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Are Psychopathic Serial Killers Evil? Are they Blameworthy for What They Do?

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Romeesa-Chan:
Been into Psychology recently. Highly fascinating.

Anyways, I'd like to know your opinion on whether psychopathic serial killers are evil? Are they blameworthy for what they do?

If you look into their childhood - they are either physically, mentally or sexually abused by their parents, family member or any other significant person in their life (many other factors including) ?

When we blame someone, we seem to presuppose that they were able to understand the nature of what they were doing, that it was in some important sense morally bad. Psychopaths seem to lack the ability to recognize the moral significance of what it is that they are doing, at least when it comes to harming others.

Your views, please. (:

Becca:
Perhaps that makes them not evil, but their actions are still evil, I must say. Hence, they must be separated from the general public since they can't help doing what they do. I read somewhere that real psychopaths cannot be cured.

Romeesa-Chan:

--- Quote from: Becca on November 12, 2011, 04:15:43 am ---Perhaps that makes them not evil, but their actions are still evil, I must say. Hence, they must be separated from the general public since they can't help doing what they do. I read somewhere that real psychopaths cannot be cured.

--- End quote ---
Undoubtedly, their actions are evil.
Due to failure of noticing the symptoms, they are left untreated. So, we don't even know that they are mentally ill.
Yupe, I think I've read that as well.

Becca:
However, I also read that 6 % of the world's population are born as genetic psychopaths. I don't know how far this is true, though. This could mean that there is no way to figure out who's a psychopath and who's not. They could still be psychopaths even if they did not receive any form of abuse throughout their earlier years! The only way to help them is to isolate them from the rest of the world, but it would be a shame if it took one or more victims to bring a psychopath the attention they need... One early symptom is the tendency for a person to hurt animals, perhaps even kill them, just for the satisfaction they derive from it, but this is quite vague...

Romeesa-Chan:
I've read about the killing animal part, that's their initial step to being serial killers.
Animals are often seen as "practice" for killing humans.

Genetics tests are showing that the nervous system of the psychopath is markedly different — they feel less fear and anxiety than normal people. One carefully conducted experiment revealed that "low arousal levels" not only causes impulsiveness and thrill-seeking, but also showed how dense sociopaths are when it comes to changing their behavior. A group of sociopaths and a group of healthy individuals were given a task, which was to learn what lever (out of four) turned on a green light. One lever gave the subject an electric shock. Both groups made the same number of errors, but the healthy group quickly learned to avoid the punishing electric shock, while sociopaths took much longer to do so. This need for higher levels of stimulation makes the psychopath seek dangerous situations.

Is it genetic, hormonal, biological, or cultural conditioning? Do serial killers have any control over their desires? We all experience rage and inappropriate sexual instincts, yet we have some sort of internal cage that keeps our inner monsters locked up. Call it morality or social programming; these internal blockades have long since been trampled down in the psychopathic killer. Not only have they let loose the monster within, they are virtual slaves to its beastly appetites. What sets them apart?

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