Educational Media Reviews Online

Mind of a Killer tries to explain why people kill. Animal behavior studies, neurological tests, and functional brain imaging are used to examine the case of a serial killer, Joel Rifkin, who confessed to murdering 17 women.

The first explanation centers on the belief that many killers were abused and taunted as children and that these experiences lead them to commit violent acts as adults. Peter Breggin from the International Center for the Study of Psychiatry says that most people who commit murder don't feel strong but feel week and ashamed. He believes that these feelings subsequently lead to violence. Dr. Craig Ferris from the University of Massachusetts supports this belief through his studies of hamsters. He found that when adult hamsters are abused by other hamsters of the same size or larger, they become afraid of these abusive hamsters. Toward smaller, weaker hamsters, the abused hamsters subsequently display abnormally high aggression. In looking at the brain chemistry of his abused hamsters, Dr. Ferris found that their brains became very sensitive to Vasopressin, a chemical that causes animals to be aggressive. At the same time their brains were said to be numb to the effects of Serotonin, a chemical that is said to be the brain's peacemaker. He concludes, therefore, that physical and emotional abuse can cause negative changes in brain chemistry.

Joel Rifkin was given various examinations to test his cognitive functions such as attention, memory, visual perception, and language. It was found that he had difficulty inhibiting motor responses even though he knew they were incorrect. When people exhibit this dysfunction, it typically means that they suffer from an abnormality of the frontal lobe, specifically the prefrontal cortex that controls the organization of one's movements, their decision making, and their ability to regulate impulses. A MRI was taken of Joel Rifkin's frontal lobe but it did not reveal a tumor or infarction that may be the cause of his dysfunction. Functional Brain Imaging was then used to examine the activity of Joel's prefrontal cortex. Low activity would lead one to believe that Joel's prefrontal cortex was not functioning properly and may be the cause of his inability to inhibit his violent impulses.

The remainder of the program discusses various issues regarding the use of brain scans in the courts. Controversy arises because there are still many unknowns about how the brain works and our ability to draw conclusions from the data we have thus far. It is noted that humans are complex beings that develop from a mixture of social, physical, and psychological impacts. The program concludes with a statement from Joel Rifkin in which he acknowledges that brain dysfunction is not an excuse for murder.

This program was produced for the Discovery Channel so it is presented in a familiar documentary style and is of good technical quality. The ideas expressed are well organized and fairly balanced. High school and college level students will benefit from this video. It is highly recommended.