psychological profile of mr merc *spoilers*

[Cristian M]

Best to comment after reading the book. This thread might contain spoilers.

I would like your opinions on what motivated the killer. Is SK trying to find an excuse for his actions due to a troubled childhood and as a teenager ? How is mr merc related to the guy in Rage ?

Are American teens more inclined to violence and do they have easy access to guns and explosives ?

 

[FlakeNoir]

Best to comment after reading the book. This thread might contain spoilers.

I would like your opinions on what motivated the killer. Is SK trying to find an excuse for his actions due to a troubled childhood and as a teenager ? How is mr merc related to the guy in Rage ?

Are American teens more inclined to violence and do they have easy access to guns and explosives ?

He is just a writer with an amazing imagination, I think people need to be able to separate the man from the stories.

 

[Cristian M]

He is just a writer with an amazing imagination, I think people need to be able to separate the man from the stories.

when I say SK , I mean the writer and his attitude towards his character in the novel , not the private person King.

 

[FlakeNoir]

when I say SK , I mean the writer and his attitude towards his character in the novel , not the private person King.

Oh okay, my misunderstanding, sorry.

 

[Sigmund]

Best to comment after reading the book. This thread might contain spoilers.

I would like your opinions on what motivated the killer. Is SK trying to find an excuse for his actions due to a troubled childhood and as a teenager ? How is mr merc related to the guy in Rage ?

Are American teens more inclined to violence and do they have easy access to guns and explosives ?

Welcome.

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking but I'll try to give some information.

The etiology of rampage killers is believed to be bio/psycho/social. (Biological/genetic, psychological/how the person interprets their experience, social/upbringing. The people who raised the infant/child as well as the people who did not interact with the child.)

Brady lost his father at a young age, his mother is an ineffective parent, in addition she is an alcoholic and seductive mother who tolerates if not encourages incest. Because of the family circumstances Brady has little interaction with *normal* *average* people. Also, he has a superiority complex even though he work at a low level job with little aspiration to succeed. Most importantly, IMO, was how Brady interpreted these experiences. (Many, many children/teens have horrible childhoods but do not turn to mass/rampage murder.)

So, no. His troubled childhood and teen years are not an excuse for his actions. It's a explanation, perhaps, on how Brady came to be a rampage killer. (How many mass killers are maybe *made* if you will.)

I have no idea what relation Brady has to the young man in Rage except for the possible similarities in the above theory of bio/psycho/social etiology to mass shooters.


I cannot answer your last question because I don't believe there is one answer or answers.

Keep posting!

Peace.

 

[Cristian M]

If there is a genetic predisposition for serial killing and future pre-birth dna tests can reveal such genes, our descendants will have a hard time deciding what to do with the newborns or if there will be a newborn in the first place.
This sounds sci-fi (in line with some PKD writings) and might be a good book written by SK in collaboration with some horror-inclined scifi writer.
Regarding Mr Mercedes, I find it interesting there are two letters written by that guy and I think the detective classified both as dishonest , i.e. not revealing the inner workings of mr merc mind. Was the killer ever honest to anyone ? Maybe he constantly lied to himself, too.

 

[Dana Jean]

If there is a genetic predisposition for serial killing and future pre-birth dna tests can reveal such genes, our descendants will have a hard time deciding what to do with the newborns or if there will be a newborn in the first place.
This sounds sci-fi (in line with some PKD writings) and might be a good book written by SK in collaboration with some horror-inclined scifi writer.
Regarding Mr Mercedes, I find it interesting there are two letters written by that guy and I think the detective classified both as dishonest , i.e. not revealing the inner workings of mr merc mind. Was the killer ever honest to anyone ? Maybe he constantly lied to himself, too.

The Reborn by Brett J. Talley is along this line of thinking. I enjoyed the book.

 

[skimom2]

Welcome.

I'm not exactly sure what you are asking but I'll try to give some information.

The etiology of rampage killers is believed to be bio/psycho/social. (Biological/genetic, psychological/how the person interprets their experience, social/upbringing. The people who raised the infant/child as well as the people who did not interact with the child.)

Brady lost his father at a young age, his mother is an ineffective parent, in addition she is an alcoholic and seductive mother who tolerates if not encourages incest. Because of the family circumstances Brady has little interaction with *normal* *average* people. Also, he has a superiority complex even though he work at a low level job with little aspiration to succeed. Most importantly, IMO, was how Brady interpreted these experiences. (Many, many children/teens have horrible childhoods but do not turn to mass/rampage murder.)

So, no. His troubled childhood and teen years are not an excuse for his actions. It's a explanation, perhaps, on how Brady came to be a rampage killer. (How many mass killers are maybe *made* if you will.)

I have no idea what relation Brady has to the young man in Rage except for the possible similarities in the above theory of bio/psycho/social etiology to mass shooters.


I cannot answer your last question because I don't believe there is one answer or answers.

Keep posting!

Peace.

Siggy, have you watched The Mind of a Rampage Killer (now on Netflix)? Yours is a nice, succinct summation of that documentary. Some of the studies they cite are pretty interesting. I know you have education in the field--thank you for helping us understand a bit more

 

[Cristian M]

hmm, I see it's on youtube. Should I be worried I instantly recognize all the pictures of the serial killers in that documentary ? Am I watching too many videos about them or is media pushing their pictures everywhere, making them as famous as Michael Jackson and Bruce Willis ?

 

[Sigmund]

Siggy, have you watched The Mind of a Rampage Killer (now on Netflix)? Yours is a nice, succinct summation of that documentary. Some of the studies they cite are pretty interesting. I know you have education in the field--thank you for helping us understand a bit more

Peace.

 

[staropeace]

The Reborn by Brett J. Talley is along this line of thinking. I enjoyed the book.

If there is a genetic predisposition for serial killing and future pre-birth dna tests can reveal such genes, our descendants will have a hard time deciding what to do with the newborns or if there will be a newborn in the first place.
This sounds sci-fi (in line with some PKD writings) and might be a good book written by SK in collaboration with some horror-inclined scifi writer.
Regarding Mr Mercedes, I find it interesting there are two letters written by that guy and I think the detective classified both as dishonest , i.e. not revealing the inner workings of mr merc mind. Was the killer ever honest to anyone ? Maybe he constantly lied to himself, too.

There may be some predisposition that is inate in a child but let us not forget his social and environmental conditions..these are factors, too. A child who shows indications of being a sociopath, may not go on to be a serial killer. They may go on to engage in a lifestyle whereby they take unnecessary risks because they need that buzz and they feel no fear. We find them in all walks of life...stunt car racers....mountain climbers and so on and so on. They do not always go out and kill. Diagnosing this behavior is an art form as well as a science. It is not an easy thing to do and it involves lots of times and it involves the establishment of trust between client and Dr. and when I say Doctor, I do not mean Dr. Hill....he is nothing but a whore and probably hurts more people than he supposedly helps. There is much to be learned about psychopathology...whether we have an organized or unorganized killer. It is best left to the experts at places like Quantico.

 

[Sigmund]

If there is a genetic predisposition for serial killing and future pre-birth dna tests can reveal such genes, our descendants will have a hard time deciding what to do with the newborns or if there will be a newborn in the first place.

No more so than a predisposition to heart disease, diabetes, hyper tension, etc. I would think. Once that information is known we can be aware and take measures to prevent or alleviate circumstances that might possibly lead to the affliction.

Regarding Mr Mercedes, I find it interesting there are two letters written by that guy and I think the detective classified both as dishonest , i.e. not revealing the inner workings of mr merc mind.

The letters were *dishonest*. They were manipulative. The detective Hodges has training and was able determine the "inner workings" of Brady's mind. In fact, Brady actually revealed himself in his letters.

Was the killer ever honest to anyone ? Maybe he constantly lied to himself, too.

He was as honest as he could be to HIMSELF. He knew he was different than everyone else and he hated it. He hated what he was. He loathed himself and also majorly angry at the world. He wanted to die by his own hand and wanted to take as many *average* *normal* people as possible along with him.

These are merely my opinions.

Peace.

 

[Sigmund]

Cristian M

You might find this interesting:

Paul Ekman - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

What I found fascinating, the naturals or "Truth Wizards" were, for the majority, people who grew up in dysfunctional/violent homes. I strongly suspect they *learned* how to read micro expressions in an effort to prevent or survive violence.

Again, just my opinion.

Peace.

 

[Cristian M]

Mr Merc did not reveal himself in the letters. Psycho-/sociopaths take care to manipulate people around them and at the same time hide their true "feelings" / thoughts / identity(-ies). An example would be Ed Kemper, he faked some psy-tests to get out of an institution as a teenager (true, he had access to some materials related to the tests). We can't tell how much truth is in Ed 's interviews either.

 

[Sigmund]

Mr Merc did not reveal himself in the letters. Psycho-/sociopaths take care to manipulate people around them and at the same time hide their true "feelings" / thoughts / identity(-ies). An example would be Ed Kemper, he faked some psy-tests to get out of an institution as a teenager (true, he had access to some materials related to the tests). We can't tell how much truth is in Ed 's interviews either.

I beg your pardon. If Brady did not reveal himself in his letters, pray tell, how was detective Hodges able to profile him, find him and thwart his plans? (BTW-we are talking about fictional characters. Do you not think Stephen King has access to the best Behavioral Analysts and get their expertise on how to write a rampage killer character?)

Edmund Kemper was *made* a murderer by his mother (a BPD) and his circumstances. He is the epitome of the serial killer trifecta. Kemper was institutionalized after murdering his grandparents and learned the system. He learned what to say and what not to say. Have mercy! He talked his psychiatrist into letting him be free without constant supervision while he had the heads of two? three? of his victims in his car trunk.

Of the serial killers who have been captured, most were captured by their hubris. They REVEALED themselves. They believe they are more intelligent than the police and F.B.I. and it leads to their down fall.

I have to go now. I have a TV show I must watch.

Peace.

 

[GNTLGNT]

Best to comment after reading the book. This thread might contain spoilers.

I would like your opinions on what motivated the killer. Is SK trying to find an excuse for his actions due to a troubled childhood and as a teenager ? How is mr merc related to the guy in Rage ?

Are American teens more inclined to violence and do they have easy access to guns and explosives ?[/QUOTE]

...more inclined than what????...any teen is a witches brew of hormones, emotions, angst and anxiety-no matter where they might be from, and I don't feel ours are anymore inclined to violence than anywhere else....guns are readily available whether you are of age or not, always have been if you know whom to deal with...and no, explosives are not easy to obtain....though come to think of it...a few biscuits of C-4 would be nice for a special occasion...

 

[staropeace]

I beg your pardon. If Brady did not reveal himself in his letters, pray tell, how was detective Hodges able to profile him, find him and thwart his plans? (BTW-we are talking about fictional characters. Do you not think Stephen King has access to the best Behavioral Analysts and get their expertise on how to write a rampage killer character?)

Edmund Kemper was *made* a murderer by his mother (a BPD) and his circumstances. He is the epitome of the serial killer trifecta. Kemper was institutionalized after murdering his grandparents and learned the system. He learned what to say and what not to say. Have mercy! He talked his psychiatrist into letting him be free without constant supervision while he had the heads of two? three? of his victims in his car trunk.

Of the serial killers who have been captured, most were captured by their hubris. They REVEALED themselves. They believe they are more intelligent than the police and F.B.I. and it leads to their down fall.

I have to go now. I have a TV show I must watch.

Peace.

After finishing a major in psych and a minor in Sociology...I agree with you completely dear heart.

 

[Cristian M]

After finishing a major in psych and a minor in Sociology...I agree with you completely dear heart.

wrong ! mr merc wrote those letters to hide his identity and to manipulate the recipients. He was found and captured because the detective went through a process of deduction and elimination of suspects, narrowing the search to only three employees of the IT consultancy company.
If only for the letters, mr merc would not have been identified. Mr merc contributed to his downfall by communicating with the detective on the "blue umbrella" site and by leaving digital traces on the Mercedes owner woman computer (can't recall that part very well).
I think it was a mistake for mr merc to either : a) pay a visit as IT consultant to Mercedes woman AFTER using her car or b) using her car AFTER offering IT consultancy to her.
This created yet another link in the big picture the detective worked hard to join the dots into.

 

[staropeace]

Come here while I tells ye chummy.....Have some manners and do not discount anything others say by "wrong"! Have a little respect for other folk's opinions on this board or shut your piehole. Now you have been told by a long timer.

 

[Cristian M]

Come here while I tells ye chummy.....Have some manners and do not discount anything others say by "wrong"! Have a little respect for other folk's opinions on this board or shut your piehole. Now you have been told by a long timer.

doubleplusunright ! I meant no disrespect to the posters. "Wrong" is as good as "I beg to differ". Or as doubleplusungood. Or unright. We live in 2014 after all, which is another way to say 1984.