Animal Cruelty: The Key to Serial Minds

What makes a common person a Serial Killer? According to research, serial killers exhibit what is known as the 'Triad of Warning Signs in Childhood.'1

Indicators include:

* Firestarting, invariably just for the thrill of destroying things

* Cruelty to Animals: Most children can be cruel to animals, such as pulling the legs off of spiders, but future serial killers often kill larger animals, like dogs and cats, and frequently for their solitary enjoyment rather than to impress peers.

* Bedwetting beyond the age when children normally grow out of such behavior.

One of society's more notorious serial killers, Jeffrey Dahmer explained that wanted to remove 'free will' from his victims so that they would stay with him. In his past, he suffered from abandonment and was afraid of loss and any social upheaval. Another one of his extremely displaced characteristics was that he suffered from low self-esteem. His parents divorced during his teens, and when he did go to college, he performed badly. Upon examination of three psychologists, Dahmer was found to be manipulative, resistant and evasive.2 Further studies of Dahmer revealed that he could not tolerate rejection or abandonment; and that control was the number one factor for him. One clue to his unusually sick behavior was that even in his relationships, Dahmer did not gratify his sexual partners - instead, Dahmer always expected to be pleased by them.

According to Pat Brown's Book, Killing for Sport: Inside the Minds of Serial Killers '...serial killers are of average intelligence....most have low level jobs and make poor decisions. ' And, '...it is exactly these poor decisions that get them in trouble on their jobs, in their relationships, and in their crimes.'

Based on studies, serial killers usually choose victims that they can easily overpower, such as persons having short height and low weight. Additionally, 'serial killing is not about sex at all, but about power and control and revenge on society.' 2

Ted Bundy, who murdered at least 36 women, was known for his expressed desire to acquire things. From theft, to the importance of social standing, he pined to break free from the working class from which he was born. Additionally, he 'needed' to possess expensive items as well. Per research, Ted came from a single-parent home, was a severe sexual deviate; and women threatened him. He felt the need to not only control them, but to incapacitate them as well. As a teenager, Ted Bundy became known for his violent temper.

But what do serial killers like Dahmer, Bundy and others like them have in common?

'Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted Bundy, Andrew Cunanan, David 'Son of Sam' Berkowitz, and Albert 'Boston Strangler' DeSalvo were ALL cruel to animals before they started hurting people.'6 Subsequently, killer teenagers Eric Harris, Dylan Klebold (Columbine HS), and Kip Kinkel were also known for their past history of animal cruelty. In the study from of 'The Care of pets within child abusing families,' presented by DeViney & Lockwood, 88 percent of the homes were animal abuse had occurred, children were also abused.

In conclusion, I summise this important literature from the San Francisco Chronicle commentary by Margo DeMello:

"...every time we hear of a young person abusing an animal, it is explained away by family and often authorities as a 'youthful indiscrection'...What the authorities and parents of these young men fail to realize is that their behavior may signal that something is wrong with these men, which could very easily escalate into something much worse. The evidence is not just anecdotal; numerous studies, including the 1998 work of Randall Lockwood and Frank R. Ascione ("Cruelty to Animals and Interpersonal Violence," Purdue University Press), have shown that children who engage in animal cruelty are more likely to commit more violent acts as adults. There is also a strong link between abuse of animals and domestic violence, with animal abusers much more likely to batter their wives or girlfriends as well...

Youthful violence toward animals is a very serious issue, and it needs to be taken seriously by not only animal advocates like myself, but by those who are concerned about violence in our society." - Margo DeMello, Ph.D.

© 2005 Animal Cruelty: The Key to Serial Minds

References

1. Wikipedia - Defining Serial Murders

2. Court TV's Crime Library - Criminal Minds and Methods (Serial Killer Myths Exposed)

3. Court TV's Crime Library - Jeffrey Dahmer

4. Illinois State Department of English - Bundy's Childhood(www.english.ilstu.edu/students/smdare/bundy/tedschildhood.html)

5. ASPCA: Fight Animal Cruelty: Kids and Cruelty

6. San Francisco Chronicle - Cruelty to Animals: A Warning of Possible Violence to Come (Margo DeMello, Ph.D.)

C. Bailey-Lloyd
aka. LadyCamelot
Public Relations' Director & Staff Writer for Holistic Junction - Your Source for information on Healing Arts Schools

---

The 5 Hindrances of the Mind: Are They Blocking Your Self-Esteem?

The issue of self-esteem is perhaps one of the greatest... Read More

What is Narcissism?

A pattern of traits and behaviours which signify infatuation and... Read More

Solution Focus Process: Solution Talk vs. Problem Talk Pt I

Solution Talk vs. Problem TalkProblem talk, of course, is talk... Read More

What?s the Problem: Introducing Solution Focus Pt 2

Again, many of us think we listen, yet we don't... Read More

The Joan of Arc Complex

Sometimes I think that I have a mental health problem... Read More

What is the Theory of Multiple Intelligences? Part 1: Biological Basis

Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences is based on the... Read More

What?s the Problem: Introducing Solution Focus Pt 1

Solution Focus is the brain child of Insoo Kim Berg... Read More

Gender and the Narcissist

In the manifestation of their narcissism, female and male narcissists,... Read More

Right Brain, Left Brain

The right brain controls the left side of the body... Read More

How Big of a Problem is Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder - "ADD" or "ADHD" - affects... Read More

Kleptomaniac Confessions

Ever felt urged to steal a piece of bubblegum from... Read More

Posttraumatic Stress Disorder: Nightmare After The Ordeal

Sarah is a 28 y/o accountant who had a traumatic... Read More

The Psychology of Torture

There is one place in which one's privacy, intimacy, integrity... Read More

The Cyber Narcissist

To the narcissist, the Internet is an alluring and irresistible... Read More

Get Out of Jail Free: Stop Being Defensive

When Marcus and Sally first met they immediately felt like... Read More

Jack the Ripper

At around 3.40am on August 31st 1888, a carter named... Read More

Creating A Winning Mindset

Do you know anyone who always wins? Sure you know... Read More

Emotional Intelligence: The Basics

There's so much talk about emotional intelligence and how it... Read More

Birds in the Room Alter Sleep Patterns of Humans

Birds have always been considered good pets of modern day... Read More

The Essence of Being Human

What does it mean to be Human? Well if you... Read More

Establishing Trust in Grief Management Groups

Trust is the basis of all human relationships. Trust can... Read More

Are All Dementias Alzheimer?s?

I'm surprised when some patients and caregivers confuse dementia and... Read More

Why Other Children are Rejecting Your Child

IntroductionDeveloping healthy peer relationships is critical for the normal development... Read More

Animal to Animal Telepathy

There has been much study on Telepathy in the animal... Read More

Rediscovering the Mind

From the viewpoint of a modern microbiologist, we hear the... Read More

Fairies and Mental Health

Schizophrenics hallucinate alternate realities. People who claim to have been... Read More

Psychological Tips for Effective Studying

STUDY STRATEGIES* Revise regularly- Revision should be continuous if you... Read More

Hypnotic Myths

Even though hypnosis has been around officially since the 1700s... Read More

What is the Addictions Recovery Measurement System?

As I climbed 15-feet on a wooden ladder to the... Read More

Eating Disorders and the Narcissist

Patients suffering from eating disorders binge on food and sometimes... Read More

Treatment Modalities and Therapies

Narcissism constitutes the entire personality. It is all-pervasive. Being a... Read More

What Causes Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder?

The most recent models that attempt to describe what is... Read More

Subconscious Drives Make You Unhappy

Feelings and emotions are nerve impulses.The feel of paper and... Read More