Psychopathy and Gender of Serial Killers: a Comparison Using the PCL-R. Chasity Shalon Norris East Tennessee State University
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East Tennessee State University Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University Electronic Theses and Dissertations Student Works 8-2011 Psychopathy and Gender of Serial Killers: A Comparison Using the PCL-R. Chasity Shalon Norris East Tennessee State University Follow this and additional works at: https://dc.etsu.edu/etd Part of the Criminology Commons, and the Gender and Sexuality Commons Recommended Citation Norris, Chasity Shalon, "Psychopathy and Gender of Serial Killers: A Comparison Using the PCL-R." (2011). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. Paper 1340. https://dc.etsu.edu/etd/1340 This Thesis - Open Access is brought to you for free and open access by the Student Works at Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. It has been accepted for inclusion in Electronic Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Digital Commons @ East Tennessee State University. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Psychopathy and Gender of Serial Killers: A Comparison Using the PCL-R _____________________ A thesis presented to the faculty of the Department of Criminal Justice & Criminology East Tennessee State University In partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree Master of Arts in Criminal Justice & Criminology _____________________ by Chasity S. Norris August 2011 _____________________ Dr. Larry Miller, Chair Dr. John Whitehead Dr. Michael Braswell Keywords: Psychopathy, Serial killer, Gender, PCL-R, Murder ABSTRACT Psychopathy and Gender of Serial Killers: A Comparison Using the PCL-R by Chasity S. Norris Psychopathy and serial murder are 2 of society’s most devastating and least understood tribulations. Even less is comprehended with regards to the differences in the way these ills are expressed between the genders. In this study, psychopathic personality traits are considered in a sample comparison of male and female serial murderers. Traits are measured using questions derived from Hare’s Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R, 1991). A content analysis was performed to score the components for each subject, using known and accepted biographical and personal interview materials. Findings showed a distinct difference between the sexes, with females scoring lower than their male counterparts, indicating that factor structure of the PCL-R may need to be restructured in regards to females. Implications for public policy including the way female psychopathy is viewed and diagnosed are reviewed. 2 Copyright 2011 by Chasity S. Norris. 3 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Ten years ago, I could not even imagine that I would be writing this page. I have achieved more than I ever dreamed was possible, but I have not achieved it all alone. There are many people I wish to take a moment and give them very heartfelt thanks. This experience and these people have truly changed my life. I would like to thank my daughter Cynthia Higgins for taking this incredible journey with me and always being my biggest fan. I love you more than words can say. I would like to thank my father Dennis Norris for always believing I could be doing more and for believing I always could. Thank you to my grandfather Faue Norris for reminding me to do the best that I can no matter what it is that I am doing. To my best friends—Mandy, Tasha, Karen, and Robby—thanks for listening to my constant blabbering about psychopaths and serial killers and for your encouragement when I was overwhelmed. I would like to thank my committee members: Dr. Larry Miller, Dr. Michael Braswell, and Dr. John Whitehead for their kind words, tireless efforts, and extreme patience during this project. To Dr. Larry Miller, I want to thank you for your endless support and encouragement during the years I have known you. You have always been such a fun, calming influence both in the department, and the classroom, and I am glad to call you a friend. To Dr. Michael Braswell, I want to thank you for always having an open door and a few words of wisdom when I needed them most. Your counsel has been invaluable to me over the last few years, and I am most grateful. To the rest of the extraordinary professors in the CJ department, you have all been a crucial part of me being where I am now. Each of you has encouraged and inspired me in infinite ways. I could not have done it without you…..Thank you all! 4 CONTENTS Page ABSTRACT……………………………………………………………………………....2 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS………………………………………………………………4 Chapter 1. INTRODUCTION……………………………………………………………… 7 The Subjects……………………………………………………………………. 11 Purpose…………………………………………………………………………. 14 2. LITURATURE REVIEW……………………………………………………… 15 History and Controversy Surrounding Psychopathy……………………………. 15 Etiology…………………………………………………………………………. 27 Effects on Personality Structure………………………………………………… 31 Female Versus Male Psychopathy……………………………………………… 41 Treatment of Psychopathy………………………………………………………. 45 Psychopathy, Paraphilia, and Its Relationship to Serial Murder……………….. 48 Serial Murder: History and Comparison……………………………………….. 52 Ted Bundy……………………………………………………………………… 61 Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker…………………………………………… 70 5 Dennis Rader: The BTK Killer………………………………………………… 77 Countess Erzebet Bathory……………………………………………………… 86 Jane Toppan…………………………………………………………………….. 92 Aileen Wuornos………………………………………………………………..... 99 3. METHODOLOGY………………………………………………………………. 105 Hypothesis……………………………………………………………………... 107 4. RESULTS……………………………………………………………………....... 108 Ted Bundy……………………………………………………………………… 108 Richard Ramirez .............................................................................................. 120 Dennis Rader ................................................................................................... 128 Erzebet Bathory ............................................................................................... 136 Jane Toppan .................................................................................................... 144 Aileen Wuornos ............................................................................................... 153 5. DISCUSSION ..................................................................................................... 160 REFERENCES……………………………………………………………………… 165 VITA……………………………………………………………………………….. 175 6 CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION Psychopathy and serial murderer are two of the most captivating and horrific tribulations society has ever encountered. Few other words in the English language conjure up more vivid images of the infamous “boogeyman” than do these two, especially when they are used to describe a fellow human being. There are those who walk among us, capable of committing heinous acts without feeling anything resembling guilt or remorse. The devastation these men and women bring to those who cross their paths is their only true pleasure in life. They are the men and women we call “psychopaths”. The term psychopathy is often used interchangeably with the terms sociopathy and antisocial personality disorder. This is a mistake that is often made both in print and video. These terms are actually used to describe three distinct, although often interrelated, disorders. The differences between the three disorders are evident when examining their perceived causes, symptoms, and diagnostic measurements (Hare, 1993). All three disorders are agreed among scholars to be marked with lack of conscience, exaggerated sense of self-worth, and very superficial emotions. Sociopathy is perceived to have its root causes based in the social realm in which the person has been raised. In essence it is believed to be caused by society. Although this term is often used, it is not recognized as a true psychological condition. Antisocial personality disorder is diagnosed when patients exhibit at least three out of seven of the characteristics chosen by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders IV, published by the American Psychological Association in 2000. These characteristics are as follows: 7 Failure to conform to social norms Deceitfulness and manipulativeness Impulsivity, failure to plan ahead Irritability and aggressiveness Reckless disregard for the safety of self and others Consistent irresponsibility Lack of remorse at having hurt or mistreated another (APA, 2000, P. 706). These symptoms are considered for diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder only when the person is 18 years of age at the time of diagnosis with a persistent history of conduct disorders appearing before age 15. These cannot be considered if present only during a manic episode or after onset of schizophrenia (APA). Antisocial personality disorder is most often used to explain various forms of criminality and deviant behavior. Most persons diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder are not psychopathic, but most psychopaths could easily be said to exhibit symptoms of antisocial personality disorder (Hare, 1993). Psychopathy includes many of the various traits included in antisocial personality disorder, but is considered to have root causes both in biological and genetic predisposition and onset may or may not be influenced by societal influences (Cleckley, 1964; Hare, 1993). Because psychopathy is not officially listed in the DSM-IV, Hare created the Psychopathy Checklist in 1980. This version was a 22-item scale. Hare later revised and updated the tool calling it the Psychopathy Checklist Revised (PCL-R) in 1985. The diagnostic manual was written and published in 1991 as a tool for differentiating and diagnosing psychopathy apart from the other personality disorders 8 (Hare, 2003). This scale is now