Psy 622 Case Study

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1 Case Study Ashtyn Freeman College of Humanities and Social Sciences Grand Canyon University PSY-622: Psychopathology of Crime Instructor Bourne November 15, 2023

2 Case Study When discussing serial killers an infamous name comes to mind and that name is Jeffrey Dahmer. He is known for his horrendous and brutal murders that included sexual assault/rape, dismemberment, cannibalism, and zombification of seventeen male victims (O’Meara, 2009). Though this case is a little over 30 years old when Jeffrey Dahmer was finally caught, 1991 is not that long ago but the advances and prevalence in psychopathology has progressed that could explain his well-known behaviors (Gibson, 2022). In the depictions of Jeffrey Dahmer’s background there were characteristics that he displayed throughout his life that are simultaneous with the characteristics of a psychopath but also factors of mental illness. According to O’Meara (2009) evidence directs to Jeffrey Dahmer being a victim of the biopsychosocial theory but this paper will discuss other theories of psychopathology that could explain the behavior of Jeffrey Dahmer and if there are treatment options that could assist individuals similar to Jeffrey Dahmer. Theories of Psychopathology Jeffrey Dahmer was described as a happy child until he had a traumatic post-surgery recovery at the age of 4, from then on, he had become withdrawn (McEvoy, 2023). His parents were absent in his life, his mother suffered from postpartum depression that led her to a drug addiction and his father was unable to cope with it leaving his unstable wife with their children the majority of the time (O’Meara, 2009). Although there was no physical abuse in the home where Jeffrey Dahmer grew up, it was neglectful and stressful. At a young age Jeffrey Dahmer developed an allure to animal bones and studied how to clean and preserve them which he then began to collect large insects and animal skulls conserved in jars of formaldehyde (McEvoy, 2023). At the age of 14 Jeffrey Dahmer began to have compulsions towards necrophilia and murder as well as began drinking and a few years later when his parents divorced it seemed to

3 have led these thoughts into actions and his drinking into a frenzy (McEvoy, 2023). In 1978, the year his parents divorced, was the first time Jeffrey Dahmer committed murder and throughout the years up until 1991 he continued and progressed into the serial killer he’s known as to this day. Following Jeffrey Dahmer’s arrest in 1991, he openly discussed his role in the murders with law enforcement and provided valuable insight for collaboration of scene, personal, and autopsy findings to forensic pathologists and psychiatrists and to law enforcement personal throughout the investigation (Jentzen, 2017). The meticulous scene investigation and autopsy examinations sanctioned for evaluation of Jeffrey Dahmer’s motives, methods’, and mental state which constructed a psychological profile characterized by a calamitous behavior in which his collection of fetishistic memorabilia provide an expression of his deep equivocation and mixed malevolence towards his victims (Jentzen, 2017). Exasperated with sexual immaturity and repeated rejection Jeffrey Dahmer conveyed his hostility into a sadistic sexual behavior trait of the psychopathology of a serial killer (Jentzen, 2017). The biopsychosocial model is a combination of biological, environmental, psychological, and social factors that can generate a mental disorder, in Jeffrey Dahmer’s case his defense attempted to plea for insanity because he had schizotypal, psychotic, and borderline personality disorder (BPD) tendencies (O’Meara, 2009). However, in order for an individual to be found not guilty by reason of insanity they have to be found incompetent and not understand the difference between right from wrong and in Jeffrey Dahmer’s case the jury found him sane due to the malice aforethought, continuation, and ‘trophies’ (O’Meara, 2009). Explaining the background of Jeffrey Dahmer’s life is not to feel sympathy but rather understand what can cause a person to commit murder. Treatment Possibilities

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4 According to O’Meara (2009) the psychiatrists and psychologists that evaluated Jeffrey Dahmer believed he suffered from some form on mental illnesses which included BPD, schizotypal disorder, and psychotic disorder. He would have benefited from early intervention as many others with mental illnesses would. By receiving a proper diagnosis and seeking the appropriate treatment Jeffrey Dahmer could have been helped and learned to control his impulses and urges when he first began to notice them at the age of 14. If he learned to cope with these thoughts they may not have turned into actions; however, that will forever be unknown in this case. Although this case is unknown, individuals who suffer from the same or similar diagnoses need to take the steps to prevent these illnesses from worsening. Psychotherapy and medications would be beneficial for individuals who suffer from BPD, schizotypal disorder, and psychotic disorder (National Institute of Mental Health, 2023; Mayo Clinic, 2022; & NHS inform, 2023). Conclusion The English idiom don’t judge a book by its cover is prevalent in this case as for many other cases when discussing and analyzing theories of psychopathology. Jeffrey Dahmer was an individual who seemed to be an overall normal individual with some quirks but underneath that was an apathic serial killer. Despite his upbringing and mental illness, he was fully aware of his actions and rightfully convicted. Although there may have been a different outcome in Jeffrey Dahmer’s life if his mental state had been evaluated earlier in life, and he received the help he needed, no one will know or can know for sure, but there is hope for other individuals who suffer from similar experiences and diagnoses.

5 References Gibson, K. (2022). ‘Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story’: How the serial killer was caught . People. Retrieved from https://people.com/crime/how-jeffrey-dahmer-was-caught/ Jentzen J. M. (2017). Micro Disasters: The Case of Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Academic forensic pathology , 7 (3), 444–452. https://doi.org/10.23907/2017.037 Mayo Clinic. (2022). Schizotypal personality disorder . Retrieved from https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/schizotypal-personality- disorder/diagnosis-treatment/drc-20353924 McEvoy, C. (2023). Jeffrey Dahmer . Biography. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/crime/jeffrey-dahmer#childhood-and-family National Institute of Mental Health. (2023). Borderline Personality Disorder . Retrieved from https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/borderline-personality- disorder#:~:text=Psychotherapy,other%20people%20in%20group%20settings NHS inform. (2023). Psychosis . NHS 24. Retrieved from https://www.nhsinform.scot/illnesses- and-conditions/mental-health/psychosis/#:~:text=Scotland)%20Act %202015.-,Treatment,psychological%20therapies%2C%20and%20social%20support . O’Meara, G. J. (2009). He Speaks Not, yet He Says Everything; What of That?: Text, Context, and Pretext in State V. Jeffrey Dahmer. Denver University Law Review , 87 (1), 97–137.

Psy 622 Case Study

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