You updated your password.

Reset Password

Enter the email address you used to create your account. We will email you instructions on how to reset your password.

Forgot Your Email Address? Contact Us

Reset Your Password

SHOW
SHOW

Extreme Offenders: Psychological Insights

The names: infamous. The crimes: extreme. The insights into the darkest corners of behavioral psychology and the disturbing ways serial killers think and act: illuminating.
 
 
Rated 5 out of 5 by from Great information on Serial Murder I started watching this while working on a paper on serial murder, and it brought together much of the information I have learned from other sources and some information I had not yet found in my research. I highly recommend this course for anyone studying serial murder or violent offenders. The information presented is a good representation of what is currently accepted in the study of this type of offender but is presented in a way that is cross between a documentary and class lecture
Date published: 2025-04-02
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Good content. Lectures concise and informative. I found the course very interesting and would recommend this for anyone interested in this topic. I understand why other reviews state her style might be difficult at first. However, after one or two lectures, she sounds a little less robotic. I like that she takes her time when speaking and articulates her words and the names clearly. I would watch another lecture series on this topic from her. I also liked that lesser known offenders were included and each lecture offered a brief but comprehensive life and crime history of the individual. I especially found the "take-away" sections at the end of the lectures useful and interesting.
Date published: 2025-03-28
Rated 1 out of 5 by from Can't finish it The content is well written and touches on perhaps lesser known offenders. However this is such a prolific subject in popular culture there isn't much new said here, certainly not enough to override the presentation. Worst of all is the reading which appears to be a teleprompter version of the guidebook in a delivery and voice disturbingly more appropriate for a children's book. Intelligent experts do not always translate to excellent teachers/performers and this is such an example unfortunately.
Date published: 2025-01-20
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Interesting course! This course is interesting and educational from subject matter perspective, If you are a fan of True Crime genre which is all the craze in TV, film, books and convention I would say this is a good addition to that. Professor is not particulary talkative or articulated but information is good for further reading and research in my opinion.
Date published: 2024-06-12
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Annoying Presenter Aside from the droning background music that kept my nerves on edge throughout, I found the presenter's manner really offputting. In telling individual offenders' stories, she tends to add vocal cues that suggest facets of the offenders' characters, and that seems wrong to me. For instance, she seems to write off Kemper's inability to date as a kind of affectation instead of the evil influence of his freakish mother. Facts, I can deal with; dramatisation, I can't.
Date published: 2024-03-23
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Educational, if not always entertaining I found this series to be very insightful into the criminal mind, and I like how far back the subject matter went and how each case offered something different in terms of psychology and what is taught. I can also appreciate how much it's stressed that it's the lessons learned that is emphasized, not the killers. The one downside, and it's pretty hard to ignore, is that the presenter is not particularly talented at orating, and her voice can be a bit dreary and monotone at times. But I'll gladly take that in exchange for the insight which she offers.
Date published: 2023-07-10
Rated 4 out of 5 by from Recounting of Some Extreme Killers I am not a "true crime" fan, so much of what she presented was new to me. I come away with the sense that these killers are more varied than one might think and that we lack any effective means we are willing to implement to prevent such crimes. Rather depressing. But I guess this is our world. I agree with the comments that the background music was distracting.
Date published: 2023-06-20
Rated 2 out of 5 by from Outstanding topic, grating delivery True crimes are one of my favourite subjects. I can spend hours reading about serial killers and learning about their psychology. was very excited to watch this but the first lecture sadly didn’t grab me. the professor no doubt is an expert in the field and very knowledgeable, but her delivery didn’t match. it was slow and looks like she was reading from a teleprompter, which isn’t really a big deal for me if it’s used occasionally throughout the lecture. i found myself detached from the lecture and just decided to read the guidebook. would love to see this series redone with another professor
Date published: 2023-03-14
  • y_2025, m_6, d_23, h_7
  • bvseo_bulk, prod_bvrr, vn_bulk_3.0.42
  • cp_1, bvpage1
  • co_hasreviews, tv_1, tr_31
  • loc_en_CA, sid_10120, prod, sort_[SortEntry(order=SUBMISSION_TIME, direction=DESCENDING)]
  • clientName_teachco
  • bvseo_sdk, p_sdk, 3.2.1
  • CLOUD, getReviews, 7.71ms
  • REVIEWS, PRODUCT
Extreme Offenders: Psychological Insights

Trailer

Rage and the Serial Killer: Joseph Vacher

01: Rage and the Serial Killer: Joseph Vacher

Forensic psychology first got its start in the late 19th century, which is where this series begins. Joseph Vacher’s vicious spate of murders in France, earning him the name “the South-East Ripper,” would make him an instructive subject on compulsive rage, manipulation, and violent sexual domination.

39 min
Cruelty and Lust Murder: Peter Kürten

02: Cruelty and Lust Murder: Peter Kürten

It’s the rare type of criminal who becomes sexually aroused by the sight of their victim’s blood. A classic lust killer, Peter Kürten demonstrates how a lack of remorse, coupled with narcissism and the need for violence as a stimulant, encourages the conditions for paraphilias and serial sexual murder.

35 min
Killing Husbands for Gain: Belle Gunness

03: Killing Husbands for Gain: Belle Gunness

Some extreme offenders are motivated by anger and lust; some just want money. Meet Belle Gunness, the enigmatic “Indiana Ogress” of the early 1900s who drew the attention of some of the world’s most prominent criminologists in search of psychological reasons why a woman could be so bloodthirsty.

35 min
A Life for a Life: Leonarda Cianciulli

04: A Life for a Life: Leonarda Cianciulli

Some extreme offenders operate with a firm sense of purpose while others are simply delusional. Unlike other extreme offenders in this series, Leonarda Cianciulli believed in the supernatural. In fact, her decision to kill was justified as an act of faith, love, and protection—namely, to spare the life of her military-age son, Giuseppe.

35 min
Deceptions of a Fatal Chameleon: Ted Bundy

05: Deceptions of a Fatal Chameleon: Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy is practically synonymous with the term “serial killer.” He presents the allure of the attractive, confident narcissist who firmly believes he is untouchable. Take a closer look at how, in the end, Bundy’s distorted perceptions of reality undermined him and proved he was not that special or unique.

35 min
Comorbid with Serial Murder: Rodney Alcala

06: Comorbid with Serial Murder: Rodney Alcala

In this discussion of the serial murderer Rodney Acala (who also appeared on the The Dating Game TV show), take a closer look at the nature of psychopathy. During the time of Acala’s early psychological evaluations, it seems likely that psychopathic traits—impulsivity, grandiosity, lack of empathy, and manipulativeness—were misdiagnosed as other conditions.

33 min
The Path to Psychopath: Edmund Kemper

07: The Path to Psychopath: Edmund Kemper

Co-ed killer Edmund Kemper’s case demonstrates how deviant murderous thoughts that become acts can start while the perpetrator is quite young. There exists, fortunately, a treatment program designed to treat specific personality and behavioral issues, and to help re-socialize persistently aggressive juvenile offenders.

35 min
Need to Harm: Joseph DeAngelo

08: Need to Harm: Joseph DeAngelo

What makes an extreme offender successful? Use Joseph DeAngelo, the Golden State Killer, as a lens through which to study how major categories of predatory rapists (the “gentleman rapist,” the power-assertive rapist, the anger-retaliatory rapist, and the sexual sadist) set goals, identify escape routes, evaluate obstacles, and react to cues.

36 min
The Mask of Insanity: John Wayne Gacy

09: The Mask of Insanity: John Wayne Gacy

Begin looking at claims about mental illness and its impact on aberrant behavior with the case of John Wayne Gacy, who killed at least 33 young men—but who also resided for several years over the decomposing bodies in the crawlspace under his house. Why did his case so confuse a jury?

37 min
Isolation of a Zombie Maker: Jeffrey Dahmer

10: Isolation of a Zombie Maker: Jeffrey Dahmer

Why do homicidal sex offenders report mostly deviant sexual fantasies and tend to mutilate their victims? Get inside the mind of notorious serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer, who exemplifies how predatory homicidal offenders can often show a greater incidence of fantasy based in paraphilias than non-homicidal offenders.

35 min
Dracula Delusions: Richard Trenton Chase

11: Dracula Delusions: Richard Trenton Chase

While some extreme offenders might fake a disorder when the stakes are high for punishment, sometimes a serious mental instability has been well documented in an offender’s past. Case in point: Richard Trenton Chase, whose history of mental illness manifested in some truly bizarre—and truly bloodthirsty—behavior.

35 min
The Retribution-Day Killer: Elliot Rodger

12: The Retribution-Day Killer: Elliot Rodger

Unlike mass murderers, who kill four or more people in a single event and at a single location, a spree killer slaughters three or more people in at least two locations. Here, meet Elliot Rodger, a spree killer and a symbol of justified violence to men known as “incels,” or involuntary celibates.

38 min

Overview Course No. 10120

Criminologists and forensic psychologists dedicate their careers to understanding the root causes of extreme behavior, not to glorify such behavior, but rather to better understand how the human mind can reach such extremes—and how to watch for similar warning behaviors in future potential offenders.

In these 12 episodes, plunge into some of the darkest criminal mental states, methods, and motives. Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy, Jeffrey Dahmer, and other mass, spree, and serial killers each had their own developmental path toward violence. What set them off on such horrible paths? How can we hope to stop future extreme offenders before they start? The answers require an intense journey into the heart of human darkness.

For five years, Dr. Ramsland worked with Dennis Rader on his autobiography, Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer. She understands as well as anyone just how dark and disturbing it can be to get inside the mind of an extreme offender. But what she’s brought back to us from that darkness—insights into the intricacies of human behavior, possible treatment options for future offenders, stories of how criminologists work—is undeniably illuminating.

Please note that this series contains graphic descriptions and depictions of violence, sexual violence, sexually explicit language, and offensive and dehumanizing language, which may be disturbing and may not be suitable for minors or other audiences. It is intended for educational purposes only, and is not a substitute for, nor does it replace, professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment of mental health conditions.

About

Katherine Ramsland

Using penetrating insights from psychology, we’ll deconstruct the “whats” and “whys” of some of the most notorious killers of all time.

INSTITUTION

DeSales University

Katherine Ramsland is a Professor of Forensic Psychology and the Assistant Provost for Special Programs at DeSales University. She holds graduate degrees in Forensic Psychology, Clinical Psychology, Criminal Justice, and Philosophy. She has been honored as a distinguished alumna by Northern Arizona University and the John Jay College of Criminal Justice.

The author of more than 1,000 articles and 68 books, Katherine spent five years working with Dennis Rader on his autobiography Confession of a Serial Killer: The Untold Story of Dennis Rader, The BTK Killer. Among her other books are How to Catch a Killer, The Psychology of Death Investigations, The Mind of a Murderer, Beating the Devil’s Game, and The Devil’s Dozen: 12 Notorious Serial Killers Caught by Cutting-Edge Forensics. Her background positioned her to assist former FBI profiler John Douglas on his book The Cases That Haunt Us and to cowrite books with former FBI profilers Gregg McCrary and Mark Safarik. She also coauthored The Real World of a Forensic Scientist with Elaine M. Pagliaro and renowned forensic criminalist Henry C. Lee. She blogs regularly for Psychology Today.

Katherine trains law enforcement professionals and speaks internationally about forensic psychology, investigative psychology, jury dynamics, suicidology, and extreme offenders. She is an executive producer of Murder House Flip and has consulted for CSI, Bones, and The Alienist. She has also appeared on more than 200 documentaries and shows, including 20/20, 48 Hours, and Nightline. She is a go-to consultant regarding perpetrators of the most deviant forms of criminal behavior.

By This Professor

Extreme Offenders: Psychological Insights
853