact that they were retained as “souve-
nirs” in a typical pattern of an organized serial killer
(Image 3) (3).
to establish methods of death, begin the preliminary
identification process, and demonstrate the deteriorat-
ing mental capacity of the assailant. Forensic pathol-
ogists assisted with the identification, established the
cause of death, and documented injuries that allowed
investigators to question Dahmer on various injuries
he inflicted upon his victims. Anthropological exam-
ination assisted with the identification and also result-
ed in the establishment of victim profiles.
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top of the portable freezer. The kitchen contained no food material.
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and cooking pot that contained human body parts as souvenirs.
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and skeletons recovered at the scene. The portable
freezer contained, in addition to a decapitated frozen
head, defleshed bones and 3480 g of tissue cut in to
irregular, square pieces not exceeding 15 cm. The
55-gallon drum contained four decomposing skele-
tons, which could be approximated using the variable
dissection planes of dismemberment. The cleaned,
postcranial skeleton could be matched to a skull by
the unique atlanto-occipital joints identified by the an-
thropologist.
which revealed the presence of holes drilled into the
frontal regions of the skull. The skulls contained two,
three, and four holes. Examination of the frozen skull
faint, periosteal hemorrhage. The cranium was opened
and the brain examined. There was a hemorrhagic
wound track through the brain that demonstrated mi-
croscopic, organizing inflammation and endothelia in-
flammation a distance from the wound. These findings
indicated a healing injury of some duration inflicted
while the victim was alive.
Dahmer through the detective. Dahmer reluctantly
admitted that he had attempted to create “zombie sex-
slaves” by drilling the skulls and injecting acids and
other materials (4). It appeared to investigators that
Dahmer was experimenting to obtain optimal results
by “lobotomizing” his victims with a series of a de-
creasing number of drill holes (Image 4).
Polaroid pictures of all his vicitms.
Jentzen • Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer
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INVITED REVIEW
ination allowed for evaluation of Dahmer’s motives,
methods, and mental state over the months leading to
his capture. In this unique situation, Dahmer freely
discussed his role in the murders with law enforce-
ment and provided a valuable resource for collabora-
tion of scene, anthropological, and autopsy findings
to forensic pathologists, forensic psychiatrists, and
law enforcement personal during the investigation.
Scene investigation and autopsy analysis of the bod-
ies provided prosecutors with detailed evidence of the
motives and psychological state of Dahmer during the
course of a death spree that lasted nine months.
logical profile characterized by a destructive behav-
ior in which his collection of fetishistic memorabilia
provided an expression of his deep ambivalence and
mixed hostility towards his victims. Frustrated with
his sexual immaturity and continual rejection, Dahmer
channeled his hostility into a sadistic sexual behavior
characteristic of the psychopathology of a serial killer
(5).
manifested all of the phases of a serial killer. He se-
lected his victims by trolling local bars. He posed his
victims before, during, and after death. He retained
souvenirs of his victim’s body parts and photographs.
The accelerated rate of the killings, accumulation of
bodies, and need for additional storage containers
demonstrated that Dahmer was becoming increasing-
ly disorganized psychologically and in his methods of
killing and disposal (Figure 1).
nature may have an established manifest of names and
identities. Antemortem dental records, fingerprints,
and other identifying records were rapidly recov-
ered or already on file. Dahmer’s retention of some
of the victims’ identification at the scene facilitated
the process. Of the 11 victim remains recovered from
gerprints and all of the identifications were confirmed
by dental comparison. In 1991, the use of DNA for
routine identification was years away for the average
medical examiner office. Nonetheless, the victims
were all identified within three days using a combi-
nation of fingerprints and dental records readily avail-
able to the investigators (4).
in their 20s and 30s. Anthropological examination
confirmed similarities in craniofacial and stature mea-
surements, which suggested that Dahmer had a fetish
and desired a certain body type (5).
accompanies a mass casualty incident, two days into
the investigation, local citizens accused the Milwau-
kee Police Department of criminal indifference by
allowing one of the victims, 14-year-old Konarack
Sinthasomaphon, to be returned to Dahmer and lat-
er murdered. Dahmer had convinced police that the
dispute was over a homosexual lovers’ quarrel and
that Konarack was 19-years-old. The citizens group
charged it was the officer’s insensitivity to the gay
community that allowed Dahmer to escape arrest and
continue his killing spree. This only added to the cha-
os of the disaster, distraction of investigators, and al-
legations of neglect of law enforcement (6).
vestigators routinely confront, in the Jeffrey Dahmer
case, they also encountered a complex crime scene.
A unique factor in the investigation was Dahmer’s
willingness to cooperate with law enforcement inves-
tigators in answering questions related to the manner
and methods of killing, disposal of the bodies, and ar-
tifacts noted at the scene and autopsy.
vided investigators with a number of conclusions that
permitted the successful prosecution and conviction
Jentzen • Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer
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Age 31
Matt
Age 20
Ernest
Miller
Errol
Age 19
Jeremiah
Age 23
Konerak
Age 14
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Oliver
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Joseph
Age 23
Raymond L.
Age 33
Curtis
Age 18
Jentzen • Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer
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INVITED REVIEW
dismembered his victims following his use of “chem-
ical” restraints. Forensic autopsies demonstrated the
organized methods of death, experimental loboto-
mies, postmortem dissection, and disposition. Anthro-
pological analysis suggested Dahmer was psycholog-
ically attracted to a certain anthropometric body type.
He experimented with a method of injecting caustic
material in the brains of his victims to sedate and pac-
ify them into helpless “zombies.” Materials recovered
from the science confirmed the methods of an “orga-
nized” serial killer with souvenir taking to enhance
sexual pleasure. An examination of the chronology of
death revealed a pattern of increasing frequency of the
murders and the impression that Dahmer was becom-
ing increasingly disorganized and out of control (7).
quire the use of state and federal disaster resources
and can be handled at a local level. The identities of
the victims are usually known and quickly confirmed.
However, even the most limited incident carries with
it a search for the causes and punishment of those re-
sponsible. In some cases, comingling of the remains
of victims and those responsible may add to the an-
guish of the families. In any operation, investigators
encounter numerous obstacles in processing a disas-
ter. Concerns and demands of families, allegations of
mismanagement, intense and urgent media requests,
and an unrealistic expectation add to the stress of man-
aging the disaster. In the Dahmer case, allegations of
ed to the political and social pressure on the investiga-
tion. In many disasters, including those with a limited
number of victims, investigators face challenges in
resources, personnel, expertise, and patience.
pathologist must anticipate that the death investiga-
tion may have criminal and civil implications requir-
ing detailed death investigation. Cooperation among
investigating agencies is a must for proper and rapid
identification, determination of cause and manner of
death, disposition of the remains to the family, and to
manage an appropriate media response.
Chicago: University of Chicago Press; c2015. Introduction; p. 10-1.
2) Cuprisin T. Demonstrators defend suspended officers. Milwaukee
Journal. 1991 Aug 5; A6.
3) Knocke E. Dahmer details deaths. Milwaukee Journal. 1991 Jul 25;
A1, 11.
4) Jentzen J, Palermo G, Johnson LT, et al. Destructive hostility: the
Jeffrey Dahmer case. A psychiatric and forensic study of a serial
killer. Am J Forensic Med Pathol. 1994 Dec; 15(4):283-94.
PMID: 7879770. https://doi.org/10.1097/00000433-199412000-00002.
5) Bennett K. Victim selection in the Jeffrey Dahmer slayings: an
example of repetition in the Paraphilias? J Forensic Sci. 1993 Sep;
38(5):1227-32.
6) State of Wisconsin v. Jeffrey Dahmer, Case F-912542, 1992. Trial
testimony of Dr. George Palmero MD.
7) Swat A, Riepenhoff J. The Jeffrey Dahmer files [motion picture].
Milwaukee: Good Credit Productions; 2012). 76 min.
or
have a specific section of your paper dedicated to Christian Worldview. You must use a minimum of 15-20 recent, relevant, and academic (peer review journals preferred and professional journal allowed if used judiciously) sources with at least 1 source being the Holy Bible and no more than 2 books. This paper must reflect doctoral level research and writing style. Please reference the Research Paper Rubric when creating your research paper.
Not present
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23 to 25 points
21 to 22.75 points
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18.5 to 20 points
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13.75 to 15 points
12.75 to 13.5 points
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Abstract (revise)
Abstract
Biography (please revise if something is no right or included)
Freud:
Jeffrey Dahmer’s personality and behavior are mostly influenced by Freud’s theory of the Id, Ego and Super-Ego.
Fromm:
Fromm’s theories form clear cut explanations and help to understand why Dahmer was a sadist and a necrophiliac.
Adler:
Adler’s different theories explain Dahmer’s violent and impulsive behaviors and thoughts in various ways.
Freud believed that the mind is divided into 3 parts, the Id, Ego and the Super-Ego.
The Id is seeks pleasure without taking into account his other two counter parts. The Id is like the “little devil” on your shoulder.
The second part is the Ego, which works as a control between the Id and the Superego, trying to keep a balance between the pleasure drives of the Id and the ideals of the Superego.
While the Superego strives for perfection, and can be thought of as the “little angel” on your shoulder.
Based on the devil and angel analogy, the ego would be the person on whose shoulders the two stand; trying to control the demands of both.
This part of Freud’s theory can be applied to Dahmer in that it can be said that he was mostly “under” the influence of the Id.
Based on these explanations of the Id, Ego, and this constant struggle could have led to the usage of defense mechanisms.
There are two defense mechanisms that appear to be present in Dahmer’s personality, displacement and projection.
Displacement is where an unacceptable urges are redirected in order to conceal the true or original impulses.
What this basically means is that if a person is mad or upset with someone close to them (i.e. spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, etc.) instead of actually confronting them, the person might resort to displacement, and displace their anger unto other (i.e. a neighbor, coworker, stranger, etc.).
This is not unique to serial killers, this is something that can be in everyone. Projection is the second defense mechanism, in which people see their own unacceptable qualities unto others.
This is often common among serial killers, because they do not see any harm in what they are doing instead they see that they are doing something for the greater good because they are ultimately getting rid of the evil in the world.
Within projection, there is also paranoia which is often also greatly seen in serial killers, which leads them to continuing to kill people. It can be hypothesized that Dahmer used one of these, if not both, in order to deal with his drives and anxiety that ultimately lead him to kill several people.
Sadism and destructiveness are mechanisms of escape that help to minimize anxiety
Sadism is related to the “authoritarian” character. These individuals:
Seek power
Have a need to hurt others, whether mentally or physically
In authoritarianism an individual gives up independence to fuse one’s self with somebody or something else
Dahmer exhibits sadism as a way to reduce anxiety
Sadists:
Need to make others dependent on them and to gain power over the weak
Exploit/take advantage of others for personal pleasure
Desire to see others suffer, physically or psychologically
Fromm’s Sadist Jeffrey Dahmer
“The sadist seeks to make its victim into a thing, a ‘living corpse'” ‘Zombifies’ later victims into submissive sex slaves by drilling holes in their heads and injecting hot water or acid into their brains
Feels strong when they are “symbiotically” united with others or “devours” them so to speak, but really they feel alone when they cannot exhibit power Felt he could make the victims a part of himself and keep them alive through him by ingesting victims’ tissue post-mortem
Seeks power Loved the power that Darth Vader had – to control and intimidate those around him
The item on the top left is a skull
Fromm’s theory that sadists seek to turn victims into living corpses could explain why Dahmer would keep these trophies
Fromm’s Necrophiliac Dahmer
Love of death and desires sexual contact with a corpse Sexual contact with victims’ corpses post-mortem
Alternative character orientation to biophilia, an innate bond between humans and other living things Masturbated to dissected animal corpses in adolescence
Loves “law and order” and bureaucracy Meticulously planned kills
Close relation to sadism and the death instinct Quote from Dahmer: “…it was a craving, a hunger, I don’t know how to describe it, a compulsion, and I just kept doing it, doing it and doing it, whenever the opportunity presented itself.“
Inferiority Complex:
Personality difficulties stem from feelings of inferiority brought upon by restrictions on the individual’s need for asserting superiority over others.
Evolves from the feeling of deficiency when compared to others.
Theorized an aim for self-assertion; an individual with an attitude of inferiority seeks restitution for this.
Neglected children learn inferiority from being shown they are of no value
There is a single motivational force that drives our behavior and experience
Social Context:
An individual whole is part of a larger whole: family, community, human race, etc.
Focused on family dynamics (parenting and family constellation) as a preventative means of addressing future psychological problems
3 important life tasks: occupation, love and sex (all which are social challenges)
The response to the first social system (family) becomes the prototype of one’s world view and attitude towards life
Goal Orientation:
In mental disorders it is the unrealistic goal of socially useful significance over general difficulties
The childhood feeling of inferiority fosters a fictional goal which emotionally promises future feelings of security and success
Self Determination and Uniqueness
One’s fictional goal may be influenced by hereditary and cultural factors
Ultimately stems from the creative power of the individual (one is not fully aware of their goal)
Birth order, coping patterns and early memories help shape their goal
The Feeling of Community
Each and every human being has the capacity for learning to live in conformity with society
Mental Health
Human connectedness
Willingness to develop oneself fully and contribute to the welfare of others
Feelings of inferiority may plague an individual when their mental health qualities are underdeveloped.
Birth Order
When there are two children in a family, the second child causes the first born to suffer from feelings of dethronement
No longer being the center of attention.
Social Interest
An individual’s personal interest in furthering the welfare of others.
1. Inferiority Complex
Dahmer’s parents spent a lot of time arguing which not only took a mental toll on Dahmer, but also had a huge negative influence on him and his personality.
When Dahmer’s parents would argue, he would venture off into the woods and express his dormant anger and violence.
The lethal combination of having little to no friends as well as feeling neglected by his parents caused Dahmer to gradually isolate himself into his own world and progressively developing his fantasies.
2. Social Context
Being a part of a negligent family as well as having no friends left Dahmer with no basis for a social context—an individual whole is part of a larger whole—
Due to his parents divorce, Dahmer had strong feelings of abandonment and rejection; he kills his first victim, (Dahmer was 18) Steven Hicks, because he does not want Steven to “abandon” him.
When Dahmer lost his job, he dedicated his time to seeking out new victims. Dahmer also began murdering more frequently, his kills increased to one victim a week.
(cont.)
3. Birth Order
Dahmer was the first born of two boys.
According to Adler, the second child causes the first born to suffer from feelings of dethronement and no longer being the center of attention.
Having a younger brother who was the center of attention caused Dahmer to feel more insignificant than he already did.
4. The Feeling of Community
Dahmer and his family moved often leaving Dahmer without friends.
When the family finally settled in an area surrounded by woods, Dahmer’s own fantasy world started.
5. Self Determination & Uniqueness
Jeffrey Dahmer’s ultimate goal was influenced by a factor of things…
(1) Dahmer having a younger brother who caused him to feel inferior
(2) Him turning to violence as a coping mechanism
Killing animals
Drinking heavily and becoming violent
(3) Him having close to no friends
He was unique because he was a cannibal which is EXTREMELY uncommon of the human race, as well as displaying signs of necrophilia.
6. Goal Orientation
He yearned for domination (he did not gain pleasure from killing)
Needed an extreme submissive partner to reach climax—Dahmer was homosexual—
Dahmer made his victims into “zombies” to have young submissive partners.
Mental Health
Dahmer was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder & a psychotic disorder.
Despite his insanity plea Dahmer was found legally sentenced to sixteen life terms in prison.
Dahmer’s upbringing which caused his extreme feelings of neglect and abandonment contributed heavily to his mental health status.
Social Interest
Dahmer had no personal interest in furthering the welfare of his victims, on the contrary in fact.
He would also drill holes in his victims heads and fill it with hydrochloric acid or boiling water.
YouTube clip:
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from
Chapter Outline. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072316799/student_view0/part2/chapter7/chapter_outline.html
Feist, J., Feist, G. J., & Roberts, T. (2013). Theories of Personality (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
Kellner, D. (n.d.). Erich Fromm: Biography. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.uta.edu/huma/illuminations/kell9.htm
Smith, M. K. (2002) ‘Erich Fromm: alienation, being and education’ the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/thinkers/fromm.htm. Last update: May 29, 2012
Stilgenbauer, C. (2013, April 14). Jeffrey Dahmer: Signature [Web log post]. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://serialkillerlab.blogspot.com/2013/04/jeffrey-dahmer-signature.html