The mental status of Anders Breivik has been much questioned in the past few days. Is he psychotic? one neighbour asked. Is he evil? asked another. Not sure simple binaries are ever going to be adequate. He does fit a pattern that can be recognised: loner, suspicious to the point of paranoia, especially negative about those who do not conform to their picture of 'normality'. There is often a negative attachment to the dominant hate group of the particular time (eg in the 1930s it was Jewish people as it is Muslim people in contemporary Europe). Furious at such concepts as multiculturalism and diversity. Especially angry at the idea of 'political correctness'.
Such characters live in a world of their own rarely able to engage in reciprocal relationship. Asexual rather than anything more relationally defined as heterosexual or gay. Rarely female, often deeply negative about women and out gay people. Psychopathic in terms of personality organisation. Obsessive.
Lonely childhoods. Remote or absent fathers. No or few adult relationships. Strong belief in rule of law (variously interpreted). Very angry with any variation or laxity in the application of rules/law.
As to assessment and treatment, I think there are little or no grounds for optimism. For those in the mild category (very few I would imagine), a secure forensic therapeutic community with skilled, intensive group and individual work may be helpful. But for those in the moderate to severe categories I am not aware of much evidence of effective treatments at the moment. I would be interested in other views on this.
I have read reports that Anders Breivik liked the Eurovision Song Contest. He seemed to have enjoyed wearing uniforms and had attachments to extremists in the UK and to the notion of the Crusaders wiping out Islam from a white Christendom.
Local angle? Did Anders Breivik attend the EDL demonstration in LE1 in September 2010?
Check out the YouTube clips and read the Top Comments.
Background on the Knights Templar
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/europe/norway/8659644/Norway-killer-who-were-the-Knights-Templar.html
A friend of mine, Enrico, wrote that there is a dimension of delirium, but what is worrying is the fact that the extremes show the median levels. The racist mass murderer reveals racism croaker and micro-exclusive, that feels understood, if it does not take the opportunity of the revelation. Not the whole nations go to war, but they identify with the soldiers who make it. Rather than punish the guilty, we must discuss the widespread meanness. The monster manifests the latent monstrosity. We pay attention to ourselves. (Antonello)
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