This question was raised in an IMHO thread but not answered. Apparently the three red flags that indicate a potential serial killer are animal torture, fire starting, and bedwetting. I understand how the first two are indicators, but what’s the deal with the third?
I understand in the “McDonald Triad” for profiling, it’s “bedwetting after the age of 10”. Apart from that, maybe they link it in with extreme ADHD – don’t know.
If I remember correctly, it’s bedwetting past a certain age , and the link is statistical- serial killers are more likely to have exhibited those behaviors than the general population.
Okay, but I still don’t get it. Torturing an animal is a voluntary action. So is setting a fire. No one wants to wet their bed, do they?
Could it be the effect of shame and humiliation bedwetting causes?
I remember reading somewhere that bedwetting, fire setting, and animal cruelty are all considered problems with impulse control- not being able to “hold it in” in both a literal and figurative sense…
I’m also pretty sure that sexual molestation falls into a “childhood trait of a future serial killer.” For instance many of the most famous serial killers were molested as children. Bed wetting could be coincidence or just a symptom.
Okay, that all makes sense.
Welcome to the boards, Maneb!