Psicopatia e assassinos em série : o perfil do criminoso e sua relação com a vítima

Abstract

This thesis is intended to bring to the academic reality the discussion about major social interest themes, namely, psychopathy and serial killers. The criminal profiling technique and the victim perspective through the introduction of aspects of victimology are approached. Initially, the origin of the concept of psychopathy is explained, as well as the factors that contribute to its emergence. Then, the most reliable instrument to identify traits of psychopathy, the PCL-R, is presented, the same way as the main features of a psychopath and his relation with violence. The academic debate proceeds with the approach of the existing confusion between the concepts of psychopathy and antisocial personality disorder, which creates disagreements even among professionals in the field of mental health. About the serial killers, the concept of a serial crime, the typologies of its perpetrators and the misconception that females don’t engage in committing this type of felony are exposed.The aim is to demonstrate that not only psychopathy can be a part of the serial killers personality, but also several paraphilic disorders, which are responsible for their preferences (making the victim suffer, attack only children, etc.). In order to identify these criminals came the criminal profiling technique, criticized due to the subjectivity that demands, which is discussed along with the contribution that other fields of knowledge pay to it. Ultimately, the role of the victim is analyzed, as well as the need to adopt policies to help her overcome the trauma, contradicting the current perspective, in which the efforts focus on the criminal.