thesis statement for serial killer research paper

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to  upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

• We're Hiring!
• Help Center

The Making of a Serial Killer: A literature study into the effects of Cognitive, Biological and Social psychological factors in serial killing.

2019, Bucks New University

Although serial killing was only defined in 1988, there is still more research to be conducted into the causes of this phenomena. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to look into potential causes of serial killing, with emphasis on social, biological and cognitive psychology. A plethora of literature and various case studies of incarcerated serial killers have been used to support or debunk the theories explored. Serial murderer is classified as the murder of 3 or more victims by the same offender, over multiple locations with the presence of a cooling off period (Ressler et al, 1988). Definitional problems with defining serial murder has led to confusion when classifying murder and therefore its causes. Social psychology explores the nurture side of the ‘nature vs nurture’ debate, with emphasis on childhood trauma, re-enactment and self-evaluation. Biological psychology explores the nature side of the debate, with emphasis on chromosomal abnormalities, a biological predisposition for crime and other biological functions. Cognitive psychology explores how brain dysfunctions can lead to serial murder, with emphasis on head injury causing frontal lobe damage. Lastly, personality disorders are explored in relation to social, biological and cognitive psychology and how they link to serial killing. After reviewing the evidence, it is reasonable to suggest that there is not one singular cause of serial killing, rather a variety of social, biological and cognitive factors and that can cause someone to be susceptible or expedite the process of becoming a serial killer.

Related Papers

DJ Williams

Enzo Yaksic

Conducting systematic research on serial homicide is complicated by variations in definition, sample size, data sources and collection procedures. This review will identify the challenges of utilizing data to study serial homicide and propose new methods to address these limitations. Almost three decades ago, Kiger (1990) highlighted the limitations of employing then existing data to study the social problem of serial murder and called for the creation of new sources to allow for quantitative assessments that used empirical data. In response, serial homicide researchers – previously operating in ‘information silos’ – contributed information to the ‘Serial Homicide Expertise and Information Sharing Collaborative’ to build a comprehensive record of serial homicide offending in partnership with the ‘Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database Project’. Providing serial homicide data in an open access format empowers users to increase data reliability by interacting with the information to supply edits and corrections. Statistical evidence generated from the data enables analysts to disprove ingrained myths and stereotypes about serial murderers using valid data. Impaneled experts applied the Modified Delphi Technique and proposed adopting the broad term ‘multiple-event murderer’ to counter some institutionalized definitional differences. The exploration of creating a dashboard to track instances of serial homicide alongside further study of serial offenders committing revenge murders, witness elimination and robbery homicides, organized crime, contract and gang killings is recommended.

Emmanuel Caliwan, J.D.

Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes

Jessica Woodhams

The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology

Thomas Bowers , Claire Flaherty

British Journal of Criminology

Clive Hollin

Crime and Justice

Helen Gavin

Forensic Science International

Michael Vaughn

Loading Preview

Sorry, preview is currently unavailable. You can download the paper by clicking the button above.

RELATED PAPERS

Criminal Justice and Behavior

Aaron Scherer

Journal of Forensic Sciences

Park Dietz , Janet Warren

Nathan Pino

Laura Dugan

Jackie De Wet

Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture

James C . Oleson

American Journal of Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Studies

Criminal Profiling: International …

Jasper J van der Kemp

Alfredo Ardila

Criminal Profiling

Eric Beauregard

Psychology, Crime & Law

Christian Mormont

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation

Andrew Moskowitz

Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology

Dr Maurice Godwin

Stephen Porter

Eric Madfis , Arnold Arluke

Andrew Markey

Homicide Studies

Arnold Arluke

Guillem Feixas

Eugenia Di Odoardo

Journal of Criminal …

Christopher Ferguson

José Guerreiro da Silva

Kevin Wright

Tiberiu Matei

Arnold Arluke , Eric Madfis

DJ Williams , Michael Arntfield

Margot Note

DJ Williams , Jolene Vincent

Cybermaniac Darkcode

Monicah Ndiritu

Journal of Social Issues

Heather Piper , Patterson-Kane, Emily

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Nkosinathi Nhlabathi

RELATED TOPICS

•   We're Hiring!
•   Help Center
• Find new research papers in:
• Health Sciences
• Earth Sciences
• Cognitive Science
• Mathematics
• Computer Science
• Academia ©2024

Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Serial Killer — The Psychology of Serial Killers

The Psychology of Serial Killers

• Categories: Serial Killer

About this sample

Words: 780 |

Published: Jan 29, 2024

Words: 780 | Pages: 2 | 4 min read

Table of contents

Motivations of serial killers, personalities of serial killers, psychological theories explaining serial killers' actions, case studies: analysis of prominent serial killers, psychological profiling of serial killers, ethical considerations in the study of serial killers, prevention and treatment approaches.

• Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2017). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application. SAGE Publications.
• Berry, D. K., & Sherry, D. L. (2020). Understanding the Mind of a Serial Killer. Journal of Forensic Psychology Research and Practice, 20(2), 103-115.
• Hare, R. D. (1999). Without conscience: The disturbing world of the psychopaths among us. Guilford Press.
• Hazelwood, R. R., & Douglas, J. E. (1980). The lust murderer. FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin, 49(4), 1-12.
• Ressler, R. K., Burgess, A. W., & Douglas, J. E. (2013). Sexual homicide: Patterns and motives. Routledge.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

• 450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
• Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof Ernest (PhD)

Verified writer

• Expert in: Law, Crime & Punishment

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1204 words

1 pages / 679 words

2 pages / 872 words

1 pages / 1647 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Serial Killer

The case of John Wayne Gacy is one of the most notorious and chilling in the annals of criminal history. Gacy, a seemingly upstanding member of his community, was revealed to be a cold-blooded killer responsible for the deaths [...]

John Wayne Gacy's heinous crimes shocked the nation and left a lasting impact on the families of his victims. His upbringing, marked by abuse and bullying, played a significant role in shaping his violent tendencies and desire [...]

Ted Bundy, one of the most infamous serial killers in American history, has left an indelible mark on society. His heinous crimes, which included the sexual assault and murder of at least 30 young women during the 1970s, have [...]

John Wayne Gacy is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, having been convicted of the murder of 33 young men and boys in the 1970s. While much attention has been given to his heinous crimes, it is equally [...]

The question of whether or not is predetermined at birth to lead a life of crime is a question that has been debated for decades. Nature and nurture is a hotly contested argument concerning what influences the behaviour and [...]

Throughout this multiple-source review, I have decided to explore nature vs nurture, which has been an ongoing and widely varied, and increasingly popular debate for many years. This multiple-source review focuses on whether [...]

Related Topics

By clicking “Send”, you agree to our Terms of service and Privacy statement . We will occasionally send you account related emails.

Where do you want us to send this sample?

By clicking “Continue”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy.

Be careful. This essay is not unique

This essay was donated by a student and is likely to have been used and submitted before

Download this Sample

Free samples may contain mistakes and not unique parts

Sorry, we could not paraphrase this essay. Our professional writers can rewrite it and get you a unique paper.

Please check your inbox.

We can write you a custom essay that will follow your exact instructions and meet the deadlines. Let's fix your grades together!

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

• Instructions Followed To The Letter
• Deadlines Met At Every Stage
• Unique And Plagiarism Free

• < Previous

Home > STUDENTS > THESES > 1274

Masters Theses

Male serial killers and the criminal profiling process: a literature review.

Jennifer R. Phillips , Eastern Illinois University

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Semester of Degree Completion

Thesis director.

William G. Kirk

A review of the relevant psychological and sociological literature regarding serial killers is presented. Also described is the investigative process and the procedures involved in constructing accurate criminal profiles. This paper examines the definition, characteristics, and classifications of male serial killers. Additionally, the paper discusses various motivations for killing serially, the importance of fantasy, and emotional, cognitive, and behavioral processes in the serial killer. The process of criminal profiling, which is a relatively new and innovative proactive and reactive investigative procedure, is also described as a tool used frequently in the investigative process of serial homicides. Also described is the importance of criminal profiling and the overall effectiveness of professionally constructed criminal profiles.

Recommended Citation

Phillips, Jennifer R., "Male Serial Killers and the Criminal Profiling Process: A Literature Review" (1996). Masters Theses . 1274. https://thekeep.eiu.edu/theses/1274

Since August 26, 2014

Included in

Psychology Commons

To Submit Thesis:

• Pay Thesis Upload Fee
• Submit Thesis
• Order Personal Copies

Advanced Search

• Notify me via email or RSS
• A-Z Communities List
• Daily Eastern News
• The Warbler
• All Authors
• Author Rights/Terms of Service

Student Scholar Selfies

• View Gallery
• Add Your Selfie:

• Scholars@EIU
• Booth library

• View Larger

Home | About | FAQ | My Account | Accessibility Statement

Privacy Copyright

The Psychology of Serial Killers Research Paper

• To find inspiration for your paper and overcome writer’s block
• As a source of information (ensure proper referencing)
• As a template for you assignment

Introduction

Demographics of serial killers in the us, lack of sympathy, a common background, what motivates a serial killer, serial killers and psychopathic personality disorder.

Multiple murderers can be grouped into three: mass killer, who murder three or more persons at one time, spree killers, who murder in three or more places with no time difference, and serial killers. However, for this paper, we will focus on serial killers.

A serial killer is generally defined as a person who has killed three or more people over a period usually more than one month, with a space in between the murder, and whose reason for killing can be pegged to psychological factors (Singer and Hensley, 2004).

Other scholars define it as “a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone” (Morse, 2011). Frequently, a sexual aspect is linked to the murders, but the FBI asserts that reasons for multiple killings include anger, joy, financial motivation, and attention seeking.

Psychologists have for a long time researched the topic of multiple murders, or serial killers. The main questions that psychologists attempt to answer in these studies are: where does the drive to kill originate? Why is the urge to kill more powerful in some individuals than in others?

Can potential murderers be identified and halted before it happens? Do murderers have sympathy for their victims? These are just a fraction of questions that require answers in order to have a complete understanding of the psychology of serial killers. Unfortunately, no concrete answers have been found and research is ongoing (Castle & Hensley, 2002).

The demographics of serial killers have always been a subject of debate, and largely depend on the source of information. In the US, the largest number of reported serial killers are always white males from a lower to middle class homes, typically in their twenties.

However, the FBI reports that there have also been African American, Asian, and Latino serial killers as well. Criminology experts have asserted that the proportion of African American serial killers reflects their overall percentage in the general population. However, one area of agreement is that whites are more likely to be serial killers than individuals from other races.

Several studies have indicated that due to their psychopathic nature, serial killers do not know have sympathy for their victims, their immediate families, or the general population. Instead, they train themselves to imitate ordinary human conduct by observing other individuals. It is all a controlling act aimed at luring people to their trap before they strike (Morse, 2011). Serial killers have been described as actors with a natural desire to act.

Henry Lee Lucas (1936-2001), a known serial killer who killed 11 individuals, once described being a serial killer as “being like a movie-star … you’re just playing the part” (Singer and Hensley, 2004). Another serial killer, John Wayne Gacy (1942-1984) always dressed up as a clown, and in court, Ted Bundy (1946-1989) told the judge, “I’m disguised as an attorney today” (Arrigo and Griffin, 2004). Bundy had in the past pretended to be a kindhearted rape crisis center counselor.

Roaming serial killers like to hold a position of influence. Gacy was an energetic, friendly and even became a member of the Jaycees, a leadership training and leadership forum. A number of serial killers also joined the military and became active members, such as David Berkowitz. Playing the role of police is, however, their favorite disguise. Carrying police identification and moving on a bike resembling that of police not only makes serial killers feel important, but also allows to reach their unsuspecting victims with ease.

Yet, when serial killers are caught, they take on a “mask of insanity”- pretending to have multiple personality disorder, schizophrenia, or are psychotic, anything that can exonerate them from their crimes. And when they finally reveal themselves, serial killers do not wholly drop the acting role. Bundy once said, “what’s one less person on the face of the earth anyway?” (Arrigo and Griffin, 2004), a statement that shows serial killer’ lack of sympathy for their victims, immediate families and the general population.

Serial killers have always held an attraction for many people regarding their actions. The thought that a person can become so twisted and psychotic, to the point of murdering not one, but three or more individuals, is a strange field of study. Many studies have investigated the factors that may make a person to become a serial killer, and many of these factors have been found to have a psychological aspect.

A majority of serial; killers have been found to have had a troubled childhood ranging from broken or abusive families, with little or no parental care and no positive social relations with the family members.

This unstable background makes them to develop anomalous ideas of what is normal for a person to do, for instance, sexually abusing other persons or exhibiting excessive violence, and in repeating the behaviors they underwent and lived through, they become more and more violent, eventually reaching the level of multiple murders. Other experiences such as neglect and abuse at childhood have been found to influence serial killers.

This troubled upbringing prevents these persons from developing a set of normal behaviors that judge how we should react in specific situations, and how we should socialize with others.

This makes them to be socially backward, however, outwardly, they seem to be normal, but secretly, they think that they are in some way above other people, and they are not fit to interact with normal people as they will be lowering their status. Therefore, they try as much as they can to avoid interacting with other people, but when they do, they act normally.

It has been observed although child abuse is only appears to be physical and mental, the act greatly affects the victims psychological make up (Castle & Hensley, 2002). It corrupts the thinking of such a person and can lead to the horror for which serial killers are known to exhibit. Abuse at childhood has been found to be common among renowned serial killers.

For instance, Charles Manson, was born to a negligent mother who placed him in a foster home and he lived on his own for a major part of his childhood. This background, coupled with the fact that he never knew who his biological father was, is likely to have affected him psychologically. Another serial killer, Ted Bundy, was born to a single mother, and later lived with stepfather.

Psychologists have for a long time researched into what makes a person become so violent that they kill several people with no indication of sympathy or remorse. Some serial killers view themselves as completing a task given to them by God, or some form of high authority.

The serial killers view their acts as a spiritual call to cleanse the society of a group the killer identifies as evil, a risk to the human race, or simply repugnant. Serial killers that fall in this category are especially dangerous, since they frequently view their actions a service to mankind, and compulsory.

Serial killers that had a troubled background usually kill in order to exercise power and authority over their victims. This often stems from feelings of helplessness and fright in their formative years. Serial killers who fall in this category are normally haunted by their experiences and in killing others, they aim to erase or revenge the horrifying abuse they encountered.

However, in attributing serial killing to upbringing, we must recognize that there are many people who had an abusive childhood, but did not grow up to become serial killers. Therefore, childhood abuse is not the sole reason for violent crime. Norris (1988) writes that parents that abuse their children infuse in them an almost instinctive reliance on violence as a solution to any challenge.

While some parents believe that by being strict disciplinarians, they would help prepare the child for the tough world, they are at times wrong. Having a close bond with the parents enables the child to trust others later in life, a lack of it can lead to isolation, and violence seems as the only way to achieve satisfaction (Castle & Hensley, 2002).

When the children become adults, all they know are their fantasies of wielding authority and power. They have not developed sympathy or love for other people, rather, they see human beings as objects of performing their violent fantasies.

Other serial killers murder others for the utter thrill or excitement of their acts. The main motive of such a killer is to rouse pain or create fear in their victims and this provides excitement to them. The thrill of the capture and the kill, and the thought of receiving wide attention through various media and police coverage are motivation enough to go on killing.

To them, killing provides the ‘high’ similar to that felt by persons that engage in high risk acts such as sky diving and motor bike stunts. Thrill serial killers mainly target strangers, although they may have followed them for quite some time (Norris, 1988).

For instance, Robert Hansen indicated in one his letters that, “[killing] gives me the most thrilling experience it is even better than getting your rocks off with a girl” (Perri and Lichtenwald, 2010). A surviving victim Coral Watts talked of him as “excited and hyper and clappin’ and just making noises like he was excited, that this was gonna be fun” (Perri and Lichtenwald, 2010) during a 1982 attack. Watts killed his victims by slashing, stabbing, hanging, drowning, suffocating, and strangulating.

Other motivations for serial killers include financial gains, anger, ideology (spread the beliefs of a certain group) and psychosis (Arrigo and Griffin, 2004). Even though these intentions are legitimate, it is very difficult to discover the actual incentive for a particular killer. This is because motive identification is always limited to the visible objects left behind by the killer, and by the correct identification of these objects. Additional information may be provided by the killer’s history and by the limited chance of a surviving victim.

Most serial killers, while differing in their modes of killing their victims, display a similarity in some aspects. They exhibit a lack of remorse or regret, being impetuous, the desire to have control or exercise their authority, are in search of attention, and display conduct that is predatory in nature.

Basically, these are the characteristics of a psychopath, described as a person who shows a personality disorder characterized by aggression, violence, antisocial behavior, and shows no remorse or kindness. A psychopath can commit unimaginable activities with coolness, while displaying rationality. The scariest part of a serial killer’s life is that they lead a completely normal life (Levin and Fox, 2008).

An example Jeffrey Dahmer (1960-1994) who, while leading a perfectly normal public life, killed and ate young men. He was also able to exhibit calmness in the middle of confusion. For instance, when one of his 14-year old victims escaped into the streets, the police were called in but he was able to convince the police that the boy was his 19-year-old boyfriend who had drunk too much alcohol, the boy was handed over to him. Jeffrey killed the boy that night (Perri and Lichtenwald, 2010).

The relation between serial killing and psychopathy is strong because while not all psychopaths will, of course, not become serial killers, almost all serial killers display traits related to psychopathy. These persons do not value human life. Even though psychopathy alone does not explain serial killers, it provides a fascinating perspective into their character.

The concept of psychosis has also been used to explain serial killers. Described as the loss of contact with reality, psychosis is characterized by hallucinations, delusions, and irrationality. Even though widely disregarded, the concept of psychosis can be used to explain the behavior of some serial killers.

Foe example, Herbert Mullin confessed that he killed to save California from a cataclysmic earthquake. However, some serial killers have been used to use this claim, along with those of schizophrenia and multiple personality disorder to explain their behavior in order to exonerate themselves. Research into the mind of serial killers is ongoing and in the future, perhaps we will be able to identify serial killers before they strike on the first or subsequent victims.

Arrigo, B. and Griffin, A. (2004). Serial Murder and the Case of Aileen Wuornos: Attachment Theory, Psychopathy, and Predatory Aggression. Behavioral Sciences & the Law, 22 (3): 375–393.

Castle, T., & Hensley, C. (2002). Serial killers with military experience: Applying learning theory to serial murder . International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology , 46 (4), 453-465.

Levin, J., and Fox, A. (2008). Normalcy in Behavioral Characteristics of the Sadistic Serial Killer. Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes , Part I, 3-14.

Morse, S. J. (2011). Psychopathy – What Is Psychopathy?. Law Library – American Law and Legal Information . Crime and Justice Vol 3.

Norris, J. (1988). Serial Killers . London: Doubleday.

Perri, F. S. and Lichtenwald, T. G. (2010). The Last Frontier: Myths & The Female Psychopathic Killer, Forensic Examiner , 19:2, 50-67.

Singer, S. D and Hensley, C (2004). Learning theory to childhood and adolescent firesetting: Can it lead to serial murder. International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology, 48 (4): 48, 461–476.

• The Neurological Theory of Crime
• Risk Factors Present in Offender Risk Assessments
• Sexual Assault Case: Ted Bundy
• Trait Theory: The Theodore Bundy Murders
• The Analysis of "The Deliberate Stranger"
• Inferior Performance and Substantial Performance
• Essentials of Patents in the U.S.
• Tariffs in the USA
• Advocacy Activities
• Crime Control: Curbing Market Failures
• Chicago (A-D)
• Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2018, October 10). The Psychology of Serial Killers. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-psychology-of-serial-killers/

"The Psychology of Serial Killers." IvyPanda , 10 Oct. 2018, ivypanda.com/essays/the-psychology-of-serial-killers/.

IvyPanda . (2018) 'The Psychology of Serial Killers'. 10 October.

IvyPanda . 2018. "The Psychology of Serial Killers." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-psychology-of-serial-killers/.

1. IvyPanda . "The Psychology of Serial Killers." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-psychology-of-serial-killers/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "The Psychology of Serial Killers." October 10, 2018. https://ivypanda.com/essays/the-psychology-of-serial-killers/.

• Essay Database
• world trade center
• Greek Food and Culture
• The Future Portrayed I…
• Intercultural Communications
• In Heart of Darkness, …
• Things Fall Apart by C…
• In J.M. Coetzee's Wait…
• The Criminals Of Profe…
• Socialization of Children
• The Poet of Nature, Wi…
• Leonhard Euler
• Articles of Confederat…
• About all Sharks
• Vietnam Poetry

Serial Killers

What is paper-research.

• Custom Writing Service
• Terms of Service
• Privacy Policy
• Biographies