UK Forensic Psychiatrist: "Murderers Aren’t Born Evil"

British forensic psychiatrist Dr. Gwen Adshead, with over 30 years of experience working with convicted murderers, argues that no one is born evil and that very few killers are psychopaths.

Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious serial killers in history. I Photo: Florida Department of Corrections

Domestic homicide perpetrators, in particular, often reflect ordinary emotions gone to extremes, BBC In Depth reported.

“There’s no scientific evidence that people are born ‘evil,’” Adshead explained. “Instead, there are evil states of mind. Anyone can enter such a state, which is fueled by common emotions like hatred, envy, greed, and anger.”

She compared the causes of violent behavior to the numbers in a bicycle lock: all the "numbers" or risk factors must align before someone commits an act of extreme violence.

While severe childhood trauma is a significant risk factor, Adshead noted that most individuals who experience trauma do not become violent criminals.

Factors such as mental illness, including paranoid schizophrenia or substance-induced hallucinations, often play critical roles in violent crimes.

Dr. Adshead shared that many of her patients reflect on their actions in therapy, acknowledging their deeds without fully identifying as "evil." She emphasized that while anyone can experience cruelty or anger, specific risk factors determine whether these emotions translate into violence.