Dr. Katherine Ramsland teaches forensic psychology at DeSales University in Pennsylvania, where she is the Assistant Provost. She has appeared as an expert in criminal psychology on more than 200 crime documentaries and magazine shows, is an executive producer of Murder House Flip, and has consulted for CSI, Bones, and The Alienist. The author of more than 1,500 articles and 69 books, including The Forensic Science of CSI, The Forensic Psychology of Criminal Minds, How to Catch a Killer, The Psychology of Death Investigations, and Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer, she was co-executive producer for the Wolf Entertainment/A&E four-part documentary based on the years she spent talking with Rader. Ramsland consults on death investigations, pens a blog for Psychology Today, and is currently writing a fiction series based on a female forensic psychologist who manages a private investigation agency.
In this episode, Dr. Ramsland and I discuss her work with the BTK Killer, what we can learn from serial killers, the rise of true crime in pop culture, and much more. For more information, access to books, and her Psychology Today blog check out: https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/contributors/katherine-ramsland-phd. Follow me @joshkorac on TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube for video clips, podcast previews, and more mental health content.
Takeaways
Serial killer media should aim to educate and provide valuable insights, rather than simply sensationalizing the crimes.
There is a wide range of motivations and backgrounds among serial killers, and it is important to avoid generalizations.
The field of forensic psychology is constantly evolving, and it is important to stay open-minded and challenge preconceived notions.
Responsible and educational portrayals of serial killers can contribute to the understanding and prevention of such crimes. True crime podcasts have gained popularity, but there is concern that the focus on sensational crimes may lead to a lack of audience interest in other areas of crime.
Media-inspired murders, where individuals try to replicate crimes they have seen in movies or TV shows, are a concern. It is important to differentiate between being inspired by media and actually attempting to copy a crime.
Treatment and prevention of mass shootings and serial killings require a multi-faceted approach, including limits on media coverage, access to guns, and identifying at-risk individuals.
Finding hope in the work of studying and understanding criminals can come from the potential impact on future generations and the development of new treatments and prevention strategies.
It is important to remember the seriousness of crimes and the impact they have on victims and their families, and to avoid making light of or joking about these crimes.
Chapters
00:00 Introduction and Technical Difficulties
01:33 Background and Career
03:04 Writing Books and Academic vs. Commercial Writing
05:19 Interest in Forensic Psychology and Serial Killers
08:10 Working with Serial Killers
12:00 Approaching Serial Killers and Building Trust
15:13 Interacting with Serial Killers and Analyzing Behavior
18:16 Continued Communication with Serial Killers
20:06 Comparison to TV Show 'Mindhunter'
24:30 Commonalities and Diversity Among Serial Killers
29:17 Setting Boundaries and Taking Care of Yourself
31:56 Balancing Giving Serial Killers a Platform and Research
35:29 Impact of Serial Killer Media
40:09 Future of the Field and Changing Trends
41:48 True Crime Podcasts
42:25 Media-Inspired Murders
44:15 Treatment and Prevention
49:50 Finding Hope
53:30 Victims and Seriousness
