Personality Profile of Serial Killers - Essay Example

? Serial Killers Introduction Serial killers often have a common and definitive personality profile. It is worth mentioning each serial killer have his own intention and motive for killing. It can be argued that despite differences in their motive and agenda for killing, serial killers share few common traits. Few behaviors can be identified in their childhood such as abusing animals and setting fires among others. As the serial killers grow, there exists certain danger signs which include desire to live alone, inability to perform well in school and family circumstances which ultimately contributes towards the future aggression in them. A Serial Killer is usually considered to be a person found killing two or more person within a series of incidents. It has been ascertained that serial killers are usually psychotic. There are different types of serial killers such as ‘Visionary Serial Killer’, ‘Lust Killer,’ ‘Missionary Serial Killer’, ‘Thrill Killer’ and ‘Gain Serial Killer’. As stated earlier, different types of serial killers have different motives (Leung, n.d.). Correspondingly, the primary purpose of this paper is to provide a through description of the criminal background of Dennis Rader (BTK) and explain the criminal’s behaviors. Furthermore, this paper intends to discuss psychological theories and research contributed to the apprehension, prosecution understanding and/or treatment of the criminal. Background Dennis L. Rader popularly known by the name “Bind, Torture, and Kill” (BTK) was born in the year March 09, 1945 in the city of Pittsburg, Kansas in the USA. He is the oldest son of Mr. William Rader and Mrs. Dorothea Rader. Rader’s father Mr. William was a member of the US Marine corp. who later joined a privately owned firm in the year 1948. After joining the private firm the family moved into a modest but pleasant home on N. Seneca Street which was sold after Rader was arrested in the year 2005. As a child, it was observed that Rader was normal and unremarkable like other children of that age period. It was also viewed that Rader was an active participant of Boy Scouts and was a regular activities in Church Youth group program. It was later accepted by Rader that the desire to torture and kill someone was generated during the childhood stage but had to hide it from the outside world as it was illegal against the law. However, he also admitted that as a child he killed animals by hanging them in order to fulfill his fantasy. Those who knew Rader affirmed that as a youth he was addressed a polite and quite young man. He was also considered to be one of the most precised speaking among his friends as he only spoke very little but meaningful. With the passage of time in the year 1965, Rader enrolled into Kansas Wesleyan College in Salina. He was considered to be average student amongst his classmates. . However, in the year 1966, he joined the US Air Force with the prime motive of not being drafted into the war going on between USA and Vietnam. Rader was first send to Lack Land Air Force Base in Saint Antonio for 1 year and kept serving in the military sector till his service ended in the year 1970. It is worth mentioning at during his service in the air force Rader was ranked as sergeant for his excellence contribution to the US air force especially in installation of antenna equipment’s. Later he married Paula Dietz one of his fellow classmates and was 3 years younger than him. After their marriage they settled in Park City not far from his father’s home and worked in several stores till he was recruited by Cessna in the year 1973 together earning a degree in Electronics in the same year. It is worth mentioning that it took Rader 6 years of night schools to earn the degree and he describes himself as a C minus or D level students. Soon after getting fired by Cessna in the year 1973 Rader was again fascinated by his childhood desire to kill people. Soon after getting fired from the job, Rader searched for situations to fulfill his desire for killing people. However on January 15, 1974 at around 8 a.m. Rader attempted his first murder by killing four Hispanic families which included a child who was 9 years old, a 11 years old daughter, a34 years old wife and a38 years old husband respectively. Again in the year 1974, Rader killed 21 years old Kathryn Bright by injuring her at the lower abdomen. He also informed the media by calling up and asking them to look for a hidden letter at the Wichita Public Library that would solve the unsolved case of Otero family, the first murder that he committed. These natures of him carried on till he attempted his last murder activity in 1991by killing a 62 years old lady named Dolores E. Davis. In later years he killed 4 more people, total amounting to 10 murders before he was caught by police in 2005. It has been observed that Rader primarily targeted families with 2-4 members residing in the same locality. The Modus Operandi (M.O) and signature that Rader used was BTK which stands for ‘Bind’ ‘Torture’ ‘Kill’ (AETN UK, 2011; The Kansas Department of Corrections, 2011; Bongardt, 2010). Criminal Behavior There exist a number of criminal in this world and each criminals do have their own reasons for killing people. Criminal behaviors are generally considered to be those behaviors that may bind the legal body to take legal actions against the offender. It is believed that a person adapt criminal behavior when he/she can’t ignore the intensive impulses that gives them satisfaction on conducting such activities. As per the legal body of the USA there exists different form of criminal behavior’s that binds an individual from conducting such illegal activities which also includes killing person by tying, hanging or suffocating them in order to fulfill their lust. In this scenario, it has been viewed that the prime reason behind murdering of the people was to fulfill his sexual desire. Accordingly, he can be termed as lust killer who is being fascinated with sexual motivation. Lust killer acts violently to fulfill his sexual desires which result in ultimate killing of the victim. Lust murders are further identified by their way of targeting and harming the victims. It is considered that people categorized under lust killers often have dominant thinking and are very aggressive and violent since their child hood. It is worth mention that the person involved in this form of lust killing also keeps a track of the consequences that may result, if they are caught while conducting the crime. Although the American Psychiatric Association describes eight sexually aberrant behavior based on which the offender is categorized but critics suggest that there are other definitions as well. Thus, it can be affirmed from the above analysis of Rader’s behavior that he was lust killer fascinated with sexual motivation American College of Forensic Examiners , 2009; McClellan, 2008 ). Discussion With reference to the above mentioned background and behavior details of Dennis Rader, it can be viewed that the behavior and nature of Rader completely supports the cognitive theory. The theory states how our thought can influence our emotion and behavior to perform activities that may lead to illegal activities. Furthermore, it can be expounded that the theories mainly states the behavior of an individual is mainly dependent on the way of his/her thinking. It is further explained that the thinking procedure of an individual is completely dependent on the basis of their surrounding or the environment in which they have grown up. In this scenario, it can be viewed that Rader was born and bought up in a family that did not have any psychological patients, but his desire to torture and kill someone generated since his childhood stage which was fulfilled by abusing animals. Therefore, it can be affirmed that Rader can be classified under the cognitive theory. Prosecution in legal term implies the action taken against an individual or a group of people for the conducted crime. In this context, it can be viewed that Dennis Rader an ex-employee of the US Marine corp. was prosecuted for killing 10 individuals, mainly consisting of (7 females, 1 man and 1 girl and a boy). The further investigation proved that the main reason behind conducting such illegal activities was to fulfill his desire of lust which included torturing, tying and killing the victim. Rader however, had a deep desire of seeking fame by escaping from the police. He even left letter at library hall insides books or sometime called up the police and inform them about his heinous act moments after he committing the crime. Though the letters he left signified that Rader could be the person who was conducting the crimes however lack of proper evidence could not prove the prediction. However, in the year 2005 the police confirmed Rader as BTK, the prime offender behind the crimes and arrested him near his home during the day. During the first phase of the investigation Rader did not accepted to be BTK and addressed himself as one of the police officers. Later his prime concern was about his accommodation in the jail. It was also found that Rader had other targets that he wanted to execute in the near future. Fortunately, he was caught by the police and spoiled his desire to kill the other targeted people. Furthermore an amount of US$10 million was prescribed for his bail (AETN UK, 2013; Myers, 2008). Rader first appeared via a video link through his mobile phone stating that he was not the man they were looking for however, in the month of June, 2005 Rader changed his statement and accepted that he committed all the crime of heinous killing of 10 people and the main reason that bounded him to conduct those illegal activities was his desire towards satisfying his lust. On August, 2005 Rader was sentenced to 10 consecutive life term imprisonments which amounted in 175 years of detention. Though Rader crime was categorized as ‘Type A’ crime which seeks for death sentenced. However, Rader was sentenced for 175 year of imprisonment as Kansas did not have any death penalty law enacted at the time the crime was conducted by Rader (Mark, 2006). There exists different form of treatments for various form of crime which is categorized based on the psychological behavior of a person or an offender. It has been classified that BTK has been categorized under the cognitive theory or cognitive nature. Therefore, it is very essential that the criminal is treated considering the facts they are covered in this theory. It has been observed that people categorized in this theory develops a tendency of killing animals by hanging and torturing them. Therefore, it is very essential that the Rader is first taught the value of life. He should be given special classes on various aspects like the value of life to an individual. He should also be taken care of by providing love and sometime allow him to spend time with the animal he loves the most. The offender should also be enrolled in demonstration projects and practical rehabilitations classes. It has also been found that people involved in Lust murder are victims of sexual activities happening constantly around them. Therefore, it is also very essential that the matter is taken care of without most care. Cognitive theories and Models of teaching should also be adopted while treating Rader as it would make the job of the representatives much easier. The step of inquiring or asking the offender the alternatives on how his desire can be fulfilled can also considered while treating the offender in the case of Rader (California State University, 2013; NewsRx, 2011). Conclusion Serial killing is considered to be one of the most heinous crimes in the entire world. Though many psychologist has stated various theories that proves the main reason behind conducting such unusual or illegal activities. It has been observed that almost all the serial killers commits the crimes based on different motives and reasons. It has also been observed that people involve in this sort of activities develop the tendency of killing living being by torturing or killing them. Furthermore, it is estimated that people belonging to military background develops a strong desire to kill people after they are retired or quit the job. In this context, it has been viewed that Rader has been associated with military background since his childhood. He also had a deep desire of torturing and fulfilling his needs which could be understood from his statement where he proclaimed that he used to hang and abuse animals during his childhood. It has also been perceived that people who are frustrated in life are more vulnerable to develop criminal behaviors. As it was observed that while Rader was employed with various organizations he did not had any type of lust desires. . However, after he was fired from the job he was fascinated with his lust desire to kill people and abuse them sexually. Such behavior of criminals can be categorized psychologically and can be treated with the application of theories such as cognitive theory. References American College of Forensic Examiners. (2009). Recognizing the mental disorders that power serial killers: psychopathy, perversion, and lust homicide. Forensic Examiner. 18(4). pp. 83. NewsRx. (2011). Law and criminal justice; data on law and criminal justice published by researchers at university of saskatchewan. Politics & Government Week. pp. 15. AETN UK. (2013). The arrest. Retrieved from http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/crime-files/dennis-rader-the-btk-killer/arrest.html AETN UK. (2011). Dennis Rader: the BTK killer. Retrieved from http://www.crimeandinvestigation.co.uk/crime-files/daniel-rader-the-btk-killer/biography.html Bongardt, S. A. (2010). An introduction to the behavioral profiling of computer network intrusions. Forensic examiner 19(3), pp. 20-25. California State University. (2013). Cognitive theories and constructive learning environments. Retrieved from http://edschool.csueastbay.edu/departments/etleads/Chapter4Cognitive.PDF Leung, P. (n.d.). The personality profile of a serial killer. Retrieved from http://www.bxscience.edu/publications/forensics/articles/psychologicalprofiles/killer.pdf The Kansas Department of Corrections. Rader, Dennis L, (KDOC # 0083707). Retrieved from http://www.dc.state.ks.us/kasper/offenders?lastname=rader&firstname=dennis&middlename=lynn McClellan, J. E. (2008). Profiling violent sexualized homicides: investigating lust murder. Doctoral Dissertation, pp. 1-352. Mark, H. (2006). How the Cops Caught BTK. ABA Journal. 92, pp. 44-48. Myers, W. C. (2008). The relationship between serial sexual murder and autoerotic asphyxiation. Forensic Science International176(2), pp. 187-195. Read More