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Recipe for a Serial Killer
Exploring the neuroanatomy of mass murderers
Whether you realize it or not, the anatomy of your brain influences every decision that you make. It influences how you think, how you perceive the world, and how you think the world perceives you.
Neuroscience
By nature, people are pretty self-centered. We all automatically prioritize ourselves (and maybe our family) over everyone else. It’s part of the Darwinian logic for the survival of the fittest.
Nevertheless, a “normal” person is still aware of their fellow man. For example, if a normal person sees another person with a cut on their leg, they might wince and sympathize with that person’s pain.
This is the first distinction between a serial killer’s brain and yours (assuming, of course, that you are not a killer).
Serial killers, and many other criminals, lack empathy for others. Sometimes, this is not necessarily a trait born out of a tumultuous childhood environment or deliberately malicious intent. More often than not, it’s because of a deviation in standard neuroanatomy.
In a 2013 study, researchers found that highly psychopathic individuals responded differently than their neurotypical counterparts when shown images or videos of people being injured.
