Serial killers differ from other types of murderers. The number of serial killers in the U.S. is staggering. Differences are clear between serial killing and conventional murders. Serial killing can be classified as either motive based or organizational and social based. The Holmes Typology helps to understand the motivations behind serial killing.
According to Richard Ramirez,“Normal, ordinary people do not think like a serial killer. They have no conception of what is going on in a killer’s mind, how he operates”. Ramirez was a notorious serial killer who killed at least 14 people and tortured many more. Serial killers like Ramirez are why for many years psychologists and law enforcement officials have been trying to figure out just why people behave in this way. It is a very common fact that normal people do not think the same way that a serial killer does which is why it makes figuring out why they do what they do so much harder.
There are two key characteristics of a serial killer, one being the presence of sociopathy or aggressive antisocial behavior. It has been estimated that nearly three percent of males in our society may be sociopaths. Most socio-paths are not violent: they may lie, cheat, or steal, but rape and murder are not nec... ... middle of paper ... ...ts continue to study genetics, they undoubtedly will provide more information about the genetic makeup of a serial killer. The public is disgusted by the bloody deeds that serial killers have committed, but they will forever intrigue us. The fascination stems from the fact that in most cases the killers are so similar to the common person.
Serial Killers' Modus Operandi A plethora of serial killers, dead and undead, have been most horrifying in their methods. There are several types of serial killers, some have been caught while others continue to haunt their surroundings. There are several approaches in categorizing serial killers. One method requires examination of the crime scene, the other requires counseling with the serial killer. In profiling a serial killer, law enforcers realize that serial killers are not unlike regular people; there are several exceptions like schizophrenics but most of them look like everyone else.
Holmes and some serial killers manipulate their victims through highly persuasive and charming behaviors (What Motivates Serial Killers to kill 2007). When it comes to Holmes’ disorganized characteristics we see that he lived near the crime scene, and he left physical evidence (Freeman, 2007). Holmes could be labeled a psychopath as he showed a lack of conscious, remorse, and guilt for his actions (H.H. Holmes, 2004; Johns,
"The visionary type [is] described as killers who are classified as 'psychotic” ' (Morton, Tillman, & Gaines, 2014, p. 5). (Not be confused with psychopathic.) These killers receive commands from voices, or communicate with gods or other beings who demand the offender commit murder. They almost always fall into the FBI’s 'disorganized ' category of serial killers because of the mental illness and impulsivity that drives their criminal offenses. They are not thoughtful planners like their 'organized ' counterparts… Moreover, visionary killers are said to be 'act focused ' because the act of killing itself is their immediate goal.
Serial killers commonly attack a single target at a time one on one. There also tends to be no or very little relation between the person being killed and the killer (murder 1). “The nature of this drive has been heavily debated, but there is a consensus on some points (Anderson 1).” Many researchers have noted sexual behavior in the murder.
Investigations of these horrendous crimes can sometimes be hindered by publicity; if the chief of police is under pressure to get answers out to the press, important information or strategies may be leaked and would cause more problems for police (Dietz 478). (Mass, Serial and Sensational Homicides) Serial killers, who reach ten or more victims in ten or more separate incidents, only ever kill strangers. They are able to achieve this staggering number of victims simply by not being caught. Usually this involves perfect execution, a well-known public figure persona, or mobility (Dietz 483). Unlike random killings in general, serial killers prefer strangulating, beating, or stabbing, instead of shooting their victims.
2004. “Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders.” Behavioral Sciences and the Law 22: 395-414 Jurik, Nancy C. and Russ Winn. 1990. “Gender and Homicide: A comparison of Men and Women Who Kill.” Violence and Victims 5(4): 227-242. Keeney, Belea T. and Kathleen M. Heide.
Introduction: On the spectrum of criminal activity, serial killers are rather rare. Rarer still is a serial killer like Ted Bundy. Bundy confessed to killing 28 women in the 1970s in ghastly fashion and some believe he may have killed far more. It is hard to imagine what could cause any person to cross the mental boundary into such macabre behavior as Bundy perpetrated. Nevertheless, it is important to try to understand that behavior because only though such an understanding would society be able to identify and deter mass murderers in order to save lives.