Introduction

The issue of extreme forms of violent behavior, particularly serial homicide, has long been a significant topic for psychology, psychiatry, social work, ethopaedia, and criminology. Although this phenomenon is relatively rare in our region, its social impact is extraordinary and attracts considerable attention from both professional and lay publics. The professional lecture by PhDr. Andrej Drbohlav, DBA – The Psychology of Serial Killers, delivered as part of the January 2026 lecture tour, offered the audience a comprehensive view of the emergence, development, and manifestations of perpetrators of violent crime in the context of psychopathology, developmental trauma, and social determinants.

The lecture in Hradec Králové met with exceptional public interest. Participants included students of psychology, social pedagogy, ethopaedia and related fields, as well as practitioners – psychologists, social workers, educators, teachers, police officers, physicians, and prison staff. Significant participation from the general public also attested to the high social relevance of the topic.

Conceptual Framework of the Lecture

Dr. Drbohlav structured the lecture around a developmental model that understands the serial killer not as an isolated pathological phenomenon, but as the result of a long-term interaction of biological predispositions, traumatic experiences, dysfunctional socialization, and failing protective factors. The fundamental questions – who is a serial killer, how they think, how they live, and what their life trajectory is – were systematically elaborated across individual developmental stages.

Considerable attention was devoted to childhood and adolescence as key periods of personality formation. It was repeatedly emphasized that many perpetrators exhibit an accumulation of risk factors: emotional deprivation, neglect, physical and sexual abuse, hostility toward animals, attachment disorders, pathological parental patterns, and the presence of addictions in the family. These factors are consistent with findings from developmental psychology and social pathology, which have long highlighted the relationship between childhood trauma and later antisocial behavior.

The lecturer also drew attention to the issue of parental pathology prevalence among children and adolescents placed in educational institutions, which has fundamental implications for institutional care and preventive interventions. In this context, specialized therapeutic regimes in wards within educational institutions were also mentioned (e.g., VÚ Boletice, VÚ Husův domov Dvůr Králové nad Labem, VÚ Ostrava-Hrabůvka – Janová), where adolescents with extreme behavioral disorders are placed – EPCHO wards or wards for children experimenting with addictive substances and drug-dependent children.

Psychopathic Personality and Diagnostic Tools

A separate section was devoted to the issue of psychopathic personality, including the presentation of basic diagnostic characteristics and behavioral manifestations. Dr. Drbohlav worked with the concept of psychopathy as a complex syndrome encompassing affective coldness, absence of empathy, manipulativeness, impulsivity, and impaired moral reasoning.

From a professional standpoint, the inclusion of the PCL-R scale as a standardized tool for assessing psychopathic traits was beneficial. The lecturer highlighted the difference between a clinical diagnosis and the lay use of the term "psychopath," which is often overused and distorted by media stereotypes – this is essentially also the case with the overused term ADHD. This emphasis is particularly important for helping professions, where inaccurate labeling of clients can lead to incorrect interventions and stigmatization.

At the same time, it was emphasized that psychopathy itself does not automatically imply violent behavior; however, in combination with other risk factors, it can significantly increase the likelihood of serious criminality.

The Phenomenon of Imitation, Fascination, and Hybristophilia

A significant thematic area was the issue of fascination with violence and mechanisms of imitation, particularly in the context of media representation of serial killers. The lecturer Drbohlav warned of the danger of romanticizing perpetrators in popular culture and noted that, in predisposed individuals, media attention can reinforce fantasy scenarios and identification with violent role models.

Within this framework, fictional characters (e.g., Dexter) and their influence on the perception of violence in wider society were also mentioned. From a professional standpoint, the clear separation of fiction from reality and the highlighting of fundamental differences between narrative construction and actual manifestations of psychopathology was beneficial.

A specific phenomenon that attracted considerable audience attention was hybristophilia – that is, attraction to perpetrators of violent crimes. The lecturer situated this phenomenon in the context of attachment disorders, low self-worth, and pathological relationship patterns, thereby contributing to a deeper understanding of the motivations of individuals who enter into relationships with convicted murderers or actively defend them. It is not even uncommon for serial killers to receive thousands of love letters annually from women who are attracted not only to the perpetrator's personality but also to the very nature of the crime itself.

Educational Potential of Specific Cases

A didactically very effective element of the lecture was the use of specific case studies, which were presented not sensationally but in the context of developmental and psychological connections. Names such as Jeffrey Dahmer, Edmund Kemper, Richard Kuklinski, and Aileen Carol Wuornos were mentioned, always linked to their life history, type of trauma, and specific manifestations of pathology.

This approach allowed the audience to better understand that extreme violence does not arise suddenly but is the result of a long-term process in which risk factors accumulate. For the professional public, this mode of presentation has considerable educational potential, as it connects theory with practice and promotes a comprehensive, rather than reductionist, perception of perpetrators.

Discussion and Local Context

The final part of the lecture was devoted to discussion, which confirmed the high level of audience engagement. Questions addressed both general issues of prevention and the possibilities of early identification of at-risk individuals within the educational and social system.

A significant moment was also a question concerning a specific case of a juvenile perpetrator of a violent crime in Hradec Králové, which opened a debate on the limits of preventive mechanisms and the role of institutions in working with at-risk children and adolescents.

Assessment of Professional Level and Contribution to Practice

The lecture can be assessed as highly professionally grounded, clearly structured, and at the same time comprehensible to a broader audience. Dr. Drbohlav demonstrated deep expertise in the field of behavioral pathology and forensic psychology and was able to connect theoretical concepts with specific case studies from domestic and international practice.

From the perspective of helping professions, the emphasis on the importance of early intervention, trauma work, and systematic support for at-risk families is particularly beneficial. The lecture did not come across as deterministic or fatalistic, but rather emphasized the possibilities of prevention if risk factors are recognized early and if functional interdisciplinary cooperation exists.

Conclusion

The lecture The Psychology of Serial Killers by PhDr. Andrej Drbohlav, DBA represents a quality contribution to the professional discussion on extreme forms of violent behavior and their developmental contexts. It offers a comprehensive perspective that connects psychopathology, social factors, and the institutional reality of working with at-risk children and adolescents.

For the professional public, the lecture represents a valuable source of knowledge applicable in clinical, educational, and social practice, and for students, a comprehensible bridge between theory and real cases. The high level of public interest across professions confirms that educational events conceived in this manner have an irreplaceable place in both the Czech and Slovak contexts.

Author: Bc. Jan Brychta, Ed.D. Domov mládeže, Hotelová škola Poděbrady

The author works as an educator at the Domov mládeže, Hotelová škola Poděbrady. He completed studies in education, resocialization and penitentiary pedagogy, and management of educational institutions. He is currently pursuing further education in social work. Professionally, he focuses on behavioral disorders in adolescents.

Sources

DRBOHLAV, A. Psychologie sériových vrahů. (lecture) Hradec Králové: IBSARO – Institut behaviorálních studií, 9. 1. 2026.