JtR's Ideal Victim Type

[Garza]

You are taking it as fact that JtR was a 'Lust Murderer', but this may not be so at all.

I read a thread on Casebook by 'Corey' (try looking under 'motives'), in which he gave his own considered diagnostic, which was 'Narcissism', and that really made sense to me..

If Narcissism was the cause, then an IVT may not exist..

Interesting read. Its a valid point, although I disagree with it lol. Lust killers tend to place their dead victims in sexual poses (in Jack's case the knees up and drawn wide, ready to accept the missionary position)

[protohistorian]

I think the only conclusion we can make with certainty is his perceived ability to physically do the murder. We cannot say with certainty much else, particularly regarding the time needed to commit the crime, as that feature is going to vary widely by psychological state. Whether he was a buff lad 4 and 1/2 ft tall or a tall adult male we cannot say. In his mind however,it is a fairly solid conclusion to say that he had enough perceived confidence to launch the attack. Dave

[c.d.]

It might not have had anything to do with personal appearance. Perhaps there was just "something" about them. Or maybe they were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.

c.d.

[Rubyretro]

You are taking it as fact that JtR was a 'Lust Murderer', but this may not be so at all.

I read a thread on Casebook by 'Corey' (try looking under 'motives'), in which he gave his own considered diagnostic, which was 'Narcissism', and that really made sense to me..

If Narcissism was the cause, then an IVT may not exist..

[Garza]

JtR has been classed as a lust murderer and a necrosadist. Lust murderers tend to have IVt's (Ideal Victim Type) that they ideally sexualise and want to overpower. For example, Ted Bundy always selected females with long dark hair parted in the middle.

Lust murder is a phenomenon most common among serial killers. These offenders have made a connection between murder and sexual gratification. When this type of offender chooses a victim there must be something about that victim that the offender finds sexually attractive. This attractive trait might be common among all of the offender’s victims and is called the offenders Ideal Victim Type (IVT). There might be many potential targets that an offender passes by because they do not meet his IVT. Once the offender has found a victim who is ideal he might engage in stalking or other predatory behaviors before acting out his fantasy on his victim. Fantasies are a key component in lust murders and can never be completely fulfilled. The lust killer will have a fantasy that continues to evolve over time and becomes increasingly violent as he struggles to fulfill it.[

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lust_murder

So what is Jacks? If he has one.

Polly Nichols - 44, 5ft 2, dark hair, brown eyes, stocky appearance
Annie Chapman - 47, 5ft, dark hair, blue eyes, stocky
Liz Stride - 45, 5ft 5, dark curly hair, light gray eyes, slim
Catherine Eddowes - 46, 5ft, dark auburn hair, hazel eyes, slim
Mary Jane Kelly - 25, 5ft 7, blonde hair, blue eyes, stout



Polly and Annie are very similar in appearance, age and height, tis also similiarities of Martha Tabrum's appearance, as well as Catherine, however she is more slim-line. Liz is only different though weight and being slightly taller. Mary Jane Kelly seems to be the complete opposite to the rest of them.

My does Jack not go for younger, more attractive, less stocky, weaker prey. Why older, built like a tank women? Why so much anger and hatred towards these women? They are certainly not the pinnacle of female sexuality which he attacks with such feriousity.

I think that Jack the Ripper had mummy issues, I need more research, but I'm leaning that way. He attacks these women because they look like his mother. His mother neglected him or probably even abused him. The connection between his mother and sex is strong. She was probably a prostitute, maybe she brought clients home, where (in those one-room flats), where he might actually have seen his mother had sex with clients. Of course this is all speculation.

Which leads me to Mary Jane Kelly. Was she a JtR victim because she was so unlike JtR IVT?

Possibly. However how many stocky, small women, which were probably not the most attractive and not in high demand results in them having to stay out til the small hours of the morning to ply their trade would own their own place as Mary Jane did? Maybe Jack bypassed his IVT to be given the time and the space to carry out his sick fantasies in a private room.