Atlanta, Psychology, and the Second Siege

• NCJ Number: 88555
• Journal: American Psychologist Volume: 37 Issue: 5 Dated: (May 1982) Pages: 559-568
• Author(s): G B Greaves; J S Currie; A C Carter
• Date Published: 1982
• Length: 10 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: Report to the APA by the Georgia Psychological Association's Ad Hoc Resource Committee on Murdered and Missing Atlanta Children.

Annotation

This report chronicles the Atlanta child murders and describes individual and organized efforts of professional psychologists to assist the Atlanta Special Task Force and the community.

Abstract

From the summer of 1979 until the late spring of 1981, Atlanta's young black population was apparently stalked by a ruthless and faceless killer. Before the murders stopped abruptly in May 1981 when Wayne Williams was first picked up, at least 28 deaths occurred in a 22-month period. The exotic nature of these crimes and the tremendous emotional strain they placed on Atlanta's population created many opportunities for psychological consultation and intervention. By summer 1980, the Atlanta police had organized a special task force to investigate the growing numbers of black child homicides and began consulting psychiatrists, psychologists, and criminologists to profile the killer. Media coverage was intense and often irresponsible and appeared to appeal to and influence the killer. Widespread rumors of racial war and a homosexual killer led George Greaves, a specialist in psychodiagnostics, to communicate his ideas to the Task Force. Greaves believed that race and sex were incidental to the murder's motivations and that the killer was probably a black male between 18 and 40 and not overtly psychotic. Profiles produced by demographic and psychological data helped police to spot suspects, and psychology experts were consulted regarding interrogation methods. The unsolved murders caused psychological problems for black school children, black families, and the task force officers. A newly created Mental Health Task Force sponsored workshops, public education programs, and supervised activities for children. However, the emotional climate of the city deteriorated with additional murders and no arrests. Consequently, the Georgia Psychological Association formed an emergency task force in May 1981 with an American Psychological Association grant. This group stopped its activities when Williams was arrested. One table is included. (Author abstract modified)