Childhood
Berkowtiz had a rough childhood. From a young age, he suffered from violent attacks and seizures. Berkowitz struggled in school and was constantly getting in trouble for behavior issues and fights. He claimed to have been influenced by the devil and satanic thoughts even from an early age. Despite his loving parents, he was unable to form strong relationships or connections and was an introvert in all aspects of his life. When his mother died, it was the tipping point and Berkowtiz was a lost cause. That was the one emotional connection he had and her death was dramatic for Berkowitz. For years after, he suffered from depression which affected his social skills as well. He claims that his lifelong trouble with relationships led to deeper issues as an adult. After the killings, he explained that his frustration with his lack of connection to others led to his unimaginable actions. He never knew what it was like to have a relationship with someone and that is why he was so emotionally unattached to the murders. His lack of personal relationships and history of depression explains some of his psychological instability. Looking back at his childhood, there were warning signs that Berkowitz was troubled and some of his actions can be related back to what he experienced as a boy.
Cult
In 1975, Berkowitz was introduced to a Satanic cult. The impact of the cult drove Berkowitz to develop a relationship with satin. Eventually he become involved in drugs and other criminal activity. The influence of the cult greatly affected some of the decisions that he made. By getting involved with the wrong people and truly believing that he was being controlled by satin, Berkowitz's psychological illness took control. The combination of depression and belief in satin pushed him to the edge.