Animals in the Wild
Wildlife Photography
by Jim Robertson

Articles
Comparative Psychological Criminal Profile of Walter Palmer and Robert Hansen

September 2015

Although one never saw the light of day again (former bakery-shop owner Hansen died in an Alaskan prison in 2014) and one may never see the inside of a courtroom, there are numerous similarities between serial killer/trophy hunter Robert Hansen and dentist/trophy hunter Walter Palmer:

• Both were family men, well-liked and successful in small business
• Both were avid sport hunters (though thus far Dr. Palmer‘s chosen “trophies” were taken only from the legal, non-human side of the imaginary great divide that separates worthy life forms from fair “game.”)
• Both “sportsmen” Walter Palmer and Robert Hansen enjoyed the challenge of bow hunting (presumably to prolong the agony for their prey)
• Both needed to constantly refresh their “trophies” in an obsessive effort to boost their flagging self-esteems (after all, how much macho pride can be derived from being a baker…or a dentist?)
• Both serial killers objectified and thought nothing of the lives or the suffering of their many innocent victims, whom they failed to recognize as vastly superior in intrinsic value
• Conversely, perhaps they did recognize their value and envied them for it
• When accused, neither apologized to those whom their crimes affected, but instead cared only of how the accusations affected them
• Both were narcissistic psychopaths
• Both deserve whatever punishment they got or eventually get

Whether or not he broke enough hunting laws to warrant extradition back to Zimbabwe for a trial is all that seems to matter to Dr. Palmer. The fact that Cecil had a name and a radio tracking collar didn’t help the doctor’s legal case. But as with any psychopathic serial killer, his overwhelming sense of entitlement keeps him from seeing the fundamental wrong in his murderous ways.

 

Copyright Information

This web site contains copyrights-protected images. These copyrighted images may not be published without permission, payment or licensing fee. Any reproduction of the images which appear in this web site, including but not limited to photos, artist rendering, derivative art, photocopying, digital enhancement or manipulation, transmission or retention and/or storage in a retrieval or information system of any kind, is prohibited without the prior written permission. Any usage without prior authorization constitutes copyright infringement and is punishable to the fullest extent of the law.

For information, or to order images, email Jim Robertson by clicking on Contact Us.