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The psychology behind serial killers pdf
Essays on the psychology of serial killers
The psychology behind serial killers pdf
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Serial Killers and Mass Murderers Mass Murderers and Serial Killers are nothing new to today’s society. These vicious killers are all violent, brutal monsters and have an abnormal urge to kill. What gives people these urges to kill? What motivates them to keep killing? Do these killers get satisfaction from killing? Is there a difference between mass murderers and serial killers or are they the same. How do they choose their victims and what are some of their characteristics? These questions and many more are reasons why I was eager to write my paper on mass murderers and serial killers. However, the most interesting and sought after questions are the ones that have always been controversial. One example is; what goes on inside the mind of a killer? In this paper I will try to develop a better understanding of these driven killers and their motives. Although mass murderers and serial killers are both dangerous and somewhat sick people, there are several distinct characteristics of each that put them in different categories. The most distinct differences between the two are; Most mass killers kill several victims over a relatively short period of time, usually hours, but sometimes days (Murder 1). Serial killers most often kill his or her victims separately, over a much longer period of time, sometimes lasting several years until the killer is taken into custody by authorities or killed. If a mass killer’s murders are committed in more than just a single location, then they are part of a continuous action (Murder 1). Their victims are usually chosen at random, not just killed at first sight. Their targets may also come in specific groups. More than occasionally, a mass murderer will take his own life after his urge to kill is over. This is possibly because authorities recognize the killer is unstable and are likely to shoot the killer in order to protect themselves. A typical mass murderer uses a semi-automatic weapon and plots his murders to be made in a school, university, or restaurant (murder 1). 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.
The motives and backgrounds of serial killers is a vexing topic. Not two people are the same, so therefore their motives differ. The different types of serial killers are: hedonistic, power seekers, gain, mission oriented, visionary, psychopathic, comfort, medical, organized, and disorganized. Motives of these murderers range from fear of being rejected, to “getting rid of what they deem bad,” or even to get sexual satisfaction from the suffering of their victims.
An analysis of the most famous murderers and serial killers in the Chicago area shows varying degrees of psychopathy or mental illnesses, which ultimately contribute to homicidal conduct. Analysis also shows that the paths of serial killers have a tendency to converge.... ... middle of paper ... ...
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.
Keeney and Heide (1994) define serial murder to be the premeditated murder of three or more victims committed over time, in separate incidents, in a civilian context, with the murder being chosen by the offender. In recent years, there has been a considerable amount of research conducted in order to better understand and profile both male and female serial killers. With this new research in the law enforcement system, more information about female serial killers and how they tend to differ from their male counterparts is more accessible. The differences between male and female serial killers vary in many different areas such as victim damage, victim torture, weapon/method, stalking versus luring behavior, crime scene organization, reasons for murder, substance abuse history, psychiatric diagnosis, and household composition (Keeney and Heide, 1994). These differences, along with information describing the social background of the perpetrator, provide researchers and individuals in the law enforcement system with substantial signs that can be used to prevent further serial murders....
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.
Serial killers have captivated the attention of scientists from the first signs of their existence to modern day. Interested by these killers’ inhumane actions, researchers set out to determine the cause of such graphic, horrific crimes. The brain has been brought into question regarding the motivation of these cold blooded killers. After extensive research, abnormalities of both the chemical composition and material makeup have been identified within the brains of numerous serial killers. These differences are more than mere coincidence, they are evidence that killers do not think in the same way. The killers’ drives and motives are irregular, just as their brains are. Not only are these variations interesting, but they are also crucial to the justice system in regards to the punishment of past, future, and present sequential murderers. It is important that as a society we learn the differences in the mind of a killer, and also recognize and understand them. A serial killer’s brain greatly differs in function from the average citizen’s brain due to physical variations in the brain and a different chemical makeup.
The brain is the most complex organ in the human body. Since the beginning of time, scientists and neuropsychologists alike have studies its composition and how it influences human behavior. However, no human behavior has baffled researchers more than serial murder. Serial killers are dangerous animals that act upon bizarre influences that have fascinated the human race for thousands of years. Many wonder what could cause a person to take the life of another innocent soul. Do internal factors cause them to do it? Is it their environment? What causes a serial killer to kill?
Over the past few years, the occurrence of serial killings has been evident. Such illegal events, has significantly impacted society as a whole, and has resulted in many attempts by the government to decrease the likelihood of future events from reoccurring. In doing so, psychologist must examine the factors and motives of offenders. Clifford Olson, for instance, helps comprehend the complexity of the human mind and helps researchers understand why serial killings occur. Furthermore, analyzing different psychological and sociological perspectives, will better our understanding of the mind of Clifford Olson.
Serial murder as defined by the FBI is, “[t]he unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events" (Morton Robert J. Ed, & Hilts., Ed, 2005, p. 9). Numerous people disagree with the definition, this researcher included, since it lacks the cool- down period after they murder, which various people feel stands necessary for serial killer status. Serial killers remain a rare phenomenon. The FBI states, serial murder accounts for less than one percent of killings per year (Morton Robert J. Ed, & Hilts., Ed, 2005, p. 2). Nevertheless, throughout the years, countless people have researched serial killers since they commit such heinous crimes. Criminologists and researchers have been attempting to identify various
There are numerous traits that each serial killer possesses, different, but very similar in some way, shape or form.
A serial killer's murdering spree is methodical and extremely well planned, and the motive usually is to get even (Douglas, p. 137). A serial killer often plans his crimes extremely carefully. He looks for a certain type...
There are many genres of serial killer, but not one is lesser than the other, they are all dangerous and they are normal everyday people that one could not recognize. “We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. and there will be more of your children dead tomorrow. ” – Ted Bundy. They are many in number and in type. They are creative in their killing ways, whether they admit to knowing what they are doing or not. So whether they kill for mercy, the thrill, or even for religious purposes, they still kill without boundaries and that is why they have fascinated the cultures and plagued them since the beginning of time.
What drives a person to kill as many people as possible before they meet their fate; either by the police, another person, or their own hand? Is it innate? Is it environmental? Is it a combination? In order to prevent crime and create more effective criminal justice policies, these are just a small baseline of the questions researchers have been vigorously seeking answers to throughout human history. There are many variables to consider as humans and the world we have created are extremely complex, and it is unlikely there is one ultimate root cause. There are also many, many different types of crimes that are rated on different levels of seriousness. While the combination of several criminological theories are needed to truly understand
Serial killing is a common phenomenon in the post-modern society that requires the killing of three or more unknown people. Popular culture defines serial killers as a ‘evil monster’, who are indifferent to normal human beings; as presented in Roberts Resslers’ book ‘whoever fights Monsters’. For centuries, the physiological aspect of serial killers have been the main object of study, however as more studies have shown that serial killers are impacted greatly by the societal forces, sociologist perspective has become very valued in understanding serial killers. This essay will focus on two sociological explanations of serial killers from Kevin; who explores the notion that serial killers are the consequent of modernity; which sets out
Serial killers are possibly the most evil form of human life in existence. They find joy in inflicting pain in others and will find grotesque ways in manipulating and hurting people to gain satisfaction. The general profile for a serial killer is shown through a few common traits. Serial killers typically are power hungry, manipulators, egotistical, charming, and good at blending in. Serial killings are separated from mass murder by a cool-off period and the crimes being committed over several locations. Not all serial killers are the same, they all have different motives for their senseless killing. Thrill seekers, power/controllers, lust killers, visionaries, and mission-oriented killers are the main people who kill with these motives. Thrill