Texas bombings: A psychotherapist goes inside the mind of the suspect
The series of bombings that terrorized the Austin, Texas, area has many federal officials and residents questioning the motives behind such a heinous act.
Psychotherapist and human behavior expert Dr. Karen Ruskin said the psychological profile of a “serial bomber” is someone who is trying to replace some level of emptiness in their lives.
“Somewhere there is a void within this person, and they believe that this action will correct whatever the problem is that they are experiencing,” psychotherapist Dr. Karen Ruskin told FOX Business’ Liz MacDonald Wednesday.
Mark Anthony Conditt, the suspected bomber whose deadly explosives terrorized Austin for three weeks, used one of his own devices to blow himself up as a SWAT team closed in on him.
Dr. Ruskin says research shows the problem the individual is trying to rectify likely stems from childhood.
“There’s a debate in the mental health industry if this is nature or nurture or a combination platter of both,” she said.
The nurture argument relates to the person’s upbringing as a child, and the nature aspect pertains to a potential genetic predisposition for behavior, according to Dr. Ruskin.
Conditt’s background appeared to be normal having owned a home with his father, and he was a former computer repair technician. He was homeschooled by his mother and obtained a degree from Austin Community College.
However, Dr. Ruskin says mental health experts have wrestled with diagnosing individuals with normal behavioral patterns and violent fantasies.
“If there is a history of violent fantasies, desire to harm others, that is a key sign that there is going to be behavior that will follow through with those thoughts,” she said.