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Reality-testing is a difficult variable to describe, and comes from the Object Relations model of performing therapy with clients that have personality disorders. This variable was incorporated into the Fantasy Wheel to assist in understanding those offenders that commit serial murder and also display evidence at the crime scene of possible psychotic features. Although it is commonly thought that all serial murderers are "crazy" or psychotic, this is far from the truth. In fact, most serial murderers are very aware of their actions and commit the murders for the fulfillment of a psychosexual need. There are however many serial murderers that have stated that the fantasy aspect of their crimes was at times blurred with reality of the actions. In object relations, reality-testing is referred to as the concept of an individuals ability to recognize and differentiate between self and others. Those unable to do so are said to be functioning at a psychotic level, where there is a difficulty or inability to distinguish between self and others, or what is real and not. Borrowing from this concept, the Fantasy Wheel takes into account that there have been serial murderers who have demonstrated this inability to distinguish between their fantasies and the actual events. Although it is my opinion that serial murderers commit the crimes with the desire to kill others, which is pleasurable or exciting to them, there are admittedly those that have suffered from documented psychotic disorders or features that needed to be accounted for within the theory. It should be noted that although psychotic in reality-testing these offenders have historically demonstrated evidence of fantasy elements within their criminal and non-criminal behaviors.
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E-mail your questions or suggestions to Bryan Nelson Last Updated: 06/07/2008 © 2002-2008, Deviant Crimes |
