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Essays on the psychology of serial killers
Essays on the psychology of serial killers
Essays on the psychology of serial killers
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Serial Killer Typologies and Characteristics
Serial murder as defined by the FBI (2005) is, “[t]he unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events" (Morton & Hilts, 2005 p. 9). However, numerous people disagree with the definition, including this researcher, since it lacks a cool-down period in between murders, which numerous professionals believe is necessary for serial killer status. Serial killers remain a rare phenomenon. The FBI (2005) states, serial murder accounts for under one percent of the killings a year (2). Nevertheless, throughout the years, countless people have researched serial killers since they commit such heinous crimes and are fascinating. Criminologists such as Dr. Ronald Holmes,
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Motives of serial killers can vary greatly by murderer. "The motives of serial killers are commonly placed into four categories: visionary, mission-oriented, hedonistic and power or control; however, the motives of any given killer may display considerable overlap among these categories" (Coulthard, 2011 para. 5). Hedonistic killers typically fall into a few subgroups according to their motivations. It can be difficult to determine a specific motivation since serial killers can fall into more than one classifications. …show more content…
196).
Vronsky (2004) further states, that these types of killers frequently stay fascinated with the deceased body of their victim and commonly keep the body in order to continue his or her domination over the them. These controlling acts are similar to what Jeffery Dahmer did to his victims ' bodies: however, he is considered a lust killer. Coulthard (2011) states, that, many of these murderers were mistreated at a young age, which left them feeling incompetent and weak. Numerous of these killers sexually assault their victims, but not for reasons such as lust killers (Coulthard,
We can all agree that serial killers are unpredictable scary people but when it comes to why they kill, everyone has a different view. In my research paper I will get into the mind of a serial killer and try to figure out what exactly sets them into uncontrollable rage.
Serial killers are a type person who commits a series of murders, often with no apparent motive and typically following a characteristic, predictable behavior pattern. Most of the time something triggers them and then they go on their serial rampage. Some things that can be part of a serial killer's profile is they are normally white males, late 20’s early 30’s, kills with in own race, method of murder is hands on, and their victims are selected because they share specific characteristics. The types of serial killers are disorganized asocial and organized nonsocial. The different types of serial killers are: missionary killers, power seeking, lust killing, visionary killer, thrill killing. The profiling of a serial killer's changes upon the
As years go on so will the research on serial killers and hopefully we as a society will fully understand them and one day be able to cure whatever inside that makes them have the urge to kill. Works Cited The Electronic Journal of Sociology, published by the University of Guelph, Ontario. http://www.scribd.com/doc/167086215/How-Serial-Killers-Work. According to the article “10 Most Common Traits of Potential Serial Killers By Hestie Barnard Gerber. According to Comrade Chikatilo: The Psychopathology of Russia's Notorious Serial Killer.
Some psychologist believe that if a serial killer displays or kills his victims in such a way then it qualifies as fulfilling as sexual desire. These killers are usually diagnosed with a mental disorder referred to as sexual sadism. Psychologists refer to serial killers who kill in this manner as sexual sadist. A sexual sadist enjoys the ‘suffering or embarrassment of others to the point of arousal’ (Serial Killers and Sexual Sadism). Sociologists believe that a serial killer needs to “fulfil a sexual desire by turning a fantasy into a controllable reality” (Serial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture). Sadist crave the dominance and control over their victims because they feel as if they cannot control other aspects of their life. Another biological factor derives within the DNA of the person. Many killers have the “MAO-A gene (monoamine oxidase A). This gene, which has been the target of considerable research, is also known as the "warrior gene" because it regulates serotonin in the brain. Serotonin affects your mood — think Prozac — and many scientists believe that if you have a certain version of the warrior gene, your brain won't respond to the calming effects of serotonin (A Neuroscientist Uncovers a Dark Secret).” With this gene psychologist and scientist alike believe that this can foretell a serial killer before he becomes a serial
A serial killer is a person who has killed three or more people over a month apart. Their motivation for killing is usually based on psychological issue.(Sanmartín,2001) In the U.S, the most reported serial killers are lower middle class white males, usually in their late twenties to early thirties (Skrapec,2001). Serial killers, often, are liars. They have no sense of remorse or guilt. Most of the time they are not in serious relationship or have any emotional obsession to any one person, besides their victims. Most of the well-known serial killers are: Robert Pickton, Charles Manson, Anthony Sowell, Ted Bundy, The Zodiac Killer, The Green River Killer, and The BTK murderer. (Sanmartín,2001). Often, women were never seen as even a suspect
Almost all people know who serial killers are, but what exactly defines a serial killer. The FBI defines serial murder as “a minimum of three to four victims with a ‘cooling off’ period between, the killer is usually a stranger to the victim, the murders reflect a need to sadistically dominate the victim, and the murder is rarely for profit.” (Vronsky, 2004, p.36) Serial killers are usually a white male from a lower-to-middle-class background typically in his twenties or thirties. Also, 85% of the world’s serial killers live in America, with at least twenty to fifty unidentified active serial killers plotting another one of their killings. On average, every person has seen or met at least 37 serial killers in their lifespan.
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.
As well as hedonistic lust killers, there is hedonistic comfort killers, who primarily kill in hopes of financial gain. Female serial killers are often associated with the hedonistic comfort kill typology.
They are all motivated to for different reasons; some kill to gain or exert power over the victims, entertainment or mission. Some kill because they believe they have the responsibility to society to do so (Julietta Leung N.D.) Frequently, homosexuals, prostitutes, and the homeless are viewed by serial killers because they might believe they are devalued in society or they view as being beneath humanity. They believe those kinds of people are easy targets based on the belief that no one would notice if they went missing.... ...
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
Jeffrey Dahmer, John Wayne Gacy, Mark Allen Smith, Richard Chase, Ted Bundy-the list goes on and on. These five men alone have been responsible for at least ninety deaths, and many suspect that their victims may total twice that number. They are serial killers, the most feared and hated of criminals. What deep, hidden secret makes them lust for blood? What can possibly motivate a person to kill over and over again with no guilt, no remorse, no hint of human compassion? What makes a serial killer?
They are highly organized in their crimes and normally fantasize extensively about murder. Lust killers may rehearse it in their minds for years before actually killing their first victim. Over time, lust killers become addicted to rape and murder much like an addict becomes addicted to drugs. Generally, as they progress, either the time between their killings decreases or the amount of sexual stimulation they require increases. Sometimes, both occur (Bonn,
Have you ever wondered why some people love art and music, and some love science and math? These individuals love math or art because they get a sense of relaxation and excitement from these activities. Serial killers are the same way they love to kill people and have lots of different motives for why they kill them. A serial killer is a person who kills repeatedly. The one motive that drove Dennis Rader, to kill his victims was to gain power and control over them.
There are several different types of serial killers. Actually, they have determined that there are four categories. The first type of serial killer is the visionary killer. He may also be referred to as mentally disturbed since these individuals suffer from paranoid schizophrenia. These are individuals who claim to hear voices that tell them that they should kill certain people. Other serial killers may have visions that command that they kill people. In some cases, these individuals are told they will become God after killing a certain number of people. Because of their mental disorder, these killers may be more easily caught because they are so out of touch with
There are two types of serial killers. The visionary serial killers who murders people because they hear voices or have visions that direct them to do so. Then there are the missionary murders, who believe that they are meant to get rid of a particular group of people. Inside these two groups of serial killers, there can be four different types of serial killers. The Lust serial killers, the thrill serial killers, the gain serial killers, and the power-seeking serial killers. Lust killers derive sexual pleasure from killing, thrill killers get joy from it, gain killers murder b...