ABSTRACT
This chapter explores the relationship between serial homicide and pathological narcissism through a review of the literature and an illustrative case report. The psychopathology of narcissism has been increasingly studied ever since the condition “narcissistic personality disorder” was included in the third revision of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual. R. M. Holmes and J. E. DeBurger classify serial murder into four subtypes based on phenomenology of the act and motivation: visionary—serial murder as a result of psychotic commands and mission oriented—the goal to kill certain types of people, such as prostitutes. It includes hedonistic—murder as a result of thrill seeking and power control—gratification from complete control of the victim. The element of pathological narcissism is so striking that it clearly plays a major role in understanding this particular offender and the disorder of serial murder in general. In analyzing a spree serial murder, P. Pollack agrees with D. Abrahamsen that violence is used in such cases as a defense in the service of narcissism.
