Studies and research worldwide have shown that a wide range of serial killers are born that way. These groups of people have a gene referred to as CDH13 and MAOA, which makes them want and commit these acts of violence. The brain is a powerful organ where our thoughts and personalities are developed. A study conducted showed harm caused on the prefrontal cortex could make a harmless man turn violent, thus proving that most crucial traits of our personalities are conceived directly from our biology.
New technology has brought fourth brain scanning, which has increased our knowledge about the cells found in the brains of serial killers; we have found that they have a 6-10% decrease in the grey matter around the limbic area where feelings are handled. Lessened activity in this area can be associated with traits such as increased violence, over-confidence, reduced empathy, and many more (Berry-Dee, 2009). This shows that many violent serial killers are more likely to be anti-social.
Although we don’t know what range you can be born a serial killer, we do know that the environment where they grew up in has a massive impact on how they turn out (Brown, 2008). Research shows that even though one may be born with the “gene,” been raised in a pleasant environment could make the person harmless. Traits found in them, such as fearlessness, have seen the start of careers such as firemen and even police officers, most serial killers have high IQ and thus making great professors.
However, growing up in a toxic environment has caused an increase in serial killers, even those who are not born that way (Ramsland, 2006). According to criminal records, 69% of all serial killers have undergone childhood abuse. From long term health effects, abusive parents, neglectful parents, been raised by bad step-parents, witnessing a murder, long term abuse of drugs since childhood, and excessive canning. Studies suggested that childhood abuse, such as extreme canning, can create killers by causing physical damage to the brain. All this makes them further prone to resentment and rage, and they can hardly control themselves.
Deeply traumatic incidences during childhood can have more profound effects on adult life. They determine and shape one’s personality and life choices. Not everyone who is subjected to child abuse becomes a serial killer, and serial killers may not necessarily have been abused as children, but the link between the two cannot just be laid off (Landen, 2016). Numerous factors drive serial killer behavior, so concluding on the cause of their action would be inaccurate, but the connection amid serial killing and childhood abuse has been widely seen in many studies.
A professor once argued that you could notice signs of serial killers from childhood and the symptoms included;
- Anti-social behavior – most serial killers tend to be by themselves and hardly have friends some don’t have even a single friend and barely communicate to others let alone opening-up
- Torturing animals – this is probably the strongest warning signal; children who kill or torture small animals with no empathy are more likely to be serial killers.
- Drug abuse – a lot of serial killers, struggle with substance abuse, ranging from hard drugs like cocaine and meth to soft drugs like marijuana. Alcohol abuse is also common.
All these signs and many more like fearlessness and shiftlessness are seen in the early stages. So it is safe to say that inborn inclination towards violence together with an abusive childhood makes a killer mixture.
References
Berry-Dee, C. (2009). Born Killers: Childhood Secrets of the World’s Deadliest Serial Killers. Kings Road Publishing.
Brown, P. (2008). Killing for Sport: Inside the Minds of Serial Killers. CA: Phoenix Books.
Landen, D. (2016). The Serial Killers: Deconstructed: Born, Made, Or Just a Matter of Choice? Createspace Independent Publishing Platform.
Ramsland, K. M. (2006). Inside the Minds of Serial Killers: Why They Kill. Santa Barbara, CA: Greenwood Publishing Group.