Psychological analysis
Albert Fish's genetic predisposition to mental illness, his childhood experiences of violence within St. John's Orphanage, his lack of a father figure growing up, and his marital issues combine to make him a classic case for a serial killer.
The brutality that Fish endured in the orphanage started at a very young age and changed his perception of pain. After being constantly exposed to sadistic behavior, Fish began to view pain in a pleasurable way. Once Fish realized the arousal he felt from pain, he came to the conclusion that the pain of other people would be pleasurable to him as well. The experiences Fish faced in the orphanage were the beginnings of his desire for pain, not only inflicted upon himself, but also upon other people.
Fish's lack of a father figure as he matured may have allowed the influence ofhis peers to affect him more easily. This can be seen at the young age oftwelve when Fish's friendship with a young, male, telegraph boy introduced him to urolagnia and coprophagia, as well as frequent visits to public bathhouses. Fish also allowed peer influence to place him on the path to cannibalism. He stated in his letter to Grace Budd's mother that he began eating human flesh after seeing a friend do the same. Without lack of a better influence to follow, Fish followed blindly after his friendships and his desires.
After Fish's wife left him for another man, he began expressing symptoms of schizophrenia. Also at this time, Fish's behavior of self harm went into full effect. The devastation of his wife leaving him lead Fish even further down into his spiraling mental disorder and caused his behaviors to quickly escalate. Fish began sticking needles into his pelvic region, beating himself with a paddle, and even lighting himself on fire.
The sadomasochism that Fish expressed through his life can be traced back to a few critical events in his life: his father's death when Fish was very young; his brutal experience at St. John's Orphanage; and the deterioration of his marriage. These events, and the long line of mental disorders present in Fish's family, could explain how Fish turned into a notorious serial killer.
"Albert Fish." Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org, 15 2012. Web. 16 Dec 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Fish>.
Montaldo, Charles. "Serial Killer Albert Fish." About. About.com, n.d. Web. 16
Dec 2012. <http://crime.about.com/od/serial/p/albertfish.htm>.
The brutality that Fish endured in the orphanage started at a very young age and changed his perception of pain. After being constantly exposed to sadistic behavior, Fish began to view pain in a pleasurable way. Once Fish realized the arousal he felt from pain, he came to the conclusion that the pain of other people would be pleasurable to him as well. The experiences Fish faced in the orphanage were the beginnings of his desire for pain, not only inflicted upon himself, but also upon other people.
Fish's lack of a father figure as he matured may have allowed the influence ofhis peers to affect him more easily. This can be seen at the young age oftwelve when Fish's friendship with a young, male, telegraph boy introduced him to urolagnia and coprophagia, as well as frequent visits to public bathhouses. Fish also allowed peer influence to place him on the path to cannibalism. He stated in his letter to Grace Budd's mother that he began eating human flesh after seeing a friend do the same. Without lack of a better influence to follow, Fish followed blindly after his friendships and his desires.
After Fish's wife left him for another man, he began expressing symptoms of schizophrenia. Also at this time, Fish's behavior of self harm went into full effect. The devastation of his wife leaving him lead Fish even further down into his spiraling mental disorder and caused his behaviors to quickly escalate. Fish began sticking needles into his pelvic region, beating himself with a paddle, and even lighting himself on fire.
The sadomasochism that Fish expressed through his life can be traced back to a few critical events in his life: his father's death when Fish was very young; his brutal experience at St. John's Orphanage; and the deterioration of his marriage. These events, and the long line of mental disorders present in Fish's family, could explain how Fish turned into a notorious serial killer.
"Albert Fish." Wikipedia. Wikipedia.org, 15 2012. Web. 16 Dec 2012.
<http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Albert_Fish>.
Montaldo, Charles. "Serial Killer Albert Fish." About. About.com, n.d. Web. 16
Dec 2012. <http://crime.about.com/od/serial/p/albertfish.htm>.