David Berkowitz A True Psychopath Essay - 1639 Words

According to the â€Å"Hare Psycopathy Checklist† a psychopath is a person who knows right from wrong in our society but often feels no guilt, remorse or empathy when they engage in wrong actions. They lie easily, blame others for their actions and often hurt people who are close to them. David Berkowitz meets the criteria of Hare’s checklist and is believed to be a true psychopath. Berkowitz is known as the â€Å"Son of Sam†, a thrill seeking serial killer who terrorized the city of New York for over a year. Information about David Berkowitz’s background, personality traits and lifestyle and his serial killer profile help to prove that he is in fact a psychopath. In conclusion, this essay will prove to readers that David Berkowitz is a notorious†¦show more content†¦He was also known as a bully and he often hated school. The only person Berkowitz did not isolate himself from was his adoptive mother. He adored his mother although he was often very cruel to her. An important and devastating moment in Berkowitz’s life was when his mother died from breast cancer. This impacted Berkowitz because his mother was his only friend and because the last words he had said to her before she died were â€Å"I hate you†. After the death of his mother Berkowitz finished out high school and in 1971 he joined the army. He was stationed in Korea and was honorably discharged after three years. When Berkowitz returned from the army he found out that his father had gotten remarried and moved to Florida leaving Berkowitz behind. This made Berkowitz angry and lonely so at the age of twenty one Berkowitz set out to find his birth family. Once Berkowitz found his birth father he found out that his birth mother was actually still alive. After a year of searching Berkowitz was reunited with his birthmother but his expectations were shattered. Berkowitz’s mother told him that she had to give him away because she had an affair with a married man and they did not want any accusations towards them. This made Berkowitz angry and bitter about life because he felt that he was a â€Å"mistake.† This was a major moment in Berkowitz’s life because he felt unwanted and started feeling a strong hatred towards life. After his bad experience with his mother heShow MoreRelatedSchizophrenia And Schizotypal : Mental Personality Disorders889 Words   |  4 Pagesas dangerous and violent psychopaths. While the majority of people who suffer from these disorders are never violent, there are some very infamous serial killers who suffered from the disorder. The most famous of these violent serial killers who suffered from schizophrenia, may be David Berkowitz or the â€Å"Son of Sam†. Berkowitz would eventually be diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, after a killing six people in New York City from 1976 to 1977. When asked why, Berkowitz told authorities that heRead MoreSerial Killer Essay2790 Words   |  12 Pagesdeciphers the reaction from the amygdala. When the connection between these two areas is low, processing of negative stimuli in the amygdala does not translate into any strongly felt negative emotions. This fits well into the picture we have of psychopaths. They do not feel nervous or embarrassed when they are caught doing something bad. They do not feel sad when other people suffer. They are incapable of experiencing empathy and love. Even though they can feel physical pain, they themselves are notRead MoreEssay about The Importance of Aggression in Animal Existence4326 Words   |  18 Pagesunderstand its source one must apply a working definition of aggression. Aggressive behavior is defined by Encyclopedia Britannica as any action of an animal that serves to injure an opponent or prey animal or to cause an opponent to retreat. (7) David G. Myers states that aggression is any physical or verbal behavior intended to hurt or destroy.(9) There are many types of aggressive behaviors, which can be differentiated from the factual act to the hidden motives. For example, an aggressive behaviorRead More The Psychology Behind the Serial Killer Essay3244 Words   |  13 Pagesthe â€Å"visionaries,† the killers who act in response to instructions from inner â€Å"voices† or alter egos. They may claim to be demon possessed, or to be receiving instruction from God, and use this to justify or rationalize their acts of murder. David Berkowitz (The Son of Sam) is a classic example of a delusional personality type. When police searched his apartment in Yonkers, they found scribbled all over the walls the message â€Å"Kill for My Master,† a command he allegedly received from â€Å"the voices†