TRAUMA OF THE MAIN CHARACTER IN THE SERIAL MOVIE DAHMER - MONSTER: JEFFREY DAHMER STORY

This study aimed to analyze the portrayal of trauma and its psychological impact
on the main character, Jeffrey Dahmer, in the series "Dahmer – Monster: The
Jeffrey Dahmer Story." Utilizing a descriptive qualitative approach, data were
collected through a detailed analysis of the series' script, focusing on dialogues
and scenes that highlighted Dahmer's traumatic background and psychological
state. The study employed Sigmund Freud's psychoanalytic theory and the
American Psychiatric Association's framework on Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder
(PTSD) to dissect the kinds of trauma Dahmer experienced, how he processed
these traumas, and why he reacted as he did. The findings revealed several key
aspects: (1) Dahmer's traumatic experiences were categorized as avoidance
behaviors (39%), mood and cognitive changes (36%), and increased arousal and
reactivity (25%), with these symptoms intensifying in adulthood to 43.0%, 34.2%,
and 22.8%, respectively. (2) Throughout his life, Dahmer experienced trauma
predominantly through the ego's management, which accounted for 57.1% in
childhood and teenage years and 45.6% in adulthood, reflecting his ongoing
struggle to balance inner drives and societal expectations. The id‘s influence grew
in adulthood, accounting for 35.4%, highlighting increased impulsive behavior.
(3) Dahmer's responses were deeply influenced by his psychological
vulnerabilities, marked by a dominant ego and id, and a weakened superego. This
research contributed to understanding psychological trauma in literary works and
had practical implications for fostering empathy and better interactions with
trauma survivors