Ted Litschauer Jr.
Serial Killer Analysis
Social Commentary
Jeffrey Dahmer:
Analysis of “The Milwaukee Murderer”
In a killing spree that lasted 13 years Jeffrey Dahmer murdered, dismembered, consumed, and violated 13 + victims. His apartment 213, which he rented on May 13th, was called the Milwaukee Death-Chamber. Dahmer is by far one of the worst serial killers of all time. Can it be explained why he committed such ghastly acts? Maybe, maybe not not. But we can try to better understand him by looking at the psychological, sociological, and biological factors of his life.
Psychological
Dahmer was a very disturbed individual. Who suffered from split personalities and had a fetish for necrophilia and cannibalism. When he went on trial, it was not for his guilt for he admitted to the killings, but for his sanity. The courts found him sane. Case in point, he always put on a condom before engaging in intercourse with his dead victims, for fear of the aids virus. Dahmer had a charming, manipulative, friendly demeanor, though he was tortured by his needs and the dark sexual fantasies that resided within him. Dark sexual fantasies are a common trait among serial killers. Dahmer craved sex zombies and used drugs and lobotomies to achieve this goal. He just wanted his victims for sex and dehumanized them because he had no feelings for them. This dehumanizing is also another trait of serial killers. Surprising enough Dahmer hated killing and drank alcohol to disassociate himself from his actions. He also compartmentalized himself, so that he could function normally at his day job. In psychological terms Dahmer was not normal, but this only partly explains his actions. He became conditioned to sexual violence; his favorite movie was the Exorcist III.
Sociological
Jeffery Dahmer’s home life was not much to brag about. He had an estranged, unhealthy relationship with his parents. Having an unhealthy relationship with ones parents is usually not the cause of serial killers, but many times may be a contributing factor. He did not receive the love and attention every child needs, therefore drifted in to obscure thoughts and fantasies. In school he was the oddball - class clown, though socially he was a loner, not engaging in much social interaction. He therefore never gained the proper knowledge of how to conduct himself socially. As a teen, at home, he participated in the death and mutilation of animals. This early childhood behavior is a tall tale sign of what is to come. He had early homosexual experiences and weeks after prom is when he killed his first victim.
Biological
What can be said about Dahmer biologically? It was never determined whether he inherited anything from his parents, but he was an alcoholic. And he suffered from split personalities, dark sexual fantasies, and fetishism. He had homosexual tendencies and had no knowledge of how to cope or manage those feelings. He was found guilty but sane at his trial. And it was determined he was in control all the time. Dahmer methodically killed.
There is much more to say on Jeffery Dahmer and much can be learned from his horrible inexplicable crimes. He was the dark side of our society. A creature only known to the devil himself. We will never fully comprehend his actions; we can only come to understand what happened. Dahmer fit your typically serial killer profile, but what really went on inside apartment 213 was far worse then anyone could've imagine.
