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¶ … antisocial personality disorder (APD) as displayed by serial killer Belle Gunness. The essay discusses her behaviors with reference to the DSM IV criteria and reviews theoretical perspectives on APD.
Belle Gunness, who immigrated to the U.S. In 1881, was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Strseth in November 1859 in Selbu, Norway. Following her immigration, a series of suspicious fires and deaths resulting in insurance awards ensued. Shortly after marrying Mads Sorenson in 1884, the couple's store and home mysteriously burned down, with them claiming the insurance money for both. Sorenson died soon after of heart failure on the very day that his two life insurance policies overlapped, and Belle received about $8,000 from his life insurance. Even though his family demanded an inquiry, no charges were filed, nor were the couple's two children accounted for. They were believed to have been poisoned in infancy for the insurance money as well (A+E Networks, 2011).
Additional unexplained deaths occurred, including Belle's stepdaughter, the infant daughter of Belle's new husband, Peter Gunness, followed by Gunness himself. The insurance company paid on his policy as well. Belle began placing ads in Norwegian language newspapers, "Widow, with mortgaged farm, seeks marriage. Triflers need not apply." (La Porte County Historical Society, 2010).
Belle's wealthy suitors were here next victims, each of whom brought cash to her farm then disappeared forever. In 1908 Belle's luck appeared to be running out, as her victims' families demanded investigations and as her ranch hand and lover, Ray Lamphere, made a series...
Belle's farm house burned to the ground in 1908, following which her victims were unearthed from their shallow graves. All in all, the butchered remains of more than forty men, women and children were exhumed. The children were identified as Belle's, but her body was not among them. She was believed to have skipped town after withdrawing most of her money from her bank accounts. Belle was never tracked down and her death has never been confirmed (A+E Networks, 2011).
Belle Gunness suffered from antisocial personality disorder (APD). According to the DSM IV, individuals with APD disregard and violate the rights of others on a regular basis. Moreover, their behaviors are both destructive and aggressive, and involve breaking laws, practicing deceit or committing theft (BehaveNet, 2011). Belle's behavior consistently displayed all these symptoms and more.
The diagnostic criteria for 301.7 APD includes a "pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others, occurring since age 15 years" (BehaveNet, 2011). The DSM IV also classifies other APD behaviors as shown by individuals that exhibit three or more of the defining criteria. Belle's behavior was characterized by extreme displays of carefully planned deceit and violence.
Belle repeatedly exhibited "failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behavior," (BehaveNet, 2011) as she engaged in insurance fraud, theft and murder, including killing her own children. She also practiced "deceitfulness… repeated lying…conning others for…
Works Cited
A+E Networks. (2011). Belle Gunness biography. Retrieved December 21, 2011 from: http://www.biography.com/people/belle-gunness-235416
BehaveNet. (2011). Antisocial personality disorder. Retrieved December 21, 2011 from: http://www.behavenet.com/capsules/disorders/antisocialpd.htm
Black, D. (2006). What Causes Antisocial Personality Disorder? Psych Central. Retrieved December 21, 2011, from: http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/what-causes-antisocial-personality-disorder/
Gabbard, G.O. (2004, January 02). Antisocial personality disorder: When is it treatable? Psychiatric News, 39(1), 25. Retrieved December 21, 2011, from: http://psychnews.psychiatryonline.org/newsarticle.aspx?articleid=107089
La Porte County Historical Society. (2010). Belle Gunness, La Porte's "Lady Bluebeard." Retrieved December 21, 2011 from: http://www.laportecountyhistory.org/belleg1.htm
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