Serial Killers are a study in the psychopathic

Serial Killers are a study in the psychopathic perversion - usually a man with a sexual dysfunction The US has 5% of the world’s population and 75% of its serial killers • Buffalo Bill is the serial killer in The Silence of the Lambs • Dr. Lecter says that Buffalo Bill was not born, but made through years of child abuse • Buffalo Bill dresses like a woman, wears makeup, hides his penis = gay lifestyles? • Film perpetuates the idea that if you are gay and a man you really want to be a woman • Film links homosexuality, transsexuals, and female impersonation directly to killing

Serial murder Films USA Decade No. of films 1920 s 1930 s 1940 s 2 1950 s 1960 s 1970 s 1980 s 1990 s 4 12 20 23 64 3 3 2

Serial murder Films USA

General Serial Killer Profile Demographics l l Male (88. 3%) White l l Average intelligence l l 80% of all serial killers 73% of male serial killers 93% of female serial killers 107 in our data base n = 71 Often a police groupie Seldom involved with groups

General Serial Killer Profile l Demographics – Average is 28 Males l 27. 5 is average at first kill 9 is the youngest (Clarence Hill) l 72 is the oldest (Ray Copeland) l l Jesse Pomeroy (Boston in the 1870 s) Killed 28 people by the age of 14 l Spent 58 years in solitary confinement until he died l l Females (Kelleher & Kelleher, 1998) l 30 is average at first kill 14 is youngest (Caril Ann Fugate) l 55 is oldest (Marie Becker) l l Angels of death, revenge killers, and team killers tend to be younger

General Serial Killer Profile Race Percentage White 80. 1% Black 13. 0% Hispanic 4. 5% Asian 2. 4%

General Serial Killer Profile Childhood l l l Unstable home (37%) Absence of loving and nurturing relationship Physical ailments and disabilities Head injuries Triad l l l bed wetting fire starting animal torture

Effects of the Family Child Abuse Comparison of Serial Killers to the General Population (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2004) Type of Abuse General Population Serial Killers Physical 6% 36% Sexual 3% 26% Psychological 2% 50% Neglect 18% Other 6% Not applicable No Abuse Reported 70% 32%

General Serial Killer Profile Forensic History l l l Triad Most have a criminal history (80%) 75% spent time in jail/prison prior to their serial killing Many received psychiatric treatment 33% spent time in a forensic unit Many murdered well before their serial killing

Most frequently selected victims [Hickey (2002; 399 serial killers)] Strangers (70%) 1. College students, prostitutes 2. Little boys and girls 3. Hitchhikers 4. People at home 5. Handicapped people 6. Store-owners, landlords 7. People walking street 8. Older women 9. Police officers 10. Derelicts/transients 11. People responding to newspaper ads Acquaintances (20%) 1. Friends and neighbours 2. Girlfriends and boyfriends 3. Waitresses and prostitutes 4. Co-workers 5. Landlords, employers, guards 6. Gang members 7. Patients Family (10%) 1. Own children 2. Husbands 3. Wives 4. In-laws 5. Nephews, nieces 6. Own mother 7. Sibling 8. Grandparents

Male Serial Killers(399): Methods l 1. Firearms mainly (41%) l 2. Suffocation (37%) l 3. Stabbing (34%) l 4. Bludgeoning (26%) l 5. Firearms only (19%) l 6. Poison (11%) l 7. Drowning (3%) l 8. Other (2%) Motives l 1. Sex (55%) l 2. Control (29%) l 3. Money (19%) l 4. Enjoyment (16%) l 5. Racism and hatred (11%) l 6. Mental problems (6%) l 7. Cult-inspired (5%) l 8. Attention (2%)

Female Serial Killers (62): Methods l 1. Poison (80%) l 2. Shooting (20%) l 3. Bludgeoning (16%) l 4. Suffocation (16%) l 5. Stabbing (11%) l 6. Drowning (5%) Motives l l l 1. Money (74%) 2. Control (13%) 3. Enjoyment (11%) 4. Sex (10%) 5. Drugs, cult involvement, cover up, or feelings of inadequacy (24%)

III. Female Serial Killers & their victims l Female serial killers tend to be "black widows" who kill a succession of husbands, lovers, or other family members. l They can also be nurses or other medical professionals who become self-appointed "angels of death" murdering babies, elderly, or the desperately ill in a misguided effort to relieve their suffering.

Aggression Statistics 15, 533 murders in the U. S. in 1999 l 15, 586 murders in the U. S. in 2000 l 16, 037 murders in the U. S. in 2001 l 16, 204 murders in the U. S. in 2002 l Expand definition to violent crime (murder, non-negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault): l l 1, 430, 693 in 1999 l 1, 425, 486 in 2000 l 1, 439, 480 in 2001 l 1, 426, 325 in 2002

What did Freud say? Eros: Life force l Drive-thwarted l Instinct l Catharsis l Thantos: death force l

What did Freud say? l "The existence of this inclination to aggression, which we can detect in ourselves and justly assume to be present in others, is the factor which disturbs our relations with our neighbors and which forces civilization into such high expenditure [of energy]. In consequence of this primary mutual hostility of human beings, civilized society is perpetually threatened with disintegration.

What did Freud say? l Civilization has to use its utmost efforts in order to set limits to man's aggressive instincts and to hold the manifestations of them in check by psychical reactionformations. Hence, therefore, the use of methods intended to incite people into identifications and aim-inhibited relations of love, hence the restrictions upon sexual life, and hence too the ideal's commandment to love one's neighbor as oneself-a commandment which is really justified by the fact that nothing else runs so strongly counter to the original nature of man. "

Is Aggression Instinctual? l l Hobbes, Freud, and Lorenz say yes. Freud and Lorenz in particular believe that aggressive energy builds up and must be released. l l l Catharsis theory. Unfortunately, aggressive catharsis frequently leads to more aggression. One problem with instinctual explanations is that they tend to be descriptive and circular.

Theories of Aggression Instinct Theory: Through evolution, humans have inherited a fighting instinct similar to that found in many species of animals. Leading Proponent: Konrad Lorenz (ethology) He says we have a biological need for aggression. It gets stronger as time passes since the last aggressive act (like hunger increases hours after a meal). This causes our energy level (drive level) to increase. This energy must somehow be released (“catharsis”).

Theories of Aggression Instinct Theory says that humans learn their own individual ways of expressing aggressive motivation. Nonhuman species behave in ways that are genetically programmed and characteristic of all members of the species. Fixed Action Pattern: complex behavior that is largely unlearned and found in all members of a species (or subgroup), and that is triggered by a very simple stimulus in the environment (“releaser”).

Hydraulic Theory predicts: 1. Aggression is inevitable - the accumulating energy must find an outlet l 2. Humans & animals will actively 'look for fights'. l 3. After an attack an animal / human will become less aggressive. l 4. Animals reared in isolation will show aggressive behaviour.

Roots of Violence l Instinct- innate (unlearned) behavior pattern l l Freud- redirecting the “death instinct” (thanatos) to others Lorenz- inherited “fighting instinct” developed through the course of evolution (strongest survive) Not supported because: l l l Human aggression takes many forms Frequency of violence varies across cultures Engaging in potentially lethal behavior makes little sense in evolutionary terms

If not instinctual, can aggression still be biological? Evolutionary psychologists argue yes. l Buss and Shackleford propose that our ancestors found aggression to be adaptive. l Lore and Schultz agree to a point. They also point out that most species have developed inhibitory mechanisms. l l Thus, aggression is an optional strategy.

Neurological and Chemical Influences l l Amygdala (located in the forebrain). Testosterone – leads to an increase in aggression, but also increases during aggression l l If testosterone is linked to aggression, does this mean that men are more aggressive than women? Maccoby and Jacklin research suggests yes. l l Across cultures, women demonstrate less violence Further, during era of womens’ liberation, non-violent crime rate relative to male rate has increased, but not violent crime rate.

Seretonin levels in suicide

Research on Humans l General Research Question: Do men show reactive increases in testosterone after exposure to potential mates? l Are hormonal responses related to behavioral measures of courtship? l Previous research on hormonal responses to sexual stimuli: l A number of studies have found increased LH or testosterone levels in men within 10 -20 minutes of the onset of exposure to erotic or sexually explicit films l However, no published studies have demonstrated increases in testosterone after more ecologically realistic social interactions with potential mates

Study Design l Male subjects (mean age = 21. 36) were randomly assigned to a “male” (n=18) or “female” (n=21) condition l Subjects engaged in a 5 -minute conversation with a male or female confederate l Saliva samples were taken before and 15 minutes after the interaction l Confederates rated the subjects’ behavior during the interaction.

Female condition: paired t (18) = 2. 10, p =. 05, d =. 99 Male condition: paired t (17) = 0. 90, p =. 38, d =. 44 Change scores did not differ significantly across conditions

Change in Testosterone by Courtship-Like Behavior r (19) =. 52, p <. 05 Roney et al. , 2003

Courtship Behaviors (immediate) Cues from Females Activation of Limbic. Hypothalamic Structures r =. 52 Testosterone Increase (post 20 minutes)

Violence in Hunter-Gatherer Society l Yanomamo group of hunter-gatherers in Amazon studies over last 25 years (Napolean Chagnon) l Inter-tribe violence very common with cycles of killings and retaliations – Chagnon estimated that about 70% of individuals over age 40 had lost at least one close genetic kin to homicide l “…kinship groups that retaliate swiftly and demonstrate their resolve to avenge deaths acquire reputations for ferocity that deter the violent designs of their neighbors. … a group with a reputation for swift retaliation is attacked less frequently and thus suffers a lower rate of mortality. … Aggressive groups coerce nubile females from less aggressive groups whenever the opportunity arises. Many appear to calculate the costs and benefits of forcibly appropriating or coercing females from groups that are perceived to be weak. ”

l Yanomamo men who have killed someone undergo a purification ritual that gives them the status of “unokai” l Women almost never unokai l Chagnon computed that unokai on average had more offspring than nonunokai – 4. 91 vs. 1. 59 on avg. , collapsed across adult age groups l Men who had killed also had more wives: 1. 63 vs. 0. 63 on average l He speculates that men who have killed are both considered more valuable to the group (avenge and deter attacks from other groups) and thus are more attractive as mates, and they are able to forcibly acquire resources/women from other men in the group

Roots of Violence (cont. ) l Biological Factors l l l High testosterone linked to higher aggression and less helping behavior in both males and females Low levels of serotonin inhibit ability to restrain aggressive urges Drive theories—externally elicited drives arouses motive to harm others l Frustration-aggression theory not well-supported because: l Frustration may lead to sadness, depression l People may aggress for other reasons (boxers, soldiers)

XYY- Super Male Criminal Chromosomes? Syndrome

Supermale? Or supercriminal? l Early work with karyotyping showed that normal men have an X and a Y sex chromosome, unlike women who have two X chromosomes. In 1961, Sandberg et al. found a man with an extra Y Chromosome (XYY). Since the Y chromosome codes for ‘maleness’ these individuals were dubbed ‘super-males’. [Ritter, 1993] l In 1965 a well-respected geneticist, Patricia Jacobs, stated that the incidence of XYY condition among the prison population was 20 times greater than normal. Her study linked the XYY condition with subnormal IQ and tendencies for violent crime. [Jacobs et. al. 1965]. l The Jacobs study led to sensationalized trials in which lawyers tried to exonerate the actions of the accused by blaming it on XYY syndrome. l A belief that XYY males were genetically predisposed to criminal behaviour encouraged public leaders to call for genetic screening of newborns and the imposition of interventions to prevent criminal behaviors from occurring.

Personal Determinants l Type A behavior pattern l l Hostile attributional style l l Tend to perceive malice in other’s ambiguous acts Narcissism (inflated self-esteem) l l Type A’s (highly competitive, time-urgent, hostile) tend to be more aggressive Tend to lash out if grandiosity is threatened Gender (higher in males) Males tend to use direct forms (push, shove, coercion) l Females tend to use indirect (gossip, spread rumors) Note: Gender differences disappear under provocation l

What does Bandura say?

Is Aggression Learned? l Does aggression pay? Are people reinforced for aggression? l l If so, operant conditional suggests that they are more likely to aggress in the future. Social Learning Theory l l Vicarious reinforcement Bandura’s famous study with the Bobo doll.

Regional Differences in Aggression and Social Models l Homicide rates for White southern males are substantially higher than for White northern males (especially in rural areas) l However, they do not endorse violence in general, only as a tool for protection of property and in response to insults: “Culture of honor” based upon history as herding society l Nisbett research on southerners reaction to being bumped and cursed at l More upset (cortisol increase), primed for aggression (testosterone increase), more likely to engage in aggression after the incident.

Frustration-Aggression Theory l Dollard’s original definition: Frustration leads to (hostile) aggression. l l l Is this always true? Berkowitz revises theory to state l l Frustration is defined as having one’s goal attainment blocked. Frustration produces anger, which provides a readiness to agress – but does not guarantee it. Important concepts include expectations and relative deprivation. l American society “creates” frustration.

Theories of Aggression Negative Affect Theory: Proposed by Leonard Berkowitz, it states that negative feelings and experiences are the main cause of anger and angry aggression. Sources of anger include: pain, frustration, loud noise, foul odors, crowding, sadness, and depression. The likelihood that an angry person will act aggressively depends on his or her interpretation of the motives of the people involved.

Situational Determinants l Temperature (curvilinear relationship) l l l As temp. increases, assaults increase, but only up to a point (around 90 degrees) Hotter years (and summers) increased rates of violent crimes, but not property or rape crimes Alcohol l Intoxicated participants behave more aggressively and respond to provocations more strongly Alcohol myopia—the more alcohol, the more accepting of sexual aggression to woman acting friendly (see Figure) Low aggressors became more aggressive when intoxicated, whereas high aggressors did not

Heat and Aggression • Heat and Aggression • Heat and the Bean Ball • U-shaped Curve • Reliable but not very strong pattern

Alcohol Strong correlation between l alcohol use and violent crimes l

Typical Experimental Design Did they believe they were drinking alcohol Yes No Yes 25% No 25% Did they actually drink alcohol cp

Findings Believe drinking alcohol Aggressive Are drinking alcohol Aggressive Believe drinking alcohol and are drinking alcohol Most aggressive cp

Alcohol & Fear l l l Alcohol intoxication is related to behavioral disinhibition Many believe alcohol has anxiolytic effects Some have theorized that alcohol-related aggression is due to a “fearlessness” However, there was little evidence to support these theories Use startle probe methodology to examine the effects of alcohol on emotion

Alcohol & Startle l l l Have persons view pleasant, unpleasant, and neutral slides while intoxicated Compared to non-intoxicated participants overall startle magnitude was reduced Startle modulation remained intact Alcohol seems to effect emotional processing through a general dampening of brain activity In contrast to Valium, which inhibits fear reactivity without effecting overall startle magnitude

Alcohol & Fear l Alternative hypothesis: l l l Perhaps alcohol inhibits fear indirectly through higher cognitive processes needed to evaluated fearful stimuli under complex situations Fewer attentional resources Diminished ability to use associate memory involved in processing complex situations, anticipate consequences, and select appropriate responses

Alcohol & Fear Experiment with sober and intoxicated individuals l Present light cues indicating the possibility of electric shock l l Green light = “safe” l Red light = “threat”, might get a shock For half the trials present pleasant pictures as distracters l Measure startle response l

Alcohol & Fear Alcohol had an overall effect on startle magnitude l In the distracting condition, alcohol also reduced fear reactivity l Distracting condition placed the greatest cognitive demands on participant in processing of dual stimuli l

Alcohol & Fear Alcohol only reduced fear in when competing cognitive demands are present l Alcohol intoxication may serve as model for behavioral inhibition in complex or competing stimuli contexts l Could serve as a model for Factor 2 processes l

Frustration and Aggression • Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mowrer, & Sears • Frustration always leads to aggression • Frustration is a blocked goal • aggression is first targeted against agent that is blocking the goal • If that is not possible aggression is often displaced • cotton prices and lynchings The Correlation Between Cotton Prices and Lynchings was r = -. 67.

Causes of Aggression, Continued l Alcohol l 75% of individuals arrested for crimes of violence were legally drunk at the time of their arrests. l Experimental evidence implies that alcohol ingestion increases aggression l Interpretation, alcohol is a disinhibitor. It seems that under the influence of alcohol a person’s primary tendencies are revealed

Causes of Aggression, Continued l Pain and Discomfort l l l If an animal experiences pain and can’t flee, violence follows Most research has been done on heat Violent crime and aggression increases as temperature increases (e. g. , baseball above 90°) Confound is increased interaction as it gets warmer However, lab research suggests that temperature is key component

Color Research demonstrates that room color does not have much of an impact l However, uniform color has been demonstrated to be related to an increase in penalties received (in both football and hockey) l l Question is: Does wearing a color make you more aggressive or are referees more likely to interpret ambiguous situations as aggressive?

Pornography and Violence Against Women l l l Presidential commission on pornography concluded that explicit sexual material in and of itself did not contribute to sexual crimes, violence against women, or other antisocial acts. But…. Violent pornography has been shown to increase acceptance of sexual violence (Malamuth and Donnerstein). Evidence that slasher movies have the same impact.

Social Learning and Mass Media l TV is full of violent models. l l l 6 in 10 shows have violence. By age 10 average child has viewed 8, 000 murders on TV. Few consequences of violence on TV. High correlation between the amount of TV watched and viewer’s subsequent aggression – this data is correlational Margaret Thomas demonstrated that viewing TV violence can numb people’s reactions when they are faced with real-life aggression

Why does media violence affect us? l When we summarize the ideas in the research four themes arise: l Seeing others being aggressive weakens our learned inhibitions against violence. l Learn techniques, imitate. l Primes anger. Makes us more aware of anger. l Desensitization to violence.

Reducing Aggression l What doesn’t work: • Viewing violence • Verbal expression of anger • Displacing aggression to inanimate objects

Reducing Aggression l What does work: • Delay • Distraction • Relax • Incompatible response cp

Theories of Emotion 1. Common Sense Theory

Theories of Emotion 2. James-Lange “…we feel sorry because we cry, angry because we strike, afraid because we tremble, and not that we cry, strike or tremble because we are sorry, angry or fearful. ” -- William James

Facial Feedback Theory l Smiling makes you feel happier

Theories of Emotion 3. Cannon-Bard Theory

Schachter’s Experiment Schachter & Singer (1962) l subjects were injected with adrenaline (or a placebo) l l l adrenaline sweaty palms, increased heart rate, shakes some subjects were told they would feel aroused; some were told nothing left subjects in a waiting room with a confederate l euphoria condition l l angry condition l Stanley Schachter 1922 -1997 confederate played with a hula hoop and made paper airplanes confederate asked obnoxious personal questions (e. g. , “With how many men other than your father has your mother had extramarital relations: (a) <5; (b) 5 -9; (c) >9”

Schachter’s Results

Theories of Emotion 4. Schachter’s Attribution Theory Cognitive appraisal = TYPE of Emotion Degree of Arousal = INTENSITY of Emotion This figure is simpler than Fig. 6. 24 (which you can ignore) in your text

Misattribution of Emotion l emotions can be attributed to the wrong source (Dutton & Aron, 1974) l male subjects were asked to meet the experimenter on a bridge across the Capilano River in B. C. l l Group 1: Capilano suspension bridge Group 2: sturdy modern bridge attractive female research assistant interviewed them in the middle of the bridge and gave her phone number Men interviewed on the scary bridge were more likely to call her

An idea for your next date?

Emotion in the Brain

The Amygdala l l part of the limbic system (with the hippocampus and hypothalamus) amygdala = “almond” processes emotional significance of stimuli and generates immediate reactions damage to amygdala l l abnormal activation of amygdala l l inability to recognize facial emotions absence of fear absence of conditioned fear response sudden violent rage in f. MRI studies, the amygdala is activated by scary stimuli (even if you’re not aware of them)

Frontal Lobes l Phineas Gage l “Gage is no longer Gage”

Frontal Lobotomies l 1935: chimps who were neurotic before surgery became more relaxed after it l 1930 s: Egaz Moniz begins frontal lobotomies in humans (and eventually wins Nobel Prize) l 1950 s: psychosurgery in vogue; 40, 000 frontal lobotomies in North America l The story of Agnes (Kolb & Whishaw) l l l no outward signs of emotion no facial expression no feelings toward other people (but still liked her dog) felt empty, zombie-like Other patients lose prosody = emotional component of speech orbitofrontal cortex l Patients with damage can remember info but don’t have emotions associated with it

Frontal patients show flat skin conductance to disturbing stimuli

Right hemisphere specialized for emotion l Happy or sad? Why? right hemisphere specialized for recognizing emotions

Do the two hemispheres have different personalities? left hemisphere activated by positive emotions left frontal damage depressed sometimes overly catastrophic and weepy about injury diminished left hemisphere activation in depressed people right hemisphere activated by negative emotions right frontal damage fewer negative emotions often not appropriately upset or concerned about injury