But Schiller didn't go into the issue in any depth. He quickly skipped over the topic and continued, "When a person gains so many benefits from a disguise, it seems as if they should simply keep maintaining it. But in reality, it isn't that simple. When you play the role of a normal person and blend into society, you become increasingly aware that the pathological parts of you are out of place here. Your disguise is wildly popular, while your id can only hide in a dark corner, never to see the light of day. Inevitably, that makes a person feel depressed."
"We find traits like this in many serial killers. They claim they can't fit into society, but in the eyes of their neighbors and friends, they're good people. Before the truth comes out, almost no one suspects they're so cruel."
"So when the police receive statements like that, they think it's just a cunning criminal making excuses, trying to shift the blame for his crimes onto society, or simply using it to win the jury's sympathy. But in most cases, what they're saying is true."
"The perfect self they've fabricated can win everyone's affection, draw endless attention, and appear flawless. But deep down, they know that isn't who they are. Their true selves are hideous by comparison. Once exposed, they'll scare everyone away—this may be an illusion, but they always think that way."
"And so self-hostility emerges. The more smoothly they navigate life with that perfect disguise, the more they hate themselves for being that way; the more they want to release their true selves, to use their true selves to surpass the disguise. As a result, they begin to lean toward putting certain perverse and cruel thoughts into practice, ultimately becoming serial killers."
"In their eyes, as