Prepare the data for analysis by data cleaning, subsetting, or recoding. Import the data into SPSS.

Sexually Abused Male Serial Killers

Diane Aybar

University of Phoenix

 

Running head: SEXUALLY ABUSED MALE SERIAL KILLERS

1

 

SEXUALLY ABUSED MALE SERIAL KILLERS

5

 

 

 

Sexually Abused Male Serial Killers

How can one compare childhood sexual abuse to serial murder? It’s quite simple; many repeated traumatic encounters trigger a person to enact those same traumatic events (i.e. sexual assault, physical abuse, and mental abuse). Let’s say; you were a male with a normal childhood upbringing and all of a sudden became withdrawn from society and became uncommunicative as you got older. Now, let’s say, you were a male who were physically abused by your father and sexually abused by your grandfather. Both males are well known serial killers that go by the name of Jeffrey Dahmer and William Bonin. Both males also had two different upbringings, yet both grew up to become serial killers. How is this possible? What makes both situations so different yet both have the same results?

Through previous research articles, publications, biographical books, and online articles, one can conclude that though there are many cases like Dahmer’s, who had an average childhood, many cases are like Bonin’s, where their childhood is filled with sexual, physical, and mental abuse and end up becoming a serial killer. According to Johnson, & Becker (1997), one can only wonder if notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy, or Jeffrey Dahmer exhibited clues early in life (childhood to be exact) to help identify their murderous predispositions before starting their life of violent crimes (Johnson, & Becker, 1997).

 

Background and Statement of the Problem

Johnson, & Becker (1997) stated that it appears that as the year passes by, the age of serial killings is getting younger and younger. Through their case study, nine adolescents were identified as expressing their interest and desire to commit serial murders. In case one, subject L, a 14-year-old white male, attempted suicide by hanging because he felt he was going crazy, which lead him to the psychiatric unit. Subject L. expressed feeling crazy because he has obsessional thoughts of killing people. In case five, subject S. was a 14-year old white male who has been showing aggressive behaviors since the age of four. Though one can’t assume both subjects will become serial killers, one can, however, identify that both have the characteristic of a serial killer (Johnson, & Becker, 1997).

According to LaBrode (2007), there is much evidence from previous research that supports the idea of being neurobiological influences in serial killers. There are two parts of the brain that affect one psychopathy, there known as prefrontal cortex and amygdala. Reduced amygdala volumes were found in individual with high levels of psychopathy. However, this alone is not saying that psychopathy is solely biological.

 

Research Question and Purpose of Study

The research question being asked is, are there biological influences that help identify children who will grow up to become a serial killer? With this issue, one can focus solely on the biological factors that affect serial murder. The purpose of the study is to understand the beginning stages (if any) or serial killers. What influences them to kill? Could the majority of these killings be caused by biological controls? Is one able to identify clues early in children? If the clues are caught early, can there be a change? All the questions mentioned will be answered using previous research. By fully understanding the biological influences, one may be able to identify the serial murder tendencies at an early age.

 

Significance to the Field

There are many reasons why this research paper has significance to the field of psychology. One reason includes understanding human behavior and how it affects their outcome. For example, if one can understand serial killing and the biological influences, maybe one can prevent many serial killings before they start. Let us use the Johnson, & Becker (1997) article, they study nine different children that all have biological influences. Johnson, & Becker (1997), studied nine different cases with nine various topics. The last subject examined in case nine was subject T. who was a 17-year-old white male who was referred for a psychiatric evaluation after experiencing auditory and visual hallucinations of demons and the devil. Subject T. claimed that the voices instructed him to kill other people. Case studies like these help researchers like myself to better understand the biological influences and see if there is any way to see early clues to prevent these children from starting a life of serial killing.

 

Limitations

Like many researchers, there are limitations that one must face. Limitations can affect the study design, data, or time and resources. In this study, the limitations include the lack of a controlled group. Because the participants in this study will be members that have been used in a previous research and not actual research, one cannot select the group of them to choose; rather one can determine the gender or race to make the group more controlled. By not having a controlled group, this causes another limitation to the research which includes reducing the internal validity. Reduced internal validity is due to uncertainty in whether the changes in the dependent variable were due to the treatments or other factors.

 

Ethical Considerations

For researchers to adhere to certain standards, one must make sure one meets ethical considerations. This paper will adhere to standard 8.11 plagiarism. To accede to standard 8.11, every paraphrased materials and source used by previous researchers will be cited meeting the APA standard. Standard 8.12 publication credit will also be respected by making sure that any publications whether scientific or professional will all be given the proper credit (American Psychological Association, 2010).

 

Definitions

Limitations– A flaw or weakness in the study that affects the validity (internal and external) of the result.

Ethical Considerations– enforceable rules and procedures set for psychologists to ensure the research is conducted in an ethical manner.

Research Question– question related to the problem that one is attempting to answer.

Significance to the Field– short term and long term benefits for the participants of study and the contribution it made to the research.

Sexual Abuse– unwanted sexual activity that involves being forced, threatened, or taking advantage of the victim.

Serial Killer– a person that murders three or more people.

Controlled Group– a group that is exposed to the conditions of the experiment.

Internal Validity- a property of scientific studies which mirrors the degree to which a causal determination in light of a study is justified.

Dependent Variable– outcome whose variation is being studied.

 

References

American Psychological Association. (2010). Ethical Principles of Psychologists and code of

conduct. Retrieved from http://www.apa.org/ethics/code/index.aspx

Johnson, B. R., & Becker, J. V. (1997, September). Natural Born Killers?: The Development of

the Sexually Sadistic Serial Killer. Journal of American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law, 25(3).

LaBrode, R. T. (2007, July). Etiology of the Psychopathic Serial Killer: An Analysis of

Antisocial Personality Disorder, Psychopathy, and Serial Killer Personality and Crime Scene Characteristics. Oxford Journals, 7(2), 151.