Richard Trenton Chase: a Psychobiography of the “Dracula Killer”
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Richard Trenton Chase: A Psychobiography of the “Dracula Killer” Hanlie Theron Nel Submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Magister Societatis Scientiae in Clinical Psychology in the Faculty of the Humanities at the University of the Free State Bloemfontein August 2014 Supervisor: Prof. J. P. Fouché Co-supervisor: Dr. P. Naidoo ii Photograph of Richard Trenton Chase Retrieved from http://profilesofmurder.files.wordpress.com/2013/09/richard-trenton- chase.jpg iii Acknowledgements This research endeavour was facilitated by the contributions of more people than the researcher’s alone. My sincerest appreciation and gratitude are expressed to: My supervisor, Prof. Paul Fouché, for your shared brilliance, guidance, and continued encouragement, patience and support. My co-supervisor, Dr. Pravani Naidoo, for your keen interest in this study and your insightful suggestions. Ingrid Kluyts, for the editing of this thesis and Danila Liebenberg, for the plagiarism report. My dearest boyfriend, Pannas van Deventer, for your patience, understanding, uplifting attitude, assistance with daily responsibilities, and sustained confidence in me. My brother-in-law, Gerald Fourie, sister-in-law, Simoné Nel, and my precious nieces and nephews, Mila, Emma, Ruben, and James, for your inspiration. The four people to whom this work is dedicated, my father, Prof. Johan Nel, my mother, Marthie Nel, my brother, Adriaan Nel, and my sister, Louise Fourie. “Many reasons have been given for why some people become ‘monsters’ while others don’t. Reasons that make sense. Maybe it can all be condensed into one word – grace” (Van der Spuy, 2012, p. 456). iv Declaration by the Language Editor I, Ingrid Kluyts, hereby declare that I have proofread and edited Ms Hanlie Nel’s Master’s thesis. I currently hold an Honours degree in Language Practice and practice as a language editor and translator at the University of the Free State’s School of Open Learning. Signature ………………………… 11 Jun ‘14 Date ………………………………. v Student Declaration I declare that the dissertation hereby submitted by me for the Magister Societatis Scientiae (Clinical Psychology) degree at the University of the Free State is my own independent work1 and has not previously been submitted by me at another university/faculty. I further cede copyright of the dissertation in favour of the University of the Free State. 1 This work has been evaluated for originality through the turnitin service (Submission ID: 437667530). vi Table of Contents Photograph of Richard Trenton Chase ii Acknowledgements iii Declaration by the Language Editor iv Student Declaration v Table of Contents vi List of Tables xv List of Appendices xvi Abstract xvii Chapter 1 Introduction and Problem Statement 1.1. Chapter Preview 1 1.2. General Orientation to the Study 1 1.3. Rationale and Problem Statement 2 1.4. Research Aim 4 1.5. Theoretical Orientation 4 1.6. Overview of the Study 5 1.7. Chapter Summary 6 Chapter 2 The Life of Richard Trenton Chase 2.1. Chapter Preview 7 2.2. Historical Periods in the Life of Richard Trenton Chase 7 2.2.1. Vampire in the making (1950 – 1962) 7 2.2.2. The teenage drug user (1963 – 1970) 9 2.2.3. The delusional nomad (1971 – 1974) 12 2.2.4. Paranoid schizophrenic on the loose (1975 – 1976) 14 2.2.5. Murders, trial and death (1977 – 1980) 16 2.3. Chapter Summary 20 vii Chapter 3 Erikson’s Theory of Psychosocial Personality Development 3.1. Chapter Preview 22 3.2. Erik Erikson 22 3.2.1. Erikson’s prospect of psychoanalysis 23 3.2.2. Erikson and personality development 24 3.3. Psychosocial Theory 25 3.4. Eight Stages of Psychosocial Theory 26 3.4.1. Stage one: Basic trust versus basic mistrust (0 – 1 year) 27 3.4.2. Stage two: Autonomy versus shame and doubt (1 – 3 years) 28 3.4.3. Stage three: Initiative versus guilt (3 – 6 years) 29 3.4.4. Stage four: Industry versus inferiority (6 – 12 years) 31 3.4.5. Stage five: Identity versus role confusion (12 – 18 years) 32 3.4.6. Stage six: Intimacy versus isolation (18 – 40 years) 34 3.4.7. Stage seven: Generativity versus stagnation (40 – 65 years) 35 3.4.8. Stage eight: Integrity versus despair (65 years and onwards) 36 3.5. Psychopathology 37 3.5.1. Basic mistrust 37 3.5.2. Shame and doubt 38 3.5.3. Guilt 38 3.5.4. Inferiority 38 3.5.5. Role confusion 39 3.5.6. Isolation 39 3.5.7. Stagnation 39 3.5.8. Despair 40 3.6. The Additional Ninth Stage 40 3.7. Erikson, Psychobiography, and Applicability of his theory for the Study 40 3.8. Critical Reflection 41 3.9. Chapter Summary 42 Chapter 4 Serial Murder and the Schahriar Syndrome Model 4.1. Chapter Preview 43 4.2. Serial Murder 43 viii 4.2.1. Definition of serial murder 43 4.2.2. Classification of serial murderers: Offender profiling 44 4.2.2.1. The organised offender 44 4.2.2.2. The disorganised offender 44 4.2.2.3. The mixed offender 45 4.2.3. Motives and types of serial murder 45 4.2.3.1. Psychosis 46 4.2.3.2. Mission-oriented: Anger and ideology 46 4.2.3.3. Hedonistic 46 4.2.3.3.1. Lust 46 4.2.3.3.2. Thrill 47 4.2.3.3.3. Comfort/profit 47 4.2.3.4. Power/control 47 4.2.3.5. Media 47 4.2.4. Aetiology of serial murder 48 4.2.4.1. Serial murder as a social construction 48 4.2.4.2. Serial murder as a response to infantile and childhood trauma 49 4.2.4.3. Serial murder as a lifespan phenomenon 50 4.3. The Schahriar Syndrome Model 51 4.3.1. Omnipotence 52 4.3.2. Sadistic fantasies 53 4.3.3. Ritualised performance 54 4.3.4. Dehumanisation 56 4.3.5. Symbiotic merger 58 4.4. Applicability and Critique of the Schahriar Syndrome Model 59 4.5. Chapter Summary 60 Chapter 5 Psychobiography and Case Study Research: A Theoretical Overview 5.1. Chapter Preview 62 5.2. Psychology and Biography 62 5.3. Psychobiography: Definitions and Descriptions 64 5.4. Psychobiography and Related Concepts 65 5.4.1. Autobiography and biography 65 ix 5.4.2. Life histories and life stories 66 5.4.3. Psychohistory, historical psychology and historiography 66 5.4.4. Personality assessment 67 5.5. Psychobiography as Case Study Research 67 5.5.1. Case research epistemology 68 5.5.2. Case research objective 69 5.5.3. Case research design 69 5.5.4. Case research method 70 5.6. History and Trends in Psychobiography 71 5.7. Value of Psychobiographical Research 75 5.7.1. Individual case within the whole 75 5.7.2. Subjective reality 75 5.7.3. Socio-historical context 76 5.7.4. Process and pattern over time 76 5.7.5. Theory testing and development 76 5.8. Chapter Summary 77 Chapter 6 Preliminary Methodological and Ethical Considerations 6.1. Chapter Preview 78 6.2. Methodological Considerations in Psychobiographical Research 78 6.2.1. Researcher bias 78 6.2.1.1. Researcher bias explained 78 6.2.1.2. Researcher bias applied 79 6.2.2. Reductionism 80 6.2.2.1. Reductionism explained 80 6.2.2.2. Reductionism applied 80 6.2.3. Cross-cultural differences 81 6.2.3.1. Cross-cultural differences explained 81 6.2.3.2. Cross-cultural differences applied 81 6.2.4. Analysing an absent subject 82 6.2.4.1. Analysing an absent subject explained 82 6.2.4.2. Analysing an absent subject applied 82 6.2.5. Elitism and easy genre 83 x 6.2.5.1. Elitism and easy genre explained 83 6.2.5.2. Elitism and easy genre applied 83 6.2.6. Inflated expectations 84 6.2.6.1. Inflated expectations explained 84 6.2.6.2. Inflated expectations applied 84 6.2.7. Infinite amount of biographical data 85 6.2.7.1. Infinite amount of biographical data explained 85 6.2.7.2. Infinite amount of biographical data applied 85 6.2.8. Validity and reliability criticisms 86 6.2.8.1. Validity and reliability criticisms explained 86 6.2.8.2. Validity and reliability criticisms applied 88 6.3. Ethical Considerations in Psychobiography 90 6.3.1. Ethical considerations explained 90 6.3.2. Ethical considerations applied 91 6.4. Chapter Summary 91 Chapter 7 Research Design and Methodology 7.1. Chapter Preview 92 7.2. Research Design 92 7.3. Subject under Study 93 7.4. Research Objectives 93 7.5. Research Method 94 7.6. Data Collection Procedures 94 7.7. Data Extraction and Analysis 95 7.7.1. Alexander’s model 96 7.7.1.1. Questioning data 96 7.7.1.2. Letting data reveal itself 97 7.8. Conceptual Matrix 102 7.9. Ensuring Validity and Reliability 105 7.10. Ethical Considerations 105 7.11. Chapter Summary 106 xi Chapter 8 Findings and Discussion: The Psychosocial Personality Development of Richard Chase 8.1. Chapter Preview 107 8.2. Conceptual Outline for the Presentation of Findings 107 8.3. Chase’s Psychosocial Personality Development 107 8.3.1. Stage one: Basic trust versus basic mistrust (0 – 1 year) 107 8.3.1.1. Vampire in the making (1950 – 1962) 108 8.3.1.2. Discussion of the first stage 109 8.3.2. Stage two: Autonomy versus shame and doubt (1 – 3 years) 111 8.3.2.1. Vampire in the making (1950 – 1962) 111 8.3.2.2.