Exploring the Deadly Psyche of Spree, Mass, and Serial Killers

Abstract

Module 4: Research paper Part 1 (Rough Draft) Spree, Mass and Serial Killers Introduction There are various physical, personal and emotional factors that shape human behaviours ranging from childhood experiences, social influences and health-related experiences. However in most cases, biological risk factors that one has no control over, harsh/adverse childhood exposures and negative social influences/environments while growing plays a significant role in shaping a criminal behaviour/character. Killing is among the most dangerous criminal behaviour humans engage with in the course of their living. Unfortunately, most of these killing traits become shaped by uncontrollable childhood exposures that give the victim the urge to exercise or apply the bitterness into action. While trying to understand different type of killers, this essay will offer detailed analysis of Andrew Cunanan (spree killer), Adam Lanza (mass killer) and Jeffrey Dahmer (serial killer) to understand what shaped their killing trait and what defines the nature of their killing to justify where each killer falls. Spree Killer Andrew Cunanan grew up in San Diego California and seemed to be on his way to success until his spree killing nature hampered such a bright dream. Born on August 31st 1968 to Modesto Cunanan a Navy veteran and Mary Anne Schillaci, Cunanan was the youngest of four children with an IQ of 147 at the age of three making him incredibly bright for his age. Cunanan attended high profiled private schools with kids from wealthier families thus faked up stories about his background to fit in their social circles which Soar (2000) explains as an early sigh of psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder. His parents old Cunanan that he was more special and deserving than others giving him surety of becoming rich and famous in future shaping his urge for such privileges and beating all odds to achieve them. His father abandoned the family when Cunanan was 19 years after continuous verbal abuse to the mother exposing her to chronic depression shattering their world. After the father left them, Cunanan started spending most of his time in gay club regardless of his mothers’ disapproval and the behavior deteriorated after dropping from school in 1989 moving to Castro District of San Francisco which was a centre for LGBTQ culture (Soar, 2000). Before leaving, he expressed violent behavior towards his mother which one can associate with social learning theory through observations from his father’s abusive nature towards his mother. He started murder acts in April 1997 after a failed re-union with two of his gay lovers that he killed on April 27th and May 3rd 1997. Other killings followed on may 4th, may 9th, July 15th and July 23rd defining him as a spree killer (Crime & Investigation. 2009). Cunanan escaped law enforcement hands though they employed a massive manhunt for him and committed suicide on July 23rd 1997 at his houseboat hideout using the same pistol he used to kill Madson, Versace and Reese (Soar (2000). Since Cunanan was a gay, all his victims were his male lovers that experienced cold blood deaths from Cunanan visits at their places or hangout areas. One can conclude that Cunanan experienced traumatic upbringing, obsession with being rich and famous, rejection by loved ones shaping his jealous trait ( Trail and Madison his gay lover for fake identity/lies) and hatred towards gay (after thinking they infected him with HIV) which significantly shaped his killer character (Crime & Investigation. 2009). Mass Killer Adam Lanza was a mass killer was born in Exeter New Hampshire on April 22nd 1992 to a former stockbroker and longtime gun enthusiast named Nancy. Lanza grew up exposed to gun range as the mother did not want to leave him alone thus kept him company and gave him the freedom to understand her inner gun life. Described as fidgety and deeply troubled by his classmates, Lanza was also a victim of Asperger’s syndrome which one may associate with his loner trait that the mother exposed him to by making him his only companion. However due to his frequent exposure to firearms and his introverted nature, Lanza diverted his attention on them and generated special attention towards their application as exposed by police investigations after his fateful shootings at the Elementary school. Though Lanza had not engaged in any antisocial behavior that would have defined him as a killer, at the age of 20 years on the fateful morning of Dec 14th 2012, Lanza shot his mother before heading to a nearby...