The Enigma [18+]

four

[content warning: mature content]

rolling down into the wildest dream
you sent my soul downstream

September 03, 2003

Blog 01: Submitted on September 01, 2003, at 7:34 P.M.

Myra Dalton
PSYCH 4400-01

Sadistic Criminal Aggression

The definition of sadism varies according to the nature of the circumstances. Sadism is described as the tendency to receive pleasure from the act of inflicting pain or harm on others. In the field of mental health sciences, sadism is considered to be a mental disorder associated with deviant sexual gratification. Those studying sadistic criminal aggression in the mental health field focus on the motivation that drives the sadistic behavior. The law focuses on the behavior only and is concerned with victimization in involuntary acts.

The sadist is evil, cold, and calculated. They have no empathic concern for the other party. To find comfort or joy in the pain inflicted upon others is a hallmark of psychopathology. Albert Bandura's social learning theory best explains how sadistic behavior is learned through imitation. We see brutality and cruelty in different forms of media: video games, news, film, and pornography. This exposure, combined with a diagnosis of anti-social or narcissistic personality disorder, may produce the sadistic killer that we fear...

|dominic romano|

"Sadistic criminal aggression," Dominic underlined each word on the whiteboard, capping the marker and facing the class. The group of undergraduates appeared more lively and more enthusiastic about the topic. It was one that he looked forward to as well, planning to spend at least two weeks on it.

"I'm sure that we have all heard about Manson, Bundy, Ramirez... Brutal people who committed brutal crimes. By a show of hands, who is interested in learning about serial killers?"

Almost all of his students raised their hands.

"May I ask why?"

"They're just fucked up and crazy," a voice from the back called out.

Dominic shook his head with disbelief, but he was amused by the emboldened student. A part of him appreciated that his students were becoming more comfortable in his presence. They were working to meet him in the middle, a 50-50 effort.

"Aren't we all, Mr. Williams?"

"Serial killers act on their impulses," Miss Dalton added. "They have no remorse for their actions. They just... act. I think that is what makes them so fascinating. They know no bounds and have no respect for the law."

"They want to satiate their darkest desires and are willing to do anything for it," Mr. Barot continued. "It's chilling."

"Do you think that certain people are predisposed to a life of killing?"

The class collectively pondered over his question, to which Miss Dalton raised her hand first. He curtly nodded, keeping his attention solely on her. The white light from the window created a misty halo around her being. An angel. Dominic would be lying if he said she wasn't one of his favorite students.

"It's a matter of nature and nurture... A combination of many factors, like upbringing and genetics. Take Bundy, for example. He grew up thinking that his mother was his sister, he was dumped by his ideal girlfriend, and rejected from law school," she explained. "Then, there was the biological-"