Discuss the relevance of psychoanalytic theory to understanding sadistic serial murders. The research on serial killers is vast, as there is a lot of information about them, but there is more attraction and sexualization formed from television shows and documentaries where behavioral analysis is used in order to identify serial killers. This takes away some of the academic literature and some people think they know everything when it comes to serial killers, even though there is much more to it than solving the crimes of a murderer who may have raped and eaten his victims, like Jeffrey. Dahmer, which will be discussed in more detail. Thus, in this discussion, the main theories that will be used to interpret the relevance of psychoanalytic theory in understanding sadistic serial murders will be psychopathology and how genetic and environmental influences can determine a serial killer (Rowley, Ewing and Singer, 1987). It will be explained how interpersonal rejection can cause an individual to feel socially repudiated and, as a result, their lack of remorse and empathy is reinforced, believing that if no one cares about them, they want to take that away from someone another (Rubin, Burgess, Coplan and Menzer). , 2002). Psychosexual theory will also be discussed with the Oedipus complex with an obsession for the mother, in order to please her, all of this will be discussed in more detail (Nemiroff & Colarusso, 1985). Additionally, by understanding the fixation at the phallic stage, we will discuss Jeffery Dahmer and some of the reasons he kept carcasses and had sex with them, giving us a better understanding of a serial killer, through the psychoanalysis (Solloway, 1992). Rubin et al (2002) also explain ...... in the middle of the article ......e help with therapy rather than when the serial killer is older and therefore brutally kills many more. The problem I discovered with this question is that psychoanalysis is so broad; it's physically impossible to write about everything, and even when it's limited to psychopathy, interpersonal rejection, and psychosexual theories, even that is extremely broad to narrow down. Another problem encountered was with the literature, there was a large amount of literature on psychoanalysis, but again reducing it to the criteria of a serial killer was very difficult and conclusions based on serial killers are amplified, where I couldn't tell if that was the case. was truthful or like a television show. Overall, however, psychoanalysis plays an important role in understanding a serial killer, due to his upbringing and social ostracism which makes him lonely and isolated..