Jeffrey Dahmer
I’m going stir crazy. I just finished my 12-page paper on Jeffery Dahmer’s 5-Axis Diagnostic, with 10 references, and information that is more detailed then I had ever wanted or imagined on his murderous ways. However, I am still fascinated by his unique characteristics and his diagnosis that is just about as long as my arm. I can accurately say he should have been found mentally ill and sent to a mental institution. I think if he did go to a mental institution, he would still be alive today, with the technology we have now, we could analyze his brain waves for additional answers to scientific questions that burn in every forensic psychologists mind. He was evaluated by a hand full of forensic psychologist and given several personality tests including the neuropsychological assessment, Rorschach Inkblot Test, Minnesota Multiphastic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2), all of which are based on interpretation of “skilled” psychologists, and they could not agree that Dahmer had a mental disorder. Or they did what some psychologist do, put their morals and ethical principles to the side for a favorable outcome. If you read literature on Dahmer and know anything about clinical and personality disorders, you will find he has the following disorders:
Five-Axis Diagnosis of Jeffery Dahmer
Axis I: Clinical Disorders
299.80 Asperger’s Disorder
302.2 Pedophilia, Sexual Attraction to Males
302.82 Sexual Sadism
302.9 Paraphilia, Not Otherwise Specified (Necrophilia)
305.00 Alcohol Abuse (Severe)
311 Depressive Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified
Axis II: Personality Disorders
301.9 Personality Disorder, Not Otherwise Specified, with Schizoid, Schizotypal, Antisocial Personality Disorder Traits.
Axis III: General Medical Conditions
Death Due to Blunt Force Trauma
Axis IV: Psychosocial and Environmental Problems
Problems with the Legal System
Involved in Criminal Activity
Social Environment
Occupational Problems
Recent Arrest (July 22, 1991)
Axis V: Global Assessment and Functioning Scale
GAF: 3 (Highest Past Year)
GAF: 3 (At Time of Arrest)
I was shocked at first to see that he falls under Asperger’s Disorder, especially after watching the show “Parenthood” with the young boy Max who is diagnosed with Asperger’s. However, after reading more about Dahmer’s behavior from childhood and up to adulthood, it is evident he exceeds the criteria for Asperger’s Disorder. This type of disorder is usually diagnosed in childhood. How did his parents miss it? The same way we miss many indications that there is something wrong with our own children, others have to point out to us. With his father’s preoccupation with his chemistry degree, his mother’s unavailability due to her own mental issues, and both of their consumption by their own marital issues and debates. The more I read, the more I want to know more, and the more desensitized I became. My interest in forensic psychology has only increased with each unit I study. I want to sit down with unthinkable people, just to ask them questions. Not that it would accomplish anything; these questions have already been answered, truthful or untruthful, either way it would not make any difference. Is it truly genetic? Is every murderer somehow strapped with a defect resulting in a severe mental disorder? I do not believe all behavior is learned behavior, as some is out of defect, curiosity, and accidental. However, I do think a majority is learned behavior.
If you are as curious am I am, you can check out some interesting material on Jeffery Dahmer, I did not post everything I found:
If you can find a copy of: “Tell Me a Story: MMPI Responses and Personal Biography in the Case of a Serial Killer”, this is by far the most enlightening history of Dahmer I have had the pleasure of reading. This has the results of his MMPI and a details story of his life. From everything I have read from 1995, until now, this is accurate. I have a copy, however, it came from the access to my schools online library and I do not have permission to repost it.
Just one more enlightening read that covers Asperger’s:
http://www.scribd.com/alexticlea/d/47899760-45112419-Jeffrey-Dahmer
This is someone’s thesis I read, but did not use:
http://www.nmmu.ac.za/documents/theses/Eldon%20Ch%C3%A9ze.pdf
Now for my last final, an empirical literature review for my research class on the recidivism rate for different crimes.
