Sigmund Freud: The Pathological Development Of Jeffrey Dahmer's Child

Sigmund Freud believe that the unconscious “originates in early experience” and that personality is “strongly influenced by unconscious determinants” (Cloninger et al., p. 23). Based on this model of personality development, it would appear as if Jeffrey Dahmer was led by his Id impulses, in spite of his Superego’s attempts to restrain him. Jung would likely agree with Dahmer’s father that Jeffrey was, in fact, introverted throughout most of his life and Freud would want to explore just what happened to Jeffrey in his early childhood that was so incredibly traumatic. Freud would probably conclude that it was Jeffrey’s childhood hernia operation that was at the root of Dahmer’s pathological development. Could it be that Jeffrey had felt abandoned, abused and tortured when he was left at the hospital, not understanding what would be happening or why?

Based on Freud’s mental development this dream could have malformed his ego, super ego and id, because it deals with him feeling inadequate, and something missing as a child. His father Lionel noted, that Dahmer seemed to grow inward and would sit for hours without emotion(Dahmer, 1994). There has been no information provided about Jeffery being the victim of sexual abuse, the bickering between his mother and father was intense. This fostered his feelings for being alone and unwanted. It is suggested that because of these feelings, it was easier for him to turn to murder and evil thoughts. Jeffery Dahmer’s thoughts of dread and doom are strong indications of