Serial Killer Research Paper

Motivation for killing and behavior during the murder are two ways the serial killers are different. Although they are different, serial killers do have certain things in common: sensation seeking, lack of remorse or guilt, impulsivity, need for control, and their predatory behavior. All of the traits that serial killers have in common are consistent with the symptoms of psychopathic personality disorder(Morton & Hilts). Not all serial killers are the same, and they are definitely not like regular killers. “Psychopathy- a personality disorder in which a person uses manipulation, charm, violence to control others(sometimes), and intimidation in order to satisfy their needs.”(Morton & Hilts) There are four categories of psychopathy: interpersonal, …show more content…
Examples of these types of crimes are “black widow” killings, robbery homicides, or multiple killings involving insurance or welfare fraud.
• Ideology is a motivation to commit murders in order to further the goals and ideas of a specific individual or group. Examples of these include terrorist groups or an individual(s) who attacks a specific racial, gender, or ethnic group.
• Power/thrill is a motivation in which the offender feels empowered and/or excited when he kills his victims.
• Psychosis is a situation in which the offender is suffering from a severe mental illness and is killing because of that illness. This may include auditory and/or visual hallucinations and paranoid, grandiose, or bizarre delusions.
• Sexually-based is a motivation driven by the sexual needs/desires of the offender. There may or may not be overt sexual contact reflected in the crime scene.”(Morton & Hilts) …show more content…
Serial killings have had a real increase though, some of which is due to the decrease of police efficiency in cases such as murder(Methvin 3-4). Although the cops are getting better at recognizing serial killer patterns, they are still struggling to stop them. Before the Warren Court’s “due process revolution”, the police were good at catching murders. Many serial killers are thought to have been caught at the beginning of Warren’s career. 92% homicides were solved nationwide, this rate began to slide in 1966 and got as low as 64% in 1992. Unsolved murders reached nearly 8,400, which is close to the total number of homicides in 1956(Methvin 3-4). 1966 is when the law enforcement began to decline in the efficiency on murder cases, and although the reason is unknown we can assume that it was fairly significant. The rise in serial killings is not only due to the weakness of the law enforcement system, but it is also due to the publicity that encourages imitation(Methvin 3-4). Technology can be a great thing, but when serial killer cases are publicized so much that copycats show up it becomes a bad thing. Shervert Frazier, the supervisor at Massachusetts Bridgewater State Hospital for the criminally insane, said that many of his patients, like the Boston Strangler and Albert DeSalvo, had avoidance techniques in order to control their murderous fantasies. Some

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