Ressler, Ann Burgess, and John Douglas examined the childhood traits of 36 serial
killers for commonalities collectively expressed by the group. The following
information summarizes the main findings from this study examining the serial killers'
childhood backgrounds.
As a child, future serial killers exhibit certain behavioral traits or tendencies that
are not considered "normal." Taken separately, such tendencies may not be indicative
of a problem. That is, bed wetting is not only common to future serial killers.
However, such a behavior expressed with many other indicator behaviors increases the
correlational validity between reported childhood behavior indicators and serial murder.
Table 1. Frequency of Reported Behavior Indicators in Childhood
Behavior |
Childhood # of |
% |
| Daydreaming | 28 |
82 |
| Compulsive masturbation | 28 |
82 |
| Isolation | 28 |
71 |
| Chronic lying | 28 |
71 |
| Enuresis (bed wetting) | 22 |
68 |
| Rebelliousness | 27 |
67 |
| Nightmares | 24 |
67 |
| Destroying property | 26 |
58 |
| Fire setting | 25 |
56 |
| Stealing | 27 |
56 |
| Cruelty to children | 28 |
54 |
| Poor body image | 27 |
52 |
| Temper tantrums | 27 |
48 |
| Sleep problems | 23 |
48 |
| Assaultive to adults | 25 |
38 |
| Phobias | 24 |
38 |
| Running away | 28 |
36 |
| Cruelty to animals | 28 |
36 |
| Accident prone | 24 |
29 |
| Headaches | 21 |
29 |
| Destroying possessions | 25 |
28 |
| Eating problems | 26 |
27 |
| Convulsions | 26 |
19 |
| Self-mutilation | 26 |
19 |
*This table was modified from: Ressler RK, Burgess AW, and Douglas JE. Sexual Homicide Pattern & Motives , (pg. 29); Lexington Books.
Although some of the listed behaviors are quite disturbing, including cruelty to
children and animals, convulsions, and self-mutilation, the three indicators
reported with highest frequency are daydreaming, compulsive masturbation, and
isolation. Not exactly the portrait of a serial killer, is it? Or is it afterall? It does
mesh with the notion that fantasy is a major component to the psyche of the serial
killer.
fantasy...
Okay, even if we can correlate the childhood behavioral indicators with the fantasy
component of the adult serial killer, we still need to determine both at what time, and at
what pont, such fantasies begin. The key may be isolation, one of the three most reported
behaviors of a serial killer at childhood. For a child who is commonly left alone, a way to
adapt would be to fantasize-to live in a dream world. Thus, inattention may lead to fantasy
which may, in turn, lead to serial murder. Of course, this is a gross overgeneralization and
simplification of what might occur. Well, now we've hypothesized why two of the three most
reported behaviors in childhhod our found in serial killers. But what about the third,
compulsive masturbation? Well, this one may also be related to the fantasy portion of the serial
killer psyche.