After discussing some of the most prevalent themes and motifs that serial killers often demonstrate in today’s class, I thought it would be appropriate to investigate this matter further, and examine the lack of masculinity in the traditional white, heterosexual, male serial killer. As we see in Psycho, Norman portrays himself as the white, heterosexual man– he looks skinny and is awkward with his interactions, yet has a distinct aura of charisma that creates a sense of intimacy with the audience.

However compelling Norman’s seemingly innocent and charming personality may be at the beginning, we eventually learn about his past — specifically about the lack of a father figure in his childhood, which is directly parallel to an article I found pertaining to masculinity in serial killers. In her study, Nichole Rehling illuminates the idea that serial killers, who are often men, tend to share a commonality in the fact that their masculinity is insecure. This lack of a father figure, for instance, can be directly related to feeling insecure about ones own masculine identity, such as what Andrea spoke about. With this being said, serial killers often resort to extreme ways of gratifying and rectifying this conflict they have with themselves. As Rehling writes, “[the] white masculinity is a rather empty, depleted identity, which, in the serial killer, produces a chain of violent acts intent on attaining a form of subjectivity that remains ever elusive.”        Rehling describes this lack of identity and lack of security many serial killers have — which I think we can see revealed through Norman’s character — and furthermore, hints toward a more primitive reasoning that accompanies this identity crisis serial killers often emit.

Rehling suggests, interestingly, that this lack of masculinity that is often evident with repeated killings is not only due to a lack of a masculine figure in the upbringing of the man, but can also be due to man’s primitive and aggressive nature that is now ultimately suppressed within today’s society. Whereas traditional ‘survival of the fittest’ and more violent, aggressive, barbaric ways of living were where man was first introduced to, contemporary society upholds the complete opposite: we are civil, abide by laws, live in houses, and are more isolated from Mother Nature than any society before ours. This, accompanied with the insecurity of one’s masculinity, are often common discoveries amongst serial killers. With Norman, I believe his almost sadistic pleasure in his hobby with birds points toward a longing for a more structured, clearly defined male presence. The internal conflict Norman also has with embodying his mother’s characteristics, is another element that may add to Norman’s lack of manhood and lack of self confidence. As outlined in Rehling’s article, Norman demonstrates some of these most notable emotional conflicts serial killers have.

Cited; Nichole Rehling:

“JUMP CUTA REVIEW OF CONTEMPORARY MEDIA.” “Masculinity in Serial Killer Movies” Text Version. N.p., n.d. Web. 28 Mar. 2014.