How is it psychologically possible for someone to torture and/or kill an innocent little child?

Question

I can understand adults killing each other (sort of) but how can someone hurt a child?

They're just so little and cuddly and cute and most of the time, they are adorable. How can someone hurt em? Is it because they are helpless?

What's the psychology behind this horror?

They are not CRAZY dammit. I am crazy. I have schizoprenia. I am offended by your comments because I do not hurt or kill children! Last time I saw a child cry from pain in the hospital, my whole day was ruined.

I am asking about the psychology of pure and raw evil.

Answer 1

S I N

The inherited sin "miss the mark" of mankind. Since the time of Cain and Abel, murder of all forms of innocence has occurred. It's self-centeredness, pride, anger, lack of empathy. Who knows? Just now, the legislature is looking to the death penalty for 2nd offenders. That would be man's justice; God's justice is more to the point - at least I know that God carries out the full realm of justice; no lawyers. Just swift justice by God.

I would say this...anyone who harms children, the elderly, the handicapped should all get fully tried and put away for good. We must always protect the weakest and most innocent of our society if we are to maintain a level of humanity as a nation.

030607 6:20

Answer 2

Homicide is always about power and control. It's about who you can kill and how you can get away with it. For men, Killing violently is an expression of being manly. The moment of rape torture and murder, the moment when the victim has the look for total terror enter his or her eyes--this is the moment these men feel they are real men. The thrill they get later from reading the newspapers and watching the news.

The psycology behind this horror could be genetic, hormonal, biological or cultural conditioning.

Answer 3

People like that have no sense of guilt, and no ability to sympathize or empathize. If you can bring yourself to be brutal to a child (or other defenseless living thing), you aren't right in the head.

I think many people who have deleted the emotions that cause most people to be outraged over something like this...have been abused so much in their own lives, that they've become desensitized to emotions that cause pain or guilt, and nothing can turn them back on.

Some turn them off because they've been raised to care about no one but themselves...and are able to distance themselves from another's pain...and I think some are born with a mental defect that blocks those emotions, or develop a chemical imbalance that delete's them.

In all cases though...people who do this are spineless wussies (can't write worse on these boards, but you know what I mean). They prey on people who can't possibly fight back. What kind of coward does that?

Answer 4

It's animalistic behaviors, you see it in dolphins, monkeys, and just about every other animal. I mentioned dolphins and monkeys because they are of higher intelligence than most animals.

I am in no way justifying it as I believe the that doing harm to a child is the worst of all sins, but I am just trying to give some insight as to how a sick human being could do such a thing.

Answer 5

People who hurt children are the sickest and the most cowardly people out there. There is something seriously wrong with their heads and they victimize poor children because they are too weak and twisted to deal with other people and their own personal problems.

They're just plain nuts and all should get the death penalty.

Answer 6

some very disturbed sick people have no heart and i doubt if they really have a soul.

In St. Augustine Florida years ago I went through a old prison museum and in one room was the implements ..like knives and scissors, etc etc that were used to kill the little children by their mothers and relatives...this was the evidence from the various trials..i never forgot this...it haunts me to this day.

some people torture puppies and burn them alive and when the puppy is dying..the poor dog is licking the tortures hands...can you ever get this image out of your head? i am sorry,,i wished i sometimes never was born into this cruel world...

Answer 7

Almost all who do this were themselves victims of child abuse.

Just answered another question on this very topic and a couple of other answers seemed from knowledgeable people -- you may want to check that question -- a few questions back (click my image to go to my profile page).

Being tortured as a child does funny things to one's head. That's one of the things that makes it so horrific.

Answer 8

I know how you feel...it makes me sick to think about it. Like people who beat their own children...sometimes to death.

I live in KY and we recently had a case (happened in IN, but their news is our news half the time) where a man was found guilty of beating his wife and six year old boy to death. He actually asked for the death penalty. They must just seperate themselves from it. I guess in order to murder anyone you'd have to be able to do that.

How anyone could do that to a child is beyond me. It's nauseating. Children are the most precious wonderful things...I guess I didn't realy understand how wonderful and important and IMPACTING they are until I had one of my own...there is nothing I wouldn't do for him.

Answer 9

Behind this horror, there is only madness, a complete distortion of the mind, a total blindness of what is right and wrong. Behind this horror, there is only absolute chaotic turmoil.

Answer 10

Some people see others as objects. Lacking empathy, and conscience, it's easy for those to cause harm.

Also, impulse control can lend itself to violent acts. This can get very complicated...

Generally, abuse begets abuse.