I have chosen The Silence of the Lambs film and the first meeting between Dr. Hannibal Lecter and Clarice Starling because that scene offers a perfect media stereotype of a serial killer. Hannibal Lecter is portrayed as a calm, sophisticated, and even courteous person. However, the tension around this man is so strong that other dangerous prisoners in the cell block do not look so fearsome compared to Lecter. Lecter’s voice is soft and quiet, but everything about him: his mimic, his posture, and his gestures, creates an ominous atmosphere. He seethes with cold rage against Clarice’s superiors, and that rage is almost palpable, which makes Lecter even more terrifying.
The image of Hannibal Lecter is sharply different from other violent offenders incarcerated in that cell block. Unlike the stereotypes about serial killers, this situation is surprisingly true in real life. Violent offenders might share certain common traits, but those regularities are far from universal. According to Hickey (2010), offenders do not always come from the same mold as they evolve through different life events. In that regard, psychopathology becomes an essential tool for revealing personality disorders before they manifest themselves in crime.
Regardless of the offender’s psychopathology, it is crucial to distinguish psychosis from psychopathy. These terms are not interchangeable; psychosis is a severe form of mental illness, which could and should be treated (Hickey, 2010). A psychotic person might exhibit hallucinations, delusions, or grossly disorganized behavior (Hickey, 2010). On the contrary, psychopathy is not an illness but a personality trait that leads to antisocial behavior. Criminal psychopaths proved to be not amenable to treatment (Hickey, 2010). Overall, psychotic patients need medical help, while psychopaths usually enjoy their personalities.
In terms of possible legal defenses, violent offenders use various strategies related to mental conditions. For example, some real serial killers claimed to be controlled by other personalities when they committed murders (Hickey, 2010). Contrary to popular belief, most serial killers do not use the insanity plea (Hickey, 2010). In the case of Hannibal Lecter, he did not need any legal defense as he already succeeded in one. A renowned forensic psychiatrist, Lecter presumably faked insanity and ended up in the hospital for insane criminals rather than the highest security prison. The Silence of the Lambs is a great film — but it is unlikely that Hannibal Lecter could have tricked the real specialists in forensic psychiatry.
Reference
Hickey, E.W. (2010). Serial murderers and their victims. (5th ed.). Wadsworth, Cengage Learning.