What makes men such as these?

[Stravinsk]

Hired this movie tonight...drama based on the freeway killers.

Freeway Killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What makes men such as these? Often it's blamed on a bad childhood...but that can't be the whole of it.

Is there a simple explanation? Extreme pride? Extreme self exaltation? Extreme self will?

 

[Inkachu]

I think childhood abuse/trauma is the main culprit, especially if it continued for many years. Sometimes combining that with drugs, alcohol, or mental illness. I don't think it's ever as simple as "extreme pride" or the like.

 

[Wren]

I would guess psychological disorders of some sort, possibly made much worse (or triggered) by abuse of some kind.

 

[mina]

I would also say psychological disorders. There could be childhood abuse or trauma; but there also could be none. Usually molesters were themselves molested at a young age. It's probably a combination of experiences with mental/ psychological disorders.

Things like extreme pride can be a characteristic of a sociopath or Psychopath so it's a factor at play but not the driving force. They usually believe themselves to be above the law or only bound by their own rules. From Hare's checklist: GRANDIOSE SELF-WORTH -- a grossly inflated view of one's abilities and self-worth, self-assured, opinionated, cocky, a braggart. Psychopaths are arrogant people who believe they are superior human beings.

 

[TamaraLynne]

Hired this movie tonight...drama based on the freeway killers.

Freeway Killer - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What makes men such as these? Often it's blamed on a bad childhood...but that can't be the whole of it.

Is there a simple explanation? Extreme pride? Extreme self exaltation? Extreme self will?

I don't think it is about a bad childhood.Lots and lots and lots of people have been victims of sexual molestation and to label them a sexual predator because of their experience of being a victim only sends a message that they will forever be victimized by society. They never escape that dark cloud that wants to follow them around.They hang their head in shame forever because of peoples ignorance.

I'm a good one in trying to figure people out..in that I'm pretty good in worrying about things and why people do them...just does not make sense.

I experienced something about a decade ago where I was driving along a country road where 55 mph was the speed limit. I was on my way to work and I got behind someone going 40mph. Well of course I tried to pass him but he sped up ...so I got behind him again and he dropped his speed to 40mph...this went on several times where I tried to pass him...my speed even went up to about 100mph once but the guy just was not going to let me pass him.

Over time I have thought about that guy and what made him do it...if I was to think that he was as much there in the head as me...well I can put myself in his shoes and figure him out quite fast...but who knows maybe he was superstitious and thought I was somehow a test that if he allowed me to pass then bad things would happen...gosh just trying to figure out what might be going on in someones head is just mind boggling.

In my opinion I feel these men were stepping out and wanted control of sorts...and satisfaction...almost all the things you mentioned as far as extreme goes...but I feel an icky laughing evil attached to them.The evil is is so intense that those men ...who they should have been...was gone and only evil lurked in their minds...everything was about their hunger for excitement...hatred towards others clouding their every thought.
I know everyone is different...some people are so lost in mental illness that they fear for themselves while they listen to voices which will cause them to hurt others. The voices told me to do it or else...

I don't understand why people give in to evil....they don't want it done to them...but they have no problem doing it to others.

I read your link and clicked on those people and saw their crimes....I feel sick inside. Its like I want to go back in time and rescue all those victims....I'm crying inside and feel sick to my stomach.

 

[Wally Cleaver]

At least they took out people that were already condemned (according to the law)? (trying to find some good in this...)

 

[Stravinsk]

Thank you everyone for responding.

I lean more to the views expressed by Mina and TamaraLynne here. Without completely discounting childhood trauma - it is unfair to stigmatize those who have been abused and infer that because of it, they have little choice in their attitudes and actions further in life.

Jeffery Dahmer is an example of a sick mass murderer who, by all accounts, did not suffer from childhood trauma or abuse.

Proverbs 1:10-12

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for someone’s blood,
let’s waylay some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,[a]
and whole, like those who go down to the pit

Anyway - the drama was interesting - and disturbing - to watch. The murderers clearly are portrayed as wanting the ultimate power over their victims.

As one of the main characters says in the film - that when his victim is completely helpless and at the mercy of his tormentor - who does he pray to? Thus, in his words, the murderer becomes god to the victim.

*shudder*

 

[Wren]

Thank you everyone for responding.

I lean more to the views expressed by Mina and TamaraLynne here. Without completely discounting childhood trauma - it is unfair to stigmatize those who have been abused and infer that because of it, they have little choice in their attitudes and actions further in life.

Jeffery Dahmer is an example of a sick mass murderer who, by all accounts, did not suffer from childhood trauma or abuse.

Proverbs 1:10-12

10 My son, if sinners entice you,
do not give in to them.
11 If they say, “Come along with us;
let’s lie in wait for someone’s blood,
let’s waylay some harmless soul;
12 let’s swallow them alive, like the grave,[a]
and whole, like those who go down to the pit

Anyway - the drama was interesting - and disturbing - to watch. The murderers clearly are portrayed as wanting the ultimate power over their victims.

As one of the main characters says in the film - that when his victim is completely helpless and at the mercy of his tormentor - who does he pray to? Thus, in his words, the murderer becomes god to the victim.

*shudder*

I wasn't saying that being abused means you will become a killer. I do think, though, that if someone has severe trauma, that can cause someone with a serious psychological disorder to snap. Especially if that psychological disorder is not being addressed in any way. (And Dahmer did have trauma in his childhood, from what I've read. Not that I think it necessarily led to what he became.)

Obviously, though, you can have trauma and not become a serial killer or abuser. But if someone's mind is already disordered in some way, trauma can be possibly become a trigger. I think that's especially true of boys/men who are socialized to believe that boys/men are supposed to be tough and not cry or admit any sort of weakness.

I don't think you can be in a healthy state of mind and do those things, though, regardless of their childhood/past.

 

[mina]

They say like 1% of the general population are psychopaths. They may not all be violent killer psychopaths; some probably use people just for their own needs /egos/ personal gains, but may not break the law or be involved in anything illegal. But all of them view people as nothing more than objects to be used. I think it is a brain disorder and that coupled with violence or trama or molestation probably brings out the worst. Women psychopaths are usually not serial killers (they can be, but it's rare). Even the non-criminal psychopaths are out to use others for their personal gain and to go about that any way possible. They know how to charm people, identify with people, gain trust, etc... but it's all for their own devices.

Here's a somewhat short article about the myths associated with this disorder: http://www.scientificamerican.com/article.cfm?id=what-psychopath-means and a longer one: http://www.thehiddenevil.com/psychopathy.asp - that one gets a bit loopy towards the end but it explains characteristics of someone that is a psychopath.

I actually started to do reading on this recently b/c of some crime show I was watching and with the Stranger Danger video reminder; I guess it's sorta weird that I was interested in it and could respond in this thread eek! But, I do think people should be aware of psychopathic characteristics and be careful if anyone is trying to be too controlling or weirds you out for reasons you can't put your finger on. There are people out there that can prey on you in other ways than physical violence.