This paper analyzes the criminal history of Norwegian-born serial killer Belle Gunness through the lens of antisocial personality disorder (APD) as defined by the DSM-IV. It traces Gunness's documented pattern of insurance fraud, manipulation, and murder spanning the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, then applies the DSM-IV diagnostic criteria to her behavior. The paper also reviews leading theoretical perspectives on the etiology of APD, including neurological development abnormalities, serotonin dysregulation, and the role of the MAOA gene in moderating the effects of childhood maltreatment on antisocial behavior development.
This essay examines antisocial personality disorder (APD) as displayed by serial killer Belle Gunness. It discusses her behaviors with reference to the DSM-IV criteria and reviews theoretical perspectives on APD.
Belle Gunness, who immigrated to the United States in 1881, was born Brynhild Paulsdatter Størseth in November 1859 in Selbu, Norway. Following her immigration, a series of suspicious fires and deaths resulting in insurance payouts ensued. Shortly after marrying Mads Sorenson in 1884, the couple's store and home mysteriously burned down, and they collected the insurance money for both losses. Sorenson died soon after of heart failure on the very day that his two life insurance policies overlapped, and Belle received approximately $8,000 from his life insurance. Although his family demanded an inquiry, no charges were filed. The couple's two children were also unaccounted for and were believed to have been poisoned in infancy for the insurance money as well (A+E Networks, 2011).
Additional unexplained deaths followed, including that of Belle's stepdaughter and the infant daughter of Belle's new husband, Peter Gunness — and eventually Gunness himself. The insurance company paid out on his policy as well. Belle then began placing advertisements in Norwegian-language newspapers: "Widow, with mortgaged farm, seeks marriage. Triflers need not apply." (La Porte County Historical Society, 2010).
Belle's wealthy suitors became her next victims. Each brought cash to her farm and subsequently disappeared. By 1908, her luck appeared to be running out: her victims' families demanded investigations, and her ranch hand and lover, Ray Lamphere, made a series of accusations that he and Belle had murdered her suitors and others. Belle's farmhouse burned to the ground in 1908, after which her victims were unearthed from shallow graves on the property. In all, the butchered remains of more than forty men, women, and children were exhumed. The children were identified as Belle's, but her own body was not among them. She was believed to have fled 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. 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 requires that individuals 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 personal profit or pleasure" (BehaveNet, 2011), as she lured her victims with promises of marriage. Belle displayed extreme aggression, evidenced by the dismemberment of her victims, as well as a complete lack of remorse for her crimes — ultimately becoming a prolific serial killer responsible for more than forty deaths.
Belle also met two of the remaining three DSM-IV diagnostic criteria. All her crimes in this country occurred after she reached age 18, spanning the years 1900 to 1908, during which time Belle was in her forties. There was no reported evidence of schizophrenia or manic episodes, so her antisocial behavior was not attributable to either of those disorders. The only APD diagnostic criterion that Belle's behavior did not clearly meet was evidence of conduct disorder before age 15. A possible explanation is that her early symptoms simply went unnoticed or unreported.
"Neurological, serotonin, and genetic APD theories"
Research findings such as these point to the role of nervous system abnormalities in the development of APD in individuals like Belle Gunness.
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