Research Paper
farra004
Jeffrey_Dahmer1PPT.pptxCase Study: Jeffrey Dahmer
University of Central Florida: PPE3003-16Fall 0W59
Lindsey Storey, Jordana Stengel, Genesis Reyes-Reyes, Isabelle Perez
Jeffrey Dahmer
Born: May 21, 1960.
1978-1991: American serial killer & sex offender: murdered 17 boys; rape, necrophilia, dismemberment, & cannibalism involved.
Died: November 28 1994; beaten to death by fellow inmate at Columbia Correctional Institution
Life: Normal childhood until age 10. Enjoyed dead animals in lieu of common interests. Started drinking in high school; eventually gets discharged from the army due to his alcoholism. Moved to Florida to live with his grandma while continuing necro-obsession by dissecting/dissolving dead squirrels. Arrested for indecent exposure in 1986, asked to leave his grandma's house in 1988. One day later, arrested for drugging/molesting 13 year old boy and given 5 years of probation. Tried to turn later victims into zombie-like slaves. Police found many body parts and pictures of such in his apartment. Tried in 1992, got 15 life sentences for 15 accounts of murder, a total 957 years. Declared himself a born-again Christian and died of severe head trauma sustained from another inmate.
Summary
Freud:
Jeffrey Dahmer’s personality and behavior are mostly influenced by Freud’s theory of the Id, Ego and Super-Ego.
Fromm:
Fromm’s theories form clear cut explanations and help to understand why Dahmer was a sadist and a necrophiliac.
Adler:
Adler’s different theories explain Dahmer’s violent and impulsive behaviors and thoughts in various ways.
Sigmund Freud
Freud believed that the mind is divided into 3 parts, the Id, Ego and the Super-Ego.
The Id is seeks pleasure without taking into account his other two counter parts. The Id is like the “little devil” on your shoulder.
The second part is the Ego, which works as a control between the Id and the Superego, trying to keep a balance between the pleasure drives of the Id and the ideals of the Superego.
While the Superego strives for perfection, and can be thought of as the “little angel” on your shoulder.
Based on the devil and angel analogy, the ego would be the person on whose shoulders the two stand; trying to control the demands of both.
This part of Freud’s theory can be applied to Dahmer in that it can be said that he was mostly “under” the influence of the Id.
Based on these explanations of the Id, Ego, and this constant struggle could have led to the usage of defense mechanisms.
Freud’s Defense Mechanisms
There are two defense mechanisms that appear to be present in Dahmer’s personality, displacement and projection.
Displacement is where an unacceptable urges are redirected in order to conceal the true or original impulses.
What this basically means is that if a person is mad or upset with someone close to them (i.e. spouse, parent, grandparent, sibling, etc.) instead of actually confronting them, the person might resort to displacement, and displace their anger unto other (i.e. a neighbor, coworker, stranger, etc.).
This is not unique to serial killers, this is something that can be in everyone. Projection is the second defense mechanism, in which people see their own unacceptable qualities unto others.
This is often common among serial killers, because they do not see any harm in what they are doing instead they see that they are doing something for the greater good because they are ultimately getting rid of the evil in the world.
Within projection, there is also paranoia which is often also greatly seen in serial killers, which leads them to continuing to kill people. It can be hypothesized that Dahmer used one of these, if not both, in order to deal with his drives and anxiety that ultimately lead him to kill several people.
Erich Fromm’s Theories
Sadism and destructiveness are mechanisms of escape that help to minimize anxiety
Sadism is related to the "authoritarian" character. These individuals:
Seek power
Have a need to hurt others, whether mentally or physically
In authoritarianism an individual gives up independence to fuse one's self with somebody or something else
Dahmer exhibits sadism as a way to reduce anxiety
Sadists:
Need to make others dependent on them and to gain power over the weak
Exploit/take advantage of others for personal pleasure
Desire to see others suffer, physically or psychologically
Comparing Dahmer to Fromm’s Sadist
| Fromm’s Sadist | Jeffrey Dahmer |
| "The sadist seeks to make its victim into a thing, a 'living corpse'" | ‘Zombifies’ later victims into submissive sex slaves by drilling holes in their heads and injecting hot water or acid into their brains |
| Feels strong when they are “symbiotically” united with others or "devours" them so to speak, but really they feel alone when they cannot exhibit power | Felt he could make the victims a part of himself and keep them alive through him by ingesting victims' tissue post-mortem |
| Seeks power | Loved the power that Darth Vader had - to control and intimidate those around him |
Dahmer kept the human remains of his victims in the freezer
The item on the top left is a skull
Fromm’s theory that sadists seek to turn victims into living corpses could explain why Dahmer would keep these trophies
Comparing Dahmer to Fromm’s Necrophiliac
| Fromm’s Necrophiliac | Dahmer |
| Love of death and desires sexual contact with a corpse | Sexual contact with victims' corpses post-mortem |
| Alternative character orientation to biophilia, an innate bond between humans and other living things | Masturbated to dissected animal corpses in adolescence |
| Loves "law and order" and bureaucracy | Meticulously planned kills |
| Close relation to sadism and the death instinct | Quote from Dahmer: “...it was a craving, a hunger, I don't know how to describe it, a compulsion, and I just kept doing it, doing it and doing it, whenever the opportunity presented itself.“ |
Alfred Adler’s Theories
Inferiority Complex:
Personality difficulties stem from feelings of inferiority brought upon by restrictions on the individual's need for asserting superiority over others.
Evolves from the feeling of deficiency when compared to others.
Theorized an aim for self-assertion; an individual with an attitude of inferiority seeks restitution for this.
Neglected children learn inferiority from being shown they are of no value
There is a single motivational force that drives our behavior and experience
Social Context:
An individual whole is part of a larger whole: family, community, human race, etc.
Focused on family dynamics (parenting and family constellation) as a preventative means of addressing future psychological problems
3 important life tasks: occupation, love and sex (all which are social challenges)
The response to the first social system (family) becomes the prototype of one's world view and attitude towards life
Goal Orientation:
In mental disorders it is the unrealistic goal of socially useful significance over general difficulties
The childhood feeling of inferiority fosters a fictional goal which emotionally promises future feelings of security and success
Self Determination and Uniqueness
One's fictional goal may be influenced by hereditary and cultural factors
Ultimately stems from the creative power of the individual (one is not fully aware of their goal)
Birth order, coping patterns and early memories help shape their goal
Alfred Adler’s Theories (cont.)
The Feeling of Community
Each and every human being has the capacity for learning to live in conformity with society
Mental Health
Human connectedness
Willingness to develop oneself fully and contribute to the welfare of others
Feelings of inferiority may plague an individual when their mental health qualities are underdeveloped.
Birth Order
When there are two children in a family, the second child causes the first born to suffer from feelings of dethronement
No longer being the center of attention.
Social Interest
An individual's personal interest in furthering the welfare of others.
Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories
1. Inferiority Complex
Dahmer’s parents spent a lot of time arguing which not only took a mental toll on Dahmer, but also had a huge negative influence on him and his personality.
When Dahmer’s parents would argue, he would venture off into the woods and express his dormant anger and violence.
The lethal combination of having little to no friends as well as feeling neglected by his parents caused Dahmer to gradually isolate himself into his own world and progressively developing his fantasies.
2. Social Context
Being a part of a negligent family as well as having no friends left Dahmer with no basis for a social context—an individual whole is part of a larger whole—
Due to his parents divorce, Dahmer had strong feelings of abandonment and rejection; he kills his first victim, (Dahmer was 18) Steven Hicks, because he does not want Steven to “abandon” him.
When Dahmer lost his job, he dedicated his time to seeking out new victims. Dahmer also began murdering more frequently, his kills increased to one victim a week.
Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories (cont.)
3. Birth Order
Dahmer was the first born of two boys.
According to Adler, the second child causes the first born to suffer from feelings of dethronement and no longer being the center of attention.
Having a younger brother who was the center of attention caused Dahmer to feel more insignificant than he already did.
4. The Feeling of Community
Dahmer and his family moved often leaving Dahmer without friends.
When the family finally settled in an area surrounded by woods, Dahmer’s own fantasy world started.
Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories (cont.)
5. Self Determination & Uniqueness
Jeffrey Dahmer’s ultimate goal was influenced by a factor of things…
(1) Dahmer having a younger brother who caused him to feel inferior
(2) Him turning to violence as a coping mechanism
Killing animals
Drinking heavily and becoming violent
(3) Him having close to no friends
He was unique because he was a cannibal which is EXTREMELY uncommon of the human race, as well as displaying signs of necrophilia.
6. Goal Orientation
He yearned for domination (he did not gain pleasure from killing)
Needed an extreme submissive partner to reach climax—Dahmer was homosexual—
Dahmer made his victims into “zombies” to have young submissive partners.
Comparing Dahmer to Adler’s Theories (cont.)
Mental Health
Dahmer was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder, schizotypal personality disorder & a psychotic disorder.
Despite his insanity plea Dahmer was found legally sentenced to sixteen life terms in prison.
Dahmer’s upbringing which caused his extreme feelings of neglect and abandonment contributed heavily to his mental health status.
Social Interest
Dahmer had no personal interest in furthering the welfare of his victims, on the contrary in fact.
He would also drill holes in his victims heads and fill it with hydrochloric acid or boiling water.
Jeffrey Dahmer’s Last Video Interview
YouTube clip:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sm6yAnov4O8
References
Alfred Adler: Theory and Application. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from
http://alfredadler.edu/about/alfred-adler-theory-application
Alfred Adler 1870 - 1937. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://www.adler.edu/page/about/history/about-alfred-adler
Alfred Adler. (2007, August 28). In Encyclopedia Britanic. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://www.britannica.com/biography/Alfred-Adler
Chapter Outline. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://highered.mheducation.com/sites/0072316799/student_view0/part2/chapter7/chapter_outline.html
Erich Fromm. (n.d.). In Erichfromm.net. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.erichfromm.net/photographs/
Feist, J., Feist, G. J., & Roberts, T. (2013). Theories of Personality (8th ed.). New York: McGraw-Hill.
References cont.
Fromm’s Credo. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://fromm-online.org/en/das-leben-erich-fromms/fromms-credo-eines-humanisten/
Jeffrey Dahmer Biography. (2016, July 21). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from https://taylorhenrysite.wordpress.com/2016/06/06/bibliography/comment-page-1/
Jeffrey Dahmer | Crime Library | Serial Killers. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/jeffrey-dahmer/
Kellner, D. (n.d.). Erich Fromm: Biography. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.uta.edu/huma/illuminations/kell9.htm
Mitchell, G. (n.d.). Alfred Adler & Adlerian Individual Psychology. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.mind-development.eu/adler.html
Montaldo, C. (2015, November 28). Profile of Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://crime.about.com/od/serial/a/dahmer.htm?p=1
References Cont.
Sigmund Freud. (n.d.). In BBC. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/historic_figures/freud_sigmund.shtml
Smith, M. K. (2002) ‘Erich Fromm: alienation, being and education’ the encyclopedia of informal education, http://www.infed.org/thinkers/fromm.htm. Last update: May 29, 2012
Stilgenbauer, C. (2013, April 14). Jeffrey Dahmer: Signature [Web log post]. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://serialkillerlab.blogspot.com/2013/04/jeffrey-dahmer-signature.html
[shuddupplz]. (2008, month Date). Jeffrey Dahmer Interview - Extended Footage. Retrived from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ErB0R4wlB64
THE MAIN THEORIES OF FREUD / JUNG / ADLER. (n.d.). Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://www.changingstates.co.uk/adler.html
Waxman, O. B. (2016, July 22). How Police Caught Jeffrey Dahmer. Retrieved November 20, 2016, from http://time.com/4412621/jeffrey-dahmer-cannibal-murderer-25th-anniversary-arrest/
