Comments on: Josef Fritzl – psychopath?

By: Richard

Richard — Fri, 16 Jan 2009 06:42:11 +0000

i feel the whole insanity defense in general is a ruse. That no matter how sick the individual is, how “crazy” you may classify them, they know on some level somehow that their criminal act is wrong. They are capable of elaborate means to conceal the crime and to elude capture. That means they know what they are doing is WRONG. period

By: wilbau

wilbau — Thu, 08 May 2008 21:30:35 +0000

Following the news and reports about Mr. Fritzl from within Austria, I can just mention that he is (not yet and might not be) considered to be a ‘psychopath’.

He was talking to some authorities yesterday and answered questions ‘rationally’. Through his lawyer he told the public, that no one should see upon him as being a monster.

By: NorthernIrelandExile

NorthernIrelandExile — Thu, 08 May 2008 09:01:28 +0000

FP,

It would be interesting to know what sort of state the children and their mother are likely to be in? And also whether it is likely that anything can be done for them, and if so what?

My interest in this comes from often seeing families come out the other side of (much less extreme) abuse cases, but often never really coming to terms with what happened.

Of course, in this case there is the issue of the children never having been out in the world. Are they likely to cope? Is their manner of thinking likely to be distorted due to growing up in such a situation and as such, can it be fixed or at least relieved a little?

I would ask about how you would go about fixing Mr. Fritzl too, but I think the problem with him is that he was probably in control of what he did – and no doubt knew it was wrong. Therefore I’m not really sure there is much to be fixed!!

Just a couple of questions if you get the time/inclination :>

Cheers!

By: Tiina

Tiina — Wed, 07 May 2008 18:18:27 +0000

This psychopath issue is one of the reasons I am so interested in this case. How often it happens that you see it, so clear just there. No mercy for victims and even think you have made some good for victmis´ sake. That monster made the world he wanted for his victims, victims were there just to satisfy monster´s needs almost no life for their own. Monster practically took/throw all life out of them like psycopaths do and after that what else you can be than livind dead. And how blind and naive we are just to close our eyes and refuse not to see. Psychopaths are everywhere some maybe a litlle bit more human than this horrible monster. The most striking point in this very case is that wife didn´t know, neighbours wondered but how they could have known – so everybody were making this story to become true with or without knowing it. Frizl even accused Elisabeth and told in bublic Elisabeth was blamed to abandon her children. So who would care destiny of the woman who made such an irresbonsible act and even repeated it three times. Maybe he even wanted everybody to think so and that was the reason why he allowed three of them to live upstairs.

By: NorthernIrelandExile

NorthernIrelandExile — Tue, 06 May 2008 20:48:38 +0000

” Mr Fritzl really looks like a pervert to me. The supercilious smirk, the arched eyebrows with the right slightly higher as if in challenge. ”

I love this comment. Class!

I used to have very similar thoughts about my clients, especially the rather frightening smirk. Going into the cell with them was often pretty scary.

I always thought I was the only one who had thoughts like that above and was much to afriad to point it out to anyone… so I’m glad I’m not alone :>