What Is Sexual Sadism?

Serial killers are not all the same, contrary to conventional thinking. They vary among motives, victimology, characteristics of person and crime scene, as well as other factors.

One of the most heinous serial killers is the sexually sadistic serial killer. The article, “Psychopathic Sexual Sadists: The Psychology and Psychodynamics of Serial Killers,” by Vernon J. Geberth, M.S., M.P.S., former Commander of Bronx Homicide, references the DSM-IV: “Psychopathic sexual sadists, based on the objective criteria of DSM-IV are extremely dangerous to the well-being of a civilized society.”

What is sexual sadism? Lunde, in 1976, defined sexual sadism as “a deviation characterized by torture and/or killing and mutilation of other persons to achieve sexual gratification.”

According to M. J. MacCulloch, the sexually sadistic thoughts of rape bondage, sodomy, torture, and murder began around 16 years of age combined with masturbation and progressing in frequency when the sadistic element was added to the fantasies. As a child, the sexual sadist killer typically was the subject of physical and/or psychological and/or sexual abuse, and neglect.

In research, we find the predominant characteristics of the sexually sadistic serial killer to be a married, middle-class Caucasian male, under 30 years of age, with at least some college, and stable employment (probably professional or white-collar).

This serial killer thrives on the control of his victims. The power he possesses over his victims and the pain he causes are significant driving factors of his murders.

He thrives on power and control and, in essence, acts like a god as he decides what will happen to the victim, including if the victim lives or dies. The sexually sadistic serial killer views his victims, not as human, but as objects for his enjoyment and has no consideration for his actions or results of his brutality of his victim.

This individual goes to great lengths to plan out every aspect of abduction, torture, and murder. Victims are usually strangers, and the perpetrator typically pre-selects his victims based on one or more criteria, and he pre-selects the location for the crime(s). The killer, typically socially adept, will use his superficial charm and powers of persuasion to con his victims to do as he asks, with his goal to get them in a situation where he has control over them.

The sexually sadistic serial killer will typically bind, blindfold, and gag his victims, and perform, or have performed by force, rape, torture, and other horrific acts. Each of these acts only serves to heighten his arousal and can then lead to the death of the victim. The killer will typically use a mode of homicide that offers additional control and excitement such as suffocation and choking or stabbing.

After death, the killer will usually take a trophy (jewelry, shoes, body part, or other) with him to attempt to relive the experience with the victim, and, once culminated, the killer will usually hide the victim’s body.

While numerous studies have been performed on these serial killers, there is still so much to be done and so much we do not know.