As societal crime rate continues to escalate, the epidemic of homicides and mass murders remains a prevalent social problem. Thus, the emergence of serial killers has caused alarm among many criminologists and psychologists. Serial killers usually have an impulsive desire to kill for no particular reason, which makes it difficult for law enforcement and criminal professionals to understand their motives. Thus, the motives of serial killers have led to heated debates and challenged the nature vs. nurture theory. Many scientists believe that serial killers are genetically incline to commit murders, while criminologists associate violent crimes to childhood and surroundings. Essentially, exploring how and why serial killers commit crimes is an important area because it will help …show more content…
Many homicides are related to conflict or disputes between family members, friends and lovers. Thus, law enforcement officials are able to connect and link the victims to someone that they know. But in the case of serial killers, due to their aggressive and impulsive behavior, they usually do not have a set motive for their killings, so their victims can range from loved ones to complete strangers. Their constant drive for fulfillment and fantasy makes them even more susceptible to horrendous crimes against many different individuals. This makes it difficult for police to track serial killers and link them to the crimes. Thus, this often leads to higher crime rates among serial killers and places them in a different category.
Thus, the nature vs. nurture argument continues to remain prevalent in the discussion regarding serial killers. Some scientists contend that humans are naturally violent and aggressive. Thus, some humans are born with certain genetic traits that make them psychologically unstable and impulsive. Thus, they are born with homicidal behavior traits
We can all come to an agreement that serial killers are both horrendous and unpredictable human beings. Most acts of violence we hear about are committed by serial killers. Unsatisfied with their previous actions, serials killers look to execute more victims. In most cases, the upbringing of the individual plays a huge role on the killer. Because of their twisted techniques and motives, some of these killers are infamously known to be the most frightening criminals in history.
The typical childhood of a serial killer may involve abuse, bedwetting, drugs/alcohol, antisocial, interest with fire, and cruelty to animals. Serial killers get more aggressive as they kill more people because they get a thrill from it. Fantasies effect serial killers because they can trigger something in their minds that turn into actions instead of just thoughts.
Statistics show that serial killers in the United States often kill for fun and financial gains. (Serial Killer) In class we have been learning about serial killers and the psychological disorders that cause them to carry out the murders they commit. Andrea Yates mental stability and religious views altered her ability of life and caused five young children to lose their lives
Have you ever thought about how many murderers you have encountered just living your daily life? The people of the Eastern Shore may understand how this feels. The Eastern Shore experiences hundreds of murders a year, however, just three shocking murders affected the way the local community continues to view the life around them. Murders are a commonly committed crime throughout the world, yet, very few people realize that they have more than likely experienced an encounter with a murderer just carrying on with their daily life. One may wonder, what causes someone to become a murderer, serial killer, or any other kind of criminal.
As I was watching the interview, I was astonished. I expected Joel Rifkin to be the typical Hollywood serial killer: a deranged man set on revenge, as a result of being abused and neglected, and now was in chains behind glass with armed guards aiming their weapons at his head. Instead, I saw a stoic person who wasn’t behind glass or had a gun to his head. He just sat there and answered questions like a normal person. He wasn’t angry or remorseful.
There are different types of serial killers; some are worse than others. People often wonder why these people do certain things, for example, why they target specific people, or what has influenced their behavior. Taking a deeper look into serial killers a lot can be learned about their childhood and what may have led to them turning out the way they did. Most of the time they do not just wake up one day and decide to kill someone; rather, they are influenced by something or someone. It all starts with looking at their childhood, what their addiction turns into, and what happens to them in the end.
Adrian Raine, criminologist and author of "The Anatomy of Violence: The Biological Roots of Crime," has said before, is a very important factor in criminal behaviour that affects about 75% of a person’s criminal activity. In his book, Raine explores the many evidences that lead up to biological and genetic influences on crime
Nature and Nurture Influence on Aggression One psychology debate that remains in today's world is the argument between nature and nurture. Scientists who study behaviors, like psychologists or sociologists, are always arguing about the topic of nature and nurture. Whether nature or nurture plays a more significant role in terms of forming us. Our personality is influenced by many factors in our life, such as the environment or the inherited genes. Some people believe that genes play a bigger part in the formation of our mental traits, such as personality.
Mass murderers and serial killers are nothing new to today’s society. We learn about them in TV shows, books, research papers, in our classes, etc. Psychologists have spent decades trying to uncover the truth behind these killers’ madness. Serial killers vary in their behaviors, techniques, desires, mental illnesses and their personal lives. Have you ever heard of the Tamiami Trail Killer?
In this assignment the case study of Ted Bundy and how many biological, social and cognitive studies affect the perspective of criminals. In this case biological theories are our genetics and what we inherit from our parents and further on. These theories will be linked to Ted and if they affect how he performed the criminal acts. Introduction Ted Bundy is one of America’s most prolific serial killers who targeted brunette women in an attempt to get back at his ex-girlfriend, but also his mother who had lied about Ted’s paternity for a number of years. During Ted’s early life he went by the name of Theodore Robert Cowell.
Aileen Wuornos Rebecca McRunnel CRJ 308 Psychology of Criminal Behavior Professor David Ojo October 6, 2014 A serial killer is defined as a “person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a “cooling off” period between each murder, which whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification.” (University, n.d) Many times serial murders go unsolved and other times it takes decades to unravel. According to the FBI there is no set profile of a serial killer, because they can come in all sizes, ages, shapes, colors and groups. (Welch, 2011)
One of the most debated topics throughout the world is nature versus nurture. When psychologists debate this topic, they are studying what influences a person’s personal development. Some say that a person’s nature influences personal development while others say a person’s nurture influences personal development. A lot of people spend time contemplating which one actually does the influencing but what some do not realize is that, perhaps, both nature and nurture help shape a person’s personal development. One topic that comes up quite often is whether or not a person is born a criminal.
Being a seriel killer also may have some sort of psychological gratification with the murder committed. The number one reason a serial killer murders is for some sexual reason others are motivated by anger, thrill, finanxial gain and because they crave the attention. Murders can be attempted or completed in the same manner. Victims would have either
A lot of serial killers have an aversion of rejection that is often irrational. 3. Power is a huge one. According to Twisted Minds the power to cause pain is the only power that matters(2007). C. Fun fact, the stereotype for a serial killer is a white middle age man who has no military background.
However, Pakhomou did touch on some points that related to contemporary criminology. The rational choice theory, trait theory, social structure theory, and social process theory were all addressed in Pakhomou’s research but he could not find an exact reason as to which one may cause the transformation into a serial killer. I do not believe there is one specific theory in contemporary criminology that causes every criminal, and serial killer specifically, to begin crime and lead on to more extreme crimes such as the serial (sexual) killings. I believe it is a mix of the contemporary criminological theories depending on the person and that Pakhomou’s study reinforces