A Psych for Sore Minds: Debunking Myths about Murderers
In a thought-provoking video on YouTube, London-based forensic psychiatrist Dr. Sohom Das debunks several common myths about murderers. With his channel, A Psych for Sore Minds, Dr. Das aims to provide insights into mental health and crime-related topics.
The first myth he tackles is the belief that all murderers must be mentally ill. Dr. Das explains that while some murderers do have mental health diagnoses, most do not. Only a small proportion of killers in psychiatric units exhibit recognized mental disorders such as depression, bipolar disorder, or schizophrenia. Additionally, even if murderers have symptoms of mental illness, they are typically mild and not severe enough to control their actions.
The second myth is the assumption that most murderers kill strangers. However, statistics indicate that the majority of murder victims are killed by individuals they know, especially women. The Office for National Statistics reports that, as of March 2020, 62% of murder victims knew their killers, with this percentage even higher for females and victims under 16.
Contrary to the third myth, Dr. Das explains that it is unlikely for someone who has committed murder to go on to kill again. This challenges the notion that murderers have a predisposition for repeating their actions.
The fourth myth discussed is the idea that serial killers are brilliant criminal masterminds. Dr. Das dispels this notion by highlighting that around 40% of serial killers have low IQs and operate randomly, often on the fringes of society. Such killers do not exhibit the meticulous planning and