Understanding the Dynamics of Violent Youth and Serial Murderers
The Violent Youth: Enhancer Elements
The most representative and relevant characteristics of young people exhibiting violent behaviors include a plurality of elements constituting this type of behavior. Violent behavior can be seen as a three-step process, where anger (an emotion) is the first step, hostility (an attitude) is the second, and assault (a violent action to harm another) is the last. Violent behavior must be viewed from an interactive perspective, with different elements involved.
This type of behavior is composed of social, personal, and organic ingredients, all integrated into a rather complex pattern, consisting of eight elements that enhance violence:
Temperament
Temperament refers to a pre-disposition to respond in a certain way. Irritability is considered the first step towards anger, and therefore, aggression and violence.
Personality
Personality is the affective and operational structure that influences an individual’s tendency to behave in a certain way. Social and educational elements play a significant role in shaping personality. Extroverted individuals may have difficulty focusing their attention and may be more prone to engaging in lifestyles that promote violent behavior. These individuals often exhibit the following characteristics:
- Sensation seeking
- Low perception of risk or harm
- Low capacity to delay gratification
Impulsivity
Impulsivity is the tendency to respond quickly to stimuli without reflection, often leading to a high percentage of response errors. Impulsive individuals are characterized by their inability to control their desires and the externalization of thoughts and ideas. This trait is often associated with sensation seeking, susceptibility to boredom, confusion, courage, and a limited sense of reality. Impulsivity is considered one of the most important explanatory factors of violent behavior.
Depression
Many depressed young people express their distress through oppositional behavior and violence. This can manifest in various forms, including self-harm, drug addiction, risky behaviors, early sexual activity, suicide, cruelty to animals, and pyromania.
Sex
Violence is more common in males, with a clear predominance of men in the violent youth population. This is partly attributed to the influence of testosterone.
Age
Physical aggression and violence have been associated with adolescence. The level of violence among adolescents is higher during early adolescence (10-13 years) than during late adolescence (14-17 years). This can be explained by pubertal changes and social dislocation. Behaviors such as school peer harassment and sexual violence often begin at age 12, while verbal abuse occurs primarily in women and increases with age.
Poor School Performance
Cognitive development deficits are not the only contributing factor to school failure. Anomalies in the family operating system, low levels of development, and drug use are also considered contributing factors. Individuals with poor academic performance often have difficulty integrating into a normative world, leading to minimal aspirations and an increased need to lash out.
Low Self-Efficacy
Self-efficacy refers to an individual’s belief in their ability to achieve their goals. Low self-efficacy can contribute to feelings of inadequacy and frustration, potentially leading to violent behavior.
Steps in the Dynamics of Serial Murder
Motivational Profile
Serial murderers often have a biological predisposition to antisocial behavior, with a psychopathology determined by the way they perceive reality, feel, and especially their motivations and needs. Neurobiologically, impulsivity is linked to serotonin levels in the brain, which can be diminished by alcohol. Aggression is linked to testosterone levels, which can be increased by steroids.
Serial murderers prioritize fulfilling their needs and often resort to violence to achieve them. As defined by Holmes and Deburger, a serial murderer is a person who kills repeatedly, committing more than three murders, often operating independently. They typically target strangers, lack a clear motive, and commit their crimes at various intervals, separated by a “cooling-off” period.
There are two basic types of homicide commission: psychopathic and psychotic. A third, mixed type, combines characteristics of both. The motivations of a murderer are diverse and can include ideological, religious, passionate, selfish, economic, or vindictive reasons.
Understanding the motivations of serial killers often requires direct communication. However, three basic motivations commonly drive these crimes:
- Revenge and Justification: Harming others is seen as a result of unjustified abuse suffered in their lives.
- Control and Power: Achieving ultimate control over another person, feeling omnipotent and having control over life and death.
- Ecstasy and Relief: Experiencing a state of calm and relief after an attack, a highly sought-after experience for murderers. This state is not perpetual, leading to a renewed desire to kill.
Stages of Serial Murder
Several stages characterize the dynamics of serial murder:
Aurea Phase
The process begins when a potential murderer retreats into their fantasy world. While outwardly appearing normal, the need to release their fantasies becomes a compulsion.
Fishing Phase
The murderer searches for potential victims, often choosing locations like schoolyards or prostitution zones.
Seduction Phase
The murderer derives pleasure from attracting their prey by creating a false sense of security and circumventing their defenses.
Capture Phase
The trap is closed, and the murderer enjoys witnessing the victim’s terrified reactions.
Murder Phase
For some, the act of murder is a substitute for sex, with the moment of death representing the climax. They may derive pleasure from strangling, beating, or stabbing their victims.
Fetishist Phase
Similar to sex, murder provides intense but transient pleasure. To prolong the experience, the killer may keep a fetish associated with the victim, such as a wallet or a body part.
Depressive Phase
After the crime, the murderer experiences a depressive stage, akin to post-coital sadness. They may even attempt suicide. However, the most common response is a renewed desire to kill.