Podcast Summary: Modern Wisdom Episode #861 - Dr. Marissa Harrison on The Dark Psychology Of Female Serial Killers

Introduction

In episode #861 of Modern Wisdom, host Chris Williamson delves into the often-overlooked subject of female serial killers with expert psychologist and researcher Dr. Marissa Harrison. This comprehensive discussion sheds light on the psychology, demographics, motives, and societal factors surrounding female serial killers, a group that constitutes approximately one in six serial killers in the United States but remains underrepresented in both media and research.

Understanding Female Serial Killers

Dr. Harrison begins by challenging the traditional perception that serial killers are predominantly male and sexually motivated. She emphasizes that female serial killers often operate differently, utilizing more covert methods such as poisoning and killing for financial gain or power rather than for sexual gratification.

"All the most infamous serial killers are men, but one in six serial killers are women, a group who have totally slipped under the radar." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [00:00]

Neglect in Research and Public Perception

Dr. Harrison discusses the societal biases that lead to the neglect of female serial killers in research. She attributes this to longstanding stereotypes that portray women as nurturing and non-threatening, making it harder to suspect women of such heinous crimes.

"There is this age-old notion that women can't be damaging, women can't be dangerous... So what we might think a grandma would look like, maybe I don't want to get in trouble for saying this, but... you wouldn't suspect that she would do these things." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [05:37]

Demographics of Female Serial Killers

A significant portion of the discussion focuses on the typical profile of female serial killers based on Dr. Harrison’s research:

• Race and Ethnicity: Predominantly white.
• Marital Status: Likely to have been married multiple times.
• Age: Typically in their 20s and 30s.
• Religion: Often Christian.
• Socioeconomic Status: Middle class.
• Employment: High likelihood of being employed in caregiving roles, especially in healthcare (e.g., nurses or nurse’s aides).
• Victim Profile: Targets vulnerable individuals such as infants, elderly, or disabled persons.

"She's likely white. She's probably been married at least once, but perhaps several times... Probably has committed her crimes in the suburbs. She's probably employed and there's a very good chance she's going to be a health care worker, like a nurse or a nurse's assistant." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [17:31]

Motives Behind Female Serial Killers

Dr. Harrison identifies money and power as the primary motives for female serial killers, contrasting them with male counterparts who often kill for sexual gratification.

"Money was the number one motive and power was the number two motive." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [19:41]

She introduces the Hunter-Gatherer Hypothesis, suggesting evolutionary roles influence the differing behaviors:

• Male Serial Killers: Modeled as hunters, targeting strangers.
• Female Serial Killers: Modeled as gatherers, targeting acquaintances and those within their social circles.

"Men seek sex, women seek money... hunter gatherer hypothesis of serial murder... men are more likely to target strangers... women tend to kill elderly people, people with some kind of disability or illness." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [48:33]

Psychosocial Factors and Childhood Trauma

A recurrent theme is the impact of early childhood trauma, particularly childhood sexual abuse (CSA), on the development of serial killers. Dr. Harrison points out that both male and female serial killers often share this traumatic background, which influences their aggressive behaviors differently.

"A common denominator in both male and female serial killers is profound CSA childhood sexual abuse." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [32:52]

Methods of Killing and Victim Selection

Female serial killers predominantly use poisoning as their method of killing, leveraging their positions in caregiving roles to access their victims without raising suspicion. This method allows them to act covertly, often leaving victims to die from ailments that could be misattributed to natural causes.

"They tend to poison people... methods they use include poison, prescription drugs, insulin injections to induce heart attacks." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [53:03]

Victim Profiles

The victims of female serial killers are often vulnerable individuals such as:

• Infants and Children: Instances of mothers killing their own children or stepchildren.
• Elderly and Disabled Persons: Targets within caregiving environments like hospitals.
• Husbands: Motivation to kill for financial gain through insurance or inheritance.

"Women tend to kill elderly people, people of age, infants or people with some kind of disability or illness that all of these people can't fight back." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [39:18]

Sociocultural and Evolutionary Perspectives

Dr. Harrison explores how modern societal changes might influence the prevalence and detection of female serial killers. She suggests that advancements in forensic science and digital surveillance make it harder for female serial killers to evade detection, potentially reducing their numbers.

"We have increasingly sophisticated medical examination techniques... it's not as easy to get away with that the way it was." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [58:53]

She also highlights the evolutionary psychology lens, explaining that gender roles and reproductive strategies historically influence the differing motives and behaviors of male and female serial killers.

"Men have a higher sex drive... women seek money as a resource... evolutionary component plays a role alongside developmental and sociocultural factors." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [48:33]

Prevention and Societal Implications

Towards the end of the episode, Dr. Harrison emphasizes the need for increased police resources and psychological interventions to prevent potential serial killers from developing. She advocates for early intervention in cases of childhood trauma and improved support systems to address the root causes of such extreme behaviors.

"We need more psychologists to get out there and intervene... the earlier you get there, the better." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [66:28]

Conclusion

Dr. Marissa Harrison concludes by urging for greater awareness and research into female serial killers, highlighting the importance of understanding their distinct psychological profiles and motives. She calls for societal changes to provide better support for individuals experiencing trauma and to enhance forensic capabilities to prevent and detect such crimes effectively.

"I hope they take what my team and I have done and do it on a grander scale and create change, stop crime, help people where they need it." – Dr. Marissa Harrison [66:37]

Key Takeaways

• Underrepresentation: Female serial killers are significantly underrepresented in research and media compared to their male counterparts.
• Distinct Motives: Women typically kill for financial gain or power, utilizing methods like poisoning, while men often kill for sexual reasons.
• Victim Vulnerability: Female serial killers tend to target vulnerable individuals within their caregiving environments.
• Childhood Trauma: Early childhood trauma, especially CSA, is a common factor among both male and female serial killers.
• Evolutionary Factors: Gender-specific evolutionary roles influence the differing behaviors and motives of serial killers.
• Prevention Needs: Enhanced psychological support and increased forensic resources are essential in preventing and detecting female serial killers.

Notable Quotes

• Dr. Marissa Harrison on Societal Perception:

  "There is this age-old notion that women can't be damaging, women can't be dangerous... you wouldn't suspect that she would do these things." [05:37]

• On Morbid Curiosity and Evolutionary Psychology:

  "We are pre-programmed to pay attention to the things that could hurt us so that we can take in information." [11:10]

• On the Psychological Instinct of Caregiving Gone Awry:

  "There is this caregiving instinct in all of us... if you take this set point, let's say psychologically, of females to get themselves to the stage where they're prepared to take a life." [24:08]

• On the Necessity of Early Intervention:

  "We need more psychologists to get out there and intervene, because if something bad happens to someone, the earlier you get there, the better." [66:28]

Further Resources

• Book: Just As Deadly: The Psychology of Female Serial Killers by Dr. Marissa Harrison (Cambridge University Press, 2023)
• Faculty Webpage: Penn State, Harrisburg (Please insert actual URL if available)

Final Thoughts

This episode underscores the critical need to broaden our understanding of female serial killers beyond prevailing stereotypes. Dr. Harrison’s insights highlight the complex interplay of psychological trauma, societal roles, and evolutionary factors that contribute to this dark facet of human behavior. By shedding light on these hidden patterns, the discussion aims to foster greater awareness and preventative measures within both law enforcement and psychological support systems.