Severing Humanity: The Psychology Behind Beheading Murders
Crime is an intimate shadow of humanity, lingering at the edges of our consciousness. Beheading murder as a form of execution offers a chilling study into the darkest recesses of the human psyche. Rooted in dehumanisation, it reflects how individuals strip others of their intrinsic worth, reducing them to objects or symbols—tools to achieve personal or ideological ends.
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The act of beheading is a manifestation of disconnection, where primal instincts or distorted beliefs overrule empathy. In this context, dehumanisation becomes the gateway, allowing perpetrators to rationalise what would otherwise be unthinkable. From ancient rituals to modern extremism, this act transcends mere violence—it becomes a statement, a severing not just of life, but of humanity itself.
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As I explore the psychology of beheading for Crime Insights by The Aartery Chronicles, I invite you to confront these uncomfortable truths with me. Together, let us delve into the fair line between civilisation and savagery, and question what truly separates us from the shadows within.
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– Dr. Darshit Patel
Beheading murders are not just acts of extreme violence; they offer a window into the complex interplay of psychological, cultural, and ideological factors driving such heinous behaviour. By examining three distinct cases—the Ghaziabad occult killing (2024), the Kanhaiya Lal murder (2022), and the Tamil Nadu TV revelation beheading (2008)—we uncover the psychological frameworks and clinical underpinnings of these crimes.
Clinical Insights into Three Disturbing Beheading Murder Cases
Ghaziabad Occult Killing (2024)
Two men executed a victim as part of an occult ritual, believing the act would invoke supernatural powers.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Magical Thinking: The perpetrators exhibited delusions associated with magical ideation, a cognitive distortion common in psychotic disorders or culturally entrenched superstitions.
- Paranoid Traits: Their belief in achieving invincibility or spiritual rewards indicates possible underlying delusions of grandeur or persecutory delusions.
Clinical Insight:
ICD-11 categorises these traits under Schizotypal Disorder (6A00) or Other Specific Disorders Due to Known Physiological Conditions (6E60). DSM-5 places such beliefs within the spectrum of Delusional Disorder (F22) when accompanied by a fixed delusional framework​.
The Kanhaiya Lal Murder (2022)
In Rajasthan, a tailor was beheaded by extremists who recorded the act to display their adherence to radical ideology.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Radicalisation and Cognitive Bias: Perpetrators demonstrated cognitive dissonance, justifying violence through ideological indoctrination. This aligns with the Groupthink phenomenon, where group ideologies override critical thinking.
- Moral Disengagement: The killers displayed mechanisms of moral disengagement, enabling them to rationalise murder as divine justice.
Clinical Insight:
This behaviour is consistent with traits seen in Antisocial Personality Disorder (6D11) or Radicalisation-Induced Psychopathology. Symptoms include reduced empathy, distorted moral reasoning, and a willingness to commit violence under ideological justification​.Â
Tamil Nadu Beheading After a TV Revelation (2008)
A man was beheaded after his extramarital affair was revealed on television, triggering a violent retaliation.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Impulse-Control Disorders: The perpetrator’s actions reflect impulsive aggression, often seen in disorders like Intermittent Explosive Disorder (6C70) or traits of Borderline Personality Disorder (6D70).
- Honour-Based Violence: The killer’s sense of personal and familial honour, a culturally reinforced construct, played a significant role in escalating emotional dysregulation into homicidal rage.
Clinical Insight:
Perceived dishonour acts as a psychosocial stressor, triggering violence in individuals with pre-existing emotional instability. DSM-5 links such acts to Adjustment Disorders with Disturbance of Conduct (F43.24) when tied to significant stressors​.
Ghaziabad Occult Killing (2024)
Two men executed a victim as part of an occult ritual, believing the act would invoke supernatural powers.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Magical Thinking: The perpetrators exhibited delusions associated with magical ideation, a cognitive distortion common in psychotic disorders or culturally entrenched superstitions.
- Paranoid Traits: Their belief in achieving invincibility or spiritual rewards indicates possible underlying delusions of grandeur or persecutory delusions.
Clinical Insight:
ICD-11 categorises these traits under Schizotypal Disorder (6A00) or Other Specific Disorders Due to Known Physiological Conditions (6E60). DSM-5 places such beliefs within the spectrum of Delusional Disorder (F22) when accompanied by a fixed delusional framework​.
The Kanhaiya Lal Murder (2022)
In Rajasthan, a tailor was beheaded by extremists who recorded the act to display their adherence to radical ideology.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Radicalisation and Cognitive Bias: Perpetrators demonstrated cognitive dissonance, justifying violence through ideological indoctrination. This aligns with the Groupthink phenomenon, where group ideologies override critical thinking.
- Moral Disengagement: The killers displayed mechanisms of moral disengagement, enabling them to rationalise murder as divine justice.
Clinical Insight:
This behaviour is consistent with traits seen in Antisocial Personality Disorder (6D11) or Radicalisation-Induced Psychopathology. Symptoms include reduced empathy, distorted moral reasoning, and a willingness to commit violence under ideological justification​.Â
Tamil Nadu Beheading After a TV Revelation (2008)
A man was beheaded after his extramarital affair was revealed on television, triggering a violent retaliation.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Impulse-Control Disorders: The perpetrator’s actions reflect impulsive aggression, often seen in disorders like Intermittent Explosive Disorder (6C70) or traits of Borderline Personality Disorder (6D70).
- Honour-Based Violence: The killer’s sense of personal and familial honour, a culturally reinforced construct, played a significant role in escalating emotional dysregulation into homicidal rage.
Clinical Insight:
Perceived dishonour acts as a psychosocial stressor, triggering violence in individuals with pre-existing emotional instability. DSM-5 links such acts to Adjustment Disorders with Disturbance of Conduct (F43.24) when tied to significant stressors​.
Ghaziabad Occult Killing (2024)
Two men executed a victim as part of an occult ritual, believing the act would invoke supernatural powers.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Magical Thinking: The perpetrators exhibited delusions associated with magical ideation, a cognitive distortion common in psychotic disorders or culturally entrenched superstitions.
- Paranoid Traits: Their belief in achieving invincibility or spiritual rewards indicates possible underlying delusions of grandeur or persecutory delusions.
Clinical Insight:
ICD-11 categorises these traits under Schizotypal Disorder (6A00) or Other Specific Disorders Due to Known Physiological Conditions (6E60). DSM-5 places such beliefs within the spectrum of Delusional Disorder (F22) when accompanied by a fixed delusional framework​.
The Kanhaiya Lal Murder (2022)
In Rajasthan, a tailor was beheaded by extremists who recorded the act to display their adherence to radical ideology.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Radicalisation and Cognitive Bias: Perpetrators demonstrated cognitive dissonance, justifying violence through ideological indoctrination. This aligns with the Groupthink phenomenon, where group ideologies override critical thinking.
- Moral Disengagement: The killers displayed mechanisms of moral disengagement, enabling them to rationalise murder as divine justice.
Clinical Insight:
This behaviour is consistent with traits seen in Antisocial Personality Disorder (6D11) or Radicalisation-Induced Psychopathology. Symptoms include reduced empathy, distorted moral reasoning, and a willingness to commit violence under ideological justification​.Â
Tamil Nadu Beheading After a TV Revelation (2008)
A man was beheaded after his extramarital affair was revealed on television, triggering a violent retaliation.
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Psychological Profile:
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- Impulse-Control Disorders: The perpetrator’s actions reflect impulsive aggression, often seen in disorders like Intermittent Explosive Disorder (6C70) or traits of Borderline Personality Disorder (6D70).
- Honour-Based Violence: The killer’s sense of personal and familial honour, a culturally reinforced construct, played a significant role in escalating emotional dysregulation into homicidal rage.
Clinical Insight:
Perceived dishonour acts as a psychosocial stressor, triggering violence in individuals with pre-existing emotional instability. DSM-5 links such acts to Adjustment Disorders with Disturbance of Conduct (F43.24) when tied to significant stressors​.
Common Psychological Mechanisms in Beheading Murders
Dehumanisation
Perpetrators often strip victims of their humanity to rationalise extreme violence. This detachment is a hallmark of Psychopathy and Antisocial Traits. In the context of violent crimes like beheadings, dehumanisation plays a pivotal role in justifying actions that would otherwise be deemed unacceptable.
Ideological Indoctrination
A rigid belief system, often rooted in religion or culture, fosters moral justifications for violence by overriding personal ethics with group ideologies. This dynamic, tied to Cognitive Dissonance, helps reconcile violent acts with moral self-perception. Extremist Groupthink further amplifies this effect, suppressing critical thinking and enforcing conformity. These mechanisms create a psychological framework where violence becomes an acceptable means to uphold ideological values.
Impulse Dysregulation
Sudden, emotionally charged violence reflects a failure in emotional regulation, often linked to Impulse-Control Disorders like Intermittent Explosive Disorder. These individuals react disproportionately to stressors, driven by intense emotions such as anger or frustration. Neurological dysfunction in the amygdala and prefrontal cortex impairs impulse control, while environmental factors like trauma can exacerbate aggression. Addressing these deficits is crucial for preventing violent outbursts.
Magical Thinking and Delusions
Concluding Insights
The psychology of beheading murders reveals deeply rooted distortions in cognition, morality, and emotion. These cases require a multidisciplinary approach to address the complex sociocultural, psychological, and ideological factors driving such acts. By understanding these frameworks, we can develop targeted interventions to mitigate the risk of future tragedies.
Author:
Dr Darshit Patel, MD General Medicine
