Serial killers are not common, but they are fascinating because of the need to understand the phenomenon.
There is no one definition of a serial killer, but there are some defining characteristics that set them apart from other murderers.
Serial killers present serious issues for law enforcement, due to the tendency for serial killers to blend in easily and appear "normal."
There is no one exact definition of a serial killer, from a legal, historical, psychological, or sociological viewpoint.
"In the past thirty years, multiple definitions of serial murder have been used by law enforcement, clinicians, academia, and researchers," (Blackwelder, 2010).
"There has yet to be a universally accepted definition for serial murder," Nelson (2004)
Definitions have differed over time, and differ according to context and culture (Nelson, 2004).
B. Definitions of serial killer differ on the grounds of:
Minimum number of murders: in some cases is 2, in others 3, and yet others the minimum number is 4. These discrepancies that can make a difference in crime statistics and how to approach theories of criminology and psychology. Right now the FBI sets the minimum number of kills to 2 but that is not always the case; Nelson (2004) notes that many definitions require 3 or more kills.
2. Types of motive/motivation classification. Sometimes they are defined as sexually deviant: as in the "offender's behavior and the physical evidence observed at the scene will reflect sadistic, sexual overtones," (cited by Nelson, 2004). However, "all serial murderers are not sexually based. There are many other motivations for serial murders including anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking," (Blackwelder).
3. Temporal and geographic characteristics of the crimes. Blackwelder (2010) claims, "Most serial killers have a very defined geographic area of operation. They conduct their killings within comfort zones that are often defined by an anchor point." However, some serial killers might move around due to their lifestyle choice.
4. Psychological characteristics of the killer, including predilection for sexual fetish. However, some experts believe that the psychological characteristics of the killer are not important at all; that what is important is the pattern or behavior. The term serial killer...
Serial Killers have long fascinated the general public, not only because their crimes are so heinous, but also because they embody the extremes to which psychological disorders can take a person. In the name of psychological insight, the lives of serial killers are dissected down to the most minute detail in the hopes of understanding what factors contribute to making a 'monster'. The Crime Classification Manual defines serial murder as
A lot of the serial killers recognize that killing these people are wrong, this is true because when they are finished with their crime, they find some kind of way to dispose of the body. Conclusion In the end, it is a scary fact is that the United Sates is the most leading serial killing country in the entire world. It appears that no other country can even match the U.S.
This is often seen as the most important aspect to focus on. However, it has also been realized that societal and cultural aspects can also influence the development of the serial killer. Psychological causes that are related to the psyche of the serial killer include the aforementioned Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD). Genetic predisposition and makeup are also given as a formative developmental cause of this crime. However, psychological and genetic
Serial Killers - Psychopathic Behavior One of the most common challenges impacting society, is determining when a person is showing psychopathic behavior. In the world of healthcare, these signs can underscore someone who is a serial killer that will strike out at the most vulnerable patients. This is the case with Kristen Gilbert. She was a respected nurse, who was known for her professionalism. However, between 1995 and 1996 over 40
All of these killers had problem childhoods, often including sexual abuse. Almost all of them had some kind of psychological disorder, and many were declared criminally insane. All the killers had a compulsion to continue killing. None of them stopped with one or two victims, in fact, the more they killed the more they wanted to kill. In addition, most of the male serial killers became increasingly violent and disturbed
Dennis Rader (the BTK Killer) Dennis Rader BTK: The Killer Serial killers can be defined as people who murder at least three people in at least three separate occasions over a span of time mainly to satisfy themselves psychologically. While many of them suffer from Antisocial Personality Disorder, they adapt and present a normal front to people around them - a state Hervey Cleckley refers to as 'mask of sanity'. Some of
Our semester plans gives you unlimited, unrestricted access to our entire library of resources —writing tools, guides, example essays, tutorials, class notes, and more.
Get Started Now