THE HUMAN EQUATION
Articles published in Psychology Today
AMERICAN MAGAZINE
The Human Equation, looks at the dark side of human nature, with a special emphasis on women and crime.
Topics include female serial killers, Munchausen by proxy, cult leaders, and the psychology of evil.
Serial Killers, Self-Reliance, and Everything in Between
Anger, Depression, Violence, and Lost Children
There's a saying that those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it. The story of a 1920s murder-suicide shows just how true that is.
What Kind of Son Kills His Dad?
It's rare for a child to kill a parent, no matter what has happened between them. When he does, it's likely to be for one of three reasons.
How Much Influence Can One Person Have?
No one outside of a cult understands what it's like to be in one. Perhaps this woman's story can change that.
Some People Don't Believe a Loved One Committed Suicide
Few things are harder to accept than a loved one's suicide. But when an unexpected death carries the stain of suicide and the smell of murder, it can be a double whammy.
Cheerleaders, College Students and Call Girls
Of the 65 percent of serial killers' victims who are women, 76 percent are sex workers. But is that who they are or what they've done?
How do Killers find Their Targets, and Why They Often Get Away with it
Why do so many predators target the homeless, sex workers, or others on the margins of society? Looking at the most vulnerable victims may say something about all of us.
Linking Serial Killers, Mass Murderers, and Child Abusers
Think domestic violence can never touch your life? Neither did nightclub goers, church worshippers, or serial killer victims.
What If a Serial Killer Murdered Your Grandma?
It can be all to easy to attribute the death of an older person to natural causes. Sometimes, frighteningly so.
Did You Know a Crime Victim May Have Saved Your Life?
What would you do if the worst tragedy imaginable happened to you? I'd love to think I'd be half as brave as these people were.
Wrongful Convictions, Memory, and Eyewitness Testamony
A number of wrongful convictions have suggested we view eyewitness memory with a healthy dose of skepticism. But is it our memory that's the problem?
Think You Couldnt Be Duped By a Con Artist? Think Again.
The Netflix documentary "Rhe Tinder Swindler" has captivated audiences with its boldness, manipulation, and deception.
A Real-World View of Incompetence to Stand Trial
Accused murderer Lori Vallow has been found incompetent to stand trial and sent to treatment. Is she faking it? Will she ever stand trial? Here's a forensic psychologist's take.
The Psychology of "Copycat Killers"
People often discuss copycat killers after a mass shooting or serial murder. But if the media inspires murder, why aren't true crime fans more violent?
Precious Commodities
Most of us think of life insurance as a way to protect our children from an uncertain future. But what if it's a way to use our child to finance our own?
Should It Matter if a Perpetrator Was Once a Victim
Why would a grown woman burn her father alive? She says it was payback for sexual abuse. But even if that's true, should it matter?
When the Child You've Raised Is a Batterer
We don't usually think about the family who raised a domestic violence perpetrator. What should we do if we do?
Predators Who Pretend to Be Victims
If you don't think there's such a thing as a wolf in sheep's clothing, check out these predators masquerading as victims.
Dying of Old Age
- or Murder?
Just because a senior citizen dies doesn't mean it's "natural". Here's how family members spotted a homicide-in-disguise.
Would You Want a Teenage Killer Locked Up for Life?
Should teen killers be given a break because of their developing brains or should the facts of the crime guide the punishment? The Supreme Court has spoken.
The Case of Accused French Serial Killer Nordahl Lelandais
Serial killers have a lot in common in how they think and what they do. Here's what we're learning from a recent case in France.
Lori Vallow Found Incompetent to Stand Trial
Just as Lori Vallow is finally facing murder charges, a psychologist says she is not competent to stand trial. But is she really similar to other incompetent defendants?
The Right to Life
In January 2021, 18 American children were killed in a murder-suicide. Here's why.
Serial Killer vs.
Serial Killer
Covid-19 has been called a serial killer, but what happens when a medical serial killer meats a real-life one?
The Volga Maniac has Been Arrested
In 2011 and 2012, a Russian serial killer murdered over 20 elderly women along the Volga river. Now that he's been caught, what can we learn from his confession?
The Deaths of Meg Purk and Natalie Jones
Does a victim's history of depression make it more likely that a murder will be staged as a suicide?
When 'Suicide' is Really Murder
What would you do if you thought someone you loved had been murdered but their killer had staged it to look like a suicide--and was getting away with it?
One is a Tragedy, Two is Suspicious, and Three is Murder
In 2019, Nancy Moronez was found guilty or murdering three infants over 30 years ago. All three deaths were initially attributed to SIDs. How could this happen?
Dark Connections
Sexual predators targeting children on the internet are all too common. But internet murderers are much more diverse than you might think
-- and so are their victims.
Hell on Wheels
Cars has long been used as weapons. But a recently arrested alleged serial murderer used his car to kill. Is he the first?
My Cult Made Me Do It
The ability to tell the difference between religious fanaticism and mental illness may determine a defendant's valid insanity plea or the death penalty.
Extreme Beliefs or Religious Delusions
Where is the line between delusions and extreme religious beliefs? The answer to that question may help investigators solve the mystery of three dead adults and two missing children.
The Tragedy of
Murder-Suicides
Eleven murder-suicides are committed every week. Here's what we know about why those tragedies occur.
Lisa Snyder & the Deaths of Conner & Brinley
Lisa Snyder says her 8-year-old son committed a murder-suicide because he was bullied and depressed. Prosecutors say she killed them both. But what does the research tell us?
Adoption Scams, Continued
Adoption scams are rare, but they happen. Don't let them keep you from the joy of a child. Just know what to look for so it doesn't happen to you.
Adoption Scams
From the adoption fraudster who promised made-up babies to the Arizona attorney who's accused of baby trafficking, adoptive parents can be scammed. Here's how.
Serial Murder and
Serial Killers
From the hit show Mind Hunter to documentaries about Ted Bundy; there was a lot of buzz about serial killers in 2019. But what happened in real life? Take a look at five trends.
Catch a Predator?
New evidence suggests that sexual assault perpetrators don't fit into neat categories. The date that rapes a naive college student could be the next neighborhood serial rapist.
Confessed Serial Killer Jollyamma Joseph
Police say a wife and mother killed 6 people over 14 years. Did disbelief that a woman could do this help her get away with it, even when her husband's body contained cyanide?
The Most Disturbing
Red Flag of Domestic Violence
When someone is in an abusive relationship, it's hard to know just how dangerous the situation is. One question can tell us a lot.
A Wolf in Sheep's
Clothing
We often think of a place of worship as a safe haven and look to our religious leaders for guidance. But what if s/he is looking at you as prey?
Narcissism, Rage, and Murder
Many prosecutors in recent murder cases have called the accused a narcissist. But is this true? Is there a link between narcissism and violence?
We Need to Talk About Kevin... and Harry and Aaron
Being diagnosed as a psychopath can only happen once someone is 18. How should we handle teenagers who look and act like their grown-up counterparts?
Dark Ambitions
What do serial killers and wannabe killers have in common? New research finds surprising similarities that may help us catch them sooner.
Poisoning at the Office
While managers and employees are aware of the potential for workplace violence, few think of it in terms of a coworker dying from an intentional poisoning. But it happens.
Is Jussie Smollett Crying Wolf?
Hate crimes hurt the victims, terrify similar others, and - sometimes - are met with skepticism, defensiveness, and doubt. So why would anyone make one up?
The Road to Rage
Few of us worry about being shot to death when we get behind the wheel of a car. But news headlines and recent statistics show road rage is happening more often and can be deadly.
Five Myths About Female Serial Killers
Stereotypes about women and violence have allowed female serial killers to get away with murder far longer - and more often - than you might think.
Mother Anna Young and the House of Prayer
What is it like to grow up in a destructive religious cult? Two children tell it like it was.
Violent Female Offenders
Violent female offenders often give us clues to their future during their childhood and teen years. So why do we miss them?
Multiple Personality or Malingering?
What happens when a person with multiple personalities kills? Pamela Moss claimed her alters were linked to two murders committed years apart but insisted she, the host was not.
This Japanese Serial Killer Targeted the Suicidal
When a Japanese serial killer picked his victims on the internet by responding to suicidal posts, was he targeting people who really wanted to die?
Kid Killers
In 2014, two 12 year old girls tried to kill a classmate to appease an imaginary internet horror figure. How typical is this of kids who kill?
Mind Games
Most mental health professionals have the best interest of their clients at heart. But, when they don't, the "cure" can be worse than the "disease".
The 3 Stages of a Dangerously Obsessive Ex
How can we predict who will kill someone s/he once loved? Look at the dark clouds in the relationship to predict storms after a breakup.
Hooked on Homicide
Is it possible for someone to become addicted to killing? Here's what crime experts, soldiers, and serial killers say.
Your'e Not My Real Mother (Part 1)
What if the person closest to you suddenly felt like a different person? Individuals suffering from Capgras delusions believe that a loved one has been replaced by and imposter. Here's why.
You're Not My Real Mother (Part 2)
Capgras sufferers who murder a family member don't believe they are committing a crime or are harming someone they love. In fact, their motive is often to save the world/themselves form evil or to somehow "rescue" their loved one from an imposter.
Dangerous Daydreams
What do future serial killers think about before they kill someone? In the beginning, not much more than many traumatized children.
Million Dollar Baby
Ever since it has been possible for parents to buy life insurance on their children, a few parents have traded diapers for dollars.
Cat Fights
When girls kill each other, it's often to protect a relationship or a reputation.
Partners in Crime
When two people kill together, one often leads and the other follows. But how does the dynamic begin? Are they both destined for crime or does one corrupt the other?
Babysitters from hell
It is rare for a nanny or babysitter to kill a child s/he is hired to love and protect. This fact is little consolation for the families who live through it.
Serial Killing for Cash
Serial killers for profit may start out with money in mind but may wind up addicted to the psychological payoff.
Warning Signs of Dangerous Relationships
There are warning signs early on in a dangerous relationship but sometimes our need for a relationship trumps our willingness to see the truth
Trash Talk or Tremors of Trouble
"I'm going to kill you" are words that don't belong on the playground or in the classroom. But how seriously should a child's threat be taken?
The Case of Serial Killer Dellen Millard
Is there such a thing as too much love? Maybe not, but in serial killer Dellen Millard's case, there was too much of something.
Now Dasher, Now Dancer, Now
Danger
It's common knowledge that domestic violence and holiday stress go together.But the real danger for domestic violence victims may not be what you think it is.
Bad to the Bone
Over 100 years ago, Charles Spearman identified a general factor of intelligence. Today, researchers say there is a general factor for evil, a dark core of personality traits.
Alleged Serial Killer Considering the Insanity Plee
With all the planning and covering up that is typical of serial killers, can on truly be insane? Here's what history says.
Kidnap-Proof Your College Student
Mollie Tibbetts was a beautiful young college student abducted and killed while out for a jog. Let's honor her memory by keeping our own college kids save.
"She Would Never Kill Herself"
If someone you loved killed her or himself, would you believe it? A psychological autopsy can help death investigators figure out which ones are genuine and which are murder.
The Path to Payback
Why do revenge murderers often kill innocent victims? Perhaps it's not a person he's trying to kill.
What We Know (and Don't Know) About Female Psychopaths
Is Kelly Cochran a female psychopath or was she the victim of an abusive boyfriend? She'll have a long time to think about it.
Innocent People Don't Confess and They Don't Plead Guilty
Is it possible for a serial killer to be innocent? The case of the Liptrick Killer, William Heirens, shows how complicated a confession can be.
Identify Theft and Murder
Identity theft is the fastest growing crime. Recently some victims have lost more than money when they were targeted by a lookalike criminal looking to start a new life.
Sexual Harassment
It's 2017, so why are we still talking about sexual harassment? Here's how to talk to the person who needs it the most.
Munchausen by Proxy or Con Artist Mom?
The tragic story of Gypsy and Dee Blanchare is set to air as an HBO documentary on May 15. Here's a look at the law and psychology behind a case of medical child abuse and murder.
Which is "Crazier?"
How does a forensic psychologist tease out the mind of a criminal defendant at the time he committed it? Debunking one myth - and investigating one source - at a time.
Split Decisions in the Courtroom
The movie Split has broughts Dissociative Identity Disorder back into the spotlight. Here's how this controversial diagnosis plays out in the courtroom.
From Mice to Men
A recent rash of animal killings in Canada have raised new questions about a budding serial killer. Do serial killers target animals first? Here's what the research says.
Serial Killers in 2016
What can we learn from an overview of serial killers in 1026? Let's take a look at the new faces of serial murder.
Delusional or Dissident?
Can hate crimes be fueled by mental illness? Here's what the evidence says.
3 Tips to Stay Safe When an Ex Becomes a Stalker
When a stalker is a former lover, the victim must be aware of the psychological blind spots that can increase her risk.