38: How Would a Psychotherapist Approach Rex Heuerman?

In a recent episode of the "Hidden Killers" podcast, Tony Brueski
hosted Shavaun Scott, an accomplished psychotherapist and author,
to delve deep into the psyche of criminals and understand the
intricate workings of forensic psychotherapy.
 
The main focus revolved around individuals like Rex Heuermann, an
accused criminal, and the psychological evaluations and
therapeutic conversations conducted with such individuals while
in custody. "These guys that commit such crimes are generally
narcissistic, psychopathic, and sadistic. A trio of very
problematic traits," remarked Scott.
 
According to Scott, individuals like Heuermann possess a
dangerous cocktail of personality traits. Their narcissism,
psychopathy, and sadism lead them to boast and brag.
Interestingly, this very narcissism often becomes their downfall.
"If you can get them talking, usually by asking questions
appealing to their narcissism, they trip themselves up," Scott
explained.
 
She then laid out the probable approach for forensic interviews.
"I'd just want to get the guy talking at first. While you don't
reveal the red flags they may be disclosing, careful notes are
taken, and one listens, asking a lot of questions," she
elaborated. Notably, psychological tests like the MPI and
psychopathy checklists are incorporated to further understand
their psyche.
 
But how effective are these tests? The reliability, Scott
indicates, depends on the chosen tests and the skill level of the
person administering them. Criminals with the aforementioned trio
of traits often prove to be master manipulators. "They're
storytellers and they're always spinning a tale," said Scott. But
even the best of them can't hide their inconsistencies forever,
especially if they're under extended scrutiny.
 
The "Hidden Killers" episode also touched upon the relevance of
media coverage in crimes like Heuermann's. "Media can play a
role, especially in inspiring the mass shooters, those with a
political agenda, or an agenda against women," shared Scott. Such
individuals can be influenced by media coverage, attempting to
outdo each other.
 
However, in the case of serial killers, like Heuermann, the
impact seems less direct. Scott said, "This kind of pathology
develops so early in life. They've usually been having weird
sexual fantasies since childhood." It's more ingrained, a deeper
issue that's often hard to simply pin on media influence.
 
The conversation went on to differentiate between serial killers,
who've harbored twisted fantasies from a young age, and mass
killers, who act out more suddenly, without such a prolonged
history. "It's usually not somebody who's been fantasizing about
that for years, maybe a couple of years, but not going back to
age eight, nine, or 10," explained Scott.
 
In conclusion, while each criminal is unique, understanding the
intricate layers of their psyche and how it functions can be an
invaluable tool in investigations and the justice system. As
Shavaun Scott's insights suggest, even the most hardened
criminals have vulnerabilities. The task for forensic
psychotherapists is to find those cracks and help unmask the
truth behind the façade.
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