CJ 725 Forensic Behavior Analysis Blog

Multiple Murderers: ‘HOW’ they kill explains ‘WHY’ they kill

They way that multiple murderers chose to kill their victims speaks volumes to their true motives and underlying trauma.

There are millions of ways to kill someone. There are brutal, vicious methods such as strangulation and stabbings. There are more humane ways such as lethal injection. There are long, drawn out ways such as torture and rape. Then there are quick ways like using a gun. All end with the same result, but they differ in the meaning behind them.

This is the most important aspect in the process for multiple murderers, so it should be provided significant thought. They are categorized in three distinct ways - serial murderers, mass murderers, and spree murderers.  Serial murderers kill two or more victims on separate events, typically with a “cooling-off” period in between. Their method of killing is usually brutal and hands-on such as strangulation and torture. The other two categories have no cooling-off period. Mass murderers kill four or more people at one location. Spree murderers kill three or more individuals at two or more locations (Bartol & Bartol, 2016, p. 299). These latter two groups typically use methods that murder a lot of people in the least amount of time such as a bomb or gun. How the multiple murderer chooses to be categorized, and the method that they choose to kill, is essential to uncovering their true motive.

Serial murderers are obsessive, strategic animals and the way that they take the lives of their victims supply them the control that they desperately desire. As stated in the textbook, “serial killers often murder in accordance to a carefully thought-out plan” (Bartol & Bartol, 2016, p. 301). Therefore, it must be performed exactly the way that they intend it to – the way they constantly fantasize about. So because this is such an integral part of their process, it rightfully should be the first place that investigators look to unearth the reasoning behind it.

For instance, let’s take another look at the subject of our team case study, Jeffrey Dahmer. He usually chose the long, drawn-out method of raping, torturing, and strangling his victims to death (Crime Museum, 2005). This shows that he wanted the process to last. He enjoyed feeling every second of befouling someone’s body and taking their life. Most of the time, taking their lives was not even enough for him. He would proceed to engage in necrophilia and dismember the bodies, in order to prolong the experience. A gun would have been way too quick and unsatisfying. The entire killing process aroused Dahmer.

The team case study project helped us to induce that he was verbalizing his trauma and his pain through his method of killing. Dahmer was severely traumatized by his family’s abandonment at a young age. He was constantly neglected throughout his childhood. As stated in our project research, “within two weeks of his graduation, his father left the family to live in a motel, then the mother and brother left him to visit his relatives” (Nichols, 2006). So this left him with tremendous pain and anger that he expressed through his complete brutalization of his victims. This method of killing also was redemption for Dahmer. It gave him complete and utter power over his victims. He forbade to ever feel as vulnerable as he felt as a lonely child, so raping, torturing, and strangling his victims provided him with the sense of dominance that he desperately desired. Quicker methods such as a gun or poisoning his victims would have been too quick and would not have quenched his thirst for control. Dahmer wanted to emphasize that he had complete supremacy over his victims.

Mass murderers and spree murderers are usually more concerned about making a loud, public statement through their killings. A prime example of the mass murderer category is Oklahoma City bomber, Timothy McVeigh. With one push of the button, McVeigh blew up the Murrah Federal Building, murdering 168 people, including children - wounding 650 plus (Editors 2017). Without knowing anything about McVeigh’s childhood, one can get a good sense of his intentions by analyzing his method of killing. A bomb murders a significant amount of people in a short amount of time. It is immediate, usually quick deaths for the victims. Also, the detonator can usually perform the act from far away. This allows the perpetrator to be a bit detached from the crime. Unlike stranglers, bombers usually cannot fully stomach the true horror that they inflict, since it is a very impersonal act. But they enjoy knowing that they still caused it. Thus, you can deduce that McVeigh enjoyed the aftermath of the slaughter more than the killing itself. It was later confirmed that he chose this building in particular because “it provided excellent camera angles for media coverage” (Editors 2017). He had a personal vendetta against the government, so this was his public act of defiance against it. So he more preferred killing for the spotlight rather than killing for personal benefit in the shadows like serial killers.

There is significant underlying meaning in the way that multiple murders occur. Single homicides can have endless motives – accidental, passion, anger, etc. But multiple murders show consistency and a general theme that can be induced through close analysis of their decisions throughout the process, primarily their chosen method of kill.

References

Bartol, Curt R., & Bartol, Anne M. (2016). Criminal behavior: A Psychological Approach. 11th Edition. Pearson

Crime Museum. (2005). Jeffrey Dahmer. Crime Museum Biographies. Retrieved from https://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/jeffrey-dahmer/

Editors. (2017). Timothy McVeigh. Biography.com. Retrieved from https://www.biography.com/people/timothy-mcveigh-507562

Nichols, D. S. (2006). Tell Me a Story: MMPI Responses and Personal Biography in the Case of a Serial Killer. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86 (3), 242-262. Retrieved from https://pdfs.semanticscholar.org/9b62/3584ef58fd641ae435bff50a491b61b5f0f0.pdf

Women Offending

Throughout my education at Boston University, I have always been interested in feminist criminology and the treatment of women offenders. Women offend differently and for different reasons than men, but for years, they were treated the same as men offenders, which does not work. Women for years have been discriminated against within society, and the discrimination continues into the criminal justice system by not treating them as unique offenders. Women present unique profiles and pathways within the criminal justice system. Women’s common pathways are “based on survival of abuse and poverty and substance abuse” (Rousseau, 2017, Module 4). Overall, their pathways are more economically based than men’s are.

Women’s profiles are also different. Women are more likely to have a history with abuse, both physical and sexual. They may be sole caretakers of young children or pregnant when entering prison. They have unique physical and mental health needs, as well as tend to ‘act in’ as opposed to ‘acting out. ’Women are also less violent and pose less of a threat to society (Rousseau, 2017, Module 4). Women are more likely to have a mental illness, especially depression, anxiety, and PTSD. Because of their unique profiles, they have unique pathways into crime and should be highly considered in regards to incarceration/treatment.

In terms of incarceration/treatment, there should be a higher focus on treatment. As stated, women offenders are dealing with histories of abuse and mental illness. They have faced hardships that have warped their view of the world and created lasting effects on them. By providing treatment to these women, it can help address many of the issues that are causing them to offend. Women are likely to offend because of economic reasons, in regards to abuse, poverty, and substance abuse. By helping women beat their substance abuse, find better coping mechanisms for their trauma, and helping them to find jobs, it could help to prevent recidivism within women.

This is an issue that I believe is very important. It is important to understand the unique profiles and take into consideration the differences when evaluating proper ways to incarcerate and treat. This should be applied to not only women, but individuals of color and those with mental health issues as well. Historically, the criminal justice system has shown to be racist, sexist, and inconsiderate to those with mental illness. Going forward, it is essential to change pathways and ensure that treatment is equitable, not necessarily equal. In my opinion, there are a lot of reforms that need to occur to provide a more fair, successful criminal justice system.

References

Rousseau, D. (2017). Module 4. Retrieved from

https://onlinecampus.bu.edu/webapps/blackboard/execute/displayLearningUnit?course_id=_42658_1&content_id=_5296284_1&framesetWrapped=true

Juveniles and Competency: A Case Review

How can the competence of an offender be properly identified when determining a person’s ability to stand trial and/or the death penalty? Has the criminal justice society placed enough safeguards to ensure that juveniles are protected? Regarding sentencing guidelines alone, it is crucial to determine the mental stability and competence of an individual at the time of the offense as well as while they are standing trial.

Competency can cover a variety of things. Primarily, it determines a person’s basic ability to stand trial. Does the offender understand what is going on, are they aware that they are standing trial for a crime that is believed to have been committed by them? Not all criminals are adults, although all criminals can be tried as adults. Even though there is a specific juvenile justice system in place, it is not always used. Dependency of the severity of a crime, a juvenile can be tried as adult. From 1992 to 1997, forty-four states in the U.S. passed laws to easily transfer a child from the juvenile system to the adult system. Murder is an offense that can easily escalate an offender from juvenile to adult court. The 2013 Uniform Crime Report found that juveniles under eighteen years of age are responsible for 9.8% of murders, 2.7% of those were under fifteen years of age (Bartol & Bartol).  Let us reference the case of Lionel Tate.

Lionel Tate was only twelve years old when he killed a six-year-old girl, Tiffany Eunick, who his mother had been babysitting. The state of Florida determined that Tate would be tried as an adult, and was found guilty of first degree murder. Tate was fourteen years old when he was sentenced to life in prison for his crime. Even the prosecutor for Tate, Kenneth Padowitz, petitioned the state for a sentence reduction. Padowitz had initially offered the defense team plea deal which was denied: three years in a juvenile facility, one year of house arrest and ten years of probation with psychological counseling and therapy. Had this deal been accepted, Tate’s life could have wound up differently. Padowitz has stated that first degree murder was appropriate, but sentencing a 14-year-old boy to life without parole is not appropriate (ABC News).

At twelve years old, is a preteen able to understand words like: self-incrimination, burden of proof, or stipulate? These words are highlighted by Bartol and Bartol as words defendants need to understand when going through trial proceedings. How many adults can accurately understand the definition of these words? Furthermore, can a twelve-year-old fully grasp the concept that their actions can cause death or better yet that death is final? Let us consider Hollywood and entertainment based video games that continuously reenact life after death or instant start over options. These portrayals could inaccurately skew a child’s mind on the meaning of death.

Was Tate really responsible for Tiffany’s death? A study conducted by Heide and Sellers, as noted by Bartol and Bartol, while interesting doesn’t provide much insight. The study found of juvenile murderers found that adolescent males make up 88% of the offenders. Males are more likely to target victims between the ages of five through thirteen. The study also found that guns are usually the weapon of choice, and when a person is murdered, it is during the commission of another crime. Other research finds that parental monitoring might be to blame. While Tate’s mother served in the U.S. military, he reportedly moved around various family homes, once she got a job as a Florida State Trooper, he moved back in with her. When Tiffany was killed, Tate’s mother claimed to have been asleep in her room, getting rest before her shift (ABC News). While Tate’s mother was doing everything she could to provide for her family, somethings might have been out of her control while he was in other homes. Parental monitoring and the relationship parents have with their children are both prominent factors in a child’s behavior. Are these factors enough to weigh in on a child’s competency?

While the loss of life is always sad, it is simply devastating when it is a child. To sentence the juvenile murderer life without parole is almost fulfilling code of Hammurabi, an eye for an eye. After spending three years in prison, Tate was released in 2004 on a modified sentence of ten years’ probation. In 2004, after his release, he was sentenced to an additional five years’ probation for being found with a weapon. In 2006, two short years later, Tate found himself in trouble again as he held up a pizza delivery worker. This time, Tate was sentenced to thirty years in prison for the offense. Had Tate’s competency been deemed that of a child when he was twelve, would he had turned into a lifetime offender?

ABC News (2003, March 7). Leniency for Lionel Tate? ABC News. Retrieved from: http://abcnews.go.com/2020/story?id=123746&page=1

Bartol, A and Bartol, C. (2017). Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach. Boston, MA: Pearson.

Martin, M and Tobias, J. (2001). Basic Statistics. Frontline News, PBS. Retrieved from: https://www.pbs.org/wgbh/pages/frontline/shows/juvenile/stats/basic.html

Unknown (2006, May 18). Lionel Tate Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison: Florida Teen Caught Violating Murder Conviction by Having a Gun. Associated Press, NBC News. Retrieved from: www.nbcnews.com/id/12852539/ns/us_news-crime_and_courts/t/lionel-tate-sentenced-years-prison/#.Wi8Ra0xFz4g

Humanizing Jeffrey Dahmer?

Jeffrey Dahmer raped and murdered 17 men and boys. Some of his murders included necrophilia, cannibalism and necrophilia (Nichols, 2006). He was sentenced to 15 terms of life imprisonment in 1992 for 15 of the murders. A 16^th one was added for his first murder when he was tried in Ohio (Nichols, 2006). One could argue that Dahmer was a monster. But would some people still try to humanize him? Why?

I watched the 2002 film Dahmer by Larry Ratner and David Jacobson because I was interested to learn more about Dahmer and how society views him after researching him for our first class presentation. I wondered if the film, which is slightly fictionalized, would vilify him or humanize him. I personally believe that the film humanized him and made him more likeable to the audience than if they were to just read about his murders.

Firstly, the film does not cover the full scope of Dahmer’s crimes. They only show three of his murder victims, of which he only dismembers two and has sex with one. He is also portrayed as regretful and scared after he commits his first murder, something that is not necessarily true according to his MMPI response in Nichols’ case study (2006). The film also does not mention how Dahmer thinks of his victims as objects and not people (Nichols, 2006).The film does show a sequence where Dahmer rapes multiple men at a gay bar, but he is beaten up after they find him out, so the audience may feel some sympathy because of that.

Secondly, the film actually vilifies his last victim, Tracy Edwards (named Rodney in the film) who escaped Dahmer, by making him hypersexual and prone to violence. He comes back to Dahmer’s apartment after the first time he leaves when Dahmer tries to choke him. He also uses a knife against Dahmer (did not happen in real life).

Thirdly, the film adds dialogue for Dahmer that convey his frustrations and feelings about his parents’ divorce and being gay. He says these to his victims in the second person, as if he was talking about them, but the audience is supposed to understand that they are his own thoughts. While these thoughts humanize Dahmer, they also try to get at his motivation behind the crimes. As we discussed in our presentation, the trauma of his parents’ divorce and being left alone may have been a triggering factor in the formation of Dahmer’s criminal life. Furthermore, the film highlights Dahmer’s possible internalized homophobia which may have encouraged him to hurt other gay men.

Larry, R. (Producer), Jacobson, D. (Writer), & Jacobson, D. (Director). (2002). Dahmer [Video file].

Nichols, D. S. (2006). Tell Me a Story: MMPI Responses and Personal Biography in the Case of a Serial Killer. Journal of Personality Assessment, 86(3), 242-262. doi:10.1207/s15327752jpa8603_02

Veteran’s in the Criminal Justice System

The incarceration of veteran’s is a growing area of concern as many return from overseas bearing wounds, invisible to the average person. But what is it that leads many of these veterans – individuals that have volunteered to risk their lives for our country – what leads them to criminal behavior? Although there is still little research in this area, many attribute Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI) as the link between those veterans that turn to deviant behavior and those that don’t. Furthermore, many veterans find themselves involved with illegal drugs, prescription painkillers, or alcohol which often contribute to negative behavior.

Today’s wars vary significantly from those fought in the past. To begin with the modern day battlefield is fought using counterinsurgency warfare where the enemy is often not evident and can easily blend with the everyday civilian. This creates a distortion as to where the battle ends and the time for rest and rejuvenation begins. Because Soldiers are constantly on the guard, they are often on edge with little time to digress and renew mentally and physically. Furthermore, because of the high operational tempo Soldiers are deployed more often and with less time to reset time in between deployments. The advances in protective equipment has also introduced another factor that was not previously seen – Soldiers today tend to survive catastrophic events more frequently than they have in the past. With that said, they take with them severe, often life-changing, injuries such as partial paralysis or loss of limbs. This cycle of continual, back-to-back deployments and the modern day Soldier’s experience and ability to survive high-stress, horrific events leads them to be susceptible to PTSD.   Furthermore, the common weapon used on today’s battlefield by enemy insurgents is the Improvised Explosive Device (IED) which is a frequent contributor to TBIs. PTSD, TBI’s and major depression are often called the “invisible three,” as they all affect the Soldier internally and are not visible from the outside.

As previously stated PTSD, TBI and major depression are thought to be key contributors to veterans and criminal behavior. PTSD can lead to antisocial behavior, increased irritability and aggression, and can contribute to poor decision-making. Because many individuals that experience PTSD from combat experience feel the need to be continually on the guard, these individuals may react to situations in a way that is not proportional to the event. TBI’s are often difficult to diagnose and treat and there is still much to be understood about this type of brain trauma. TBIs can affect different individuals differently depending on the severity and specific injury. This can also be associated with poor decision-making. Major depression can also add to the veteran’s pain by robbing them of the
appropriate cooping mechanisms to deal with their traumatic experiences. Although there is still much to be learned, research has shown that individuals that deal with these conditions are more susceptible to crime and to recidivism.

Another contributor to veteran engagement in crime is the use of illegal substances. Often in an attempt to mask their pain, these individuals turn to alcohol or drug use. This combined with their questionable mental state leads to a spiraling, downward effect. An individuals loses their job because of their excessive substance abuse, turns to robbery as a method to fund their addiction, becomes increasingly irritable and aggressive as a result of their illegal substance use and mental illness, and eventually their temper erupts and they find themselves being charged with an assault, or worst.

Today’s veterans experience a significant amount of trauma and stress, yet, are often overlooked in getting the treatment they need. Because of this, their susceptibility to mental health issues, and the lack of renewal time, it is no wonder the number of veteran offenders is ever increasing. Fortunately, many jurisdictions are implementing veteran’s treatment courts, which focus more on the treatment and rehabilitation of the veteran, rather than the simple punishment of the individuals. However, in order to truly reduce the number of veteran offenders, help needs to be offered much earlier to prevent the downward spiral of negative events. Without the preventative intervention, we will continue to see a high number of veterans processing through the criminal justice system.

References:

Bartol, A. & Bartol, C. 2017. Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach. Eleventh Edition. Boston, MA: Pearson Education, Inc.

Berenson, S. (2010). The Movement Toward Veterans Courts. Clearinghouse Review 44( Issues and 2), 37-42.

Johnson, Scott, et al. (2016). Predictors of Incarceration of Veterans Participating in U.S. Veterans’ Courts. Psychiatiric Services. Volume 68, Issue 2, February 01, 2017, pp. 144-150

Rousseau, D. (2017). Modules 1-6. Forensic Behavior Analysis (MET CJ 725). Boston University.

Photo above from the Wounded Warrior Website:  woundedwarriorhomes.org/ptsd

A PTSD Society: A Society Post 9/11

National Park Service (n.d.). Statue of Liberty and World Trade Centers 9/11. Licensed under the National Park Service website under 9.11.01 Remembrance.

9/11 a day that will live in infamy as every person around the world can remember where they were and what they were doing when they saw this horrific terrorist attack take place. But since that day many other terrorist attacks have taken place on our soil, more than any that we have ever had in the history of our nation. Due to these terrorist and lone wolf attacks, I believe that many people in our society suffer from a minor form of Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD).

     Now, this is not to be compared to the degree that we see many who have served in our military, those who were in the midst of attacks, or have suffered other traumas as being equal to the rest of society. But think about the anxiety many people now have when they travel, either by public transportation plane or train/subways, go to public markets, or city holiday events. At all these areas you now see security at every corner (or sometimes wishing you saw more of them), ready to take a stand against any unforeseen or seen threat that could take place at any moment. The stress, the anxiety, the noise, and your thoughts running a thousand miles per hour as you take your daily steps towards the subway, platform 2, that you have done every day for the past 20 years. But at the end of each day, you are glad you made it home, taking a deep breath, and thankful that nothing happened today or nothing happened in your area.

     This type of PTSD according to the DSM-5 would be categorized as PTSD contracted by learning about or watching a traumatic event such as 9/11 and the other terrorist attacks (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Most American’s have seen the attacks happen either at the site of the attack or on the news either right after the attack and looking at the aftermath or sometimes during an event such as the Boston Marathon Bombing. According to some studies conducted by Galea and Schlenger (as written by Resnick, Galea, Kilpatrick, and Vlahov, 2004) a few weeks after 9/11 around “44%” of people that they surveys had symptoms of PTSD. Then around a few months to a year later, around 11% or more in the Manhattan area showed signs of PTSD (Resnick, et al., 2004). I believe that if we did a survey from the general society and asked them if they struggled with certain symptoms associated with PTSD after learning about, watching, or witnessing a terrorist attack that we would learn that a lot of people struggle with it, even for a short time.

     The media does a phenomenal job of helping us relive each terrorist attack as they repeat the event over and over until a new attack happens. And as new threats continue to be posted, more and more people are anxious to go to places that have big crowds.

      As a flight attendant, I talk to hundreds of people every day who are traveling for fun, work, or to see family and so many of them are anxious. Sometimes the fear and anxiety are palpable. Just this past week I went to London right after ISIS had put out a poster saying that they were going to attack the Christmas Markets. My crew and I were aware of the threat, talked about potential problems, and then how we were going to be aware of what was happening around us, but not let the threats of terrorism thwart our Christmas shopping plans. During the layover, I went to Winter Wonderland in Hyde Park, which is a beautiful Christmas Market, but those coming in had a very different demeanor than those coming out of the market. Those going in had to be searched, some got pat downs, while the majority of us had our bags searched. You could see that the police and military were jumpy, ready for something to happen, which made those of us entering on edge. Once you were in, I noticed that people were not drinking alcohol (well some might have been drinking too much) as they usually do and they were watching everyone. But looking at those leaving, they were laughing and having a great time knowing that nothing happened and they were able to have fun.

     As I said, the anxiety and fear were palpable, as the media images of a terrorist attack by IED’s, knife attacks, and car attacks were running through everyone’s minds. People showed obvious signs of PTSD, and I believe struggle with it due to what is happening in our world today. We don’t let the terrorist’s win by not going to markets or doing what we want to do, but we sometimes do those things with our eyes closed and taking a deep breath in as we know where we are going could change our lives in an instance.

Thank you for taking the time to read my post.

Bonita

Resources:

American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders: DSM-5 (5th ed.). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Publishing. doi:https://dsm-psychiatryonline-org.ezproxy.bu.edu/doi/book/10.1176/appi.books.9780890425596

National Park Services. (n.d). 9.11.01 REMEMBRANCE. Retrieved December 11, 2017 from https://web.archive.org/web/20021019052836/http://www.nps.gov/remembrance/statue/index.html

Resnick, H. PhD., Galea, S. MD, DRPH, Kilpatrick, D. PhD., Vlahov, D. PhD. (2004). PTSD Research Quarterly: RESEARCH ON TRAUMA AND PTSD IN THE AFTERMATH OF 9/11. Retrieved December 10, 2017 from https://www.ptsd.va.gov/professional/newsletters/research-quarterly/V15N1.pdf

Psychopaths

Psychopathy is the topic that interested me the most throughout this course. To think that these individuals can be just about anyone and that in most cases you can’t tell outwardly if they are or not. In many cases these individuals are a lot smarter than the average person and have the capability to hide their actions and seem like any everyday individual.

The cause of psychopathy is something that we can’t put a definitive answer to. Some causes that are argued by professionals include genetics and early life factors (Tracy). For many individuals you can see the signs that any individual has psychopathic tendencies before they turn 16. The symptoms of psychopathy tend to be thought of as stable throughout the lifetime of the individual (Tracy). The genetics of an individual seems to have an impact on the development of a psychopath. Those with psychopathic parents are more likely to become psychopaths themselves.

To many we think of psychopaths as the type of individuals that we see in movies where they act like everyone else but may display odd behavior in the privacy of their own home or may lurk in the shadows watching someone waiting to make their move. Psychopaths are quite different from what we see in film. An interesting fact I learned through this class is that there are three categories of psychopaths. The categories of psychopaths are as follows; primary, secondary and dissocial (Bartol & Bartol, 2017, p. 179). A primary psychopath has identifiable psychological, emotional, cognitive, and biological differences that will distinguish them from the general and criminal populations. A secondary psychopath is a psychopath that commits antisocial or violent acts because of severe emotional problems or inner conflicts. In some cases, these individuals are called symptomatic psychopaths. The last type of psychopath is the most interesting to me. These individuals are dissocial psychopaths. These individuals display aggressive, antisocial behavior that they have learned from their subculture, such as their gangs, terrorist groups, or families (Bartol & Bartol, 2017, p. 179).

The dyssocial psychopath is the most interesting to me because they show that genetics and environmental factors can lead to psychopathic behavior. It just proves that nature has more of an impact than nurture. I think that for an individual to display psychopathic characteristics that it really depends on their environment and less on whether they are loved and cared for from the beginning. I think that if an individual is neglected or abused it can contribute to their criminal behavior but if they are in a safe caring environment that it can influence the individual positively.

My thinking personally has changed since taking this course when it comes to a psychopath. For most we think that anyone that commits a heinous act is a psychopath but, that’s not the case. I think that we need to study more those individuals that we determine to be a psychopath to determine what causes their behavior to see if we can do anything to turn their behavior around or keep a young person from joining in psychopathic behavior.

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2017). Criminal Behavior: A Psychological Approach (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson.

Tracy, N. (n.d.). Psychopathy: Definition, Symptoms, Signs and Causes - Psychopath - Personality Disorders. Retrieved December 10, 2017, from https://www.healthyplace.com/personality-disorders/psychopath/psychopathy-definition-symptoms-signs-and-causes/

Children in the war zones & trauma

When I think of trauma, I think of an isolated incident (or discrete period of time) that impacts a person. However, for some people, it is their environment and childhood. For children growing up in war zones, every day is filled with traumatic events, and they witness things that most people do not have to witness in their lifetime. The fact that they go through these experiences at such a young age is very difficult for me to wrap my mind around, and thus, in my post, I will explore more specifically children in Syria that have trauma and a couple of programs that are in place to try to help them.
Natasha Ghoneim writes about a 10-year-old girl from Syria named Noor (Ghoneim, 2017). Noor witnessed her father be murdered by ISIS. After this, she and her mother and sisters fled to Turkey for safety. She had lived her life surrounded by death and war, and needless to say, everything has had an enormous impact on her. Ghoneim writes, “We were warned not to ask Noor about the family’s horrific encounter with ISIL, as recalling the memory for anyone, let alone a child, is traumatic.” Noor struggles with PTSD and has nightmares and depression. At the time this article was written, Noor was at the Al Sham Association in Gaziantep, Turkey. This association gives fatherless children and their mothers safety and shelter, as well as education and recreational programs. However, due to lack of funding, they cannot afford long-term psychologists to help the children, so most of the the help comes from un-professionally trained staff that work at the organization. This is clearly not enough for the children, as the staff estimate that 40% of the children there need long-term, professional mental-health care.
As there is a shortage of funding and mental health resources available to children like Noor- what kinds of other programs are in place to help? In Lebanon, art therapy has become a popular way to help children cope with their trauma (Stoughton, 2017). A certified art therapist, Dania Fawaz, who works in Lebanon explains the benefits of art therapy, saying, "A lot of children, especially the younger ones, haven't developed the verbal skills they need to describe such horrific events, especially if you're speaking about war. Art is a less directive and more natural tool for children to express themselves." (Stoughton, 2017). Through their art, children can work through their emotions and past in whatever way is helpful for them and at their own pace, whether it be through anger and frustration, sadness, confusion, or whatever emotions and feelings they have in a safe environment. Mona Shibaru is a volunteer for a similar organization called “The Red Pencil” who describes the work and goals they do, "We try to build some kind of resiliency that will stay with them even after the group finishes … We focus a lot on the power of imagination, because imagination and memories are things that no one can take away from you. No matter what happens, no matter where you move, you can still dream and imagine and envision." (Stoughton, 2017).
Another program in place is “Project Lift”. Project Lift holds a workshop for 5 days a month for Syrian children that combines performance and visual art therapy (Ergil, 2016). Through art, music, and dance, the program focuses on rehabilitation and resilience both for the present and future. The chief advisor of the program, as well as art therapist, Leyla Akça, describes their approach as helping the children build a “toolbox, which they can take with them and reuse these skills when they face hardships in their lives” (Ergil, 2016).

References

Ergil, L. Y. (2016, January 04). Project Lift: Trauma therapy for Syrian children. Retrieved December 10, 2017, from        https://www.dailysabah.com/life/2016/01/05/project-lift-trauma-therapy-for-syrian-children
Ghoneim, N. (2017, March 08). Searching for a light: Syrian children struggle with trauma. Retrieved December 10, 2017, from http://www.aljazeera.com/blogs/middleeast/2017/03/searching-light-syrian-children-struggle-trauma-170308102939423.html
Stoughton, I. (2017, March 04). Syrian refugee children process trauma through art. Retrieved December 10, 2017, from http://www.aljazeera.com/indepth/features/2017/01/syrian-refugee-children-process-trauma-art-170114100012150.html

ADHD: The Misdiagnosis Hiding a Larger Problem in Children

By: Amy Milner

ADHD is one of the most common diagnoses in children. Recently there has been a significant uptick in the number of children diagnosed per year. While some attribute this to hasty diagnosis, or issues in parenting, there may be a more significant problem at hand: trauma.

The ADHD diagnosis requires symptoms of both inattention and hyperactivity. These symptoms, crucial for an ADHD diagnosis, could be misinterpreted. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and responses to trauma often include hypervigilance, jumpiness and dissociation. When placed in a school setting, it is easy to mistake dissociation and hyperarousal as inattention and hyperactivity. Children, often referred to psychologists by educational professionals, could easily be misdiagnosed with ADHD despite actually having underlying trauma.

The stimulants often provided for ADHD could worsen the PTSD symptoms. Stimulants, which help to focus an inattentive brain may create more hypervigilance, jumpiness and dissociation in a child with underlying PTSD. This would cause children to perform worse in school and the home setting, possibly leading to more abuse. This cycle exemplifies the importance of a proper diagnosis.

Dr. Nicole Brown at Duke university studied the connection between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE’s) and ADHD diagnoses. She studied over 65,00 children between the ages of 6 and 17 years of age. Their parents were questioned about ADHD diagnosis, severity and medication. They were also questioned about potential ACE’s that their child faced. Sixteen percent of the children diagnosed with ADHD had faced at least four ACE’s as opposed to the six percent diagnosis in children who faced no ACE’s.

ACE’s can include things such as poverty, death of a parent or guardian, divorce, domestic violence, violence in the community, substance abuse, incarceration, discrimination or familial mental illness. Depending on severity and personal response, most, if not all, ACE’s could qualify as trauma. Therefore, it is safe to say that many of the children experiencing ADHD, could potentially be suffering from PTSD from the trauma they are facing at home.

The study by Dr. Brown and her team at Duke University illustrate an important consideration in diagnosis. When there is potential for a child to be considered for ADHD, greater care should be taken. Psychologists and doctors should investigate their home life looking carefully for potential trauma. This will help identify children who are victims of abuse or allow for additional support for those in poverty or with unstable home lives.

New research showing the potential for misdiagnosis of ADHD will help psychologists, particularly in a school setting, intervene sooner in cases of children with difficult home lives. Often children facing multiple ACE’s and trauma can be overlooked and find themselves on pathways to develop mental illness and criminal behavior. By recognizing potential ADHD symptomology as part of possible trauma, we make it easier to spot dangerous behaviors before they spiral.

Hopefully, by calling attention to a highly diagnosed psychological issue, we can help to properly diagnose young children who may be dealing with Post Traumatic Stress Disorder rather than ADHD.

Szalavitz, M. (2007). Trauma in Disguise. Scientific American Mind, 18(4), 12-12. Retrieved from http://www.jstor.org.ezproxy.bu.edu/stable/24939673

American Academy of Pediatrics. (2014, May 6). Study finds ADHD and trauma often go hand in hand. ScienceDaily. Retrieved December 6, 2017 from www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2014/05/140506074719.htm