Jeffrey Dahmer Essay

Words: 2282
Pages: 10

Introduction

The celebrated case of Jeffrey Dahmer is one most of the world knows well. Or, at least they think they do. Society has a morbid fascination with cases of this nature, but they should be more dutifully informed of the major aspects. Most of the research out there usually only focuses on just one aspect and ignores other aspects of this man’s life. An in-depth analysis will paint a picture of the man who was Jeffrey Dahmer by examining a set of internal factors which will offer better insight into why he became a murderer. Dahmer’s tale is one filled with neglect, sorrow, and hatred. However, looking over the determining factors of his existence will help the public better understand his motives.
Internal Factors

In the case of Jeffrey Dahmer, most of his behaviors that emerged when he was an adult did not just spring up overnight. It was the result of a long and painful development that started when he was a child. Dahmer experienced such things as Asperger’s syndrome, loneliness, social isolation, neglect, and depression all before he became a young adult. As a result of these, his development into a serial killer was almost a domino effect leading to his necrophilia tendencies and cannibalistic acts. As the wise Yoda once said, "Once you start down the dark
…show more content…
When he was a young boy, his father noted some peculiar behaviors that started when his son was about five years old. Dahmer showed no expressive emotion, had a rigid body, was very distant, and had little to no social skills with his peers. These characteristics are hallmark signs of what is known as Asperger's Syndrome. Autism Speaks defines this disorder as "...an autism spectrum disorder (ASD) considered to be on the “high functioning” end of the spectrum. Affected children and adults have difficulty with social interactions and exhibit a restricted range of interests and/or repetitive behaviors" (Autism Speaks.