Reflection Essay on Changed Perspective about Serial Killers Through research
There have been many discussions about Serial Killers, including films and books written about the horrendous murders committed in the past with the killers labeled as monsters. This reference made me believe that there was something different about the killers, which made them transform from humans who are compassionate, reasonable, and have regard for the lives of others to monstrous beings who derive pleasure from killing people more so in the most horrible ways. I believed that there was something different about serial killers that compelled them to kill their victims savagely without a shiver. However, I had little knowledge about any biological or environmental factors that significantly influenced the development of people who appear normal into killers who lack empathy. Researching what drives serial killers into committing the murders influenced me to change my perspective.
I learned that serial killers had psychopathic tendencies. Besides, serial murderers are not only killers but rather super-smart characters with a record of abuse, and a provocation to kill. I learned that the victims of serial killing succumb while their killers attempt to gain control and authority over their ruined lives by feeling powerful and in control of their victims. Additionally, a serial killer has been described as a sexual offender, killer of children, men, and women. The research made me realize that before the sensitization of serial murders in America around 1880, the society was categorizing numerous killers for identity and apportioning specific characteristics to the serial killers. The classification was assigned to people who had murdered more than three of their victims at different times in a year, weeks, or months. The killers were referred to as serial killers.
Therefore, I changed my perception about serial killers on the realization that they were human beings with usual challenges. The prenatal environment and experiences while growing up or in their growing up trigger psychopathic characteristics like interpersonal and emotional detours, where I noted that some people with psychopathic characteristics have managed to avoid criminal activities. Besides, I discovered that serial killers have egotistical aspects where the murderers show a habit of externalizing blame, have no empathy and portray power-oriented techniques on other people. These covert psychopathic characteristics make it difficult to distinguish healthy individuals from those with detoured behaviors that reflect behavioral problems. I concluded that it is not evident that psychopathic individuals are criminals, and the characteristics portray a syndrome with a mixed personality where psychiatrists are unable to identify people that would likely become serial killers.
Further, I observed that serial killers have weaknesses in controlling their emotions without intervention, impulsivity, unmanageable emotions, and the probability of the person becoming connected emotionally quickly and extremely. The history of the serial killers shows inconsistency in their personality and interpersonal relations. Moreover, serial killers are attention seekers, likely to exaggerate emotions, fear rejection from people who are emotionally important to them, easily influenced, and express excess anger. These behavioral weaknesses in serial killers are influenced by their childhood surroundings or adult life encounters. Subsequently, I noted that serial killers exhibit narcissistic characteristics of self-importance, are convinced that they should relate with essential people in the society, and lack regard for other people’s opinions if they differ from theirs.
Conclusively, serial killers have psychopathic tendencies exhibiting inconsistent personality that is marked with uncontrollable anger, emotions, and exaggerated behavior. Serial killers are ordinary people with a history of abuse during their childhood or in their adult life. They may have been the abusers themselves during their childhood. However, I learned that not all psychopathic individuals turn into serial killers, and most have avoided legal systems by finding new methods of achieving their narcissistic tendencies. I noted that serial killers are egotistical and tend to solve their frustrations through killing.