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Essays on the psychology of serial killers
The psychology of serial killers
The psychology of serial killers
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On January 29, 1991, a vile crime occurred in the Heikkila home in Basking Ridge, New Jersey. Twenty-year-old Matthew Heikkila, the adopted son of Richard and Dawn Heikkila loaded up a “sawed-off 20-gauge shotgun” (Sullivan). He labeled shotgun shells “Mom” and “Dad”, and shot his parents both in the head. Matthew plotted the murder to get the chance to steal his parent’s credit cards, and treat his girlfriend to a birthday dinner. Matthew then left his parent’s dead bodies on the floor of his home and he and his girlfriend enjoyed a night in NYC.
The film “Murder by Number” also includes medical issues, including brain damage, as contributing to the violence of many serial killers. Some criminologists and psychiatrists believe that serial killers kill because of issues with their families. These issues include failure to properly bond with
Richard "Iceman" Kuklinski was viewed as a normal man by society for much of his adult life. This man was far from normal. Kuklinski was a psychopath and a sociopath who was driven to kill by his troubled childhood and his lifestyle as a paid hit man. This paper will focus on the criminological theory of why Kuklinkski committed these murders. Richard Leonard Kuklinski was born in 1935 to Stanley and Anna Kuklinski ("Meet Notorious Contract Killer Richard Kuklinski").
Is it necessary for a serial killer to have a dark past? There have been many serial killers in the history of humanity, and “inhumanity” (as some like to describe those who have the heart to kill another human) over the time. However, in the history of serial killers, there is not another like Ed Gein, “The Plainfield Ghoul”. He was known with this peculiar and sinister nickname because he grew up on a farm a few miles outside of the town of Plainfield, Wisconsin where he exhumed corpses, body-snatched, and assassinated. Although very mentioned and feared when people hear his name, with fewer than three murders attributed, it is said that Ed Gein does not meet the traditional definition of a Serial killer.
Many people have minor qualities but do not have the label of serial killer. John Wayne Gacy is an excellent example of a human monster because of his actions of murder and rape while demonstrating that nurture can shape a person's personality proving human monsters are more terrifying than those we read about in fiction. The life of Gacy began in Chicago, Illinois where he and his family lived. He was born on the 17th day of march in 1942. He grew up with
During his imprisonment, his father died and he felt tremendous guilt for it. Upon learning of his father’s death, caused by liver failure, he believed his father died from the shame of Gacy’s sexual need and harassment of men (Gieseke, Winston). He grew more violent towards male inmates and repressed his sexual desires for males even further. After 18 months in prison, he attempted to restart his life but failed, brutally raping and murdering 33 young men. A majority of Gacy’s crimes are clearly sexually motivated throughout his murders; restraining, torturing, and raping his victims (John Wayne Gacy Confesses to Dozens of
John Wayne Gacy is a serial killer who killed 33 people in total. He was born on May 17th 1942 in Chicago where he was physically and verbally abused by his father. Since this age he showed unusual behaviours and avoiding society, but then was determined that he has a psychological disorder. He moved to Los Angeles and was living a normal life however he started showing his real face in 1968 where he raped a young, male employee.
In 1861 America’s first serial killer was born, and through him Chicago became the location of his most devious and demented creation, the “Murder Castle”. Through him and his “castle’, this killer was possibly responsible for up to 200 murders and the concept of the modern-day “haunted house” was born. His name was H.H. Holmes, and he was known as the “Beast of Chicago”, rumored to have possibly been or connected to Jack the Ripper, and remembered through the book “The Devil in the White City” (Benzkofer, 2014). Unlike traditional serial killers that have appeared since the 1980s, H.H. Holmes did not aspire for a time under the spotlight. Originally just a scam artist, he evolved from borrowing corpses while a medical student for false insurance
John Wayne Gacy was born in Chicago, Illinois on March 17, 1942. He was born to John Stanley Gacy and Marion Elaine Robinson. John Wayne Gacy is only son of three children. He grew up very close to his mother and his two sisters. His father was an alcoholic and was very abusive to his wife and kids.
Author: Brady Enneking Criminal: John Wayne Gacy the clown killer John Wayne Gacy was born into a rough household. His father was an abuser. His father, John Stanley Gacy, was an alcoholic, and he beat his wife and kids. John Wayne’s sister Karen once said the kids grew so used to the beatings that John Wayne would not even cry. The rough family life brought him very close to his two sisters and his mother.
Famous American cereal killer, John Wayne Gacy, had murdered and raped 33 adolescents, many of whom were teenagers, the justice system made sure this man could never do this again. The public is turning a blind eye to the many contributions the justice system makes, we should look at not only how we can reform, but how it contributes to society The justice system creates many contributions to society, such as the safety it provides for children and their chances of exploitation, the many instances where they convict dangerous individuals therefore creating a safer environment for the present and future of society, and the fact it provides all citizens of the public and private sectors, to have the right to a fair, speedy, and public trial,
A quick look into Manson’s childhood however and one might be inclined to question that notion. In this report, I will explain and utilize Michael R. Gottfredson and Travis Hirschi’s “A General Theory of Crime” and Edwin Sutherland’s “Differential Association” to analyze his involvement in the 1969 killing spree. Although Manson had a very lengthy criminal history, his infamy came from his involvement in series of killings dub the Tate-LaBianca murders by the media. On August 09, 1969, Manson ordered members of his
This paper will examine serial killer Ronald Dominique and the acts that was performed on his victims and how individuals he knows viewed him. Robert Dominique target victims were men. In the year of 1997 to 2006, Robert Dominique killed at least 23 men that was account for. However, there is a substantial amount that is not account for. However, Ronald would cross-dress and attend gay clubs.
Although there has been a recent awareness of serial killers and development of entertainment using serial killers it is still a rare occurrence. Schmid states that Serial murders account for less than or equal to 2 % of all homicide (2005). In addition, since there are many types of murder one needs to know a proper definition of a serial killer. According to Culhane there are three different elements that define a serial killer these elements are (1) three or more victims; (2) three or more occurrences; and (3) an emotional ‘cooling off’ period in between the killings. Using the definition provided by Culhane two serial killers were chosen to be study in this paper.
In this paper I will be applying the psychological theories to serial killer Ed Gein. Ed Gein was a prolific serial killer in the 1950’s. He murdered and robbed graves for body parts to make furniture and clothing. He was apprehended in 1957, where he stood trial and was institutionalized. Edward Theodore “Ed” Gein was born August 27th, 1906 to George and Augusta Gein.
