What drives a person to commit unthinkable crimes? Is it their upbringing, or could their brain be wired differently? Mindhunter is a gripping Netflix crime series that goes beyond typical true crime shows, offering a psychological deep dive into the minds of some of the most notorious criminals in history. Based on true stories, it is set in the 1970s and follows FBI agents Holden Ford and Bill Tench as they team up with psychologist Dr. Wendy Carr to interview serial killers. But what could you possibly get from talking to the most dangerous people in the world? You could try to understand the way they think, and explore similar patterns of reasoning. This is what makes Mindhunter a special true crime series: the goal to build a psychological framework that helps catch future criminals before they strike.
In the show, the FBI agents are essentially using real-world principles from forensic psychology. By interviewing killers like Ed Kemper* or Richard Speck**, they try to uncover the thought processes, emotions, and motivations behind their gruesome acts. This mirrors the actual development of criminal profiling, which is where agents try to predict future behaviors based on past patterns, to identify possible suspects. The show taps into key psychological concepts, such as psychopathy — a personality disorder often marked by a lack of empathy, impulsivity, failure of recognizing facial emotions from expressions, and manipulative behaviors (Rijnders et al., 2021). Characters like Ed Kemper embody this, showing how serial killers can blend into society, manipulating people while feeling no remorse for their crimes.
At the heart of the series is a fundamental question: What makes someone capable of such extreme violence? It has been shown through research that the brain’s prefrontal cortex, which controls decision-making, impulse control, and moral judgment, often functions differently in those who commit violent crimes. Studies show that some serial killers have abnormalities in this part of the brain (Raine et al., 1998), potentially contributing to their inability to distinguish right from wrong or control violent impulses. In addition, research has identified the MAOA gene, sometimes referred to as the "warrior gene," which is linked to a higher predisposition for aggression in individuals with a specific variant (Sohrabi, 2015b). This gene, in combination with environmental factors, may increase the likelihood of violent behavior. The investigators in Mindhunter are not neuroscientists, but in collaboration with a trained psychologist, their interviews touch on these ideas — questioning the nature of morality and whether certain criminals are "born" with brain defects or shaped by their environment.
What makes these kinds of stories so fascinating to us? The show also taps into a deeper psychological fascination we all seem to share: our curiosity about evil. From a psychological perspective, we may be compelled by the contrast between our own moral standards and the extreme behaviors of killers. There’s also an element of learning — by watching these interviews, we try to understand what makes these criminals different from us, which in turn reinforces our own sense of morality.
Mindhunter brilliantly blends psychology and neuroscience into very famous crime narratives to shed light on the most terrifying and complex criminal minds. While it is an intense watch, the show raises important questions about morality, free will, and how much our brains dictate who we are. Whether you're a fan of true crime or just curious about human nature, Mindhunter offers a thought-provoking look at the darker side of the human mind and behavior. Personally, I found the series gripping and deeply insightful. It not only kept me on the edge of my seat but also expanded my understanding of criminal psychology in a way that few other shows have. If you are interested in true crime, this one is definitely for you!
* Ed Kemper is a notorious serial killer who murdered ten people, including his grandparents and mother, in the 1960s and 1970s. Known as the "Co-Ed Killer," he was known for his high intelligence and manipulative behavior. After turning himself in, he was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
** Richard Speck was a mass murderer who brutally killed eight student nurses in Chicago in 1966. His crime shocked the nation, and he was sentenced to death and later commuted to life imprisonment, where he died in 1991.
Author: Ege Su Gülseven
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