The Dark Psychology Of Female Serial Killers - Dr Marissa Harrison

Studying Female Serial Killers (0s)

• Studying female serial killers is particularly interesting because it challenges the preconceived notion that all serial killers operate in the same way, and it highlights the profound sex differences in their motivations and methods (5s).
• Female serial killers tend to be more low-key, often using poison to kill for money and power, whereas male serial killers tend to kill for sex (30s).
• Female serial killers have been neglected in the past, possibly due to the less extravagant nature of their crimes, but also because of the age-old notion that women are nurturing and caregivers, and therefore cannot be damaging or dangerous (1m28s).
• This notion is challenged by cases such as Nanny Doss, also known as the "Giggling Granny," who killed her mother, sister, husbands, and grandchildren, and was interviewed about her crimes with a laugh (1m52s).
• The stereotype of a grandmother as a soft, gentle, and caring figure can make it difficult to suspect female serial killers, and can lead to a delay in catching them (2m6s).
• Female serial killers, such as Lucy Letby, a neonatal nurse who was convicted of killing seven infants in the UK, can be highly skilled and able to hide their true nature (2m53s).
• The study of female serial killers can be met with resistance and criticism, as seen in the reaction to discussions of Lucy Letby's case, with some people questioning the evidence and making personal attacks (3m11s).
• Despite this, it is essential to rely on evidence and data when studying female serial killers, and to recognize that they can fit certain parameters and patterns of behavior (3m43s).

Why Marissa Receives So Much Criticism (3m56s)

• The criticism received is likely due to the fact that people have a strong emotional investment in the case and are resistant to alternative perspectives, often resulting in personal attacks rather than addressing the message itself (6m14s).
• The criticisms include accusations of being stupid, blind, uneducated, and biased towards the crown, as well as dislike for the American accent (5m47s).
• The research is based on academic papers, court documents, birth certificates, census records, and other data, with over 1,200 references in the book "Jus as deadly", and a publication in the Journal of Forensic Psychiatry and Psychology in 2015 (4m20s).
• The goal of the research is to determine typical parameters of female serial killers and to hopefully prevent such crimes from happening in the future (5m21s).
• The researcher has no personal stake in the case, relying on expert-informed opinion and the verdict of a jury of peers (5m2s).
• It is wondered if the response to the research would be different if it were presented by a male researcher (6m35s).

Why is the World Obsessed With Serial Killers? (6m50s)

• The world's fascination with serial killers has led to a flourishing True Crime industry, with numerous podcasts, audiobooks, and Netflix documentaries exploring the topic (6m50s).
• This morbid curiosity can be attributed to humans' pre-programmed instinct to pay attention to potential threats, allowing them to gather information and protect themselves (7m39s).
• This instinct is thought to be unconscious, driving people to engage with content about serial killers without necessarily realizing the underlying motivation (8m0s).
• The interest in serial killers is not limited to entertainment, as it can also serve as a means of learning about and understanding the psychology behind such crimes (8m11s).
• The portrayal of serial killers in media can be problematic, as it may blur the line between reality and fiction, and can be insensitive to the victims and their families (9m56s).
• Some media outlets use sensationalism, such as dramatizing real cases with attractive actors, which can make the crimes seem more glamorous than they actually were (9m47s).
• This type of portrayal can be hurtful to the families of victims, as it can make the crime seem like a form of entertainment rather than a tragic event (10m55s).
• There is a need for more empathy and sensitivity when discussing serial killers and their victims, rather than treating the topic as a form of entertainment (11m22s).
• Researching and discussing serial killers can serve a purpose, such as providing data and insights that can help prevent similar crimes from happening in the future (11m33s).

Demographics of Female Serial Killers (11m41s)

• Female serial killers are estimated to make up about one out of six serial killers in the United States, but the exact number is unknown (11m42s).
• Female serial murder is very rare, with only about three or four cases in the last decade that have been studied (12m18s).
• Some examples of female serial killers include R. Amaz in the United States and Lucy Letby in the United Kingdom (12m51s).
• A case was also mentioned where a female serial killer died by suicide before she could be arrested, and the lead detective on the case expressed a desire for justice for the families of the victims (12m58s).
• The demographic of female serial killers includes being likely white, married at least once, in their 20s and 30s, Christian, middle class, and employed, with a high chance of being a healthcare worker such as a nurse or nurse's assistant (13m57s).
• Many female serial killers are in charge of taking care of helpless others, such as children, the elderly, or disabled individuals (14m28s).
• They are also likely to be of average or above-average attractiveness and may have experienced childhood problems, including abusive parents or childhood sexual abuse (14m45s).
• The primary motives of female serial killers are money and power, with money being the number one motive and power being a close second (15m6s).
• However, it is noted that multiple motives may be present, and it may not be possible to separate money and power as distinct motives (15m27s).
• Female serial killers tend to be moderately educated, gainfully employed, and in relationships or marriages, which contrasts with the typical profile of male serial killers who are often loners. (15m47s)
• Using an evolutionary lens, it's possible that the stability and foundation of a family provide a female potential serial killer with the stability needed to commit more outrageous crimes. (16m20s)
• Research has shown profound sex differences between male and female serial killers, including differences in targets, motives, and education levels. (16m49s)
• Men are more likely to target strangers, while women are more likely to target someone familiar to them, and the primary motive for men is often sex, while for women it's money. (17m3s)
• Men tend to be undereducated, while women tend to have at least some college education, which may not necessarily speak to intelligence but rather education attainment. (17m18s)
• One theory is that low-status men have less to lose socioeconomically and may be more likely to commit murder, while for women, this is not as much of a drive. (17m42s)
• Another theory is that low-status males are less likely to establish relationships, leading to an aberrant sex drive that may contribute to their likelihood of committing murder. (18m3s)
• Research has also shown that at least 90% of male serial killers had some form of mental illness, while only 40% of female serial killers had a diagnosed mental illness, although this may be due to differences in diagnostic systems over time. (18m42s)
• It's possible that some form of mental illness is present in all individuals who commit heinous crimes, as they do not think like the average person and are able to commit atrocities that others would not. (19m16s)

The Jump From Nurturing to Murdering (19m34s)

• Research suggests that women have a predisposition towards caregiving and nurturing, which is evident in the way girls play and interact with others from a young age, often engaging in activities that involve caring for something or someone, such as playing with dolls or pretending to be nurses (20m7s).
• This caregiving instinct is thought to be an evolutionary adaptation that helped women to leave more descendants, as those who had a strong caregiving instinct were more likely to successfully raise their children (21m2s).
• However, not all women exhibit this caregiving instinct to the same degree, and some may even exhibit the opposite behavior, such as neglect or abuse, which can be seen as a deviation from the norm (21m36s).
• The distribution of caregiving traits in women can be represented by a bell curve, with most women falling in the middle range, while a small proportion may be overbearing or neglectful, and an even smaller proportion may be capable of harming or killing others (21m17s).
• Female serial killers, such as Lucy Ley, who was a nurse, are a rare and extreme example of this deviation from the norm, and it is not yet fully understood what drives them to commit such crimes (22m16s).
• Some research suggests that individuals with a personality type that is prone to harming others may be drawn to careers in healthcare, such as nursing, as a way to exert control or satisfy their urges (22m44s).
• However, it is essential to note that the vast majority of nurses and mothers will never harm anyone, and that female serial killers are extremely rare (23m4s).
• Female serial killers may have a twisted sense of doing good or being an "angel of Mercy" when committing their crimes, but this concept is not entirely understood and may be a misfiring or misguided notion (23m10s).
• Lydia Sherman, a female serial killer from Connecticut in the United States during the late 19th century, killed her own children, stepchildren, and several husbands using arsenic, claiming she did it because they were a burden after her husband lost his job (23m52s).
• Sherman's reasoning for killing her children was that they couldn't do anything for her or themselves, so she "got them out of the way" and "hurried them into eternity" (24m14s).
• Some nurses have also been known to use the "angel of Mercy" concept as a justification for their crimes, claiming they were doing their victims a favor by ending their suffering (24m36s).
• Kristen Gilbert, a serial killer and nurse from Massachusetts, killed a veteran named Kenneth by causing him to have a heart attack so she could leave work early, which is an example of getting someone "out of the way" rather than an act of mercy (24m46s).
• The concept of "angel of Mercy" is problematic, as it raises questions about whose mercy is being defined and executed, and whether the killer's actions are truly motivated by a desire to do good (25m32s).

Why More Female Serial Killers Are Married (25m38s)

• Female serial killers are more likely to be married than their male counterparts, possibly because they can kill their husbands, take their insurance and inheritance, and then remarry and repeat the process, as seen in the case of Lydia Sherman, also known as the Derby poisoner (26m13s).
• This pattern of behavior allows female serial killers to have multiple targets and financial gain through marriage and subsequent murder (26m38s).
• Female serial killers often appear to be unassuming and unsuspecting individuals, such as a homemaker who participates in community activities, making them "hiding in plain sight" (27m14s).
• Life events and psychosocial factors, such as childhood trauma, may contribute to the development of female serial killers, with many experiencing physical, emotional, and sexual abuse, as well as abandonment and loss, at a higher rate than the general population (27m45s).
• Childhood sexual abuse (CSA) is a common denominator among both male and female serial killers, although it is essential to note that most people who experience CSA do not grow up to become serial killers (28m47s).

Does Abuse Create Serial Killers? (28m59s)

• Childhood sexual abuse is a predictive factor for becoming a serial killer later in life, but it does not necessarily make men more likely to use killing as a sexual weapon, as women who experience childhood sexual abuse are also likely to become serial killers, but with different motivations (29m14s).
• When someone experiences childhood sexual abuse, their nervous system literally rewires itself, making them more reactive and sensitive to aggression, which can change who the person is (30m10s).
• Male serial killers often start out with paraphilias, or abnormal sexual interests, which can escalate to more severe crimes, such as attacking someone (30m40s).
• The case of Jerome Bruto, a serial killer who started with a shoe fetish and escalated to killing women and keeping their legs, is an example of how paraphilias can escalate to more severe crimes (31m18s).
• Female serial killers are less likely to keep trophies than male serial killers, but research suggests that some female serial killers do keep trophies, such as jewelry or personal items (32m3s).
• The definition of a trophy can vary, but for male serial killers, it often involves keeping an item to relive the sensation or sexual gratification of the crime, while for female serial killers, it may be more about keeping an item they like or find useful (32m25s).
• Research on female serial killers is ongoing, and new data suggests that some female serial killers do keep trophies, but more research is needed to understand the motivations behind this behavior (32m18s).
• Trophy keeping is observed in both male and female serial killers, although it is more common in males, and some studies have found evidence of this behavior in female serial killers, including hiding items such as lipstick (32m51s).
• Substance abuse is also seen in some female serial killers, with one example being a woman who hid drugs in her hair curlers and toilet paper, but this is not considered a salient factor in the data from 64 female serial killers studied (33m15s).
• The prevalence of substance abuse among male serial killers is unknown, but it is speculated that self-medication may be a factor in some cases, possibly as a result of underlying psychological disturbances (33m53s).
• The base rate difference in substance abuse between the sexes is also unknown, and it is unclear whether substance abuse is a cause or effect of serial killing behavior (34m6s).
• Substance abuse is not seen as fueling the crime, but rather as one of the effects of an underlying psychological disposition or disturbance (34m58s).
• Self-medication through substance abuse may be one of the many consequences of this underlying psychological disturbance, which can also lead to serial killing behavior (35m7s).

Most Common Victims of Female Serial Killers (35m17s)

• Female serial killers tend to have both male and female victims, but often target vulnerable individuals such as the elderly, infants, and people with disabilities or illnesses, who are unable to fight back (35m26s).
• The common denominator among these victims is that they are predatory targets, offering no retribution or risk of being caught (35m52s).
• Female serial killers may target victims who can be explained away as dying from natural causes, such as infants with high mortality rates or people in hospitals with illnesses (36m17s).
• In the past, women who killed their husbands often used poisons that mimicked stomach diseases or heart attacks to avoid suspicion (36m53s).
• Female serial killers are rarely motivated by sexual desires, but there are some anecdotal reports of exceptions, such as the case of Jolly Jane Toppan, a nurse who allegedly kissed or mounted her patients as they died (37m26s).
• Jolly Jane Toppan's actions were reportedly driven by a desire to experience her patients' last breath and feel their life slipping away (38m8s).
• The split of male to female victims among female serial killers is roughly equal when considering only adult victims, with around 49% of both male and female serial killers targeting adults (39m9s).
• However, when considering only child victims, female serial killers are more likely to target children, with around 27% of female serial killers targeting only children, compared to 4% of male serial killers (39m26s).

How Often Do Female Serial Killers Kill Their Children? (39m36s)

• Female serial killers who kill their own children are relatively rare, and such cases are often associated with Munchausen syndrome by proxy, now known as factitious disorder imposed on another (39m36s).
• A notable case is that of Mary Beth Tinning, a woman from Schenectady, New York, who is suspected of killing at least eight of her children, with the first child's death believed to be from natural causes, but subsequent deaths possibly being a result of her seeking attention (40m28s).
• Mary Beth Tinning would often present her children with fabricated symptoms, using her nursing knowledge to deceive medical professionals, and would move from hospital to hospital to avoid raising suspicion (40m56s).
• The case of Mary Beth Tinning was notable for being one of the first modern cases where both the prosecution and defense acknowledged that the perpetrator had significant mental health issues and needed help, rather than simply seeking retribution (42m0s).
• The case highlights the importance of addressing the underlying psychological issues that may lead individuals to commit such crimes, rather than simply punishing them (42m33s).
• The story of John Wayne Gacy, a serial killer who was abused and molested as a child, is used to illustrate the importance of empathy and understanding in addressing the root causes of such crimes, rather than simply condemning the perpetrators (43m44s).
• The goal of psychology is not only to solve crimes but also to understand the underlying psychological issues that lead individuals to commit such crimes, with the hope of preventing similar crimes in the future (44m22s).

Motives Through an Evolutionary Lens (44m31s)

• From an evolutionary perspective, the primary difference between men and women is the number of reproductive cells they produce, with men producing millions of sperm daily and women being born with a limited number of eggs that they will use in their lifetime (44m54s).
• This difference in reproductive potential is thought to contribute to men having a higher sex drive than women worldwide, with men seeking sex and women seeking resources and money (45m36s).
• In the context of serial murder, the number one motive for men is sex, while for women it is money, which is not surprising from an evolutionary perspective (46m33s).
• The hunter-gatherer hypothesis of serial murder suggests that men, as hunters, stalk and kill unfamiliar victims, while women, as gatherers, kill people around them and gather prophets (46m47s).
• Male serial killers tend to target strangers and kill people outside their birthplace, while women tend to kill people they know, supporting the hunter-gatherer hypothesis (47m43s).
• While there is an evolutionary component to serial murder, it is not the only factor, and developmental components, such as childhood, parents, and societal influences, must also be considered (47m54s).
• Interestingly, men are more likely to kill strangers than their intimate partners, but the number one motive for murder in North America is male-perpetrated jealousy, often due to feelings of rejection or infidelity (48m30s).

Most Common Weapons of Choice (49m6s)

• Female serial killers often use poison as their method of choice, which can be considered a passive method, and this can include arsenic, rat killer, ant killer, and prescription drugs, which can cause severe suffering and a prolonged death (49m7s).
• Poisoning can be done in various ways, including injecting someone with insulin to induce a heart attack, which may not be suspected if the person is already in the hospital (50m18s).
• The prevalence of caregivers and nurses among female serial killers may be due to their access to the means of poisoning, such as pharmaceuticals, and their knowledge of how to use them without being detected (50m40s).
• A nurse with 25-30 years of experience mentioned that she could think of a hundred ways to kill someone without being detected, highlighting the access and knowledge that caregivers and nurses have (50m59s).
• Eileen Wournos is considered an outlier among female serial killers due to her method of shooting men, leaving their bodies in the woods, and robbing them, which is different from the more common method of poisoning (51m41s).
• Many female serial killers have been diagnosed with mental disorders, including psychopathy, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, anxiety disorders, Munchausen syndrome by proxy, and borderline personality disorder (52m20s).
• Female serial killers who are wives of male serial killers, also known as killer couples, are not typically studied as a separate category, as researchers often focus on the individual's autogenic motive rather than the dynamics of a couple (52m43s).
• Female serial killers, particularly those who assist male serial killers, are often viewed with greater contempt by the public due to the violation of traditional female roles and the expectation that women are nurturers and protectors (53m47s).
• The case of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley from the United Kingdom is an example of this phenomenon, where Myra Hindley is often considered one of the most hated people in Britain despite Ian Brady being the mastermind behind the crimes (53m38s).
• The public perception is that men are more likely to be serial killers, and when a woman assists a man in committing such crimes, it is seen as a double betrayal of societal expectations (54m25s).
• Myra Hindley's involvement in the crimes, which included enticing and harming children, is seen as a contravention of the traditional female role of protector and caregiver, leading to widespread hatred towards her (53m50s).
• The fact that Myra Hindley was a good-looking woman who was able to entice children to their deaths adds to the public's perception of her as a monstrous figure (53m50s).
• The public's reaction to Myra Hindley's crimes highlights the societal expectations placed on women and the consequences of violating those expectations (54m13s).

Does Our Current Society Deter Potential Serial Killers? (54m43s)

• The current sociocultural environment and living setup may not be conducive to the emergence of serial killers, male or female, due to increasingly sophisticated medical examination techniques and recording systems, making it more difficult for them to go undetected (54m43s).
• Female serial killers have historically been able to evade detection for longer periods due to their methods, but advancements in forensic techniques may dissuade them from committing crimes (55m24s).
• The typical profile of male serial killers, characterized by stalking and killing strangers, may be less effective in the modern era due to the interconnectedness of victims through social media and the presence of cameras in public spaces (56m0s).
• The criteria for serial killers, which includes three or more victims with a cooling-off period of at least one week between each crime, may be more difficult to meet in the current environment (56m21s).
• The prevalence of true crime documentaries and the lack of modern-day serial killers may be due to the effectiveness of forensic techniques in preventing or catching serial killers before they can commit multiple crimes (57m2s).
• The rise of internet detectives and social media platforms has also made it more difficult for serial killers to evade detection, as information can be shared quickly and widely (57m26s).
• Despite these factors, it is possible that individuals who are determined to commit crimes will find ways to do so, regardless of the obstacles in their path (58m1s).
• There is evidence to suggest that women attempt suicide more often than men, but men are more likely to be successful in their attempts, and it is unclear whether this trend may also apply to serial killers (58m23s).
• Serial killers can be men or women, but men are generally less successful at evading capture, suggesting that there may be sex differences in their abilities as serial killers (58m40s).
• Women may be overrepresented among serial killers because they are better at hiding their tracks, being more conniving and calculated in their actions, which could contribute to a lower failure rate (59m1s).
• Research has shown that women may get away with their crimes for longer periods of time, with one study indicating that women got away with their crimes for a longer time, while another study found the killing span to be just about equal for men and women (59m33s).
• The mean years killing for men was found to be 8.7 years, while for women it was 7.8 years, indicating that women may not necessarily get away with their crimes for longer periods of time (59m45s).
• Male serial killers often leave a trail of evidence, making it easier for authorities to detect and catch them, whereas female serial killers may be more difficult to detect, especially if their crimes involve victims who are already vulnerable, such as babies in a hospital (1h0m10s).
• The difference in detection between male and female serial killers lies in the fact that male serial killers need to be caught, whereas female serial killers need to be detected, highlighting the difference in their methods and the challenges of identifying female serial killers (1h0m40s).

The Important Role of Psychology in Stopping Crime (1h0m47s)

• Research on female serial killers has shown that more police resources are needed to tackle the problem, as the current system is not like the fictionalized version depicted in shows like CSI, where data and specimens can be quickly analyzed with unlimited resources (1h1m10s).
• In reality, police organizations often lack the necessary funds for tests and detective work, highlighting the need for increased investment in these areas (1h1m36s).
• The importance of psychologists in preventing crime is also emphasized, as intervening early in cases of trauma can make a significant difference in preventing future harm (1h2m9s).
• The case of Eileen Ronson, a female serial killer who was sexually abused and neglected as a child, is cited as an example of how early intervention by a caseworker or psychologist might have changed the course of her life and prevented her crimes (1h1m45s).
• The need for more psychologists to intervene in cases of trauma and provide support is stressed, as the earlier the intervention, the better the chances of treating trauma and preventing future harm (1h2m15s).
• The combination of increased police resources and more psychologists could potentially tackle the problem of female serial killers and help prevent crime (1h2m29s).
• The goal of inspiring future criminal psychologists and detectives to build on existing research and create change is expressed, with the hope of stopping crime and helping people in need (1h2m42s).

Where to Find Marissa (1h2m58s)

• Marissa Harrison can be found on her faculty web page at Penn State Harrisburg for updates on her work (1h3m4s).
• Marissa Harrison's book, "Justice Deaded: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers", is available from Cambridge University Press, with a paperback edition coming out soon (1h3m8s).
• The book can be purchased from any retailer (1h3m15s).
• Viewers are encouraged to check out another episode if they enjoyed the current one (1h3m24s).