Life as I Know It; Family; Lifestyle; and Healthy Living!
Published on November 15, 2006 By foreverserenity In Parenting

I must say when I saw the title of the article “Avoid raising a Serial Killer” I laughed! I thought that would be a weird way of thinking for any parent! But then I read the article and I realize that Mike Zimmerman, the author, was really making sense.

Can you imagine that some parents might actually have to go through this and would think this way? I wouldn’t blame them either because what Mr. Zimmerman describes can be so innocent that you wouldn’t even think of associating that in your child becoming a serial killer!

It makes you wonder if the parents of some of those known serial killers like Jeffrey Dorma (spelling?) ever experienced this with them? I shudder to think he (Jeffrey) ever displayed any of this and if the parents saw it, they never questioned it. I’m not placing blame on his parents of course, not at all, but it just makes me wonder. Mr. Zimmerman explains what to do or how not to react when your child does something disturbing!

Here’s the article: Link


Comments (Page 1)
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on Nov 15, 2006

Dahmer.

Jowhn Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck, Juan Corona.  Some, like Mouranis and Manson we know were neglected as children.  Others, we may never know.  Especially now that every serial killer "was an abused child" regardless of whether that is in fact true.

on Nov 15, 2006
Jowhn Wayne Gacy, Richard Speck, Juan Corona. Some, like Mouranis and Manson we know were neglected as children. Others, we may never know. Especially now that every serial killer "was an abused child" regardless of whether that is in fact true.


Yep, too many of them! I know, many of them will claim this because it's now the trend.


Dahmer.


Thanks for the correction!
on Nov 15, 2006

"Can you imagine that some parents might actually have to go through this and would think this way?"

Yes I can.

Here's a link you might find of interest..

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DF163BF93BA2575AC0A963958260

Somewhere online is an interview Jeff Dahmer's mother did,  that would shed some light also on a parent's feelings.

 

http://www.findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m1285/is_n3_v24/ai_15409039
on Nov 15, 2006
Yes I can.Here's a link you might find of interest..http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=990CE7DF163BF93BA2575AC0A963958260Somewhere online is an interview Jeff Dahmer's mother did, that would shed some light also on a parent's feelings.


Ohh I can't wait to read this Trudy, thx for the link. I've got to go pick up my daughter from school, early day today!
on Nov 15, 2006
I would guess you would have to be blind to miss the signs of a serial killer. I have read a few accounts of some of these guys and each of them had many of the warning signs.

I had to face that fact when my brother in-laws kids were living with us. The girl exhibited 9 of 10 signs of a serial killer at 13. (my sis works for a head doctor) It was easy to see this girl was seriously messed up. She accused her oldest brother of rape (untrue) and then later admitted to abusing her younger brothers. I was sad to see the boys go, but not her. I knew it was only a matter of time before her acusations turned to me.
on Nov 15, 2006
Parents have little influence in this area I would imagine. If you give your kids a good start and a good home, then they'll turn out ok. If they choose to be serial killers what to do. BTK, seemed to be an alright guys until he was caught, guy looked pretty normal to me, just a little compulsive.
on Nov 15, 2006

I was sad to see the boys go, but not her. I knew it was only a matter of time before her acusations turned to me.

I guess my question, and perhaps Forever's, is: Was this the fault of the parents?  parents can overlook a lot in the name of love.

on Nov 15, 2006
I figure serial killers are a product of abuse, the FBI profiles them as such. Link

It seems to me this would be more of a factor other than what the autor of the article mentions. I don't belive this guy know much of what he is talking about, and I don't see that he has any qualifications on the subject. I guess its an opinion based on ...I dunno, he don't say

Most serial killers have dysfunctional backgrounds. Frequently they were physically, sexually, or psychologically abused as children and there is often a correlation between their childhood abuse and their crimes.



on Nov 15, 2006
YES I AM RAISING TWO SERIAL KILLERS!!!!

They are hell on the Cheerios!     
on Nov 15, 2006
Captain Crunch beware!!!!!!!!!!!
on Nov 15, 2006
I don't have any experience as a parent. But I have to wonder if there is anything a parent can do if the kid is born a psychopath, with a lack of conscience. Is there such a thing or is that just tabloid nonsense?

I would imagine long term abuse could cause a child to switch his reasoning off and become non-feeling, dehumanized, such a way that hurting others would be a way of getting back or the only way they know how to relate to others.

For those serial killers who have no history of childhood abuse, but was neglected; could be that the parents see the signs and fear them, and thus resulting in neglect because of this fear that they can't put their finger on? Parents, I guess, hate to think of their offspring as potential monsters, their response would be to ignore the disturbing signs and possibly ignore the child. (Edit: changed poor phrasing. I mean the parents simply deals with it by ignoring the signs.)
on Nov 15, 2006
Lots of children are abused and don't become serial killers. It's a psychology cop out. They're defective people, plain and simple.
on Nov 15, 2006
Was this the fault of the parents? parents can overlook a lot in the name of love.


I don't think the parents did anything to make the situation better. They locked themselves in their room on Sundays to have sex all day. I suspect this was not only the time she molested her brothers but also the inspiration. The parents were abusive to each other. They lied and the parents didn't hide it from the kids.

When I was talking with the youngest about the things I have automated at my home, I told him my caller ID was announced. His response was, "Then we will know when the bill collectors are calling." He was only seven.

They couldn't afford their bills but had regular nights out with their friends. The fathers main interaction with his children involved the playstation or computer games. When he wasn't doing that he was verbally abusive to all of them and physically abusive to the oldest boy.

The mother had an eighth grade education and instilled the same values in her children. She is an amazing pastry chef but can't be relied upon to complete a task even when given months of notice and all necessary supplies.

Were the parents to blame? Like I said, they didn't help the situation.

However, crazy is crazy. In a positive, supportive environment the girl was mostly able to adapt. Even with that adaptation, she still spent many weeks in the looney bin (I know that's not PC but until you've walked in my shoes...).

The best example I can give is her birthday party. She invited several kids from school for a sleep over. Each of them were not close friends at school. She also invited the girl down the street who went to another school. All of these girls should have only had one connection, the girl. That wasn't the case. While some of them were not friends at school, they either went to church together or their parents were friends. They all had multiple connections to each other.

She turned her back on her own party. She was unable to deal with these girls as a group because she was not the same person to all of them.

She was to each of the girls what they were looking for in a friend. None of the personalities was her own. She was completely unable to function with the group. Had it not been for my wife and I throwing her an amazing birthday party, I feel like the girls would have been squirming for a way to go home.

Environment is a factor. Parenting, or lack there of, is a factor but it takes someone who is missing the voice that we all have that says when things are wrong. Instead, I believe, their voice says it's ok or there is no voice at all.
on Nov 15, 2006
She was unable to deal with these girls as a group because she was not the same person to all of them.


Wow Jon. You were raising a chameleon.

You and your wife are wonderful for taking them in. Lots of times families just look the other way because they don't want their lifestyle cramped caring for kids they didn't produce.

Good on ya.

on Nov 16, 2006
Lots of children are abused and don't become serial killers. It's a psychology cop out.


True Mason, however, most ALL serial killers are abused as children. It's not a cop out but a fact.

Heres an example of the flaw in your logic:

1) All homosexuals are sodomists (true)
2) All sodomists are homosexuals (false)

See?
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