Serial murder in history

1
Serial murder in history

• Serial murder not new phenomenon
• Good media coverage is
• Serial murder and monster mythology
• Peter Stubb
• Elizabeth Bathory
• Vlad Dracul Tsepesh (Tepes)
• In past difficult to link, and investigate
  multiple homicide offenders

2
Mental illness and Serial murder

• Demonic possession theories
• Persists with multiple personality disorder
• Malleus Maleficarum
• Lycanthropy
• Sawney Beane
• Mental illness vs. insanity
• Grounds for insanity
• MNaghten
• Temporary insanity

3
Gilles de Rais

• Joan of Arc
• 1440 kidnaps French clergyman
• Evidence of infanticide uncovered
• Rumored pact with devil
• Hanged with several accomplices
• Conspiracy theories

4
Satanic cults

• Meanings of Satanism
• Direct religious expression
• Satan as true good
• Anti-establishmentarianism
• Anton LaVey

5
Satanic Cults and Crime

• The Unspooky part
• Links between Satanic cults (loosely defined here
  as any cult which endorses hedonism or harm of
  others) and violent crime are typically based in
  hysteria
• Serial killers with interests in satanism
• Richard Ramirez
• Henry Lee Lucas and the Hand of Death
• Gilles de Rais
• There is no evidence that any form of Satanic
  Ritual Abuse takes place anywhere in the United
  States
• McMartin Preschool case

6
A bit spookier

• This is not to say Satanic cults do not exist
  however
• Anton LeVay and the Church of Satan
• dedicated to concept of hedonism
• most popular in 70s
• Temple of Set
• Seeks emphasis on individual over society
• believes shame, fear, desire for societal
  acceptance are weaknesses
• Views most people as ignorant controlled masses
  (and they may be right)
• Use of Black magic
• Both groups tend to advance the notion of
  rejection of society and the power of
  intellectual superiority rather than EVIL per se.
  Neither group advocates the willful harming of
  others.

7
What is Evil?

• The concept of evil has largely been expunged
  from scientific discussion
• religious connotations
• difficult to define
• lawful determination---evil assumes free will
• Defining Evil Attaining pleasure from the
  willful harm of another sentient living thing.
• Thus likely most if not all folks engage in SOME
  evil
• revenge against relationship partners
• animal experimentation
• physical aggression toward others
• joy at failing ones psychology students (just
  kidding)

8
Evil Part 2

• Thus good and evil can be seen as existing as
  a balance within any individual.
• This balance may be different for different
  people
• Neuroanatomy of evil
• many neuroscientists acknowledge the brain does
  work in an orderly fashion but rather struggles
  against itself
• Carl Sagan Dragons of Eden
• some evidence suggests this is a struggle between
  violent reptilian parts of the brain and higher
  functioning
• Thus we may be evolving to be less
  reptilianhowever a REASONED decision to engage
  in reptilian behaviors is also possible

9
Good and Evil Love and Hatred

• Good and Evil can be considered as opposites
  sides of a very thin coin
• religious persecution
• atheism as a godless religion
• refusing to rescue children
• morality and social conflict
• This is similar to the thing dichotomy between
  love and hatred
• love (doesnt) hurt
• revenge in relationships
• infidelity
• need space
• attachment in hatred
• caring in hatred
• intimacy in hatred