Mind of a Killer
PSYC1000-001
October 1, 2012
Mind of a Killer What urges a seemingly normal individual to neglect the fundamental morals of a society and commit a series of murders? In the film The Mind of a Killer: Case Study of a Murderer several scientific studies are presented on the behavior of the serial killer Joel Rifkin, who was sentenced to more than 200 years in prison for strangling 17 women. The program covers an exclusive interview with the serial killer, information derived from animal experiments, neurological testing, and brain scan findings.
Rifkin accepted to be interviewed due to the fact that even he himself was unable to comprehend his want to kill. In the age of 30, he committed his first murder, and when questioned what he felt, Rifkin claimed that he felt nothing. He also stated that he didn’t have any intention to murder again; however time went by, and Rifkin kept on killing innocent women. He asserts that he wasn’t angry with himself or the police for being caught.
Trying to solve the mystery as to why Rifkin became serial killer, psychologists first examined the environment in which Rifkin grew up, in order to see if there was any past abuse or traumatic experience that may have constituted for the killings. Rifkin was adopted at an early age, and his parents claimed that he was a very sweet and friendly boy. Also they insist there was absolutely no abuse in the family. While in school, he was diagnosed with severe Dyslexia, and they found out that he was physically uncoordinated. Over the years, Rifkin had an interest in almost everything; however he had a trouble be a part of a group. He was humiliated ruthless by peers in school. But even through all the pain and embarrassment, Rifkin never defended himself. Due to the fact that many murderers were teased as children, a general question was raised as to whether Rifkin’s experience of constant humiliation or abuse somehow triggered the killing spread.
In an attempt to cast
October 1, 2012
Mind of a Killer What urges a seemingly normal individual to neglect the fundamental morals of a society and commit a series of murders? In the film The Mind of a Killer: Case Study of a Murderer several scientific studies are presented on the behavior of the serial killer Joel Rifkin, who was sentenced to more than 200 years in prison for strangling 17 women. The program covers an exclusive interview with the serial killer, information derived from animal experiments, neurological testing, and brain scan findings.
Rifkin accepted to be interviewed due to the fact that even he himself was unable to comprehend his want to kill. In the age of 30, he committed his first murder, and when questioned what he felt, Rifkin claimed that he felt nothing. He also stated that he didn’t have any intention to murder again; however time went by, and Rifkin kept on killing innocent women. He asserts that he wasn’t angry with himself or the police for being caught.
Trying to solve the mystery as to why Rifkin became serial killer, psychologists first examined the environment in which Rifkin grew up, in order to see if there was any past abuse or traumatic experience that may have constituted for the killings. Rifkin was adopted at an early age, and his parents claimed that he was a very sweet and friendly boy. Also they insist there was absolutely no abuse in the family. While in school, he was diagnosed with severe Dyslexia, and they found out that he was physically uncoordinated. Over the years, Rifkin had an interest in almost everything; however he had a trouble be a part of a group. He was humiliated ruthless by peers in school. But even through all the pain and embarrassment, Rifkin never defended himself. Due to the fact that many murderers were teased as children, a general question was raised as to whether Rifkin’s experience of constant humiliation or abuse somehow triggered the killing spread.
In an attempt to cast