sense of self-worth, lack of empathy and remorse for her victims, failed to accept personal responsibility of her crimes and etc. (Miller, 2012). This paper will reflect on psychopath based upon a non-fictional movie Silence of the Lambs. The paper will assess the character’s background, criminal traits, and recidivism for repeating a crime. Silence of the Lambs is a unique for the reason that the FBI uses a psychopath in a mental asylum to assist with developing a psychopathic profile of Buffalo Bill. Dr. Hannibal Lecter (play by Anthony Hopkins) who is the main character in the movie. Dr. Lecter was sentence to the Baltimore State Hospital for the Criminally Insane given that he was a serial killer and a cannibal. The movie does not disclose information regarding Lector’s background other than he was a psychiatrist. According to Miller (2012) high intellect is a protective element against deviant behavior to commit crimes. Dr. Lecter appeared to be a great man of intelligence and one has to assume what caused him to become a serial killer. As seen throughout the movie, Dr. Lector display superficial charm and grandiose sense of self worth when speaking with Starling and the Senator. For example, Lector ask the senator did she breast feed her daughter than to state one can feel a sensation if the other party is killed. He asks her what types of sensation she would feel followed by complementing her on her suite. He also used this technique to gain understanding Starling desire to solve the case. He stated “if she can solve the case it would silence the lambs in her had” (Demme, 2001). Starling admitted to Lector the events to her running away after she seen her lamb killed, as a result she was sent to an orphanage. Although Lector was in his cell, he was able to use his manipulative behavior to cause another patient to take his own life by the means of swallowing his own tongue. Lector appeared to have been irritated by the remark the patient made to Starling. Lector was able to manipulate and used his charm the police officer to enter his sell to make his escape. He slaughtered both officers by using is superficial charm, impulsivity and aggressive behavior. Having no remorse for his victims, he was able to eat a piece of his lamb chop. Using his deceitful manners, he disguised himself by using one of the officer’s faces. He killed a total of five people before fleeing the country. At the end of the movie, he contacted Starling to praise her on solving the murder and graduating the Federal Bureau Academy (Demme, 2001).
Buffalo Bill Profile Starling was able to create Jame Gumbo aliases John Grant, Jack Gordon, and Buffalo Bill.
Starling stated Buffalo Bill is a white male, approximately between the ages of 30-40, and living in a private resident. He preys on women who are a size 14, keeping them alive for three days before killing them. He surgical remove the skins off his victims back, and places a Dead Head Moth in their mouth prior to dumping them in a river (Demme, 2001). Starling went to Lector’s storage facility where she found the head of Esther Mofet. When questioning Lector on Mofet, Lector states his real name is Benjamin Rosebell (who had the same moth in his mouth) and he was in a relationship with Louis. Lector informed the moth symbolizes change – caliper to a butterfly is beauty. He stated Buffalo Bill as was not made a criminal he became a criminal stemming from serve child development and abuse. He also stated he hated his own identity which gave him the idea that he was transgender (Demme, 2001). He informed Starling he had to been rejected from the Columbus Medical Center, the University of John Hopkins and the University of Minnesota because they are the only facility that performs sex reassignment surgery (Demme,
2001).
In Summary Dr. Hannibal Lector meets the criteria for mental disorder of antisocial personality disorder known as psychopath. As previously mentioned, Dr. Lector possess callous concerns for others and remorse. He was superior in placing and detecting fear in Starling and the senator which enhance his grandiose sense of self- worth. Lector display not emotions, sham or guilt for his behavior and for taking the lives of others and breaking the laws in and out of the state hospital. Birbaumer et al., 2012 mention psychopaths are known for the lack of fear. In their study they found psychopaths brain activity or skin conductance response when placed in experimental situations. This could explain why Lecter was not afraid being apprehended during his escape, as well as punishment seemed to have no affect on him (Miller, 2012). Silence of the Lambs provided insight on individuals who are psychopaths; as well as how individuals with this diagnosis can assist law enforcement develop profiles of other psychopaths.