A psychologist took the stand Tuesday afternoon and said he diagnosed
Jerry Sandusky with having
Histrionic Personality Disorder.
Called by the defense during the sixth day of the child sex abuse trial against 68-year-old Sandusky, Dr. Elliot Atkins testified that
the ?creepy? letters presented by alleged Victim 4 -- the 28-year-old who says he was abused by Sandusky for several years in the 1990s -- can be explained by the emotional disorder.
So can
strange passages of Sandusky?s book, ?Touched? which has been providing fodder for followers of this case since charges were filed in November.
According to Atkins, people with this disorder:
- Consider relationships to be more intimate than they actually are
- Are easily influenced
- Have interaction that is often characterized as inappropriate sexually
- Show shallow expressions of emotion
- Feel unappreciated when not the center of attention
- Have a speech style that is impressionistic and lacking in detail
Atkins said he diagnosed Sandusky after spending six hours with him, an hour with his wife, Dottie, reading the testimony of his accusers, and reading the autobiography.
The letters presented by Victim 4 weren?t read until after the diagnoses was made, Atkins said, however, he said reading the letters only reaffirmed his belief.
He pointed to several passages of the letters, including ?I write because of the turning in my stomach when you don?t care,? from a letter written to Victim 4.
?The letters represent his hurt, his disappointment and criticism of these people for not fulfilling what he was hoping he would get back in return for what he gave in these relationships,? Atkins testified. ?...His admission that he is extremely emotional. He has strong feelings he can?t contain, expects that people would be loyal, kind of saying he?s an unusual, naive and not bright person.?
Atkins referenced the report of another psychologist who evaluated Sandusky and found he does not have this disorder, but the court is in recess until 2:45 p.m., when prosecutors will start cross-examination of Atkins.