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?
Now that I’ve discussed the first factor of making a serial killer I will discuss the second factor, which is brain damage. Some researchers theorize that serial killers have brain damage that contribute to their actions. If areas like the frontal lobe, the hypothalamus, and the limbic system is damaged it can cause extreme aggression, loss of control, and violence. The hypothalamus regulates the hormonal system and emotions and is located below the thalamus. It can be damaged through malnutrition or injury .Serial
Murdering people in general is sick and brutal; it affects people all around the world. Serial killers are often psychotic, and suffer from mental disorders or they may feel the need to behave like this because of past events that has happened or childhood experiences. They might even kill because they’re fearful and afraid. A well known serial killer
In order for them to be considered a serial killer each kill has to be a separate event that is controlled by pleasure or psychological thrill (Research Guides: Serial Killers: Introduction, 2023). Serial killers most often become egocentric due to their lack of guilt and empathy, these classifications characterize serial killers as psychopaths (Research Guides: Serial Killers: Introduction, 2023). To hide their psychopathic tendencies and appear to be normal most killers wear a “mask of sanity”(Research Guides: Serial Killers: Introduction,
But it is scene that serial killers have distinct traits such as “sensation seeking, a lack of remorse or guilt, impulsivity, the need for control, and predatory behavior” (Morton). These traits have been a learned thing from their childhood to adulthood. Serial killers are simply not born, they are made.
Overall, the study found through intensive testing that psychopaths committed the violent crimes for their own self right gain, to make them seem powerful and advance their ego. While criminals killed for the emotional arousal (424). Serin states, “They were more likely than other inmates to behave aggressively, to have committed more serious past offenses, to have used weapons, threats and instrumental aggression, and to have suffered physical abuse as a child.” The fact that these psychopaths who are criminal have committed more violent crimes and were likely to have suffered physical abuse as a child is worrisome and saddening.
This abnormality mainly affects men, but can occur in women too. When people have this abnormality, they never seem to have an attachment to the world, which is why they aren’t sympathetic towards their victims. Another similarity in serial killers is maltreatment or abuse during their childhood. In a study that included 50 killers, it was found that 70 percent were mistreated during their youth and 50 percent went through psychological abuse
Some have said there is a sort of pleasure in killing but after there is a cooling off period for several days, weeks, or months. It differs for killers in choosing their victims. Like age, gender, or race. I will go into the mind of a serial killer to see how it works and figure out what sets them into uncontrollable rage. It has said that the first serial killer was Jack the Ripper.
It seems as if socialization plays a large roll in the formation of these monsters. A number of other criminological theories can be applied to the serial killer in some form, however there are still anomalies. The Biological Trait Theories, Psychodynamic theory, and the Organized/Disorganized theory all attempt to explain the inexplicable actions of serial killers. The biological trait theories apply as there is great emphasis on infancy and childhood emotional growth. The psychodynamic theory applies as well as these men display actions that seem to be driven by their id personality.
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
What Makes a Serial Killer To this day there's controversy to what makes a serial killer; the upbringing by family and peers or the genetic heritability to a mental disorder. A twin study done by Professor of Psychology Thomas Joseph Bouchard, Jr., held the results of psychopathy being sixty percent heritable. There should be abnormalities in the brain if psychopathy is genetically determined. Brain scans have shown decreased connectivity between the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex is related to psychopathy in criminals.
In the dark pathways of the human brain lies a mystery that both intrigues and terrifies us: the psychology of serial killers. These mysterious, evil monsters covered in darkness capture the curiosity of everyone with their complicated inner workings. Every case, from the precisely planned killings of Ted Bundy to the mysterious motivations of Ed Gein, reveals a new level of psychological depth that needs to be explored. What keeps these individuals from committing such horrible crimes over and over again? Is it a combination of childhood abuse, neglect, trauma, or a dark desire for dominance and control?
Since serial killers were gaining so much popularity, and how the media was portraying them, it made people more intrigued to look into dark crimes. Serial killers are such an interesting subject to research on, and another reason people become fascinated is to know why they did their crimes, and simply go in depth about their stories. All serial killers commit heinous and gruesome crimes, but what people want to know is why they do these things, and how they can do it without feeling guilty or having any remorse. A lot of the times the reasons for serial killers actions are because of past trauma. Many reasons can lead to trauma or neglect, but it can even be because of the awful things seen on social media, and some just act on their intrusive
“Past relationships and experiences with family, friends and loved ones have a huge bearing on the person that we are today. If we have always been treated in a certain way, we end up becoming that person” (Markman). This is showing that what has happened to serial killers in the past has shaped the person that they are today. If they have been treated in a bad way, they get used to that and end up becoming that person. Also, serial killers get into the same routine day in and day out.
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.
