David Berkowitz was deeply hurt when his biological mom brushed him off. According to Bundy biographers Michaud and Aynesworth, Ted's emotional growth was stopped in its tracks after he learned that he was illegitimate at age 13. It goes without saying that adoption does not create serial killers. At worst, it may dislodge a child's self-identity. But that does not mean that finding oneself in multiple murder is the only option available to adopted children.
Some lust murderers claim that exposure to violent events ignited their thirst for blood.
Ed Gein, among others, said that seeing farm animals slaughtered gave him perverted ideas. Both Albert Fish and Andrei Chikatilo blamed their sadistic bloodlust on frightening childhood stories. Joel Peter Witkin, a well-known artist who's work is admittedly gruesome but fascinating, experienced the same event after witnessing a car accident. The stories of sadistic guards and medieval punishments are almost paralleled by the violent behavior of the prisoners who went on to serial killing. Fortunately, this sort of extreme discipline is no longer openly tolerated.