In addition to the early traumatization in a serial killer’s childhood, the secluded social conditions of a serial killer acts as an accomplice to their violent and sadistic fantasies that inevitably direct them to kill. Many serial killers face isolation in their youth which oftentimes they turn to fantasies involving violence and sex. As many serial killers are isolated or abused as children, a study by Ressler, Burgess, Prentky, et al in 1988 suggest that serial killers used fantasies of sex, violence and power to cope with unresolved conflict and childhood trauma. For instance, research has found that fantasy related to violence existed in eighty six percent of serial killers. They believe this suggests, “a functional relationship between fantasy and repetitive assaultive behaviour” ().
More research proposes that serial murderers actualize these fantasies as a means to reassert their power over individuals and gain a level of satisfaction. Also, the violent and sexual nature of fantasies, that originate from the aftermath of a traumatic childhood, may also develop into paraphilias. Ressler and Burgess suggest that extreme sexual behaviour stems from the childhood of a serial killer and can develop into paraphilias such as necrophilia, voyeurism, frotteurism and compulsive masturbation (). A common example of a paraphilia that a serial killer exhibits is sadomasochism, which is defined as the infliction of pain or humiliation for one’s sexual gratification.
A case study of the serial murderer, Carroll Edward Cole, examines Cole’s early childhood experiences and twisted relationship with his mother. As a child, he was forced to dress up as a girl for his mother and her friends, and witnessed his mother repeatedly engage in affairs with other men as his father was stationed aboard. His humiliation rooted from his mother’s actions later triggered his paraphilia as he would inflict similar acts of humiliation and violence to his victims. He victimized women who were representative of his mother. These women willingly cheated on their partner with Cole as Cole’s mother did with his father. In his first killing, Cole forced the woman to remove her clothes but then did not proceed to have sex with her. He only did so to humiliate her, which parallels with his relationship with his mother (). It is evident that his paraphilia and fantasies developed through his destabilizing relationship with his mother, and ultimately shaped the framework of his crimes.
The representation of pornography and violence in the media is also a contributing factor to a serial killer’s fantasies and behaviour. For instance, Ted Bundy, a notorious serial killer during the 1970s, proposed that his fantasies were stimulated by the portrayal of pornography in the media and True Detective magazines (). Thus, the senseless portrayal of violence in the media is partly responsible for violent and extremist behaviour seen in serial killers and their murders. Often the media glorifies serial killers in such movies as Silence of the Lambs and researchers suggest that the killers extract the premise of their fantasies from pornographic and violent media. The primary and secondary socialization of individuals is a major indicator in shaping of violent fantasies and paraphilias that lead to the execution of criminal behaviour.
Finally, the inadequate secondary socialization of serial killers often develop into deviant behaviour and violence to gain the level of satisfaction derived from proper socialization. Serial killers often grow up in a socially isolated and neglectful environment in which prompt egocentric, violent and controlling behaviour. Ressler and Schachtman examined, “Having discovered that authoritarian behaviour can compensate for lack of social skills the ‘apprentice murderer’ sets out on a long path which will gradually put in place the fantasies and systems of self-justification allowing him to act” (). The researchers further state that deviance and violence in behaviour is triggered through episodes of job loss, the end of an intense romantic relationship, financial issues and psychological, emotional, sexual or physical abuse throughout their lives.
Serial killers gain a thrill for killing as they translate the comfort of their fantasies to reality as a means of satisfaction, that is usually received through proper socialization. Also, serial killers lack normal social interaction and thus are isolated and powerless from the rest of society from a young age. Ramsland connects the sense of power and loneliness as he says, “Serial killers often feel a sense of isolation from society and are unable to neither establish an attachment nor receive a commitment. By exhibiting his power over them, and therefore, fulfilling his need for belongingness” (). As serial killers are often isolated by peers and family in their childhood, many turn to violent and controlling behaviours and fantasies to cope with their lack of social interactions. Martens and Palermo add that, “Bundy, as evidenced by the previously mentioned data, controlling his victims and exerting power over them was a crucial part of his killings” ().
Many serial killers struggled with peer rejection and isolation as they failed to internalize the norms and values of society, thus this factor of loneliness and the need for control can account for Bundy’s need to exert power over his victims. Similarly, many serial killers lack socialization, which helps to develop social skills and an understanding of the world, and leads to their bursts of frustration on society for attention. A case study on a highly prolific serial killer in Canada, Clifford Olson, states, “Olson became so isolated that there was no evidence that he established any form of meaningful relationship with any significant other (i.e. no evidence of dating). It could be hypothesized that Olson’s initial reports of criminal activity prior to adulthood were simply further attention seeking behaviour, yet it could be an indication of him taking out his frustrations on society” (). Thus many researchers theorize that his criminal behaviour stems from his isolation and lack of empathy for the world. Socialization, or the lack thereof in serial killers, indicates how powerful environmental factors are in shaping deviant and aggressive behaviour.