NCJ Number
84519
Date Published
1982
Length
34 pages
Annotation
Studies of murderers, psychopaths, and schizophrenics reveal no identifying common factor in the lives of mass murderers, other than severe rejection as children, but not all persons experiencing such rejection become mass murderers.
Abstract
Mass murderers usually represent two clearly different types of personalities: (1) the schizophrenic, who fears rejection and distrusts people, though he has a great need for love; and (2) the psychopath, who is severely depressed, becomes aggressive to obtain what he/she wants, and lacks inhibition and remorse. While there are indications that neurological abnormality has some influence on deviant behavior, social scientists generally believe no child can develop a mature conscience without love and affection during the formative years. Still, there is not sufficient evidence that rejected children necessarily become deviant. Case studies of the mass murderers William Cook, Richard Speck, Howard Unruh, Charles Whitman, Dean Corill, and Albert De Salvo ('Boston Strangler') reveal they had unstable childhoods, yet because not all persons with unstable childhoods become mass murderers, other factors of environment, culture, and biology must produce the mass murderer. More research, with clear definitions of character types and adequate controls, should be conducted. A bibliography of 10 listings is provided.