Raqota Berger, AJLLS, 2020 3:6 Research Article AJLLS (2020) 3:6 American Journal of Law and Legal Studies (ISSN:2638-2202) Serial Killers - Views on Why Sadipaths Kill, the Death Penalty, and Rehabilitation Raqota Berger Center for Criminal and Psychological Studies, Los Angeles, California ABSTRACT Serial killers are among the most brutal, callous, and coldheart- *Correspondence to Author: ed criminal offenders. This is particularly true for sadipathic kill- Raqota Berger ers, that have no remorse for their acts and no empathy for their victims. This study analyzed statistical data collected from 220 Center for Criminal and Psychologi- people willing to share their thoughts and beliefs about serial cal Studies, Los Angeles, California murderers, why they repeatedly kill, whether they can be effec- tively treated and rehabilitated, and whether or not they should receive the death penalty. The findings revealed that most respondents believe that serial murder is connected to mental How to cite this article: illness (82%), childhood abuse (81%), sadistic personality (75%), Raqota Berger.Serial Killers ‒ and anger (69%). The majority of respondents do not believe Views on Why Sadipaths Kill, the that serial killers can be treated or rehabilitated (79%). The majority of the participants also stated that serial killers should Death Penalty, and Rehabilitation. receive the death penalty (62%). Almost 8 out 10 respondents American Journal of Law and Legal believe that serial murder is associated with a sadistic personali- Studies, 2020, 3:6 ty. Respondents 40 years of age and older (90%) were palpably more likely to believe that serial killers should receive the death penalty. With the exception of multiracial respondents, all ethnic groups leaned in the direction that serial killers should receive the death penalty. This study brings forth additional findings and insights into serial murder and sadipathy that may be of value to professionals working across academic, mental health, and legal eSciPub LLC, Houston, TX USA. settings. Website: https://escipub.com/ Keywords: serial murder, serial killer, sadipathy, death penalty, rehabilitation, mental illness AJLLS: https://escipub.com/american-journal-of-law-and-legal-studies/ 1 Raqota Berger, AJLLS, 2020 3:6 Introduction to the Subject to best understand the complex reasons and motivations as to why sadipathic serial killers Experts across various academic disciplines and commit the horrific acts that they do. The current applied professions have long tried to make study on this topic brings forth additional sense of what motivates and causes some information and findings that may be useful for people to repeatedly kill others. Forensic and those working in this area and that would like to criminal psychologists often study serial murder gain more insight into what the public thinks from behavioral, cognitive, and psychological about this particular offending population. standpoints. They like to try and make sense of the mental health and functioning of these types Appurtenant Literature Review of offenders, what their backgrounds were like, There are currently no established theories or and why they are driven to commit their heinous etiological descriptions that can adequately acts. Law enforcement experts examine explain or capture the commencement of a serial psychological and behavioral factors as well, but killer’s horrific and deadly actions (Lynes & they are largely interested in profiling serial Wilson, 2015; O’Toole, 2018). A number of traits killers to increase their chances of capturing and factors have been attached to practically all these offenders and preventing future serial killers that brutally injure and murder their victimizations. At this time, there is no agreed victims. It is widely accepted that serial killers upon etiology for serial murder. There are many are generally manipulative, narcissistic, lacking complex genetic-biological, psychological, in empathy, callous, cold-blooded, guiltless, cognitive, familial, social, and environmental lacking in social conscience, exploitative, interactions at play that can cause one to go excitement-seeking, and purposeful (Anderson down this dark and vicious path. No single & Marcus, 2019; Fox & DeLisi, 2019; Garcia & interaction has yet to be identified; or even can Moraga, 2017). Reidy, Zeichner, and Seibert be identified, as there is not a single explanation (2011) studied sadistic aggression and found or interplay at work. It appears that each that these types of criminal offenders are complex interaction has its own cognitive- typically emotionally detached from their victims, behavioral effect on each particular offender have affective shallowness, lack remorse, are (James, 2019; LaBrode, 2007; Miller, 2014). impulsive, and are prone to boredom. The Serial killers are unique in their categorization as researchers also found that sadistic offenders being murderers due to the fact that they kill on are commonly low in socialization, are often more than one occasion. Although there is some irresponsible, show superficial charm, and often variation as to how many times one must kill to abuse substances. This is in line with what be labeled a serial killer (e.g., 2 to 4), it is Spehr, Hill, Habermann, Briken, and Berner generally accepted that 3 or more separate acts (2010) found in their research on sexual meets the criteria (Bartels & Parson, 2009; murderers, whereby it was determined that Haggerty, 2009; James, 2019). The primary sexual homicide is closely associated with drug interest really comes down to why they kill in the and alcohol dependency, prior violent sexual first place. What drives them? What motivates behaviors, and a high prevalence of antisocial them to inflict pain and injury on others? Why personality disorder. are they so callous toward their victims? Can Although antisocial personality disorder and they be treated and rehabilitated? Should they sociopathy are often connected to violent acts, receive the death penalty for their actions? most of these types are not murderers. These are questions and concerns that Antisocial personalities often engage in academics and applied professionals should purposeful violence, have poor behavioral take into consideration as they conduct their controls, are conning, egocentric, and have duties and disseminate their findings. It is critical hostile internal working models (LaBrode, 2007; AJLLS: http://escipub.com/american-journal-of-law-and-legal-studies/ 2 Raqota Berger, AJLLS, 2020 3:6 Miller, 2004). Serial killers seem to be operating clinically sadistic. A two-factorial solution design from a somewhat different internal model and produced results that demonstrated that sexual frame of mind. According to Lachmann & sadism was a distinct pathology that consisted Lachmann (2007), serial killers have a strong of aggressive sexual fantasies, emotional need for self-assertion and control over others. detachment, a readiness to harm, coercion, and They often come from backgrounds of early a drive to inflict suffering on others. Similar abuse, deprivation, and deception (although this findings were produced from the work of Haggar- is not always the case). The researchers noted Johnson and Egan (2010) where it was shown that in addition to their common charm, that those with sadistic personality pathologies manipulativeness, and sociability, most serial were prone to interpersonal cruelty, dominating killers clearly have a distorted set of motivations others, intimidation, detachment, and and a specific fantasy system that leads to their vindictiveness. The findings of the research also violent compulsions. Anderson and Marcus found that these sadistic types were also low in (2019) noted that through their antagonistic agreeableness, are cold-blooded, are personalities and interpersonal detachment, controlling, and are typically antagonistic. sadistic offenders derive pleasure from harming Sadipathic killers are understood to be the most others. The sadist does not experience guilt or violent and cruel of all offenders. Examples of feelings of empathy that a normal person would these types of offenders would include Samuel and they revel in their coldhearted and Little, Aileen Wuornos, Jeffrey Dahmer, Ted excessively cruel behaviors (March, 2019). The Bundy, John Gacy, Dennis Rader, and Joseph enjoyment that sadists take in humiliating and DeAngelo. Samuel Little is now believed to be hurting others is at the heart of sadipathy. the most prolific serial killer in American history. Sadipaths are among the most extreme and At this time, it has already been confirmed that wicked offenders. Sadipathic offenders lack he has killed over 50 women, and it is generally internal controls, are callously egocentric, and believed that he may have killed closer to 100 have a very cold indifference toward their during his 35-year reign of terror (Holcombe, victims. Sadipathic killers are void of empathy 2019; Palazzolo, 2019). Little has become the toward those that they victimize. They take quintessential example of a sadipathic killer. extreme warped pleasure in denigrating their During his premeditated attacks against victims and causing them to suffer both vulnerable women, he would typically beat and psychologically and physically (Berger, 2019). strangle his victims to death. His attacks were Sadistic offenders often take sexual pleasure in cold-blooded, cruel, and violent. He displayed their acts, which is why sexual assault and rape no remorse, shame, or empathy