Richard Kuklinski (Iceman) - Essay Example

The murders he committed and the sufferings he caused in his victims create an image of unbelievable cruelty, which is hardly a sign of normality. However, Kuklinski is not a psychopath in a traditional sense of word. For many years, he was able to conceal his criminal activity behind the veils of almost perfect marriage and family life. What psychopathy is and how it differs from antisocial behaviors is a continued debate. In 1996, Doctor Robert D. Hare wrote an article, which had to expose and explain the criteria for antisocial personality and how they differed for psychopaths.

It appears that all psychopaths are necessarily antisocial but not all antisocial individuals are psychotic (Hare). In this sense, Richard Kuklinski (Iceman) is believed to be one of the brightest examples of psychopathy in forensic psychiatry. Several actions Kuklinski did in his crimes lead professionals to believe he is a psychopath. First, the number of his victims is simply enormous: Kuklinski reports having killed at least one hundred of people. Second, Kuklinski recognizes that most, if not all, people he attacked were murdered before he would know them – simply stated, he would kill anyone he did not like at the first glance.

Third, Kuklinski turned his asocial quest for murders into the source of considerable profits. Throughout his life, he would trust only his wife and family and profess his love for Barbara and his children (Holmes & Holmes 142). Surprisingly or not, Kuklinski confesses he did not experience any pleasure while committing his murders –throughout his life, sex was his greatest source of satisfaction and pleasure. It is difficult to imagine that a person would commit so many people without any sign of satisfaction with his action.

Yet, if Kuklinski is truthful, it only reinforces the picture of his psychopathy. It should be noted that, according to the Five-Factor model of personality, Kuklinski manifests most, if not all, features characteristic of a psychopath. His neuroticism is extremely low. He creates an impression of being free from any psychological impediments and social disorders. As a psychopathic person, Kuklinski has an ability to put people at ease (Cooke, Forth & Hare 54). Throughout his interview with the psychologist, Kuklinski does not show a single sign of nervousness.

Low neuroticism is also the sign of low self-consciousness which is further supplemented with the feeling of low vulnerability to stress and risk (Cooke, Forth & Hare 54). His excessively low anxiousness is one of the best proofs to his psychopathy (Cooke, Forth & Hare 55). Kuklinski does not show any sign of deceptiveness and, unlike many psychopaths, is remarkably stable in his marital relationships (Cooke, Forth & Hare 56). Nevertheless, he demonstrates the signs of antagonistic aggression, low conscientiousness, the need for external stimulation (Cooke, Forth & Hare 56).

He is not a psychopath in a traditional sense of word, since he is able to balance his commitment to deep, prolonged family relationships with coldness and non-emotionality in human relations. It should be noted, that the roots of Kuklinski’s psychopathy date back to his childhood and the episodes of abuse which he experienced from his parents. His father was a railroad brakeman and his mother was a meat packing plant worker (Anonymous). Both parents beat Kuklinski and his brothers. In 1940, Kuklinski’s older brother died as a result of parental violence, but his parents were able to conceal the case from