I don't know, but I have a theory. It goes like this:
There is a subset population among criminals. Their desire is to see people be afraid. They are generally seen as intelligent, gentle people, but they have lived through trauma. They are emotionally fragile, which helps others feel they are gentle, but they are actually angry and do not know how to express it.
They tend to lash out at a target that fits who they are angry at. If they feel mom didn't protect them from abuse, they may victimize women. If they feel the church victimized them, they may target religious people. Etc. They rationalize the behavior to themselves as society's fault, and usually speak out strongly against community leaders, though they do nothing to help that community and will take the blame for their own actions. Often feeling a sense of pride in doing so, but once you talk to them and get to the heart of it, they blame others for making them that way. Speaking out against those who commit the same type of behavior they have is common, but the other person is much worse than them because they went further or their target was someone they believe should be safe. They have usually committed a number of low profile crimes before getting caught. Usually progressive. Misdemeanors, then get caught about the time they start progressing up to third degree felonies.
It isn't about what looks obvious. It is about creating fear - making others feel the same fear they felt when they were victimized.
That's my overly psycho-analytical theory of why someone would do this.
The other theory is the same as my one for anybody who purposely hurts others. They're big fat jerks. But I guess it's better to try to understand them then just leave it at that. Criminal or not, everyone is human and maybe if we understand them, we can help before they are too far gone.
There is a subset population among criminals. Their desire is to see people be afraid. They are generally seen as intelligent, gentle people, but they have lived through trauma. They are emotionally fragile, which helps others feel they are gentle, but they are actually angry and do not know how to express it.
They tend to lash out at a target that fits who they are angry at. If they feel mom didn't protect them from abuse, they may victimize women. If they feel the church victimized them, they may target religious people. Etc. They rationalize the behavior to themselves as society's fault, and usually speak out strongly against community leaders, though they do nothing to help that community and will take the blame for their own actions. Often feeling a sense of pride in doing so, but once you talk to them and get to the heart of it, they blame others for making them that way. Speaking out against those who commit the same type of behavior they have is common, but the other person is much worse than them because they went further or their target was someone they believe should be safe. They have usually committed a number of low profile crimes before getting caught. Usually progressive. Misdemeanors, then get caught about the time they start progressing up to third degree felonies.
It isn't about what looks obvious. It is about creating fear - making others feel the same fear they felt when they were victimized.
That's my overly psycho-analytical theory of why someone would do this.
The other theory is the same as my one for anybody who purposely hurts others. They're big fat jerks. But I guess it's better to try to understand them then just leave it at that. Criminal or not, everyone is human and maybe if we understand them, we can help before they are too far gone.
