PATHOLOGICAL NARCISSISM AND SERIAL HOMICIDE - REVIEW AND CASE-STUDY

Serial homicide, as a psychopathological condition, has been described as long ago as 1886. The traits and characteristics of serial murdere rs are varied, as are the theories that attempt to explain their motiv ation. Theorists have emphasized, for example, traumatic events in ear ly life, sexual disturbance and dynamics, and neurobiological abnormal ities. in the past fifteen years, as narcissistic disturbance in gener al has been better understood, a relationship has been noted between p athological narcissism and serial homicide. Narcissistic personality d isorder, narcissistic injury, underlying feelings of inadequacy and hu miliation, self-glorifying compensatory fantasies, and the erection of narcissistic defenses have all been mentioned as important factors in understanding the serial killer. An illustrative case report, which e ncompasses many of these characteristics, is presented here along with a review of clinical research, theory, and findings.