Not all abused children become serial killers, and not all serial killers are victims of childhood abuse. However, the connection between the two cannot be dismissed as just coincidence.
According to criminologist Dr. Adrian Raine, both biologic and social factors contribute to the making of a murderer. Reviews of more than 100 twin and adoption analyses showed approximately 50% of a variance in anti-social behavior is attributable to genetic influences. In his book, The Anatomy of Violence, Dr. Raine explains “Genetics and environment work together to encourage violent behavior.” For example, those with a specific variant of the enzyme monoamine-oxidase-A gene are more prone to displaying violent behavior if they have had an abusive upbringing. A child susceptible to genetically driven violent conduct does not necessarily become a criminal. However, genetics, in tandem with environmental factors such as violent childhood experiences, work together to shape a person.
Personal traumas can affect behavioral choices. Take the example of the murderer Richard “The Night Stalker” Ramirez<2> from El Paso, Texas. Found guilty of murdering 13 people in San Francisco and Los Angeles, Ramirez had a disturbed childhood, enduring brutal beatings by his father. Serial killer duo Ottis Toole<3> and Henry Lee Lucas,<4> who were believed to have murdered hundreds of people, were both victims of physical and psychological abuse. Specifically, they were made to dress up as young girls and then beaten.
The connection between genetics, social environment, and criminal behavior appears to be a reality, although in varying degrees across criminals. As Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) profiler Jim Clemente said, “Genetics loads the gun, their personality and psychology aim it, and their experiences pull the trigger.”<5>
CITED REFERENCES
2. Wikipedia contributors, “Richard Ramirez,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Ramirez (accessed April 4, 2019).
3. Wikipedia contributors, “Ottis Toole ... ttis_Toole (accessed April 4, 2019).
4. Wikipedia contributors, “Henry Lee Lucas,” Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Lee_Lucas (accessed April 4, 2019).
5. “From Abused Child to Serial Killer: Investigating Nature vs Nurture in Methods of Murder”
Nicola Davies, Ph.D. Psychiatry Advisor: June 26, 2018.
Link: https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/viole ... le/776149/ (accessed January 27, 2019).
