Jeffrey Dahmer

Paper Summary:

This paper takes the example of the notorious and fairly recent serial killer, Jeffrey Dahmer, and approaches the case from a number of different psychological and psychoanalytical perspectives. Sigmund Freud, through disciples like Donald Winnicott and P. Wachtel, and W.R.D. Fairbairn are among the sources used to look at and analyze the Dahmer case, along with H. Kohut, who might also be considered a Freudian with basic theoretical modifications. The report first establishes the basics of the Dahmer case and then analyzes these through the perspectives of the four abovementioned sources.

From the Paper:

"From the theoretical perspective of Winnicott, the case of Dahmer can be seen as showing some signs of antisocial personality disorder or antisocial tendency. This also focuses on the childhood stage of development and has a Freudian backing in terms of theory. The connections in this regard are less secure, however, because Winnicott
focuses almost exclusively on infancy and toddler stages. "There is a direct relationship between the antisocial tendency and deprivation it is largely due to John Bowlby that there is now a widespread recognition of the relationship that exists between the antisocial tendency in individuals and emotional deprivation, typically in the period of late infancy and the early toddler stage" (Winnicott, 1956, p. 308). This cancels out a lot of relation to the case, since by all accounts Dahmer was a happy infant and toddler, and only changed significantly after his hernia operation, when he became more withdrawn and rigid in affect."

More papers on Jeffrey Dahmer:

• Case Study # 121464 : "Jeffrey Dahmer"
• Research Paper # 94898 : "Jeffrey Dahmer"
• Analytical Essay # 126275 : "Crime Causation and Dahmer"

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