A serial killer is usually defined as an individual that has murdered three or more people over a time period of more than a month, with a process known as a "cooling off period" between the different murders. Their main motivation for killing is typically based on psychological gratification. Some sources disregard the "three or more" criteria, and define the term as "a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone" or, including the vital characteristics, a minimum of at least two murders. Often, a sexual element is involved in the killings, but the FBI states that motives for serial murder include "anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking." The murders may have been attempted or completed in a similar fashion and the victims may have had something in common, for example, occupation, race, appearance, sex, or age group.Serial killers are not the same as mass murderers , nor are they spree killers, who commit murders in two or more locations with virtually no break in between. …show more content…
Thrill seekers outsmart law enforcement and think of it as a game, they enjoy media attention, police pursuit, and evading the authorities. They send messages and keep records. Mission oriented serial killers claim that they are doing society a favor by eliminating certain people such as prostitutes. And last but not least, power and control serial killers enjoy the victim 's terror, suffering and