Virginia Tech University killer Cho Seung Hui sent video and written material to the media, in between his killings sprees. What does it say about the mind of a murderer? Analysts say that those with a victim complex often murder. What is the best way to counsel such homicidal tendency?

On CNN-IBN’s show India 360, Psychologist Sonia Mehta and former president of International Students Association in University of Wyoming, USA Sameer Pathak came together with host Sagarika Ghose to argue -What does sending of video and written material to media say about the mind of a murderer?

Victim Complex

Statements made by Cho in his message to media were like – the world has done this to me, the world is against me. You are responsible for my death.

Not completely agreeing that the behaviour of Cho was that of a paranoid psychological behaviour, Mehta said, “We don’t know actually whether we are taking about a paranoid psychotic but certainly that potential does exists”.

People who involve themselves in mass murder generally do not hold themselves responsible for perpetrating such heinous actions. Rather they held others and society responsible for what had happened. “There is this detachment between responsibility for one’s own actions. People are not seen as people but seen as an object. There is no guilt – there is no feeling of responsibility,” said Mehta.

Hatred Against Everyone

From where is such venomous hatred of Cho come from?

“In his case, I think there is some indication that there has been some possibility of sexual abuse, much further back in his childhood,” said Mehta.

Individuals who perpetrate such types of crime go underground for a long time and become silent cipher and at that time they plan such crimes. And there rarely be any precipitating event, added Mehta.

Hostel Life in USA

Hostel life in the US is different from hostel life in India. In India one is never alone in hostel and always doing something together, but in the US one can be very alone in hostels.

Describing the US society as individualistic, Pathak said, “You can be by yourself and nobody will come and knock at your door. In India it’s not the case, people tend to hang around together, they are in groups, they watch movies together – they drag you out, if you don’t join them.”