Development Dynamics And Forensics By Lawrence Miller

The article Serial killers: II. Development, dynamics, and forensics by Lawrence Miller dives in into the many aspects that encompass the psychological, neurological, and sociocultural elements that underline the average serial murderer. The elements involve childhood upbringing, types of aggression, typical neurochemistry, and subcultural theories. The article manages to include descriptions of the statistical patterns that involve the demographics, and motives that follow serial killers. It also discusses the validity and rationality of the insanity defense in prosecuting these extraordinarily vicious offenders. Serial murderers are an atypical occurrence in the criminal justice system. The uncommon and horrific nature of these crimes are

Several hormones such as dopamine and norepinephrine enhance aggressive behavior. A high level of testosterone is also a determining factor of increased aggressive behavior, which is why victims report that their assailant was male in more than 80 percent of all violent personal crimes (Siegel & Worrall, 2013). Aggression is subdivided into two categories: affective and predatory aggression. Affective aggression usually involves high levels of physiological arousal within the individual and takes place when fighting for a mate or social status, such as when a gang uses violence to intimidate other rivals within their neighborhood. Predatory aggression involves low stimulation levels and is done in a methodical manner that involves stalking and meticulous planning. In a study conducted by Barratt, Stanford, Dowdy, Liebman, and Kent (1999), a group of 216 college students were asked to evaluate their own aggressive acts with a self-report survey. The resulting aggressive acts committed were divided into the two categories of impulsive and premeditated aggression. Impulsive aggression was frequently followed by feelings of remorse and confusion after

Unlike media portrayals of killers being set free by the insanity defense, the defense of not guilty by insanity (NRGI) is raised in about 1 out of every 100 felony cases (as cited in Miller, 2014). In the instances of serial killers, although they may have an impulsive drive to kill due to their psychophysiology, they are no exception to the insanity defense because they can distinguish right from wrong when committing their heinous acts, but due to their lack of empathy, they do it anyway. They engaged in the guilty act (actus reus), had the intent to commit the act (mens rea), and in no way were they mentally impaired at the time of the crime (Siegel & Worrall, 2013, p. 136). The closest implication to the insanity plea when dealing with psychopathy would be the defense based solely on the physiological deficit of empathy. Like Miller (2014) states, “He is no more culpable for his acts than would a blind man who stumbles into another person and knocks him into traffic.” Despite the controversy circled with psychopathy within the courts, the diagnosis of antisocial personality disorder, or psychopathy is never successful. Instead it serves as a determining factor for the prison sentence since psychopathic offenders are more likely to offend again and not be deterred (Siegel &