Serial Homicide: Forensic Psychological Perspective on Nature versus Nurture
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2024
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Abstract
This thesis examines the role of nature and nurture as it pertains to serial sexual homicide perpetrators through the lens of forensic psychology related professionals. Pre-existing literature looks at antisocial personality disorder, the Dark Triad, adverse childhood experiences (ACE), brain development, sex, and testosterone as contributing factors to violence. A survey distributed to social media groups and businesses labeled as having forensic psychologists was utilized to analyze the general perception of the variables for general violence and serial violence to ascertain whether there was a perceived difference on the impact of nature and nurture. The impact of ACEs (nurture) was anticipated as being perceived as being more impactful by forensic psychologists. Welch’s T-test analyses were conducted to ascertain the common beliefs of forensic psychology professionals regarding such variables. The study found that there is a consensus towards nurture related variables being more impactful. However, male serial sexual homicide offenders saw a consensus of nature being more impactful for Ted Bundy and Jeffrey Dahmer, while the female serial offender, Aileen Wuornos, saw nurture as being more impactful. The research largely confirms pre-existing literature while expanding the serial homicide population pool to include Aileen Wuornos, a female serial sexual homicide perpetrator.
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Serial violence, ACEs, Sexual homicide, Nature, Nurture