Understanding Serial Killers: Antisocial, Psychopath, and Theories

This discussion post examines the distinctions between antisocial personality disorder (APD) and psychopathy, using the cases of Gacy and Yates as examples. The author argues that Gacy exhibited antisocial behavior, characterized by deliberate killing and attempts to evade investigation, while Yates displayed psychopathic traits, potentially linked to a mental disorder. The post applies the APD theory to Gacy's actions, highlighting traits like megalomania and self-obsession. It also explores the benefits of studying the brains of serial killers, such as understanding brain mapping and behavioral triggers, while acknowledging the complexities of brain functionality and the need for criminal psychology expertise. The post references research on serial killers' brains, mentioning high orbital cortex activity and genetic factors as potential common features.

Running Head: ANTI-SOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATH
ANTI-SOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATH
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1ANTI-SOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATH
According to Wall, Wygant and Sellbom (2015) psychopath is the initial stage of
antisocial activities. In other words, the psychopathic tendencies of a person can leads to the
antisocial character. Hence, psychopathic trend can be rehabilitated but antisocial characters
should be punished.
In case of Gacy, he was an antisocial because he deliberately killed teenagers and tried to
run away from investigation. The psychological investigation also suggested that he was cold
blooded and tried to escape from the crime scene. However, in case of Yates, she was suffering
from mental disorder and she had confessed her crimes. The psychological analysis also
mentioned her as psychologically retarded that should be cured in rehabilitation.
In case of Gacy, the theory of Anti-social personality disorder (APD) can be used as the
rightful understanding where as Yates was suffering from Psychopathic personality disorder
traits that influenced her to commit the crimes.
In this case, the APD theory can be applied in order to make the anti-social behaviour
into a nocturnal social murderer. As Wygant et al. (2016) advocated that the role of the APD is to
create a megalomaniac and self-obsessed personality trait that is highly influenced by cleansing
the society for his own sake. Actually, the person having APD loved to kill others out of his
frustration and personal grudge. He is highly motivated in committing crimes with full body and
mind.
The benefit of studying the brain of a serial killer will lead towards understanding the
brain mapping and the possible behavioural approach that instigated the person to become a
serial killer. The major problem regarding the study of serial killer’s brain is to understand the
complexities of the brain mapping. As a matter of fact, the brain functionality is quite different

2ANTI-SOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATH
from a normal person. Therefore, in-depth knowledge on the criminal psychology and the
medical operations are required. There are several cases where the researchers successfully
investigated the brain of the serial killers and came with conclusive propositions. In this context,
there are some common features that the brain of a serial killer shows. For an instance, high
orbital cortex activity is a primary feature of a serial killer’s brain. Moreover, genetic
functionality is also considered to play a significant role where it is found that the serial killer
has a ancestral lineage of behaving like an anti-social.

3ANTI-SOCIAL AND PSYCHOPATH
Reference
Wall, T. D., Wygant, D. B., & Sellbom, M. (2015). Boldness explains a key difference between
psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder. Psychiatry, Psychology and Law, 22(1), 94-
105.
Wygant, D. B., Sellbom, M., Sleep, C. E., Wall, T. D., Applegate, K. C., Krueger, R. F., &
Patrick, C. J. (2016). Examining the DSM–5 alternative personality disorder model
operationalization of antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy in a male correctional
sample. Personality Disorders: Theory, Research, and Treatment, 7(3), 229.