Prevention Methods

 

A typical psychiatrist visit

Early intervention is crucial to preventing a child who has characteristics of adult serial killers from growing up into a killer as an adult.  Antisocial children should see a psychiatrist or other medical professional by a certain age.  The psychiatrist will be able to determine if the child is just too painfully shy to interact with others or has no desire at all to socialize with anyone else for unknown reasons.

 

Antisocial kids tend to find other activities to occupy their time.  In some circumstances these activities can be violent, such as setting fires or killing animals.  Such actions are dangerous and unacceptable.  Intensive therapy sessions should begin as soon as the child’s parent or other responsible adult in the child’s life finds out about the violence that the child is participating in.  Therapy sessions will teach the child that performing violence is wrong and undesirable in any form.

 

A violent child should continue to see his psychiatrist as an adult so that any signs of extreme violent outbursts, such as going on a killing spree, can be identified and prevented.  If there is indication that this type of person is at high risk of committing murder, he or she should be locked in a mental hospital or correctional facility to prevent him or her from harming himself or herself and others.

Evangelisches Konigin Elizabeth Krankenhaus children’s psychiatric hospital in Berlin creates a positive, relaxing atmosphere

 Social workers can remove children from homes where domestic violence is present.  A social worker’s careful selection of caring, loving parents instead of the child’s abusive, neglectful parents will help the child develop a bonded, intimate relationship.  This relationship will serve as template for his or her future relationships.

A social worker's main goal is to make sure the children that they are responsible for get placed in the care of safe, loving parents

 

 

Finally, recognition of brain abnormalities that leave a child susceptible to violent outbursts can provide a concrete reason or explanation behind the child’s behavior.  A child with a family history of violent behavior should have his or her brain scanned so that brain abnormalities can be documented into his or her medical record.  It will be easier to get the child help if he or she acts out in a violent form because his or her doctors will have prior knowledge that the child was at risk for performing violent actions.

 

A licensed psychiatrist can prescribe certain psychiatric drugs, such as antidepressants or other mood stabilizers, in a treatment plan of a violent child or teen.  By preventing noticeable mood swings, a child will be less likely to go from an upbeat mood to an angry or depressive mood.  Without feeling angry or depressed, a child will be less likely to commit violence.    

Animal Abuse

Children’s innate curiosity motivates them to explore the world around them.  Babies crawl around their home and place nearly anything in their mouths.  Kids of all ages enjoy playing outdoors and visiting local stores.  However, not all curiosity leads to appropriate behavior.  Sometimes children may abuse or torture family pets or other animals for various reasons.

 

A young preschooler or developmentally delayed child does not understand that animals have feelings and shouldn’t be treated as toys.  They may grab their cat by the tail or hit their dog, not realizing that they are inflicting pain on their pet.  The child is not performing these actions on purpose; he or she just doesn’t have much experience or training on how to properly care for different types of animals. 

 

A discussion with the child explaining that it’s not okay to hit or mistreat animals may help eliminate this behavior.  Comparing animal abuse to hitting or mistreating other kids will allow the child to further understand why torturing animals in any way is wrong.

 

A form of animal abuse

Other times, a young child under the age of 12 intellectually comprehends that it isn’t okay to harm animals.  This type of animal abuse stems from a deeper psychological problem.  A physically abused child may want to regain a sense of power by abusing an animal because he or she can’t physically over power his or her abuser.  Another motivation in this type of animal abuse comes from imitation.  These children want to imitate their parent’s abusive “discipline” on animals.

 

Overcoming this unwelcome behavior requires seeking professional assistance.  A professional can uncover the hidden reasons as to why the child is intentionally mistreating an animal.  Parents can decide what they can do to discourage this behavior based off of a professional’s helpful suggestions.

 

A third type of animal abuser is the conduct-disordered teen abuser.  Teenagers who abuse animals often do so as a result of peer pressure, to relieve boredom, or to gain control.  These abusers most likely participate in other antisocial behaviors such as substance abuse or gang activities.  They understand that hurting an animal is wrong but continue to do so anyway.

 

Parents of a teen animal abuser have to enlist in professional help right away.  Success rates of completely eliminating an animal abuser’s actions are higher when the teen is surrounded by supporting friends, family members, and teachers.

 

Although research in the 1970’s consistently reported childhood animal abuse as the first warning sign of later violence and criminal behavior, the type of childhood animal abuser must be considered before making such an assumption.  A preschooler and developmentally delayed child accidentally abuse animals merely out of curiosity and shouldn’t ring any serious alarms.  Older children and teens who fully comprehend that harming animals causes them to feel pain requires professional intervention.  Even though the child realizes his actions are unjust, he or she may be unable to stop doing so without professional help and treatment.

 

Albert deSalvo

Not all serial killers torture animals as children.  However, a few famous mass murderers have done so.  For example, Albert deSalvo, shot arrows through cats and dogs as a child before he murdered 13 women in Boston as an adult.  Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold bragged to friends about mutilating animals for enjoyment before they killed many students in the famous Columbine shooting.  Torturing animals alone can’t serve as a direct indicator that a child will develop into an adult serial killer.

Be on the lookout for my next post about how to prevent children who have some characteristics of the adult serial killer from becoming one themselves.

Parent Denial

Would an abusive parent always recognize that their actions could motivate their child to develop into a mass murderer? Of course not!  Parents may claim that hitting or verbally degrading their child serves an important purpose of teaching their child right from wrong.  When their child displays undesirable behavior, such as having a tantrum in public or not sharing toys, the parents choose physical punishment, such as spanking or striking the head, over giving a timeout or grounding the child. 

 

Some parents don’t view spanking as being physically abusive.  “The only way my child will learn his or her lesson is if I physically spank him or her” or “My parents spanked me and I turned out perfectly fine” are common statements made by such parents.  Even if others state that their punishment is abusive, the parents will deny that they are abusing their child.

 

A parent’s failure to recognize the fact that they are physically or verbally abusing their child also won’t recognize certain signs and characteristics seen in children who develop into adult serial killers.  A teacher, coach, or nurse may recognize that the child has some social or emotional problems and suggest that they have a psychiatrist evaluate the child.  No parent wants to believe that their child needs psychiatric treatment.   Consequently, a child in need of psychiatric care will never see a psychiatrist and won’t be effectively treated. 

 

Next week I explore animal abuse in children.

Childhood Environments Have a Greater Impact on a Child's Future Than We Think

An example of a caring family

Dan and Matt are young boys who are growing up in two distinct types of households.  Dan’s parents are very supportive, loving, and show affection toward him.  They have a strong and intimate bond with their son.  In comparison, Matt’s relationship with his parents is poor in emotional support and he doesn’t feel close to his father or his mother.  The lack of emotional bonding between Matt and his parents is a direct cause for Matt’s inability to form proper intimate relationships with others as an adult.  Instead of having intimacy as the bonding factor in his adult relationships, Matt relies on having complete control over the other person.

 

A compared, belittled child may never feel that his or her life is meaningful

 

A child who has a very poor emotional bond with his or her parents may also feel like he or she has to constantly impress his or her parents to get their approval.  However, in most cases, one or both parents never show their child any signs of approval and belittle their child instead.  The parents compare the child to his or her siblings, who according to the parent(s) are better than said child.

 

Wounds from physical abuse

In addition to emotional abuse, parents may inflict physical abuse on their children.  Abusive parents choose to strike their child on the head as punishment for misbehavior.  Repetition of this punishment leaves the child with a greater risk of growing up to become a serial killer.  Since a trusting member in his or her family is abusing the child, he or she may be unable to cope with the stress of the trauma.  In the future, the serial killer commits murder because of the unrelieved stress associated with the childhood trauma.

 

John Wayne Gacy

Famous serial killer, John Wayne Gacy endured both physical and emotional abuse from his father as a child.  Gacy’s father compared him to his sisters and called him “dumb and stupid”.  Despite these accusations, Gacy strived to make his father proud of him.  Unfortunately, he was never able to.  When Gacy was four years old he disarranged previously assembled car engine parts and his father beat him with a leather belt.  Damage to Gacy’s body was so great during these beatings that years later, he experienced blackouts.  Despite doctors’ inability to diagnose his medical condition, his mother and sisters believed that the blackouts were directly correlated to his father’s physical abuse.

 

Gacy had no method of physically getting revenge on his father for abusing him.  Instead, he chose to unconsciously seek his revenge by raping and murdering teenage boys and young men.  Emotional and physical abuse can serve as an unconscious motive of a future adult serial killer.

 

All of my previous posts about the common characteristics of serial killers may have left you wondering, how on earth do I prevent my child from growing up to become a serial killer if he or she has some of these characteristics?  The answer, my friends is a  few weeks  away!

Am I Going to Pass On the Genetic Makeup of a Killer?



The genetic code (DNA)

Can serial killers be predisposed to having a violent nature?  In short, yes.  An average serial killer has several common genetic factors.  Parents pass down these genetic factors to their child, who has no control over their outcome.  A child who possesses genetic traits seen in serial killers is more
 likely to grow up to be an adult killer. 

 

Changes in genetic makeup dramatically alter functions of the brain.  A certain chemical messenger in the brain, called serotonin, is responsible for feelings of happiness and well-being.  Low levels of serotonin are associated with aggressive behavior because the person lacks the physical ability to feel happy and is easily angered.

 

Nonfunctional emotional responses occur because functions of the brain are physically impaired.  In the brain, the thalamus, associates proper emotional responses to previous experiences.  An impaired thalamus causes a serial killer to experience feelings of happiness and satisfaction after committing acts of violence and murder.  The serial killer never feels regret and remorse because the impaired thalamus physically impairs the processing of these feelings.  Over a period of time, the only way a serial killer could feel satisfaction would stem from killing more victims. 

 

You may have heard Jim Fallon explain his theory on the relationship between genetic makeup, brain function, and the tendencies of serial killers on National Public Radio a few years ago.  He explains how one part of the brain, the orbital frontal cortex, is less active than another part of the brain, the amygdale.  The orbital frontal cortex is the moral control center of the brain, while the amygdale is associated with fear, anger, and violence.  The amygdale is free to run wild when the orbital frontal cortex fails to tell the person that anger and violence are morally wrong and shouldn’t result in feelings of satisfaction.

 

All of these brain impairments are the result of mutations in the genetic code that serves as the blueprint for the structure and function of the various components of the human body.  Although genetics are uncontrollable, childhoods of serial killers are controllable to a certain degree.  Intervention can change the childhood for the better if it occurs early in the child’s life.  You’ll have to wait until next week to learn more about the interesting childhoods of serial killers.

Common Personalities Seen in Killers

Serial killers have specific personality traits, such as being extremely antisocial or having two different personas.  An antisocial personality can cause a killer to have a very difficult time relating to others on a daily basis.  Other times, a killer can appear to have a “normal” life where he easily holds conversation with various people he sees from day to day or even with total strangers. 

Jeffrey Dahmer is a prime example of a serial killer who suffered from an antisocial personality disorder.  Very low levels of self-confidence caused him to feel inferior to others and doubt his self-worth.  Dahmer’s lack of confidence led to a very quiet personality as a child that didn’t change as he became an adult.  He only chose to socialize with soon to be victims during his adult years.

Trying to comprehend his homosexual desires, Dahmer picked up his first victim, Steven Hicks and brought him home where they engaged in sexual intercourse.  After they were finished, Hicks tried to leave and Dahmer felt that he was losing control over the situation.  To regain full control, Dahmer struck Hicks with a barbell, killing him.  Dahmer lacked the social skills to ask Hicks to stay with him and not leave him alone.  Killing Hicks was the only way he could get what he yearned for, companionship.

Steven Hicks, Dahmer's first victim

Comparatively, Ted Bundy battled multiple personality disorder.  Many people who met Bundy on the street saw him as a charming, attractive, and intelligent young man.  They wouldn’t have thought that underneath, Bundy was a twisted, cruel individual capable of murder.

Bundy’s friendly outward personality allowed him to easily manipulate, assault, and kill many young women.  Women would offer their help when Bundy asked them to help him complete an urgent task.  Instead of completing the task, Bundy assaulted and killed the young women when they were most vulnerable and least expected it.

A third common personality trait seen in serial killers is their lack of guilt, empathy, and remorse for their actions.  After committing murder, the serial killer does not believe his actions are unacceptable and morally wrong.  The brain of a serial killer doesn’t release any feelings of guilt, empathy, or remorse.  Killers also do not view their victims as people, but as objects that whose sole purpose is for the killer’s own pleasure.  Objectifying victims causes the killer to lack sympathy for his doings.

A serial killers does not have the proper conscience to realize that murder is unjust

Be on the look out for next week's post about how inherited genetics can play a role in the motivation of mass murderers.

Introduction to the Serial Killer

The United States is home to an overwhelming 76% of all serial killers.  Serial killers are unlike any other type of criminal and have various motivations for their dreadful actions.  The successfulness of a mass murderer depends on his ability to choose vulnerable victims, kill them in an efficient manner, and leave their corpses in hidden places where the police would fail to search.  A serial killer must have a high level of intelligence to murder over an extended period of time without the police catching him or her.

Adam Lanza, the man responsible for the Sandy Hook elementary school shooting.

On December 14, 2012, Adam Lanza committed the most horrific mass shooting in the history of the US.  He killed innocent young children and teachers as they were starting their school day.  As horrified parents learned of the tragedy that had occurred in Newton, CT, they speculated why Lanza had chosen to commit such an atrocity and whether his actions were preventable.  Lanza ended his life at the end of his shooting spree, making it impossible for investigators to question him and learn of his true motive(s).   

Jeffrey Dahmer, a cannibalistic serial killer.

Ted Bundy, a manipulative serial killer.

Throughout investigations such as the Sandy Hook shooting, FBI investigators consult profiles of famous serial killers including Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy to find similarities in the current killer with past mass murderers.  They have determined that serial killers have several common factors that motivate them to murder many times.  The majority of these factors become prevalent during childhood.

You might ask “how might you prevent a child who possesses common traits seen in serial killers from becoming adult murderers themselves?”  Well, I’ll first explain some common traits seen in serial killers.  Then I’ll give tips how to identify these traits in children and explain different counseling and treatment methods.  Tune in next week to learn about the personalities of serial killers.