The Psycho Mind of Carl Panzram
Rene R. Paredes
Southwest University
November 6, 2013
Abstract
The actions of a psychopath can be torn apart and analyzed in various different ways, but taking the actual statements of a sadistic mind, such as Carl Panzram, can unnerve even the most stable-minded people; yet, shed light on the reasons behind the insanity. Taking actual excerpts from the man that described himself as “rage personified,” can show you that the person we turn out to be is not always completely dependent on the person we have chosen to become, but in actuality, a personification of our upbringings. We can even begin to understand the actions taken by people of the state of mind that can be labeled as a psychopath; not justify, but understand why they are done.
The Psycho Mind of Carl Panzram
A child being raised in America nowadays is taught the basic fundamentals of life. We are all shown, at early ages, that there are certain things you can, and cannot do. A child is not expected to know what social acceptability is, but a child is expected to know how to act in society. As you were being raised, there was almost always somebody in your life that was there to tell you, if you do something that you are not supposed to do. There has, almost always been someone to scold you for your mistakes and praise you for your accomplishments; whether it was a guardian, family member, educator, or a public authority figure. When a child does something that is not socially acceptable, we begin to label them as “troublemakers,” which then grows into a “rebel,” or a “misfit;” as a young adult. If this person leads a life of mischief and does not conform to what our society deems as acceptable, certain action then tend to change the portrayal of this person as a mentally unstable; a psychopath. The actions of a psychopath can be torn apart and analyzed in various different ways, but taking the actual statements of a sadistic mind, such as Carl Panzram, can unnerve even the most stable-minded people; yet, shed light on the reasons behind the insanity.
When a person is asked to describe their own personality or the things they have done, a sense of pride tends to take over their personal depiction and one inclines toward embellishing the truth. For this reason, the way someone delineates themselves cannot always be taken as complete factual information. In the case of Carl Panzram, what was documented does not completely match what was stated, as having been done. Yet, we, as observers cannot completely disregard the claims that were made, as false. Being one of the most, self-proclaimed, prolific serial killers, Panzram showed no remorse for his disturbing actions; as shown in this excerpt by Panzram in his personal writings.
"In my lifetime I have murdered 21 human beings, I have committed thousands of burglaries, robberies, larcenies, arsons and, last but not least, I have committed sodomy on more than 1,000 male human beings. For all these things I am not in the least bit sorry."
As unsettling as this statement may seem, there is still a sense of inconsistent believability. Even if all the actions described actually happened, the numbers stated seem as an exaggeration to further illustrate Panzram’s ferocity. Although the heinous crimes confessed to may appear to not be completely realistic, the truth is, the documented actions of Carl Panzram bring to mind the possibility of every word being completely true. Furthermore, at the beginning of the 20th Century, disguising yourself was as easy as claiming to have a different name; in a new location. Throughout his relevantly short life, Panzram spent the majority of his time as an inmate in several different facilities under different aliases. This list, displayed on Wikipedia, shows what has been revealed throughout the documented life of Panzram in American prison systems, under
