Serial killers and IQ

[Adalwolf]

There is a definite correlation between psychopathic behavior and high intelligence. Plenty of these killers have IQ's in the range of borederline genius (140+). It is just a wonder what they could have attributed to society had their motivations been in the correct place.

See for yourself- http://www.kids-iq-tests.com/famous-serial-killer-IQ.html

Source:
The source of this information was used with permission from:

Michael G. Aamodt, Ph.D.

Professor Emeritus, Department of Psychology

Radford University, Radford, VA 24142-6946

[Ibericus]

Where is Unabomber ? He has an IQ of 160, a genius.

[Eldritch]

Where is Unabomber ? He has an IQ of 160, a genius.

He was a terrorist, not a serial killer.

[Adalwolf]

I had actually suspected Bundy's to be higher than 124. Nevertheless, that is still considerably higher than your average schmo.

[SwordoftheVistula]

If they weren't smart, they couldn't get away with it for so long.

[Adalwolf]

It helps them camouflage effectively into normal, everyday society. Look at John Wayne Gacy for example. He ran his own reputable construction business pulling in a annual sum of over 200K. He was very well-liked within the community and won an award in Chicago dealing with superb accomplishments for a Polish-American.

Bundy was a lawyer in progress as well, who was very charismatic. Point is that nobody ever expects malicious behavior from these people based on shallow outwardly impressions. They're exactly like chameleons.

[Adalwolf]

John Wayne Gacy accepting an award from first lady Rosalynn:

http://southpawbeagle.files.wordpress.com/2010/02/john-wayne-gacy.jpg?w=402&h=369

Of course this must have caused enormous embarrassment after all was said and done...

[Bloodeagle]

If they weren't smart, they couldn't get away with it for so long.

I agree, most unintelligent killers get caught early in there career and are less likely to elevate to the status of serial killer. This may further explain the predominance of Caucasian serial killers.

[Adalwolf]

I just wonder how much of their evasion has to do with wit, or just not being suspected by people because of good reputation/ first impressions etc.

[SwordoftheVistula]

I just wonder how much of their evasion has to do with wit, or just not being suspected by people because of good reputation/ first impressions etc.

Well it takes a certain IQ level to realize the need to maintain this. Also, John Wayne Gacy didn't become a $200k/yr contractor by being an idiot. Hard to establish a good reputation in the community if you are a high school dropout/drug addict.

Also, their killings are usually thought through carefully and planned in advance with thought towards escape plans and concealing identity; whereas the typical low-IQ thug acts on impulse, stabbing someone who called him a name etc, or coming up with simplistic plots like barging into a house or store waving weapons and demanding money, or ambushing women in random places to rape them.

Even most/all of the 'black serial killers' seem to be just thugs who don't get caught on the basis of them killing people nobody notices missing or gives much of a damn about, crack whores etc.

[Peerkons]

How much is considered to be 'normal' IQ?

[alexandra]

How much is considered to be 'normal' IQ?

i believe 100 - 110? i could be wrong.

[Groenewolf]

i believe 100 - 110? i could be wrong.

Between 90 and 110 is considered the normal range.

[Adalwolf]

Depends on the country. Germany is one of the highest, and the average IQ is 102.

[mymy]

Hm, I somewhere read before that attached earlobes are sign of criminal tendencies and unsocial behaving... But don't think it is connected with IQ, just remembered cause was interesting to me because mine are attached.

https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Life/images/earlobes.jpg

[alexandra]

Hm, I somewhere read before that attached earlobes are sign of criminal tendencies and unsocial behaving... But don't think it is connected with IQ, just remembered cause was interesting to me because mine are attached.

https://www.windows2universe.org/earth/Life/images/earlobes.jpg

sounds like some kind of phrenology hulla-baloo to me.

[Heretik]

I'll be the first low intelligent serial killer. :thumbs

[Adalwolf]

Behavioral psychologists like to make all sorts of broad generalizations. I've heard theories that kids who are chronic bed wetters can develop psychopathic tendencies. They probably came to this unwarranted conclusion by analyzing a few serial killers and noticing similarities. Nothing more.

[Groenewolf]

Depends on the country. Germany is one of the highest, and the average IQ is 102.

We can probably presume that they did not use tests calibrated along the data collected by researches such as Richard Lynn and is more fitted to the American average. In the other words the American average score taken as the 100 point.

[Germanicus]

•Serial killers are often intelligent, with IQs in the bright normal range.
•Often they have trouble staying employed. Usually, they have menial jobs as well. Despite these usual reports, the FBI, states, "Serial murderers often seem normal; have families and a steady job."
•Other sources state: They often come from unstable families.
•As children, they are often abandoned by their fathers and raised by domineering mothers.
•Their families often have criminal, psychiatric and alcoholic histories.
•They were often abused - emotionally, physically and/or sexually - by a family member.
•They have high rates of suicide attempts.
•From an early age, many are intensely interested in voyeurism, fetishism, and sadomasochistic pornography.
•More than 60 percent wet their beds beyond the age of 12.
•Many are fascinated with fire starting.
•They are involved in sadistic activity or torturing animals.
•They were frequently bullied as children.
•Some were criminals involved in petty crimes, such as theft, fraud, vandalism, dishonesty or similar offenses.

[Eldritch]

The two defining ones are bed-wetting and animal cruelty, afaIk. If those two are present in the same teenager, you've got a future serial killer in your hands.

[Adalwolf]

I can definitely agree with animal cruelty as an early sign. Bed wetting on the other hand seems like an absurd speculation...

[Don]

How much is considered to be 'normal' IQ?

0 (+100[due to "ethic" reasons. If not, we would have NEGATIVE -8:( instead a cool 92:cool:]).

...


Be aware that these serial killers that are known are the less intelligent among these monsters, some kind of the head of the iceberg. The obvious reason is that they got caught.

The numbers of disappeared people every year in any big city is impressive.

[Eldritch]

Macdonald triad (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Macdonald_triad)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

The Macdonald triad (also known as the triad of sociopathy) is a set of three behavioral characteristics that are associated with sociopathic behavior. The triad was first identified by J.M. Macdonald in "The Threat to Kill", a 1963 paper in the American Journal of Psychiatry.

The triad links animal cruelty, obsession with fire setting, and persistent bedwetting past the age of five to violent behaviors, particularly homicidal behavior. Although other studies have not found statistically significant links between the triad of violence and violent offenders, many serial killers exhibited these behaviors during childhood. Contract killer Richard Kuklinski and serial killer Dennis Rader both engaged in acts of animal cruelty.

More here (search document for "enuresis" or "bed wetting"):

http://www.scientificjournals.org/journals2009/articles/1441.pdf

[Adalwolf]

That study was a very in-depth analysis. Another common similarity are these colossal addictions to pornography.

[Fortis in Arduis]

Making pornography a negative trend in society or in one's life. :nod:

Causation or correlation?