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INSIDE A SERIAL KILLER’S MIND: A PSYCHOLOGICAL
AND NEUROBIOLOGICAL FOUNDATION OF VIOLENCE
Author's Corner
Introduction
What makes a normal person capable of
heinous violence? A “killer” in
psychological and neurological terms not
only means a person who is capable of
murdering in a legal sense, but also
someone whose brain function, thought
process patterns, and personality traits
make them capable of lethal violence.
Name: Deeya Darcas Lama Psychologically, killers often have or show
Tamang patterns such as extreme aggression, lack
of empathy, cognitive distortion, impaired
moral reasoning, and impulsivity. At the
same time, neurologically, it may be
Neurological dysfunction in the prefrontal cortex and
amygdala or neurochemical imbalances
factors
that reduce impulse control and emotional
regulation.
Amygdala
The amygdala makes up a core part
of the neural part of our brain that Psychological
deals with the processing of fearful
and threatening stimuli and is also Factors
responsible for detecting a fear
Antisocial personality disorder
response against threatening and
dangerous stimuli. In serial killers, (ASPD)
there is up to a 5-10% reduction in The most common trait observed in 50-
grey matter around the limbic 60% of serial killers is ASPD. It is
system, with the amygdala having characterized by the consistent disregard
reduced volume and decreased for the rights of others, impulsivity,
connectivity to the prefrontal deceitfulness, and lack of remorse, which
cortex, which makes often begins in childhood with conduct
problems such as animal cruelty and
