Graphic content warning: This article contains references to violence and murder.
I stupidly watched Making A Serial Killer late at night by myself, and for some strange reason, I couldn’t get to sleep. (I wonder why?!)
If you haven’t heard of it, Making A Serial Killer is a true crime documentary series that examines what makes these compulsive killers commit crimes. Each episode charts a murderer and their victims and asks why they did it. The series is free to stream on PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION via 9Now.
All I could think about as I stared at the ceiling was how an innocent baby could later be capable of killing someone, let alone taking multiple lives with little or no remorse.
To learn more, I asked specialist forensic psychiatrist Dr Michael Schirripa that exact question. His expertise includes assessing and treating psychiatric patients who have committed a range of crimes, including murder.
Dr Schirripa has also jut published his first novel, Mindhunt — a psychiatric thriller written with the lived experience of a forensic psychiatrist. He shares real-world insights as a mysterious patient turns up after the sudden death of a billionaire’s mentally ill daughter.
PEDESTRIAN.TV: Hi, Dr Schirripa could you tell us what made you want to become a psychiatrist?
Dr. Schirripa: I became a psychiatrist because I was fascinated by the human mind and how it worked. I especially wanted to understand what happens when the human mind goes wrong and how to rectify that.
I knew in medical school that I was more interested in working with people rather than on people, and this is exactly what psychiatry allows.
What’s your definition of a serial killer?
A serial killer is a person who has deliberately committed multiple homicides, usually three or more, typically with some time gap between each killing (as opposed to a “mass murderer” who may kill several people all at once or in a very short space of time, such as a mass shooter).
A serial killer typically plots and plan their homicides and the time frame between killings may range from several days to several years or even decades.
There is usually a predatory component to serial killers as they seek out and “select” certain victims based on particular attributes rather than a “random” decision to kill.
What is your experience with serial killers?
I had always been struck by the psychopathic nature of serial killers and the complete lack of remorse or guilt that they have for their crimes. You can feel quite “cold” when you are in the presence of a serial killer, as they have no warmth or empathy whatsoever. As such, it can be quite a chilling and unnerving experience as there is not the usual “human” connection that you would typically make.
It needs to be remembered that the vast majority of serial killers are not psychiatrically ill but have very disordered, psychopathic personalities. As such, there is no real psychiatric treatment that is effective or can be offered to them.
Do you think serial killers share a similar brain trait?
Typically, serial killers are linked in the sense that they exhibit a psychopathic personality style or disorder.
This is a personality disorder that is characterised by a lack of empathy for others, a lack of remorse or guilt and, importantly, the desire to exert total control and power over others. Serial killers can view murder as the “ultimate control” over another human being.
It is fascinating to note that most serial killers (and those with a psychopathic personality) have experienced significant childhood abuse (such as physical, emotional or sexual). There is strong research evidence that such childhood abuse physically damages a certain part of the brain called the amygdala. This is often known as the “fear centre” or the “brain’s alarm”, and damage to this region can lead to quite severe emotional dysregulation as the abused child grows into an adolescent and then an adult.
Why do you think people kill?
Most people kill due to a conscious desire for ultimate revenge against another individual, to silence another individual, to conceal another serious crime, out of sudden fury or rage, or in the context of alcohol and drug intoxication.
Usually, a person kills due to a “perfect storm” of very particular circumstances, including access to a weapon, all coming together at a very specific time.
It is fascinating to note that most people who kill only ever do it once and often may not have a prior formal criminal record. This also emphasises that murder is due to a person finding themselves in a very specific set of circumstances that are unlikely to appear again.
What makes killers become repeat offenders?
The presence of a psychopathic or antisocial personality disorder is a significant risk factor for an individual to become a repeat offender. This is because they [typically] have no remorse or care for others and have little or no guilt for their actions.
They are not discouraged by the threat of criminal sanctions against them, such as the risk of being sent to prison. They are also driven by the desire for power, which is not diminished.
Those who also associate with criminal subcultures, where violence and murder are normalised, are also far more likely to become repeat offenders. Those who have significant substance use problems, especially with alcohol, are far more likely to become repeat offenders.
Is the amount of homicides in Australia decreasing or increasing?
The homicide rate in Australia is typically quite low compared to other nations, such as the US, Russia and South Africa for example, primarily due to the significant limitations on gun ownership in this country.
Are there any active serial killers right now?
It is highly likely that in any society around the world, there are active serial killers who are operating at any point in time. It needs to be remembered that serial killers can be very patient and calculating and can wait years or even a decade between killing people, which can make their crimes very hard to track.
Serial killers can often function as “normal” members of society in between times and, for example, hold down jobs and even have families. Often, they do not commit more minor crimes in between killings, which also can make them much harder to detect.
It is impossible to know with accuracy just how many serial killers may be operating or at large as the numbers of such serial killers are very low.
What do crime shows get right, and what do they get wrong?
Many TV crime shows do seem to accurately capture the interplay between the psychopathic personality and crime such as murderers who are sadistic. They often do demonstrate that lack of empathy and lack of guilt very well. They also capture the “planning” of the serial killer and how they can be quite patient.
On the other hand, there still can be some inaccurate and stigmatising portrayals of mental illness on some of the TV crime shows, which can over-emphasise the link between mental illness and crime, especially homicide.
Why do you think people enjoy true crime?
I think people enjoy true crime for several reasons. I think the human mind is very analytical and obsessional and humans want to try to understand the behaviours of others as much as they can. True crime shows allow for that understanding to happen as we all watch the “pieces of the puzzle” come together. This allows us to learn from the behaviours of others.
I also think that true crime shows are very much a “warning” for all of us. We are engineered to survive as humans, and we want to be wary of the risks around us and the potential dangers. So, by watching or reading about true crime, we can better understand the risks and dangers and keep ourselves and our loved ones safe.
You can watch Making A Serial Killer for free on PEDESTRIAN TELEVISION, streaming via 9Now.
The post I Asked A Psychiatrist What Makes A Serial Killer, And His Response Shook Me To The Core appeared first on PEDESTRIAN.TV .
