Dissociative Pathways to Homicide: Clinical and Forensic Implications

ABSTRACT

In a earlier review, dissociation was found to be linked to violence in a wide range of populations, including college students, young mothers, psychiatric patients, and criminal offenders, and was often expressed in the violent act itself, in the form of depersonalization or subsequent amnesia (Moskowitz, 2004). While that review focused on “state” dissociation–i.e., dissociation during an act of violence, this paper looks at links between “trait” dissociation and violence–evidence that long-term dissociative processes may predispose vulnerable individuals to violent behavior, and even homicide. Specifically, it is argued that dissociation is related to the development of four “types” (probably not mutually exclusive) of homicide offenders: (1) violent individuals suffering from dissociative identity disorder, whose violence is expressed through certain dissociated personality states, (2) fantasy-driven violence, often accompanied by some form of identity alteration, (3) paroxysms of “dissociative rage” in individuals normally presenting as polite or meek, characterized as “overcontrolled hostile” (Megargee, 1966), and (4) persons designated as psychopathic, whose emotional numbing may be trauma-based and similar to that seen in depersonalization disorder. While the last three areas are somewhat speculative, research findings supporting each proposed link are presented. In conjunction with Moskowitz (2004), this review strongly suggests a significant role for dissociation not only in the commission of certain violent acts, but also in the development of some violent individuals; the clinical and forensic implications of this are discussed. Further research systematically exploring the role of dissociative processes in violent and homicidal behavior is called for.

KEYWORDS:

• Dissociation
• psychopathy
• homicide
• fantasy
• depersonalization