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Serial killers and murderers

ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
edited November 2010 in Buddhism Basics
We are all aware of serial killers and murderers to different extents. Serial killers are slightly different to most one time murderers as a lot of murderers maybe kill due to passion or in the heat of the moment so to speak, whereas serial killers have something deep within them that has brewed over many years bringing them to such a point.

Now, is it possible for buddhism to help even these people who obviously suffer greatly? I thought I would throw this one out there as it is somewhat different to the threads that repeatedly get posted in this forum. DISCUSS :)

Comments

  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited November 2010
    Although it may be difficult, there is no reason that no attempt should be made to reach such people. Working with persons on an individual basis should definitely be attempted. As you may know, various Buddhist groups have prison projects to do precisely that. No human being should be given up on unless they pose an immediate threat to life and limb. Once they are in the prison system, every attempt should be made to reach them.

    After all, in prison they have a lot of time on their hands. Why not try to educate them in Buddhist ways, or any ways that make their lives more meaningful?

    I recall a study by Dr. Richard Davidson of University of Wisconsin in which he appeared to show that even people with a strong neurological propensity to violence, and a history of violence, benefited from meditation techniques.

    There's no reason not to try.
  • AkalikoAkaliko
    edited November 2010
    ThailandTom wrote: »
    We are all aware of serial killers and murderers to different extents. Serial killers are slightly different to most one time murderers as a lot of murderers maybe kill due to passion or in the heat of the moment so to speak, whereas serial killers have something deep within them that has brewed over many years bringing them to such a point.

    Now, is it possible for buddhism to help even these people who obviously suffer greatly? I thought I would throw this one out there as it is somewhat different to the threads that repeatedly get posted in this forum. DISCUSS :)

    This reminds me of the story of Venerable Angiumala.

    http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Angulimala
  • filosophiafilosophia
    edited November 2010
    most serial killers have extreme ideologies, they hate women or minorities, or a childhood trauma makes them sick, Buddhism can alleviate this suffering by giving them the right understanding on life. If they realized that all people suffer, they would not have hatred and revenge for others who wronged them.
  • ThailandTomThailandTom Veteran
    edited November 2010
    I looked into the profile of a serial killer and they all seem to fit many of the personality traits. For example, something like 80% of them have a high IQ but did poorly at school, or as children they killed animals, set fires, destroyed property, they wet the bed a lot, are compulsive liars and so on. Obviously this profile does not apply to everyone and to every trait, but it is a general thing to go by. I was also somewhat taken back to realise that 90% of serial killers are white males.. Anyway, my point is that is there something not built into their brain combined with certain circumstances through childhood that create these types of people. Can buddhism actually get through to them? I understand they all must be suffering and are ignorant, but is there something in their brain that buddhism will not even be able to tap into...
  • MountainsMountains Veteran
    edited November 2010
    It is a form of mental illness. And like every other form of mental illness, it lies on a continuum. It's not black or white, either or. I'm sure that as a group, serial killers probably tend more toward the seriously mentally ill end of the spectrum, but one never knows about an individual. Some people are so profoundly mentally ill that there is nothing that can break through. Others aren't. I don't think anyone should be given up on, but realize that no one formula is going to work for everybody.

    We all suffer to some degree or other, don't we?
  • beingbeing Veteran
    edited November 2010
    I suggest you to check out this documentary: Dhamma Brothers - Vipassana in Prison (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1212007/)
  • BlackFlagBlackFlag
    edited November 2010
    It's kinda funny but I was actually thinking about this a couple days ago. I strongly believe agree with SherabDorje. Thich Nhat Hanh talked about in his book "The Heart of the Buddha's Teachings" about seeds that have to be watered. This made me think of sociopaths who perhaps had traumatic experiences as a young child which made them the way they are today. Quite interesting to think about actually. Perhaps there are those that are incurable, but I wouldn't know, I'm not a psychologist.
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited November 2010
    Building a better brain

    UW professor Richard Davidson believes meditation can improve lives — even those of hardened criminals


    http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=25405
  • SherabDorjeSherabDorje
    edited November 2010
    Building a better brain

    UW professor Richard Davidson believes meditation can improve lives — even those of hardened criminals


    http://www.thedailypage.com/isthmus/article.php?article=25405
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