A psychodynamic-behaviourist investigation of Russian sexual serial killer Andrei Chikatilo

Abstract

This paper looks briefly at the case study of Russian sexual serial killer Andrei Chikatilo. Whilst serial homicide has received wide ranging attention more broadly in the literature, Chikatilo's criminality and sexually deviant behaviour have thus far lacked any in-depth psychological explanation, with his crimes attributed tentatively to dysfunction upbringing and innate deviance. However, based on theoretical arguments presented in the present investigation, a more detailed account of what may have contributed to the development of such extreme sexual violence and cognitive distortions is discussed. Consideration of psychodynamic and behaviourist perspectives lead to the conclusion that a complex interaction of biological, psychological, and sociological factors may account for the onset and continuation of his homicidal behaviour.

Masochist or Murderer? A Discourse Analytic Study Exploring Social Constructions of Sexually Violent Male Perpetrators, Female Victims-Survivors and the Rough Sex Defense on Twitter

“…Media coverage which often precedes vast public discussion on social media. Considerable theorizing and research now exists that attempts to explain such sexual violence and aggression ( Johnson and Beech, 2017 ; Blagden et al, 2018 ; Willmott et al, 2018 ; Chan, 2021 ; Vera-Gray et al, 2021 ), with notable Forensic Psychologists such as the late Dr. Ruth Mann, devoting entire careers in pursuit of effective interventions that reduce and prevent sexual recidivism (see Mann and Rollnick, 1996 ; Mann, 2004 , 2011 , 2016 ; Mann et al, 2019 ). The consequences of sexual offending on victim-survivors and families are also understood well ( Boduszek et al, 2019 ; Chowdhury et al, 2021 ; Debowska et al, 2021 ; Duncan et al, 2022 ; Sharratt et al, 2022 ).…”

Prevention of child physical and verbal abuse from traditional child discipline methods in rural Thailand

“…There is an ancient Thai proverb, “If you love your cow, tie it up; if you love your child, beat them.” The proverb exemplifies the cultural beliefs and values that encourage physical abuse and preserve its use in Thai culture. Child abuse affects not only the child's psychological, somatic, and social well-being, but also affects the later adult development leading to many negative long-term psychological and emotional consequences for victim, which leads to the increased likelihood of the abused becoming the abusers and finally contributes to negative behaviors and life outcomes [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8].…”

Behavioural Evidence Analysis

“…There are multiple theories that are put to work in the identification of different behavioural characteristics during all stages of the BEA process. They may be based on evolution (Nesse, 2015), psychodynamics (Balfour & Tasca, 2015;Battistelli & Farneti, 2018;Sclater, Piper, Brown, & Day Sclater, 2019;Willmott, Boduszek, & Robinson, 2018), behaviour (Walinga, 2019), cognition (Robinson-Riegler & Robinson-Riegler, 2016), free will (Bland & Derobertis, n.d.;Winston, 2015), biology (Beaver & Walsh, 2018;Farahany, 2015;Tiihonen et al, 2015;Veroude et al, 2016) or sociocultural differences (Azuh, Fayomi, & Ajayi, 2015;Maunder & Crafter, 2018;Schneider, Rollitz, Voracek, & Hennig-Fast, 2016;Zittoun, 2020). These major theories, along with the approach, implications and limitations are listed in Table 2.…”