Famous Serial Killers Essay

Serial Murder The mind behind the crime! Thesis statement: Serial Murderers are not just murderers but also victims of the rotten hand they were dealt. Abstract I. Definition History A. The Most Infamous Killer B.

It is said that he murdered not in anger, or revenge, but on impulse and desire. Like many serial killers before him, psychologists and criminologists, has searched many options and scenarios to answer the question of why serial killers commit these horrendous killings and how they became such violent humans. What they have been contemplating with is whether or not serial killers are born with predetermined genes that play an important role in their homicidal tendencies or if they become murderous through incidents as children. Traditionally, the explanations for why serial killers have the tendencies they have included childhood abuse, genetics, brain injuries, and exposure to traumatic events. What frightens people however, is the fact that a huge number of the population has been exposed to at least one of these traumas in their lifetime.

A big part of serial killers possess a type of mental disease and/or psychological problem. This may also suggest that serial killing is not solely a “nurture” problem, but tha... ... middle of paper ... ...d to his death sentence in the gas chamber. Another school of psychology that uses a strong argument while dealing with Chase’s behavior is the school of psychoanalysis. This school argues that the constant abuse that Chase suffered as a child is what ultimately led to his illegal actions during adulthood. Also, the use of defense mechanisms apply to this situation.

Steve Hodel wrote about the murders and family life of Dr. George Hill Hodel, analyzing his father’s actions and any evidence that was preserved after his death to prove his guilt. This book provided numerous firsthand accounts with George Hodel and detailed reliable evidence in proving the evils that he committed. I was able to use examples of Hodel’s crimes to prove his behavior was based on his psychopathology. Larson, Daniel. "Serial Murderers: The Construction."

Serial killing is psychological, someone to be labeled as a serial killer is to have a psychological motive for taking life. Some of the greatest serial killers to have wandered America, searching for their prey are Ted Bundy, H.H. Holmes (Hermman Webster Mudgett), John Gacy, and perhaps the most notorious killer from Wisconsin, Jeffery Dahmer. Jeffery Dahmer,

The Holmes Typology helps to understand the motivations behind serial killing. Serial killers may be even motivated by fame as part of their motivation for killing. John Wayne Gacy could be seen as evil due to his repeated violent acts. Jeffrey Dahmer was also evil by committing his acts of serial murders. Both Gacy and Dahmer had police records prior to their arrests for serial murders.

In other words, what was going through the criminals mind when he or she was committing the crime? Victimology is the examination of victims and its psychological effects (Dictionary.com, n.d). Often times, criminals where once victims of the crimes they are currently committing. Piecing behavioral science, criminology, and victimology will allow the analyst’s to create a criminal profile. Profiling is a tool that helps analysis or investigate behavioral complexion to forebode and profile the unknown offender (Dictionary.com, n.d).

This is the second most disliked kind of serial killer. A Hedonistic Killer kills purely for either thrill, lust, or comfort. The thrill seekers murder people for the sake of remaining uncaught and eluding the police. These murderers tend to leave clues or letters to make the hunt more interesting. Lust serial killers, as is implied by the name, kills in seek of pleasure.

After killing, he wanted to do it all over, which cause the killings of many innocent women. He came from an unstable family, and proved to want control over others, which he demonstrated by only killing women. Psychiatrists or psychologists want to understand why people become serial killers, and although there are some traits that might already explain it. In the end, on those serial killers will know why and what really caused their actions. To understand why they do it, they must first do the crime, something that society has done over time.

“Unravelling the making of a serial killer is like aligning a Rubik's cube”. There is a great distinction that separates serial killers from other murderers, and this is their motives to kill. Homicides are generally committed due to moments of rage and anger, or disputes from family problems, financial difficulties, gang violence, and conflicts between lovers and between friends. "A psychokiller, I should make clear, is not a regular murderer. A murderer has a vendetta, a nice specific personal thing against his victim".