The Macdonald Triad

Of the many problems this world faces, one prominent issue is that of serial killers. According to the FBI, what separates serial killers from average murderers is that they usually commit three or more murders within a specific period of time. This period can last from days to years depending on the serial killer and what triggers his/her killing. Another perspective of serial killers was proposed by Steve Egger. He states that serial killings all have six characteristics in common.

There are a minimum of two murders

The killer and their victims are usually unrelated

The victims of these murders have to connection whatsoever and occur at different times

The victims are killed in separate locations

The victims may or may not have common characteristics

with each other
The murders are committed in order to preserve the fantasy that they killer has created
Serial killers do not just start killing people from the moment they are born, although, they might show some signs of unnatural and disturbing behavior such as killing animals. Throughout their lives, the families and friends of these serial killers usually do not have any idea what may be lurking within their loved one’s mind, the killer themselves may not even notice until an action or event occurs that triggers their urge to kill.
For decades, scientists and psychologists have been scrambling around looking for clues and studying cases of multifarious serial killers to try to get a glimpse of what causes the abnormal actions and thoughts consuming these killers’ minds. Fortunately, deep studies have been carried out and useful information has been produced. Along with world-class law enforcement agencies, criminal psychologists have been able to somehow understand the minds of serial killers. Through the experience of the many cases that come across these agencies’ desks, they were able to provide a profile of an average serial killer. Their profile concludes that serial killers frequently work alone and kill strangers with no apparent motive as opposed to non-serial killers who usually kill people that have wronged them or their loved one, these types of murders are called crimes of passion due to the strong surges of emotion that override their senses causing them to act out of rage or other feelings. Serial killers are cold-hearted, calmly looking, shallow, charming, impulsive, have criminal ways of thinking and most of the time feel no remorse or fear out of killing. They are thrill seekers and most of their killings are driven by a need for power or control over their victims.
There are certain key traits that define a serial killer, the most eminent being the MacDonald Triad.

The MacDonald Triad consists of a collection of three varying symptoms and behavioral attributes that may appear in a serial killer’s early life, which are: Cruelty to animals, which might involve torture, skinning, and killing, an obsession with fire and arson, and bed wetting past the age of 5. According to statistics produced by multiple studies, if all of these characteristics are present in a person’s childhood history it is most likely that he/she is a serial killer or psychopath. These symptoms stem from both mental and sexual abuse and neglect as a child, usually from their own parents, and can lead to increasingly shy kids who grow up to become violent and homicidal adults who have their own peculiar views on life. The most common cause that affects that mentality of serial killers is rejection. All serial killers suffer at least one psychological disorder. These disorders can be schizophrenia, multiple personality disorder, antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality disorder, anxiety and bipolar disorder, depression, delusional disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), pedophilia, sexual sadism and multiple

others.
The orbital cortex, positioned above the orbital sockets, is an area in the brain that has extensive connections to sensory sections of the body along with the limbic system. It is also known to be responsible for the emotions, decision making, and moral behavior. A study carried out by Neuroscientist James Fallon revealed that most serial killers have low orbital cortex activity. Low activity within this area in the brain indicates that people struggle in containing their acts of violence and anger.
There are four types of serial killers:
Visionary
Mission-oriented
Hedonistic
Power and control seekers
The visionary type suffers from a mental disorder that causes them to become delusional and see hallucinations that make them believe that they are being told to kill people.

An example is of the infamous Son of Sam who believed that his neighbor’s dog was compelling him to kill people.

Mission-oriented serial killers aren’t always considered psychotic. They create or have their own logic and morals on life that are abnormal to normal human beings. They usually target people whom they think are damaging and corrupting the society they live in such as prostitutes and homeless people.

Hedonistic serial killers branches into three subcategories: Lust, thrill, and comfort killers. They all feel great pleasure in killing no matter what the purpose. Lust killers kill based on fulfilling a fantasy that they have conjured in their minds and enjoy dismembering and torturing their victims. Thrill killers thrive from the thought of being caught and try to create the perfect murder. They live for the adrenaline that courses through them when they kill and when they know that they are being chased by police authorities. Comfort killers kill to benefit from something. They are usually hired my mobsters or gangs. A known example of a comfort killer would be a

hitman.
Serial killers who seek power and control kill for the sake of overpowering their victims and rendering them weak and useless. These types of serial killer have suffered abuse, neglect and rejection as a child and kill to try and restore a sense of power within themselves that they do not want to loose.