Jun 12 2008
Bumbling Bernanrdo
To follow up on the issue of psychopathy and my related blogs, I will comment on a question posed by one of my valued contributors. She asked my thoughts on the recently released video of one of Canada’s most notorious serial killers, Paul Bernardo. This video is the one in which he denies having killed Elizabeth Bain. From the link I provided, you can see even more of the interview to see a psychopath in action (at least speaking-wise).
In any event, some writers have claimed his denial of killing Ms. Bain is evidence that he didn’t do it, since he reportedly claimed to have killed other women that he really did not (or something like that). But I would say this video suggests he was involved in her murder. The video also shows how psychopaths love to toy with their opponents, especially those in authority. It makes them feel that they are “superior.” He thinks he is articulating himself so well and losing the cops with his eloquence and complex speech; the truth is, he simply appears like an evasive fool who loves to hear himself speak and who tries very hard to use big words but is unsuccessful in producing anything other than average speech.
I’m going to try to find out more regarding what he says about Homolka and a polygraph test, but those tests are pretty useless against many psychopaths who have abnormally low physiological reactivity to what would cause most people stress, anxiety, tension, etc., all of which the polygraphs rely on in order to determine the probability that someone is lying or telling the truth.
If you listen to the video, you can also see that Bernardo has completely dismissed his past horrific crimes and thinks that people should be looking at what/who he is NOW. That is a typical psychopathic and narcissistic belief. So, right now he wants to be seen as “human,” thus he would not admit to the Bain murder.
Also, he clearly refers to the fact that admitting to it would land him more time in jail. You see, just like a true psychopath and narcissist, he has no grasp of reality and believes he might actually one day be released from prison. Therefore, he will not admit to any more crimes unless he thinks he can benefit from doing so. And the benefit has to be relatively immediate or more salient/feasible than the long-term costs. Thus, he believes he can apply for early parole in the next while, so the publicity he’d get around Ms. Bain’s murder would not be enough to compensate for the potential damage it would do–that is, prevent him from getting an early release (as unrealistic as that is).
If he is convinced that either he could get some real fame from admitting to something, and/or he realizes that freedom will not be forthcoming for many, many years (if at all), he might eventually admit to Ms. Bain’s murder or some other high profile crimes.
Two points a) to my knowledge (and I’m no psychologist nor do I think I have ever met a psychopath), but compared to the minor clip I saw in the newspaper (spin), I could not reconcile the apparently “normal” if talkative/ fidgety man who looks happy to be out of a jail cell with the monster who created horrific videos killing Leslie Mahaffy and Kristen French. This not to mention the same man who committed the numerous rapes prior to the “schoolgirl murders.”
b) However, when I saw the additional clips provided his speech is scattered, and while stating he has no memory as far back as his activities in 1990 (like he doesn’t have time to think about it now or for the last ten years?) as the newspapers quote him as saying “that’s what being in jail this long will do to you,” he does then show that he does remember specifics and actively asks for more info re: dates re: rapes occurring?? He’s then not only so-called scattered but smug.
Thank you for providing a professional view of this monster who will be locked up for the rest of his life as a dangerous offfender.
Thank you for the comments, FunkyMe. Yeah, it’s a pretty different image from both the monster we imagine doing those horrific acts, as well as the smarmy, smirky, bleached blonde stud he looked like when he was arrested (and in all the pics they showed of him and his partner in crime, the equally despicable Homolka).
And you did pick up on such an important issue: you cannot believe one thing a psychopath says, as they are usually pathological liars and extremely manipulative. Like I said, he was trying to toy with the police in the interview (and previous ones) and he also truly believes that “the past is done” and cannot see the connection between his past and his present/future.