Have you ever met or had experience with a child that appears to be a serial killer in the making?

Question

I have known a couple of children who did things like stab their best friend at age 3-4. When angry would yell and seem to tune out everyone. Get so mad they completely lost it. One I seriously thought would grow up to be danger. I did think he was frustrated because his parents did not seem to listen when he spoke. Now he is a 20 something slug. Plays video games doesn't do much but eat and sleep. He still gets angry but does not get violent. For two years he lived with my family. We listened and had him calm and talking and exhibiting self control. One of my daughters is his favorite person in the world. I think if he had been brought up different he would be different. I think he is product of his environment. Not all serial killer are...Are some born genetically predispoded to violent behavior. Opinions welcome.

Answer 1

I worked as a youth counselor for years and some people IMO are just "born wrong". If you work with them you notice they lack an awareness of other people, they have absolutely no empathy for others, no sense of right or wrong, they appear to be born without the natural inhibitors most people have.

Researchers have spent decades pin pointing the "human" part of our brain. What part separates us from Primates or other animals? I believe its in the hypothalmic region of the brain, my own brain hasnt kicked in yet this morning.

However primates show amazing altruistic behaviors towards each other and to human beings when they perceive the other is disadvantaged or in need of assistance. The primates EMPATHIZE and help the other primate or human being. There are some interesting documentaries on this behavior.

I believe its a combination of things, including environment, learning or not learning behavior modications, and controls, and a birth defect.

I had an aspergers roommate (high functioning autism, Bill Gates may be one, to illustrate how high functioning they are) and there seems to be NO way he could or can learn social skills, empathy for or even an awareness of other people. I would even go so far as to say he has no sense of alturism at all. He seemed to be incapable of being happy as well, or feeling pleasure, any "satisfaction" he exhibited was related to "control" of a situation or another person.

After having a violent argument he would appear to be "high" and almost "euphoric" for awhile. EXTREME behavior. The arguing clearly triggered the pleasure centre in his brain.

Step THAT cognitive disablity up a notch - and you get a serial killer. IMO

Someone who is unable to feel normal pleasure, and who needs something extreme such as killing and torturing others or animals in order to trigger the pleasure neurons in his/her brain. ONLY through extreme behavior do they achieve a sense of "something" -

"Nothing" is a very painful state of being, sensory deprivation, a lack of any feeling, or relationship, connection, being devoid of ANY emotion. Its very painful which is why very depressed people or people who suffer from an attachment disorder will cut themselves -

They do it in order to feel SOMETHING, anything. You often see neglected children provoke a parent into spanking them, they KNOW they will get a spanking but SOMETHING is better than nothing - receiving no validation of their existence.

So the serial killer seeks that something, extreme violence in order to overcome the nothing they live with because they appear to not have functioning pleasure centres in their brains, and lack the natural inhibitors the rest of us have -

sorry this is so long

Answer 2

My former neighbor was a genius. His IQ was well over 150 and he didn't have any friends. He lived next door for over 6 years (from the time he was in 7th grade, until after he graduated h.s.) I never saw him go anywhere except school. He used to flip out on who ever pissed him off. I'm talking total, out of control, anger.
I also had a student who had a very difficult life. At age 4 he set the Christmas tree on fire. At 6 he was abusing small animals. He's 8 now and seems to be adjusting a little better but I sure think this child needs help.
I don't believe people are born violent (with the exception of brain disorders). I think the environment is responsible for the propensity of violence.

Answer 3

I have to agree. I think that intervention when a child displays behaviour that would suggest the makings of a serial killer (harming small animals, harming smaller children and doing these things unconscionably) and the environment is changed that possibility may no longer exist. However there have been some studies done that have proven that it could also be a genetic characteristic that cannot be controlled. Could this be controlled with balancing proper medication and empathic training early on when the symptoms show themselves. It makes you wonder.

Answer 4

If I had a child who behaved as described by some below, trust me, the child would not live long enough to become a serial killer! Oh, yes...I know...I would be considered a child abuser by today's standards...tough! My kids grew up with a healthy fear of dear old Dad. They loved me, still do...but they also did what they were told to do. I have little tolerance for parents who want to make sure they do nothing to hurt their poor child's feelings. Parents are NOT supposed to be their child's best friend, they are supposed to be parents. I don't believe in belts or woodsheds, but .... there is a healthy line that can be drawn relatively easily in the sand. Step over it and consequences are due. Funny that the child knows this, but not so funny when the parent hasn't a clue. With today's standards, I suppose we should consider that serial killing is an attention-seeking device?????

Answer 5

Very interesting. I have read several publications on serial killers. I know that their brains have been studied after execution to see variants in brain structure. Ted Bundys brain was studied intensely. Many of these people can border on genius, others, not so. The Green river killers, Danny Rollins (my stepdaughter was attending University of FL) at the time he murdered those students. The Virginia Tech murders, Columbine. There are signs that parents need to heed and get their child help. Being curious about what 'makes" a serial killer, merely to understand why, it seems that they are not born with a conscious and have no remorse.

Answer 6

Studies show that many serial killers have abnormal brain development. That added to a poor up brining in many cases leads to issues with impulse control, seeing other people as actaul people with feelings and emotions, and a total lack of understanding for the rules of society. I think some people have a good enough understanding of society and it's rules to not follow through on the impulse to act out however some people lack the self control and will act on impulse not matter how well they are brought up (some very nice guys became serial killers, and a few women too). It is a complex blend of nature and nurture that leads to people going down one road over the other.

Answer 7

Studies have shown that serial killers generally exhibit 3 behaviors as children. They are as follows:
1. They killed & tortured animals
2. They set fires
3. They wet the bed until they were much older

I thought this fact was very interesting since I've always wondered what makes a serial killer. Good luck. 2D

Answer 8

When I was young there was a boy in our neighborhood who exhibited all the signs indicating disposition towards extreme violence. He killed countless cats, rabbits, squirrels etc in cruel ways. He could be charming as anything in an attempt to get what he wanted but could turn it off just as soon as he acquired what he wanted. He stole things at school, was a classroom bully, raised vicious dogs. He was just like his Dad. Later in high school he was the guy most people avoided -the "bad" boy!!! He had 4 children by age 17 and all of them were removed from his care by the state( the girls were told that if they were with him, at his house or anything the state would take thier children).
He died in Viet Nam when he was 19 years old, already old- and I wonder how many lives were saved by this "untimely" death.

Answer 9

Yes, I wonder what happened to him. We all had to really be on the alert when he was playing with the kids. He would try to push them down the stairs, he stabbed one child in the chest, my son in the back, set fires all over the neighborhood, one in my sons bedroom,set the curtains on fire. Push little kids off their bikes and trikes. Kicked the dogs(hard) grabed my friends two year old around the neck and tried to choke her. That was the last straw. His mom moved. He was only 5 yrs old. She seemed like a nice person, but was overwhelmed by this child, he never knew his father,and would make up the most interesting make believe storys about what he and his father did. Soooo sad.

Answer 10

I have seen some young ones with serious anger problems. When I begin to see signs of danger, I talk to the parents and give some (sometimes unwanted) advice on getting the child some help.