Why People Become Serial Killers

Statistically, the average serial killer is a white male from a lower-to-middle-class background, usually in his twenties or thirties. Many were physically or emotionally abused by parents. Some were adopted. As children, fledgling serial killers often set fires, torture animals, and wet their beds (these red-flag behaviors are known as the “triad” of symptoms.) Brain injuries are common. Some are very intelligent and have shown great promise as successful professionals. They are also fascinated with the police and authority in general (Scott).

What causes an individual to become a serial killer? Bio-psychologists believe that starting from birth the human mind is a “tabula rasa” or blank slate, and the individual learns behaviors and socio-cultural norms from individuals around them. This concept of nature versus nurture was based upon the idea that it is how you are brought up (nurture) that governs the psychologically significant aspects of child development and the concept of maturation applies only to the biological. The theory that explains the nature aspect of the nature versus nurture principle is called the attachment theory, which views the bond between mother and child as being an innate process that ensures survival. It is a biological need that has ensured the survival of many species including the human race; because of the need to protect and be protected humans as a species has been able to endure. It is also a psychological need to want to be cared for as well as care for others a study done by Harry Harlow (1950s). The concept of nurture focuses mainly on the effect that the environment has on the development of human beings and whether it is more important than nature. Several studies have been generated to try and settle the ongoing debate of nature versus nurture.

There are many theories as to why people become serial killers. Almost all of these concepts are associated with the Nature vs. Nurture theory. Are serial killers born with the need to kill, or is it something that they learn to long for as they grew up? Many believe that the nurture theory is the likely concept to believe; that serial killers are created from bad childhood experiences including being abused by their parents, or molested at an early age. Psychologist and sociologist have interviewed serial killers and picked apart their minds, to find out what it is that makes them feel the need to perform these heinous crimes. It is the nature theory that they are looking for when

Serial killers are the byproduct of many different things: trauma, death of loved ones, abuse, neglect, adoption, and even witnessing abuse (Are Serial). Serial killers have had to endure a massive amount of something such as trauma or abuse to an unimaginable extent to become what they are; the extent of the abuse, the trauma, the psychological damage they endure is incomprehensible to many. The destruction of one’s innocence can occur at any given time in his or her life, but he or she is more impressionable in his or her youth by the negativism of someone else’s actions (Scott, Shirley L. What Makes Serial Killers Tick ~ Childhood Event). People are susceptible to what they endure in their adolescence, and cruel upbringings, such as

Ever heard of the zodiac killer? He was a serial killer who operated in northern California in the late 1960s and early 1970s. The killer's identity remains unknown. The Zodiac murdered victims in 5 states between December 1968 and October 1969. The general profile for a serial killer is a person who commits a series of murders, often with no apparent motive and typically following a characteristic, predictable behavior pattern. There are many types of serial killers. There are natural born killers who are born willing to kill someone, insane killers which have mental and physical disorders and criminaloids who do not exhibit specific traits. The childhood of a serial killer would typically be someone who is neglected by their family mainly their mothers. They tend to be antisocial and have anger issues. Poor families often cannot provide what the child always wants so they might commit crimes to get want they want. Abused children have a higher chance of being killers also because they have a lot of built up aggression and anger. All can lead to substance abuse which is never a good thing to mix in with a potential serial killer in the making. General behavioral progression from pre-crime to post-crime are that they use killing as a source of relief. Before committing a serious crime they could have built up anger and hatred. They is a high possibility that they are suffering from depression and anxiety too. After killing someone the killer feels relieved. They also feel

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

Certain people in society may be more prone to being victimized for reasons they may not know; however, there are specific reasons why serial killers chose them. Individuals may have pre-existing attributes of being victimized, including their social class, gender, race, ethnicity and many more. Sexualized violence among serial killers tends to exploit prostitutes’ due to the nature of their occupation and geographical location. Serial murderers follow a pattern, what is known as routine activities theory, where they find a suitable target that fits their profile, lack of personnel surrounding them and being a highly motivated killer. In addition, understanding lifestyle choices can demonstrate the high-risk factors associated with being victimized, such as hitch hiking or going on casual dates. Location helps demonstrate vulnerable targets, since individuals may be at the ‘wrong place, wrong time’ or may residing in a neighbourhood notorious for higher crime rates that makes individuals more susceptible for being victimized. By understanding routine activity theory, lifestyle theory and deviant place theory, this paper attempts to analyze the underlining sociological explanations of a victim’s vulnerability to serial killers.

This literature review focuses on serial killers from a psychological viewpoint while trying to answer the question, “Are serial killers born to kill or are they bred to kill?” Firstly, this review will define a serial killer and the different kinds of killers, then it will take a look at different case studies of children who fantasized about mass killing and identify similarities between the cases attempt to find a way to possibly prevent their fantasies from becoming reality. The debate of nature vs. nurture is also discussed as psychologists and researchers come to the conclusion that environmental factors play a bigger role in the developmental character of a person than genetics, but there is still no definite answer as to why some individuals grow up with the urge to murder other people and/or animals.

The idea of serial killers and the role they play in our lives has fascinated people since the cases of Jack the Ripper and H.H. Holmes, although serial murderers existed before them. The infamous and mysterious complexities of these cases have puzzled and terrified people for over a century. Perhaps due to the deviant and taboo nature of serial killings, people in our society and others have tried to attribute many reasons for why they occur. In this search for answers, one major scope has been widely left out of the research: the sociological imagination. It is through this method of understanding that I will attempt to explain the development of serial killers and apply theories that explain the frequency of serial killings in our society.

If the crucial emotional connection between an infant and its parents is weak, that infant is likely to suffer from antisocial personality disorder (APD).The victims of APD are essentially devoid of conscience: they are chronic liars, cheats, and thieves, self-centered, and frequently incapable of empathy with other human beings.(Newton, Michael 2000, p.41).This is better quoted by author Bowlby, John (1979, p.89) in his book The Making and Breaking of Affectional Bonds, "In psychopaths the incidence of illegitimacy and the shunting of the child from one ‘home’ to another are high. It is no accident that [Ian] Brady of the ‘Moors’ murders was such a one". Later, in one of the study conducted by FBI, which interviewed dozens of serial killers, it was found that with every individual there was a similar pattern of severe childhood neglect. (US Department of Justice, 2005).Moreover, children who get mentally, physically or sexually abused struggle in personality development. According to Dr.Dorothy Lewis, a professor of psychiatry at NYU Medical School, an early ongoing abuse is one of the circumstances that promote extreme violence(as cited by Raven, 2009) It is known that a staggering large proportion of serial killers have survived extremely traumatic childhoods riddled with physical, verbal ,and sexual abuse. One such example is about Albert De Salvo, whose father

When looking at criminal activity and the direct connection to the criminal behavior we see that there have been many research trials that have taken place over the history of humankind (Mishra & Lalumiere, 2008). Two of these research areas that have been developed to attempt to understand the causes of criminal behavior are known as biological and psychological perspectives of crime causation. These two sectors have their principles that are held in their theories as a standard scientific understanding of the basics that each evaluation of criminal behavior is built on (Dretske, 2004).

Have you ever watched the news or read an article about a horrific crime that was committed and wonder what would make a person do such a terrible thing? Is there a biological, psychological, or social factor that causes these actions? Are they born with a specific gene or is there something psychological that eventually surfaces that causes their actions? Are people born innocent and criminal tendencies are learned throughout life through observations, environment, living conditions, and poverty? There is research supporting these types of questions.

The events of the past can hold a great influence on the actions and behaviors of the future. From being raised in a supportive and loving home, to one that is full of neglect and abuse, each event can potentially impact the future of an individual. In the case of serial killers, there has been some debate on whether the evil ones are made or born; does it happen because of a genetic factor, environmental factor, or is it simply they addicted to the feeling of slaughtering another individual’s life? Although, the most important key in finding the truth deals with the past and shapes the outcome of the future. Upon viewing in a psychological stance, there is no clear understanding of why one aspect that most serial killers share, namely

Criminals are born not made. The basic definition of the word criminal is someone who commits offending behavior within society (Harrower, 2001). The crime may range from petty theft to murder.

People commit crimes for various reasons. These various reasons got to do with social, economic, and cultural reason. These factors trigger an individual to do criminal activities. Social reasons are peer pressure, and school failure. Economic reasons are poverty. Cultural reasons are hatred. The combination of these factors is behind a person who commits crimes.