The Fascination Of Murder, By Scott Bonn Essay

In Psychology, there are perspectives and approaches that are looked into when trying to understand how the intricate human mind works. These perspectives are respectfully derived from different ideas and time periods, exemplifying different ways of thinking. These perspectives include: sociocultural, biopsychological, psychodynamic, behaviorism, cognitive, and humanism. These approaches are critically essential in solving something as serious as murder, or simply even why someone acts the way they do. There are many instances where there will be shocking news stories about people committing murders—people that are so unexpected to do such harm. However, when the six

Homicide always will be an aspect of life, whether it is in the 16th century, 21st century or in the future. At times of extreme stress, people may turn to murder as an outlet of a greater problem they cannot fix or control. Presently, homicide has a greater value in society due to popular culture references through the media such as television, film and writing; society constantly has homicide and murder in the subconscious. In David M. Buss’ findings in The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill,

Several serial killers have a definitive and common personality profile. Almost every major social, biological, psychological behavioural influence that has been seriously suggested as playing a role in causing crime has been thoroughly thought as potentially

Plot is defined as, "the authors arrangement of incidents in a story it is the organizing principle that controls the controls the order of events (Meyer,64)." The element of plot is heavily relied on in the short story, "The Killings" by Andre Dubus. The plot which is completely made inside the imagination of an author (Meyer,64), gives the audience important insight to people, places, and events in the story (Meyer,64) . "The Killings" provides a somewhat conventional plot pattern, where the character is confronted with a problem and is then led into a climax, which late leads to the resolution of the story (Meyer,65). The conventional plot is easy to follow and serves as a basis for movies and other

Serial murder has been present for centuries. Some records dating it back as early as the 1800s with Jack the Ripper. Many theories have been established into the explanation of serial murder such as trauma-control model, motivational model and lust murder (also known as extreme sadism) as Paraphilia. This essay will focus on lust murder, with a brief commentary on both trauma-control and motivational models in regards to this theory respectively. This will be shown in terms of its historical context, key features, strengths and limitations and how lust murder as a paraphilia can be used to explain serial murder. This essay will also outline an introduction to paraphilia’s as well as a contemporary Australian case of Peter Dupas.

This type of killer receives gratification from having power over their victims. They enjoy the thrill of deciding whether their victim will live or die as well as how they will die and when. At the same time, they receive gratification from the attention that they receive from their victims during the ordeal. These types of killers often have a deep fantasy life that begins at an early age—they fantasize about having complete power and control over their victim’s destiny (Simon, 2000).

The selections “When killing is thrilling” (Fox & Levin, Chapter 4) and “Killing for companionship” (Fox & Levin, Chapter 7) represent the factors that cause individuals to commit crime. They analyze the different emotions and sensations serial killers experience when they commit crime such as pleasure and happiness. While some individuals commit crime to experience joy and excitement, others commit crime for companionship. The section “When killing is thrilling” (Fox & Levin, Chapter 4) focuses on the excitement and pleasure serial killers experience when they commit gruesome acts. The section “Killing for companionship” (Fox & Levin, Chapter 7) analyzes how serial killers who lack social bonds seek crime as a source for bonding and having

Serial killers have been ravaging society for centuries, even before Jack the Ripper. For every effect there is a cause, there always is a reason for why people do things. On the topic of serial offences it will always lead back to what drove the perpetrator there. When any crime is committed it can be a simple reason such as lust or money. When a serial crime is committed it means there is more to it than just an accident, they like what they are doing. To find and catch these horrific individuals, the use of psychology is now an important factor. The book “Mind Hunter” explains in depth how the use of psychology can create a profile and catch a criminal. By psychoanalyzing the criminal, victim, crime scene, and anything other available

the same, some might have to do with thrill seeking, or it could be that the serial killer

Murder sets most people on edge, whether serial or mass. But no matter the reaction they have on the community and the nation, they are two different types of killers. In the book, Larson quotes what the Chicago-Times thinks of Holmes “He is a prodigy of wickedness, a human demon, a being so unthinkable that no novelist would dare to invent such a character” (Larson 370). R.M and S.T. Holmes state that “The terror instilled by a serial killer permeates the communities’ consciousness, there is no perceived end to the situation until the killers is apprehended.” They also say that “people feel a personal vulnerability when a serial killer is at large.”. But a mass murderer makes the community and the nation feel differently than a serial killer does. Larson reports

“The serial killer ‘is an entirely different criminal,’ ”The term serial killer is misleading on the ground that each murder is intended to be the last.” We see them as a figure of “the dark side of human potential,” but they believe they’re “on a heroic quest for the biggest score possible” They believe they are “the archetypal figure of impurity, the representative of a world which needs cleansing.” However, society knows that serial killers are not heroes, and they’re not cleansing the world. “The figure of the serial killer is violent impurity personified, and it is a construction that necessitates figures of violent purity to confront it.” While it can be argued whether having mental disorders should prevent a serial killer from being capitally punished, it is proven that many serial killers suffer from “paranoid schizophrenia, manic-depressive psychosis, or psychopathology.” It’s even said that “this crime is actually a form of disease. Its carriers are serial killers who suffer from a variety of crippling and eventually fatal symptoms, and its immediate victims are the people struck down seemingly at random by the disease carriers.” Serial killers usually have a stressor in their life that makes them start killing, and when they do “homicidal mania becomes ‘a necessity… linked to the very existence of a psychiatry which had made itself autonomous but needed thereafter to secure a basis for its intervention by gaining recognition as a component of public

Crime has always been a guilty pleasure of society. A horrendous crime raises questions in the human mind: Who could do something like this? What happened to the culprit? What was the motive?

For centuries, murder cases have captivated the lives of individuals. From news station broadcastings to the media creating films and documentaries, homicide cases have gained the interest and popularity of many individuals. This begs the question as to what lies in the fascination of murder? The basis of this can be found in the psychological state of individuals including, the experience of thrill, curiosity, the need for answers, and fear.

I chose this topic because i take a special interest in forensic psychology. I took an interest in serial killers and the minds of people who commit such horrendous crimes. The motives of such criminals is intriguing in a weird

The executioner walked back over to the group, and he grabbed Denise from the line. “Denise Harper,” the executioner said holding her student I.D. in one hand, pushing her to the ground with the barrel of his gun with the other. “You are being tried in connection to at least one murder as well as evading questioning. Indisputable video evidence ties you to the murder. I find you guilty as charged. I hereby sentence-”