thesis statement for are serial killers born or made

PSYCH 424 blog

Born or made: the making of a murderer..

thesis statement for are serial killers born or made

Are criminals born or made? Is this perhaps a matter of nature vs. nurture?

One of the oldest questions in criminology is whether criminals are born or made. Are serial killers a product of nature or nurture? While genetics determine our personality, behavior, and appearance, we are nurtured to behave a certain way, which is determined by how we were raised, our upbringing, environment, and life experiences.

Our behavior reflects a combination of both genetics and environmental conditioning. Although, there is evidence that criminal conduct has deeper roots than social circumstances. The causes of crime lie in a combination of predisposing biological traits that are channeled into criminal behavior by social circumstances. Characteristics alone do not inevitably lead to crime; circumstances do not make everyone a criminal. People are born with predispositions for specific personality traits, though the environment has some effect on bringing out theses inclinations.

Some serial killers had a troubled childhood and upbringing, surrounded by tragedy and darkness. “Many serial killers are survivors of early childhood trauma of some kind – physical or sexual abuse, family dysfunction, emotionally distant, or absent parents. Trauma is the single recurring theme in the biographies of most killers.”(Conroy, 2018) One common explanation is that psychopaths experience some kind of trauma in early childhood.

Many but not all serial killers suffer from psychopathy. Psychopaths have no sense of remorse or empathy, and their decision-making process is faulty. Furthermore, individuals have tendencies for some things and not others. Meanwhile, serial killers choose to act on their compulsions.

While the answer to this question is still unsure, we can all agree that the answer is both.

Tags: #psychology , psychopath , science

This entry was posted on Thursday, March 5th, 2020 at 7:03 am and is filed under Uncategorized . You can follow any comments to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a comment , or trackback from your own site.

Ahh, the good old nature or nurture debate.

This debate to me is not so cut and dry; take Gary Ridgeway, for example; his father was loving albeit very shy and submissive. He often did not defend his sons when their mother was abusive towards them. His mother was not only physically but emotionally abusive. So we could argue that being a murderer was in his nurture.

Now let’s look at Dennis Rader, he grew up in a healthy home environment, yet he killed multiple women. He stopped killing for over a decade, got married, and had two children while he murdered entire families between the years 1974 and 1991. Even his daughter would go on record to say that he was kind and loving, and she would not have ever expected that from him. So, could we argue that murder was in his nature? Ted Bundy and Jeffery Dahmer are two other serial killers that could fall into this category as well.

I enjoyed your post. Serial killers are so fascinating to me, and I don’t know if you could tell, but I know an awful lot about them.

This is a really interesting topic and honestly something that has fascinated me for a long time. I’ve always been interested in figuring out what makes a serial killer the way they are. Obviously, something has to either be there or be triggered, because most people don’t just regularly kill people for fun.

My career goal for a long time has been to get involved in forensic psychology. I have a lot of interest in interviewing serial killers and finding out how their minds work. I think people want to find a “killer gene” but I just don’t think it’s that simple. Like you said, I think theres definitely an aspect of both environmental and biological factors at play. It will never be as simple as a gene that causes it.

You must be logged in to post a comment.

108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples

🔝 top-10 serial killer research paper topics, 🏆 best serial killer topics & essay examples, 🎓 good serial killer research topics, ⭐ argumentative essay topics about serial killers, ❓ research questions about serial killers.

What is the nature of serial killers?
Criminal profiling of John Wayne Gacy.
Popular culture: true crime documentaries.
The mind of H.H. Holmes.
Psychological research of serial killers.
Nature vs. nurture: are serial killers born or made?
Cold cases: The Zodiac Killer.
The story of Ted Bundy.
Serial killers and forensic science.
Psychology and sociology of Jeffrey Dahmer.
The Psychology of Serial Killers These are just a fraction of questions that require answers in order to have a complete understanding of the psychology of serial killers.
Frankston Serial Killer: Background, Crimes, and Motives At the time, the police noted that Denyer was with his girlfriend. The letter claimed that Denyer knows his whereabouts, and that he was planning to break out of prison to kill him.
Arthur Shawcross and His Serial Killer’s Behavior Although most of his victims were killed in the late 1980s, his case still evokes a lot of debate since he is considered to be one of the most demonstrative examples of prisoners who were […]
Richard Angelo: A Serial Killer and His Ethical Dilemma The convicted claimed he made the injections to cause crises to be able to revive patients and become a hero in front of his colleagues.
Serial Killer Imagery: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates The present paper argues that whereas Arnold Friend is portrayed by Oates as a “superhuman” copy of Carl Schmid, the murderer, and the situation with Connie is partially sketched from the case of Alleen Rowe, […]
Edmund Kemper: The Serial Killer Kemper committed most of the murders in one year and confessed to his crimes only after he killed his mother. However, in a short time, Kemper decides to stop and report on his crimes to […]
Serial Killers: Tommy Lynn Sells It is believed that in October of the same year he killed a 13-year-old girl in Missouri and moved to Texas.
Jeffrey Dahmer: Serial Killer At the center of the legal debate was the interpretation of insanity, and how it could be utilized to absolve a criminal. George Palermo, a psychiatrist, made the conclusion that Dahmer was not insane.Dr.
Ted Bundy, an American Serial Killer He was part of the team that worked in the campaign of the Republican governor of Washington, who later rewarded him with a recommendation letter.
Criminal Profiling of Serial Killers Ted Bundy was one of the most famous serial killers of the 20th century. These are the types of serial killers that will target gays, minorities, and prostitutes.
Albert Fish – the Serial Killer Fish’s mother, forced to look for another source of livelihood due to her inability to take care of her son following the death of his father, took him to Saint John’s orphanage in Washington.
J. Dahmer as a Sexually-Motivated Serial Killer The paper at hand is devoted to the investigation of the life, personality, and criminal behavior of one of the most notorious American serial killers of 1980s-1990s, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer.
Aileen Wuornos: The Serial Killer After four years since the birth of Aileen, her mother abandoned the family, leaving the girl and her brother with their maternal grandparents, whom the girl considered her birth parents.
Serial Killers: Law Enforcement Response to Serial Killing The law enforcement agencies such as the FBI maintain that there are several serial killers in the United States and they are expected to increase and hit an epidemic proportion with many people losing their […]
Aileen Wuornos: Anatomy of a Female Serial Killer Moreover, feminist scholarship has recently begun to examine serial murder as “sexual terrorism” or as a perpetuation of gynocide, the systematic crippling, raping and/or killing of women by men.
Serial Killers and Their Social Construction Social construction of serial killers has become the subject of various studies, and it is recognized today that the social position, social interactions, and perceived social image may play a significant role in the process […]
Serial Killer Psychology: Eileen Wuornos Eileen was a woman without remorse as she was not bothered by the death of her victims. It is said that her intention was to capture the attention of the man she was dating.
The Crimes of Charles Manson, Serial Killer Even though his people did it himself, he was not involved in this, and the organization of a particular group of people is not in itself an immoral act but is prohibited in some places.
Serial Killer Profiling Dimensions In order to better understand their practices and attempt to put a stop to their actions prematurely, there was a need for proper classification and consequent analysis.
American Serial Killer Joseph Paul Franklin’s Crimes The reason for changing his name as because he wanted to join the Rhodesian Army and due to his criminal background, he was forced to change the name. The couple were killed and Franklin confessed […]
Serial Killers in Modern American Society Based on the above-stated arguments, this paper forms research for evidence from some of the serial killers in modern American society and various tactics utilized by the investigative departments to determine and differentiate between serial […]
Principles of Justice: Serial Killers and Rapers On the same note, Ernest van de Haag mentions the use of principals relating to the utilitarian perspective where the law would be lenient and work for the greater good of people as a whole […]
Ted Bundy, a Serial Killer and Psychopath The same was said about Ted Bundy, one of the most notorious serial killers in the criminal history of the United States.
Serial Killers, Their Crimes, and Stereotypes The other serial killers presented in the killers list also conform to the stereotypes presented in Fox’s and Levin’s article. Most of the killers also rape, mutilate, and degrade their victims in order to feel […]
Charles Manson: Serial Killer Profile One of the first crimes that he committed was connected to a stolen car that Manson took to have some fun and visit his relatives.
A Study on Serial Killers: “Encounter and death: The Spatial Behavior of U.S. Serial Killers” From an analysis, of the article, it is evident that the research focuses on the geographical locations that surround the killings; the location of the first meeting between the serial killers and their victims, the […]
Serial Killers: Women and Men Comparison Most of the time, crimes of men serial killers are heard regularly as they are more horrible than that of women serial killers. The physical counting of the men serial killers victims is very high […]
Serial Killer “Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy” As much as the psychiatrists related his problems to mental disturbances, this was not a major issue that determined the outcome of the cases.
A Serial Killer: Typology and Abnormal Psychological Gratification
Luis Garavito: The World’s Worst Serial Killer
Existentialism: Serial Killer and Right Things
Charles Cullen: Healthcare Serial Killer
Israel Keyes: The Reluctant Serial Killer
Countess Elizabeth Bathory: Serial Killer
Arousal Theory and the Serial Killer Jeffery Dahmer
The Dangerous Mind of a Serial Killer
Clifford Olson: Canadian Serial Killer
The Development of Serial Killers: A Grounded
Exploring the Life and Possible Motives of Serial Killer
How Edward Theodore Gain Became a Serial Killer
Blood Loss, the Decline of the Serial Killer
Sociological Theories: Rationalization and Motivation of the Serial Killer
Serial Killer Era: So Many Murders in 1970 – 2000
Famous Serial Killer: Jack the Ripper
Defining the Factors That Contribute to Serial Killer’s Identity
Deadly Motives: The Hedonistic Drive of Serial Murder
Details of a Typical Female Serial Killer
Profiling Art and Australian Serial Killer Ivan Milat
Brilliant Serial Killer Jack the Ripper
America’s First Serial Killer
Serial Killer and Racism: African-Americans and Serial Killing in the Media
Life and Death of a Serial Killer: Are Serial Killer Born or Created?
Serial Killer: Erikson’s Theory-Based Analysis of the Behavior of Robert William Pickton
Differential Association Theory and Serial Killer
Aileen Wuornos America’s First Female Serial Killer
Mary Bell Was Britain’s Youngest Serial Killer
Criminal Shadows: Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer
America’s Sweetest Serial Killer – Sugar
Unique Characteristics of a Serial Killer
American Serial Killer: Albert Fish
Serial Killer: The Mechanism From Imagination to the Murder
Critical Theories: Crime Ted Bundy Serial Killer
The Uncatchable Serial Killer: No Motive, No Victim Profile
Serial Killers: Death and Life in America’s Wound Culture
The Life of a Serial Killer: Edmund Emil Kemper Lii
Criminal Justice: The Criminology Behind Serial Killers
Canadian Serial Killer: Robert Pickton
What Are Serial Killers?
Are Serial Killers Born Psychopaths or Pushed to That Limit?
What Causes Serial Killers to Kill?
How Do Serial Killers Get Attention?
What Makes Serial Killers Kill?
Why Are the People Interested in Serial Killers?
What Is the Nature of Serial Killers?
How Do Juveniles Become Serial Killers?
What Is in the Mind of Serial Killer?
How to Cure a Serial Killer?
What Steps Are Taken by the Country to Control Serial Killers?
Where Did the Term “Serial Killer” Come From?
What Are the Main Objectives of a Serial Killer?
Is It Possible to Diagnose a Would-Be Serial Killer?
What Are the Common Types of Serial Killers?
How Does a Serial Killer Differ From a Maniac?
What Lies Behind a Serial Killer’s Signature?
Are There Naturally Born Serial Killers?
What Makes a Serial Killer Tick?
Are There Death Penalty Alternatives for Serial Killers?
What Makes a Serial Killer Do What They Do?
Are Humans Naturally Good or Evil?
What Is the Difference Between a Mass Murderer and a Serial Killer in Modern Culture?
Is There a Tendency to Increase or Decrease in Serial Killings in the Us in the XXI Century?
Can Modern Therapies Available for Sociopathic and Psychopathic Disorder Set Serial Killers to Rights?
What Are the Effects of Childhood Abuse on Serial Killing Behavior?
How Are the Serial Killers Portrayed in Hollywood Compare to Real-Life Serial Killers?
What Are Some of the Trademarks of Female Serial Killers?
Do Serial Killer Partners Always Have a Dominant Personality and a Submissive Personality?
How Has Modern Technology and Criminology Made It More Difficult for Serial Killers to Remain at Large?
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

IvyPanda. (2024, February 29). 108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/serial-killer-essay-topics/

"108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples." IvyPanda , 29 Feb. 2024, ivypanda.com/essays/topic/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

IvyPanda . (2024) '108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples'. 29 February.

IvyPanda . 2024. "108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

1. IvyPanda . "108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

IvyPanda . "108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples." February 29, 2024. https://ivypanda.com/essays/topic/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

Murder Questions
Capital Punishment Topics
Victimology Research Ideas
Rape Essay Titles
Forensic Psychology Research Topics
Sexual Assault Essay Titles
Child Abuse Essay Topics
Domestic Violence Paper Topics
Prison Paper Topics
Psychopathology Paper Topics
Corporal Punishment Questions
Mental Disorder Essay Topics
Torture Essay Ideas
Death Penalty Questions
Criminal Justice Essay Topics

Academia.edu no longer supports Internet Explorer.

To browse Academia.edu and the wider internet faster and more securely, please take a few seconds to upgrade your browser .

Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link.

We're Hiring!
Help Center

The Making of a Serial Killer: A literature study into the effects of Cognitive, Biological and Social psychological factors in serial killing.

2019, Bucks New University

Although serial killing was only defined in 1988, there is still more research to be conducted into the causes of this phenomena. Therefore, the aim of this thesis is to look into potential causes of serial killing, with emphasis on social, biological and cognitive psychology. A plethora of literature and various case studies of incarcerated serial killers have been used to support or debunk the theories explored. Serial murderer is classified as the murder of 3 or more victims by the same offender, over multiple locations with the presence of a cooling off period (Ressler et al, 1988). Definitional problems with defining serial murder has led to confusion when classifying murder and therefore its causes. Social psychology explores the nurture side of the ‘nature vs nurture’ debate, with emphasis on childhood trauma, re-enactment and self-evaluation. Biological psychology explores the nature side of the debate, with emphasis on chromosomal abnormalities, a biological predisposition for crime and other biological functions. Cognitive psychology explores how brain dysfunctions can lead to serial murder, with emphasis on head injury causing frontal lobe damage. Lastly, personality disorders are explored in relation to social, biological and cognitive psychology and how they link to serial killing. After reviewing the evidence, it is reasonable to suggest that there is not one singular cause of serial killing, rather a variety of social, biological and cognitive factors and that can cause someone to be susceptible or expedite the process of becoming a serial killer.

Related Papers

DJ Williams

Enzo Yaksic

Conducting systematic research on serial homicide is complicated by variations in definition, sample size, data sources and collection procedures. This review will identify the challenges of utilizing data to study serial homicide and propose new methods to address these limitations. Almost three decades ago, Kiger (1990) highlighted the limitations of employing then existing data to study the social problem of serial murder and called for the creation of new sources to allow for quantitative assessments that used empirical data. In response, serial homicide researchers – previously operating in ‘information silos’ – contributed information to the ‘Serial Homicide Expertise and Information Sharing Collaborative’ to build a comprehensive record of serial homicide offending in partnership with the ‘Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database Project’. Providing serial homicide data in an open access format empowers users to increase data reliability by interacting with the information to supply edits and corrections. Statistical evidence generated from the data enables analysts to disprove ingrained myths and stereotypes about serial murderers using valid data. Impaneled experts applied the Modified Delphi Technique and proposed adopting the broad term ‘multiple-event murderer’ to counter some institutionalized definitional differences. The exploration of creating a dashboard to track instances of serial homicide alongside further study of serial offenders committing revenge murders, witness elimination and robbery homicides, organized crime, contract and gang killings is recommended.

Emmanuel Caliwan, J.D.

Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes

Jessica Woodhams

The Journal of Forensic Psychiatry & Psychology

Thomas Bowers , Claire Flaherty

British Journal of Criminology

Clive Hollin

Crime and Justice

Helen Gavin

Forensic Science International

Michael Vaughn

RELATED PAPERS

Criminal Justice and Behavior

Aaron Scherer

Journal of Forensic Sciences

Janet Warren , Park Dietz

Nathan Pino

Laura Dugan

Jackie De Wet

Journal of Criminal Justice and Popular Culture

James Oleson

American Journal of Criminal Justice

Criminal Justice Studies

Criminal Profiling: International …

Jasper J van der Kemp

Alfredo Ardila

Criminal Profiling

Eric Beauregard

Psychology, Crime & Law

Christian Mormont

Journal of Trauma & Dissociation

Andrew Moskowitz

Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology

Dr Maurice Godwin

Stephen Porter

Arnold Arluke , Eric Madfis

Andrew Markey

Homicide Studies

Arnold Arluke

Guillem Feixas

Eugenia Di Odoardo

Journal of Criminal …

Christopher Ferguson

José Guerreiro da Silva

Kevin Wright

DJ Williams , Michael Arntfield

Margot Note

DJ Williams , Jolene Vincent

Cybermaniac Darkcode

Monicah Ndiritu

Journal of Social Issues

Heather Piper , Patterson-Kane, Emily

International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology

Nkosinathi Nhlabathi

Arnold Arluke , Jack Levin

Campus Communities in SOAR

Show simple item record

Serial Killers: Are Serial Killers Born or Made?

Files in this item.

This item appears in the following Collection(s)

entitlement

Export search results

The export option will allow you to export the current search results of the entered query to a file. Different formats are available for download. To export the items, click on the button corresponding with the preferred download format.

By default, clicking on the export buttons will result in a download of the allowed maximum amount of items.

To select a subset of the search results, click "Selective Export" button and make a selection of the items you want to export. The amount of items that can be exported at once is similarly restricted as the full export.

After making a selection, click one of the export format buttons. The amount of items that will be exported is indicated in the bubble next to export format.

Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Serial Killer — The Making Of A Serial Killer: Nature Vs. Nurture

The Making of a Serial Killer: Nature Vs. Nurture

Categories: Criminal Behavior Nature Versus Nurture Serial Killer

About this sample

Words: 1899 |

10 min read

Published: Dec 16, 2021

Words: 1899 | Pages: 4 | 10 min read

Introduction, literature review.

Johnson, B. R., & Becker, J. V. (1997). Natural Born Killers?: The Development of the Sexually Sadistic Serial Killer . Journal of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law , 25(3), 335–348.
Mehra, N., & Samavati Pirouz , A. (2012). A Study on Mental Disorder in Serial Killers . Medical Law, 1(1), 38–51.
Miller, L. (2014). Serial killers: I. Subtypes, patterns, and motives. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(1), 1–11. doi: 10.1016/j.avb.2013.11.002
Mitchell, H., & Aamodt, M. G. (2005). The incidence of child abuse in serial killers. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology, 20(1), 40–47. doi: 10.1007/bf02806705
Pilson, A. (2011). Western Culture and the Spread of Serial Murder. Honors Theses, 1–32.
Scott, S. L. (2008). What Makes Serial Killers Tick? Childhood Abuse , 1–38.
Stone, M. H. (2001). Serial Sexual Homicide: Biological, Psychological, and Sociological Aspects. Journal of Personality Disorders, 15(1), 1–18. doi: 10.1521/pedi.15.1.1.18646

Should follow an “upside down” triangle format, meaning, the writer should start off broad and introduce the text and author or topic being discussed, and then get more specific to the thesis statement.

Cornerstone of the essay, presenting the central argument that will be elaborated upon and supported with evidence and analysis throughout the rest of the paper.

The topic sentence serves as the main point or focus of a paragraph in an essay, summarizing the key idea that will be discussed in that paragraph.

The body of each paragraph builds an argument in support of the topic sentence, citing information from sources as evidence.

After each piece of evidence is provided, the author should explain HOW and WHY the evidence supports the claim.

Should follow a right side up triangle format, meaning, specifics should be mentioned first such as restating the thesis, and then get more broad about the topic at hand. Lastly, leave the reader with something to think about and ponder once they are done reading.

Cite this Essay

Let us write you an essay from scratch

450+ experts on 30 subjects ready to help
Custom essay delivered in as few as 3 hours

Get high-quality help

Prof. Kifaru

Verified writer

Expert in: Law, Crime & Punishment Psychology

+ 120 experts online

By clicking “Check Writers’ Offers”, you agree to our terms of service and privacy policy . We’ll occasionally send you promo and account related email

No need to pay just yet!

Related Essays

3 pages / 1458 words

3 pages / 1179 words

1 pages / 679 words

6 pages / 2847 words

Remember! This is just a sample.

You can get your custom paper by one of our expert writers.

121 writers online

Still can’t find what you need?

Browse our vast selection of original essay samples, each expertly formatted and styled

Related Essays on Serial Killer

“We serial killers are your sons. We are your husbands. We are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.”This famous quote came from the notorious killer Ted Bundy, a man known for his ghastly crimes, [...]

Imagine a seemingly ordinary man, charming and charismatic, who roams the streets of America, leaving behind a trail of horror and devastation. This man, known as Ted Bundy, was not just any criminal; he was a serial killer who [...]

The case of John Wayne Gacy is one of the most notorious and chilling in the annals of criminal history. Gacy, a seemingly upstanding member of his community, was revealed to be a cold-blooded killer responsible for the deaths [...]

John Wayne Gacy is one of the most notorious serial killers in American history, having been convicted of the murder of 33 young men and boys in the 1970s. While much attention has been given to his heinous crimes, it is equally [...]

The factors of a person’s past can influence the way they will succeed or fail in the future. For example, John Wayne Gacy had a horrible childhood and from those experiences became one of the deadliest serial killers. The [...]

The question of whether or not is predetermined at birth to lead a life of crime is a question that has been debated for decades. Nature and nurture is a hotly contested argument concerning what influences the behaviour and [...]

Get Your Personalized Essay in 3 Hours or Less!

We use cookies to personalyze your web-site experience. By continuing we’ll assume you board with our cookie policy .

Instructions Followed To The Letter
Deadlines Met At Every Stage
Unique And Plagiarism Free

62 Annotated Bibliography 2 – “Are Serial Killers Born or Created?”

Scotlyn Koehler

What does this annotated bibliography look like when formatted as a document? Download the PDF to see: PDF Example Annotated Bibliography – Koehler – Serial Killers – 2

Are serial killers born or created.

Knight, Zelda G. “Some Thoughts on the Psychological Roots of the Behavior of Serial Killers as Narcissists: An Object Relations Perspective.” Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal , vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2006, pp. 1189–1206. EBSCOhost , doi:10.2224/sbp.2006.34.10.1189.

The article talks about the different psychological reasoning behind certain behaviors of serial killers. It explains the main characteristics of sexually motivated serial killers. The author explores the relationship between “pathological” and “destructive” narcissism as well as the psychological roots and the behaviors of male serial killers, explaining how early developmental deficiencies, childhood abuse, sexual sadism, and fantasies contribute to the development of serial killers.

This article is useful because it gives examples of environmental factors that may push someone to become a serial killer. It provides insight into the family-dynamic aspects of creating a serial killer, which is one of the points I want to talk about. The author elaborates on the sexual abuse that often happens to people who become serial killers, ultimately supporting my stance that they are created, not born.

The author, Zelda Knight, is a professor of Psychology at the University of Johannesburg. She has a PhD in Psychology and is a registered counseling psychologist. She is the vice president of the World Council for psychotherapy African chapter as well as a member of the ‘International Association for Psychoanalytic and Self Psychology.’ She is a credible source because of her numerous qualifications and years of experience in the Psychology field. This article appears in a peer reviewed academic journal, which makes it a reliable source.

Miller, Laurence. “Serial Killers: I. Subtypes, Patterns, and Motives.” Aggression & Violent Behavior , vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 1–11. EBSCOhost , doi:10.1016/j.avb.2013.11.002.

This article explores the history and behavioral patterns of serial killers, examining the definition, description, and characteristics of a serial killer in detail. The author classifies various subtypes of serial killers and assesses the different categories found by researchers. The article also discusses the context of special populations of serial killers such as sadist-masochists, females, couples, and professionals.

This source would be beneficial to my essay because it elaborates on the effects of physical and mental abuse on children who eventually become serial killers. One of my supporting paragraphs talks about trauma, and this would be beneficial to explaining my stance. The author explores different patterns that form the dynamic of a serial killer; the helpful insight that is provided throughout this article will help my argument.

The article is in a peer-reviewed academic journal. The author is Laurence Miller, a university professor with a PhD in psychology. He has been practicing psychology for 25 years, specializing in psychotherapy, neuropsychology, and business psychology. He has written several books and has over 200 publications related to psychology. His level and years of experience make him a credible author who provides reliable information.

Pakhomou, Serge-Moses. “Serial Killers: Offender’s Relationship to the Victim and Selected Demographics.” International Journal of Police Science & Management , vol. 6, no. 4, Winter 2004, pp. 219–233. EBSCOhost , doi:10.1350/ijps.6.4.219.54138.

This article deals with the current generalization of serial killers as white males between twenty and thirty years old. It follows a study of 21 serial killers to test the hypothesis of the generalization, thoroughly discussing statistical data relating to the serial killer demographic and particular groups within it. The article explores offenders’ relationship to their victims through prior experiences such as marital status, education, military service, psychiatric diagnosis, and prior criminal charges.

The article also discusses the role parents play in a child’s life: this is a point I want to use to support my argument that serial killers are made, not born. This study asserts that absent or divorced parents play a part in the emergence of a serial killer; the relationship with their parents has a significant effect on children during their developmental stages. This information clarifies a powerful subpoint that can be used to aid my argument.

Serge-Moses Pakhomou is involved in the ‘research in violent behavior’ program at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. According to his bio, he specializes in the methodology of mental activity, competency, and crimes of sexual motivation (Pakhomou 219). This academic journal article has been peer-reviewed and revised by other scholars in the same profession. The author’s qualifications, along with the fact the article was reviewed by other professionals, makes this a reliable source.

Spence, Sean. “Bad or Mad?” New Scientist , vol. 181, no. 2439, Mar. 2004, pp. 38–41. EBSCOhost , search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx direct=true&db=aph&AN=12648026&site=ehost-live.

This article discusses how neuroscience is being used to examine different functions of the brain that do not work properly in severely antisocial people. The frontal cortex of the brain shows low activity in impulsive killers; however, in serial killers it does not. This study asserts that the defect lies in the amygdala in serial killers, which is the region of the brain that processes emotional cues.

I plan on using this source as a counterargument. The author talks about how serial killers have brain issues that play a role in their impulses to kill. This article presents a stance in viewing the possibility that serial killers are people who have natural problems that cause them to act in violence. However, this is a weak concept that I will be able to argue against to further prove my point that serial killers are created, not born.

Sean Spence is a Professor of General Adult Psychiatry. His main research focus is on neuroscience and exploring different regions of the brain. He is the author of several books and research articles that deal with these topics, showing that he is an expert on the subject. New Scientist is a periodical with good quality controls and a reputation for trustworthiness, making this a credible source.

Ürmösné Simon, Gabriella. “The portrayal and the attributes of serial killers and some of the most notorious ones.” Internal Security , vol. 10, 2018, pp. 1-12.

This article discusses the general attributes, key traits, and clusters of serial killers, examining core classifications of organized and disorganized serial killers. The author examines the evolutionary aspects of some of the most notorious serial killers, explaining how elements such as childhood trauma, superiority, humiliation, neglect, and family history can be crucial factors in the development of a serial killer.

I anticipate using this source in one of my body paragraphs. It talks about how, if a child is bullied for their appearance or a disability, it could push them into becoming a serial killer later in life. One of my main points is how early childhood environment shapes a future serial killer and this is a perfect example of that.

This source is from an academic journal and the author, Gabriella Ürmösné, has a PhD in Linguistics. She attends the National University of Public Service in Budapest and is the Head of Department of Foreign and Technical Languages. She is a part of the Law Enforcement Faculty and an assistant professor. The credentials of the author support that her article is a reliable source.

Scotlyn Koehler’s annotated bibliography, written in Dr. Tyrrell’s class, won 2nd place in its category in the 2021-2022 CU Write essay contest.

About the author.

name: Scotlyn Koehler

institution: Student, Cameron University

Annotated Bibliography 2 - "Are Serial Killers Born or Created?" Copyright © by Scotlyn Koehler is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.

Share This Book

An official website of the United States government

The .gov means it’s official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

The site is secure. The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Publications
Account settings

Preview improvements coming to the PMC website in October 2024. Learn More or Try it out now .

Advanced Search
Journal List
Int J Environ Res Public Health

Youth Serial Killers: Psychological and Criminological Profiles

Associated data.

Not applicable.

Serial murder is a specific type of violent crime that falls into the crime category of multicide. According to the nomenclature of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Classification Manual and Academic Researchers for the Classification of Violent Crimes, most serial killers are adults. However, serial murder is also committed by young people, although to a lesser extent. Young serial killers are a topic of relevance in areas such as psychology, criminology, and the justice system. Given that the study of the variables that could be the basis of such multicide criminality is not conclusive, the need for further research is evident. The homicides perpetrated by children and young people point to a social panorama that is alarming due to their young age. This issue is prevalent enough to conduct a review. The performed review concludes the importance of psychosocial factors to better understand the process by which children and young people commit crimes as serious as serial murders. The scope of the problem of serial murders perpetrated by minors is controversial because it often depends on how the number of real cases is counted. Although official statistics indicate the low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, childhood is a period in which antisocial behaviour can have its beginning. Some authors consider that it is not uncommon for the first murder of this type to occur in adolescence. It is important to consider psychopathy as an influential factor in the various forms of serial criminal conduct committed by children and young people. The research works consulted provide evidence of the special relevance of psychopathy in the generation of serious juvenile delinquency.

1. Introduction

The phenomenon of serial murders occupies a unique place in the field of Criminology and the criminal justice system, especially when the perpetrators of this and other kinds of violent crimes are underage. In this sense, we use the terms child, juvenile and youth without distinction, as in the Convention on the Rights of the Child [ 1 ], to refer to those under the age of 18 when which they committed homicide.

In addition to the difficulties that this supposes for criminal investigation by the police and judicial systems, serial murder cases attract excessive attention from the media, mental health experts, the academic world, and the general public. This social, media and professional impact is even worse when the serial murders are perpetrated by either young people or women, since reality is greatly softened in the case of these populations, the more unpleasant aspects of the crime tending to be mitigated [ 2 ].

Furthermore, much of the lack of understanding of the phenomenon of serial murders, especially in the case of underage perpetrators, is surrounded by a halo of media sensationalism that usually arises from a question about the mind of serial killers asked and debated across numerous articles and opinion columns: are serial killers born or made? Added to this is another question of a similar nature, which refers to the popular idea of serial killers as predators, monsters, or devils [ 3 ]. In this sense, if this sensationalist question had to be settled, the conclusion would be obvious: serial killers are predators only in the sense that their methods of attack are very similar to those of predatory animals—they stalk, attack, and kill [ 4 ]. On the other hand, labelling them as monsters or devils, however abominable and indescribable the acts of such individuals may be, is only part of the media circus surrounding such cases at both judicial and social levels [ 5 ], and contributes to the media-influenced collective mentality that spares no detail [ 6 ] and which even, inexplicably, makes celebrities of such people [ 7 ].

Nevertheless, the generally badly characterised film image of the typical murderer who creates a plan of action and chooses their victim is ostensibly false in the case of most juvenile homicides. Only in very few cases (mainly serial killers, mass murderers and itinerants) does it respond to reality [ 8 ].

Putting aside the speculations of the media world, only empirical works of research and academic books that deal rigorously with this delicate and singular subject were considered in this review on serial murders perpetrated by children and youths. In this review, the problem of children and youths who commit homicide or murder, but not serially, was first reviewed to differentiate them from those young people who are serial killers.

Secondly, the concept and characterization of serial murders were defined as a form of multicide and as a specific type of violent crime. According to the conceptualization given by both the FBI’s Violent Crime Classification Manual and various researchers, the great majority of serial killers are white males aged between 25 and 35. Nevertheless, serial murder is also committed by youths, although to a much lesser extent.

Thirdly, the analysis of the psychological and criminological profiles of children and youths who had committed serial murders allowed us to characterize them with a series of psychosocial aspects and criminal motivations. In addition, it is also important to stress the need to consider other types of serial criminal conduct in which some young people become involved, and which can be considered as forerunners to the later perpetration of serial murders. Fourthly, the importance and role played by child–juvenile psychopathy in violent, criminal conduct and the perpetration of serial murders was explored.

The acquisition and development of aggressive and violent behaviour patterns, which may increase the risk of minors committing murder, respond to the joint action of multiple etiological factors (psychological, social, biological, environmental, etc.). Given that the study of the variables which might comprise the basis of such multicide criminality is inconclusive, the need for further investigation is evident. This review aims to provide the necessary knowledge to outline the therapeutic needs of serial killer children, and to deal with them through specific interventions.

To achieve a better knowledge of the phenomenon of murder committed by youths, as well as to understand the extent and severity of this phenomenon, we carried out a scoping review of research articles written in various countries.

Similarly, we reviewed and compared research works related to the concept and characterisation of serial killers. In addition, we analysed the said manifestations in youths to be able to understand their psychological and criminological profiles.

The information was obtained from the following databases: ScienceDirect, Scopus and PsycoINFO. For this review, publications were selected using the following descriptors: (serial killers AND youths) AND (juvenile delinquency AND psychosocial OR psychopathy factors).

Concerning exclusion criteria, all those studies in which the said search descriptors were not present were discarded. Similarly, despite the inclusion of research papers related to other serial criminal behaviour patterns often carried out by young people, such as arson, cruelty to animals, or sexual crimes [ 9 ], those studies that referred to non-serial juvenile violence were excluded.

The year of publication of these research papers was not an exclusion criterion, given their scarcity.

3.1. Youth Homicides and Non-Serial Killers: Extent and Severity of the Problem

The extent and severity of the problem of serial murders committed by minors (children and youths) begins with homicide and murder of a non-serial nature, but equally violent. There are numerous cases of this type throughout the world, and they are widely documented.

Despite the terminology frequently used by the media, young delinquents are not monsters or beasts, and often have not committed previous acts of violence [ 10 ]. The analysis and investigation that this author carried out on 80 attempted or consummated homicides, perpetrated by youths, shows that a great number of these crimes occurred because they found it difficult to refuse to participate in something previously planned by a group of peers, so the criminal motivations were only partially due to the minor’s personality. An explanation can often be found in an accumulation of arbitrary circumstances, and in the way an extremely aggressive individual reacts to such circumstances [ 10 ].

In this sense, Lempp [ 10 ] studied the probable motives for homicides committed by young delinquents and situated them in psychic and environmental contexts for each case to contribute to the scientific study of the phenomenon, evaluating the psychological, legal, psychiatric, and social aspects of each case.

Nevertheless, as mentioned previously, if the reality of these cases seems to be twisted, then what is the real extent of the problem? In this sense, the controversy and debate concerning the extreme violence of minors is widespread, since there are a diverse range of opinions and data about criminality in general among minors and young people. Rechea and Fernández [ 11 ] consider that the percentage of young people who commit this type of act is low.

The analysis of the participation of juveniles in homicides is still a serious problem in the USA, since between the mid-1980s and the start of the 1990s, there was an unprecedented growth in homicides perpetrated by youths [ 12 ]. The available data suggest that juveniles currently participate in more homicides than in previous generations [ 13 ].

Independently of the figures, the cases of juvenile homicide and murder cannot be underestimated, since the psychosocial and criminological reality of these cases is as particular as it is fatal for the victims.

Braga, Kennedy, Waring, and Morrison [ 14 ] stress the significance of homicides carried out by youths who belong to street gangs. It must be said that this criminal phenomenon is very particular, as its situational variables are different and should be studied separately from the rest of juvenile crime [ 15 , 16 ].

Due to all of the above, the psychosocial and criminological profile of youths who commit homicide and murder is not comparable to that of the common delinquent. In this sense, Lempp [ 10 ] warns that greater importance is not given to cases of child–juvenile homicide due to the generalized belief that “no-one would have believed them capable of such acts, precisely because they did not fit in any way the general image we have of a murderer”.

3.2. Serial Murders: Conceptual Limits and Main Characteristics

There is much controversy about the operational definition of serial murder [ 17 ]. However, in general, it can be considered a kind of multicide that can be defined as the repeated homicide of two or more persons [ 18 ], and with a cooling-down period between one crime and another [ 4 ].

The term serial killer was first coined to identify individuals who methodically murder a number of people within a period of time, although the motives, the victims and the methods vary from one serial killer to another [ 19 ].

Although the minimum number of victims considered necessary to define murders as serial murders is arbitrary, authors such as Egger [ 20 ] place the said minimum number as at least three victims. Similarly, although there is no single, generally accepted definition, Ferguson, White, Cherry, Lorenz, and Bhimani [ 21 ] coincide in pointing out that the essential element for defining a serial killer is the execution of three or more murders during multiple discreet events. Therefore, traditionally, a serial killer is defined as an individual who has murdered three or more victims [ 18 ].

However, it is important to point out that there are other types of homicide (for instance, terrorists, mass murderers, etc.) in which the perpetrators can murder more than three victims in their first killing spree, but who can then still become serial killers with a cooling-down period between one crime and another [ 22 ].

In any case, the aspect of the number of victims would have to be reconsidered, as there are murderers who only kill one person and are quickly arrested and imprisoned. Then, after studying their criminal behaviour patterns, it can be seen that there is a high probability that they would have killed again if they had not been caught and imprisoned [ 4 ].

The need to have a precise, working definition of a serial killer takes on greater importance when considering the process of generating the psychological and criminological profile of this type of individual, since there are many subtypes of serial killer. This gives rise to a variety of behaviour patterns and criminal motivations that reflect heterogeneous characteristics [ 23 ]. It is thus important to establish the psycho-criminological profile of these multicides on a differential level [ 24 , 25 ].

3.3. The Phenomenon of Serial Murders Committed by Minors

3.3.1. the psycho-criminological profiles of child and youth serial killers: psychosocial aspects and criminal motivations.

Serial murder is a type of multicide predominantly perpetrated by male adults [ 22 ]. The cases of child and youth serial killers are, of course, much less frequent than adult cases [ 9 ]. From the academic and professional sphere of forensic psychiatry, Myers [ 26 ] studied six cases of serial killers who were under 18 years of age throughout the entire series of their crimes, identifying only six in the last 150 years, the majority from the USA. According to this author, at least two of the six serial killers began to commit murder in their adolescence, and most of their successive crimes occurred at somewhat older ages.

According to Myers [ 26 ], each of these six young serial delinquents committed sexually motivated homicides as an expression of their aberrant erotic interest, which they later openly displayed at the crime scenes. The signs of sexual sadism and criminal characteristics reflect the behavioural profile of a more predatory type of violence (proactive or instrumental) than affective or reactive violence. In this sense, Myers [ 26 ] points out that these subjects preferred to use their own hands in the diverse methods and ways used to kill their victims, that is, cutting, stabbing, strangling and/or dismembering. Three of these children had problematic upbringings, yet, according to the reports, only one was physically abused by his father. The great majority of these juvenile serial killers showed signs of sexual sadism, a characteristic generally found in adult sexual serial killers [ 26 ].

Furthermore, this author states that “humans are not physiologically ‘wired’ to have sexual pleasure during the experience of significant anger” [ 26 ]. However, children usually explore their sexuality and the spectrum of pleasure/pain at an early age. Thus, according to this author, the physiological trait that traces the line between pleasure and pain is absent in these young serial killers, and it is this fact that could have given rise to the generalized conclusion that a serial killer’s behaviour is caused by psychological, social, and biological problems [ 26 ].

Some of these serial killers come from broken homes where they could not acquire a stable personality. Thus, they continually look to satisfy their desires through fantasies of domination and control [ 27 ]. Similarly, some of them were physically, sexually, and emotionally abused in childhood, and often such abuses were simultaneous [ 28 ].

Research into the impact of child abuse on violent behaviour has demonstrated that abuse and exposure to violence, in any of its multiple forms, is a very important factor for predicting criminal conduct [ 29 ]. The research of Dutton and Hart [ 30 ], carried out on males condemned for various crimes, suggests that those minors who were physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused were three times more likely to act violently when adults. Nevertheless, Mitchell and Aamodt [ 31 ] state that, in the serial killer population, neglect experienced in childhood does not have a significant prevalence.

Myers [ 26 ] does not mention the important fact that the phenomenon of sexual pleasure/pain can be a learnt characteristic. In this sense, it had already been pointed out that “the blurring of pain/pleasure lines can occur during abuse, exposure to violence, or as psychological training (more often seen in socially accepted sexual masochism and slave/master social circles)” [ 32 ].

In any case, Myers concludes that “the murderers’ impulses to kill did not in the least decrease as they grew up; serial killers also fit into the category of ‘predator’” [ 26 ]. Due to the limited number of child serial killers, Myers [ 26 ] was unable to extrapolate the results of his study, and the idea of biological traits being the principal influence of serial killers requires more research to either prove or disprove it. In a later study on the psychological motivations of 12 sexual serial killers, this author and his team could only conclude that this type of individual expresses their positive feelings of sexual pleasure, and even euphoria (instead of anger or other unpleasant states of mind), through their criminal acts [ 33 ].

Although serial killings would seem to be a rare event, some authors suggest that it is difficult to determine the incidence and prevalence of this phenomenon [ 34 ]. Given that this form of violence has a strong social impact, and that it can appear to be the result of interacting biological, psychological, and sociological factors, research into this phenomenon should start in infancy [ 28 ].

As the cases of child and youth serial killers are much less frequent than those committed by adults, it is necessary to approach the studies of cases in this area differently to be able to advance our knowledge of such youths. Thus, an initiative to be recommended in this sense consists of more detailed research into other criminal serial behaviour patterns used by these youths. Such behaviour patterns as are set out below.

3.3.2. The Role of Five Categories of Criminal Serial Behaviour Patterns Used by Children and Youths: Criminological History of Adult Serial Murders?

According to Myers and Borg [ 9 ], there are generally six categories of criminal serial behaviour patterns which are normally studied in the case of children and youths: (1) ‘generic’ juvenile delinquency (which provides an explicative framework for other violent or non-violent crimes); (2) crimes of firesetting; (3) crimes of cruelty to animals; (4) crimes of a sexual nature; (5) crimes of sadism; and (6) serial murders. According to these authors, “the first five categories do not represent all the possible forms of serial crimes committed by young people, and neither do they cover the more serious types or all the specific profiles” [ 9 ]. In this sense, they also point out that “a wider treatment of this area could include additional, less serious crimes which, are by nature serial, such as kleptomania” [ 9 ].

Based on a thorough review of the literature concerning the five categories of serial criminal behaviour patterns in children and youths, Myers and Borg [ 9 ] believe that many of them could be the precursors of later serial murders, by which they seem to be ‘testing things out’; for instance, how they feel upon setting fire to objects, houses, and forests, mistreating and killing animals, etc. Thus, the maximum expression of criminal behaviour would reside in the murder of one or more people. Some young people begin with other types of serial criminal behaviour patterns which serve as a ‘preparatory’ step. Does this mean that serial murder can be learned? Considering the application of the theory of social learning to acts of firesetting by children and youths, Singer and Hensley [ 35 ] found that the motivational patterns of the subjects suggested just that.

Although the research estimates that serial killers begin their criminal careers at 20 years of age, what is certain is that it is not uncommon for the first murder of this type of multicide to happen in adolescence. For example, Burgess, Hartman, Ressler, Douglas, and McCormack [ 36 ] found that 10 out of the 36 adult serial killers in their study, imprisoned for sexual homicide, had also previously committed murder when they were young. Similarly, it is important to mention that the behavioural indicators of sexual murder predict the presence of sadistic sexual fantasies in both delinquents and the general population [ 37 ].

Thus, the criminal conduct of serial sexual attacks is also an important factor to be considered when trying to better understand the criminological and psychosocial profile of serial killers [ 38 , 39 ]. This is because many of them perpetrate serial sexual homicides [ 40 ] with diverse patterns and motivations [ 41 , 42 ]. Similarly, crimes of firesetting committed by children and youths are also examples of criminal conduct that should be considered, as they appear in many cases of serial killers [ 43 ]. Juvenile sexual homicides seem, in many cases, to be correlates or criminological antecedents of adult serial killers [ 44 ].

3.4. Psychopathy, Violent Delinquency, and Serial Murder

3.4.1. the role of child–juvenile psychopathy in violence and delinquency.

It is certain that the first five categories of serial criminal conduct in children and youths studied by Myers and Borg [ 9 ] should be considered in research into both serial murders and attempts to understand the motivational psychology and criminal profiling of violent delinquents [ 45 , 46 ]. In addition to these types of serial criminal conduct, variable psychopathy is another relevant factor to be considered in these cases since these youths usually score high in psychopathy [ 47 ].

Psychopathy is a clinical–forensic construct that gives rise to serious problems in the affective, interpersonal, and behavioural domains, so much so that psychopaths can victimize and manipulate others apparently without their conscience being affected [ 48 ]. Psychopathy is characterized by a series of well-defined traits [ 49 ].

Psychopathy may appear in connection with two separate concepts: that which stresses the social factors or childhood experiences are the root of the disorder; and those who defend the view that the biological, psychological, and genetic elements are the biggest contributors to its appearance [ 50 ].

It is necessary to distinguish between subclinical psychopathy (or non-criminal psychopathy) and criminal psychopathy [ 2 ]. While subclinical psychopathy is studied in the general population [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], criminal psychopathy is studied in clinical–forensic contexts such as courts and prisons [ 8 , 50 ].

The study of psychopathy is useful for understanding seriously antisocial behaviour and violence among children and youths [ 57 ]. In this sense, juveniles who experience a variety of antisocial risk factors, such as mental health issues, upbringing problems, a history of substance abuse, or prolonged criminal participation, are characterised by a profound impulsiveness, emotional instability, and a total absence of guilt with respect to the execution of the crime [ 58 ]. The result is the appearance of psychopathic characteristics, which seem to be risk factors for persistent violence among minors [ 59 ].

Although there are numerous myths and unspecified associations surrounding psychopathy in relation to violence and criminality [ 60 , 61 , 62 ], what is certain is that research has found that criminal psychopathy is a risk factor as far as violence and recidivism are concerned [ 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Taking into account the marked antisocial behaviour of criminal psychopathy [ 66 ] and the characteristic of criminal versatility mentioned in the Psychopathy Checklist—revised (PCL-R) [ 50 ], the main difference between subclinical and criminal psychopathy lies in the concrete perpetration of a crime, of whatever kind, as the basic structure of personality and emotions is practically the same in both types of psychopaths, the criminal and subclinical [ 2 ].

Many traits of psychopathy begin to emerge in infancy [ 50 ] and are clearly identifiable and evaluable in childhood, adolescence, and youth [ 67 ]. However, the inclusion of the concept of psychopathy in the child–juvenile population is not without controversy. While Semel [ 68 ] stresses the limitations of the evaluation of juvenile psychopathy in clinical and forensic contexts, Forth, Bergstrøm, and Clark [ 69 ] clarify the necessity and implications of this evaluation of minors. Although professionals and doctors are still reticent about using the term ‘psychopath’ in the cases of children and youths [ 70 ], the scientific evidence in this respect cannot be denied due to its relation to criminal conduct in this population.

In light of the above, Dåderman [ 71 ] studied the personality traits present in adolescents diagnosed with severe behaviour disorders who showed psychopathy-related traits, e.g., searching for intense sensations, high impulsiveness, and low conformity, socialisation, and social desirability.

Glueck and Glueck [ 72 , 73 , 74 ] were the first to focus the subject of psychopathy on chronic and serious delinquents, some of whom were minors. These authors found that psychopathy was a useful variable for differentiating delinquents from non-delinquents. They described psychopathic delinquents as ostensibly destructive, antisocial, asocial, and less susceptible to therapeutic or educational efforts. Other characteristics include insensitivity towards social demands or towards others, a superficial emotionality, egocentrism, and a total lack of empathy [ 49 ], as well as, in many cases together with impulsive behaviour patterns, an absence of stress or anxiety concerning their lack of social adaptation, serious irresponsibility, and emotional poverty [ 48 ]. Young psychopaths seemed not to respond to any attempted treatment or rehabilitation, and they did not seem to be worried by their persistent criminal behaviour [ 72 , 73 ]. These authors observed that a psychopath was almost 20 times more common among their sample of delinquents than in the control group of non-delinquent subjects.

The relationship between child–juvenile psychopathy and chronic violent delinquency is currently still being studied. Salekin [ 75 ] studied a cohort of 130 children and youths to examine the effect of psychopathic personality on legal problems and life opportunities. This author found that psychopathy remained stable over the period the subjects were followed (four years), and the children with the highest scores of psychopathic traits in their early stages of life tended to maintain these scores later in adolescence. In addition, psychopathy is a significant predictor of both delinquency in general and various forms of violent delinquency.

Current theories concerning crime (such as the situational prevention of crime) are based on the study of the circumstances in which these youths commit their crimes, rather than discovering the reasons why they committed them. Some authors have shown that it is possible to reduce the extent of the violence if the probability of detection increases and there is an effective response from the courts to dissuade young delinquents from enacting their violent behaviour patterns [ 14 ].

The effects of psychopathy on serious juvenile delinquency are more stable and persistent than the effects of the other 14 correlates of delinquency, including demographic characteristics, intelligence, previous delinquency and problems at school, parental factors, drug use, and delinquent companions, among others [ 75 ].

3.4.2. The Role of Child–Juvenile Psychopathy in Serial Murder

The role played by psychopathy in the phenomenon of serial murders can be better understood if we look at its aetiology, which is not exempt from controversy. A great part of this controversy comes from the frequent generalization of the results of much research with common delinquents and non-serial but violent delinquents.

The problem concerning psychopathy lies in the fact that many of the results of research into the typical correlates of delinquency in general have been extrapolated to psychopathic delinquents, thus generating distorted images of psychopathy [ 62 ]. Similarly, the frequent and erroneous comparison of equating psychopathy with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) becomes an additional problem because, while ASPD describes the common delinquent in general [ 8 , 49 ], most delinquents are not psychopaths, while not all psychopaths are delinquents [ 48 , 49 ]. Thus, in this respect, it should be stressed that the terms ASPD and psychopathy are often incorrectly used as synonyms [ 76 ]. ASPD is a kind of mental disorder (a personality disorder) included in psychiatric classifications, while psychopathy requires, according to the diagnostic criteria of Cleckley [ 49 ], a complete absence of any manifestation of a psychopathological nature.

The typical correlates of delinquency in general have been widely studied, and the most frequently studied variables or factors are diverse: gender, age, race, temperament, personality, self-control/self-regulation, school records, and family/parental factors [ 77 ]. Many antisocial delinquent youths present these and many other factors that are usually related to criminality. Although there are numerous clinical–psychiatric diagnoses associated with antisocial young people with behavioural problems [ 78 , 79 ], the great majority of young delinquents do not present evident and complete psycho-pathological syndromes, but simply serious problems of aggressivity and violence that respond to other explanations, such as psychosocial and criminological, rather than psychopathological [ 80 , 81 ]. To avoid pathologizing any type of criminal conduct, psychopathology is an area of study that should not adhere exclusively to the sphere of delinquency, as otherwise we could fall into the temptation of wrongly conceptualizing delinquency as a clinical disorder when it is not. Moreover, some delinquents present mental problems of diverse natures.

As for the specific role of child–juvenile psychopathy in serial murder, it is much easier to understand if the psychopathological approach is disregarded and we focus, more adequately, on the personality and motivations of this type of individual. In this sense, it is important to stress that one of the central, defining characteristics of psychopathy is the absence of empathy, reflected in a lack of consideration for and cruelty towards others, as well as a complete absence of remorse and feelings of guilt. Thus, if we pay attention to psychopathic personality and motivations, it is even possible to distinguish between simple homicides and multiple homicides through the presence or absence of psychopathy.

Woodworth and Porter [ 82 ] found that the characteristics of so-called simple homicides carried out in cold blood (instrumental and premeditated aggressors) depend on the psychopathy that characterizes them, emotional insensitivity, and a complete lack of remorse. These authors found that simple psychopathic homicides present a type of aggression that is predominantly instrumental (that is, premeditated, planned, ‘in cold blood’, motivated by an external objective and not preceded by any possible affective reaction), while simple non-psychopathic homicides present a type of aggression that is emotional (that is, not premeditated, reactive, or on the spur of the moment, motivated by an internal objective and preceded by some personal, emotional reaction).

‘Instrumental aggression’ is also present in most serial murders, and psychopathy plays a very important role. Many serial killers, in childhood and adolescence, present the typical traits of psychopathy [ 76 ] included in the serial criminal conduct categories of children and youths studied by Myers and Borg [ 9 ].

According to Morton [ 83 ], there is no generic profile for serial killers, who differ in many aspects, including their motivations for murder and their behaviour at the crime scene. However, certain common traits can be identified for some serial killers, including the desire for thrills, a lack of remorse, impulsiveness, the need for control, and abusive practices. These traits and behaviour patterns are consistent with psychopathy. The relationship between psychopathy and serial murders is particularly interesting. Not all psychopaths become serial killers, though serial killers usually possess some or many of the traits consistent with psychopathy. Psychopaths who commit serial murders put no value on human life and are extremely cruel in their interactions with their victims. This is particularly evident in serial killers with sexual motivations who repeatedly stalk, attack, and kill without remorse [ 83 ].

Nevertheless, it is also important to stress the fact that psychopathy alone does not explain the motivations of all serial killers [ 83 ], and neither does it explain the motivations of simple homicides. So why murder people, with or without psychopathy? This question is answered by Botelho and Gonçalves [ 84 ], who carried out a critical review of the literature on factors associated with homicides. Starting from a constructivist social perspective and ensuring that the factors related to homicides could be organized into four main categories, these authors observed that the acquisition and development of aggressive and violent behaviour patterns, which could provoke such a crime as homicide, had multi-factorial origins and implied multiple interconnections.

However, in the case of serial killers, it is necessary to stress the aspects of criminal motivations since they are specific in this type of multicide. In this sense, the concept of Perpetrator-Motive Research Design (PMRD), proposed by Vecchi, Van Hasselt, and Angleman [ 85 ], is of special relevance, as it deals with an analysis strategy that helps us understand the motivations, values and tactics of such violent delinquents as serial killers, serial rapists, paedophiles, youth murderers, arsonists, and cyber delinquents. This criminal investigation methodology could also help our understanding of the specific roles played by psychopathic traits in the criminal motivations of diverse types of violent delinquent, especially in the case of serial killers.

Although the absence of remorse is a principal characteristic of psychopathy found in adolescent delinquents and which ought to be investigated, along with other variables relevant at a theoretical and forensic level [ 86 ], it is not a characteristic which, of itself, can account for the diverse criminal motivations of the different types of violent delinquent when considering serial killers, who also have many other psychopathic traits. We thus believe that applying the PMRD methodology could help to clarify such questions and evaluate to what extent child–juvenile psychopathy could be an extremely relevant correlate in serial murders.

In short, what we can say so far is that there is no specific profile for serial killers, as they are a heterogeneous group of violent delinquents presenting very varied psychosocial and criminological factors [ 87 ], some of which can be considered risk factors in this type of multicide [ 28 ].

Thus, the aetiology of the psychopathic serial killer is diverse, and its origins are usually evident from numerous serial behaviour patterns in childhood and adolescence [ 9 ]. Although the role of psychopathy in serial murders can help police investigations by create profiles [ 76 ], further research is needed to help clarify the frequency and degree with which psychopathy is present in serial killers. This would help in the creation of more refined criminal profiles aimed at identifying this type of multicide [ 83 ].

4. Conclusions

First of all, this review has tried to distinguish between two particularly controversial phenomena that reflect the current landscape of psychosocial and criminological reality: serial killer children and young people, and non-serial killer children and young people. We have tried to focus on the areas that deserve special attention, and we have focused on the extent and seriousness of the problem. The homicides perpetrated by children and young people point to a social panorama that is alarming due to the young age of these murderers. This problem is important enough to warrant study because it “raises exploratory questions about the social, psychological and biological factors that might explain such a tragic phenomenon” [ 88 ].

Secondly, the conceptualization of serial murders is still controversial in the sense that it depends on the number of victims that each author stipulates as necessary to be considered as such. In any case, the characterization of this phenomenon is clear, as it is reflected in the criminal profiles of this type of serial killer and what distinguishes them from other forms of multicide (such as mass murder or spree killing). An additional controversy is the enormous media attention surrounding serial murder [ 89 ], an effect that is even greater when the perpetrators of the serial murders are minors.

Thirdly, as for the phenomenon of serial murders perpetrated by minors, the extent of the problem is controversial because it often depends on how the number of real cases is counted, while, additionally, the official statistics are difficult to find [ 90 ].

It can be established that, despite the low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, childhood is a period in which antisocial behaviour begins to flourish. Similarly, the low incidence of serial killers who are minors may be due to the early imprisonment of minors and adolescents who commit a single murder, but who were quite likely to have turned into serial killers [ 4 ].

On the other hand, although there would seem to be a greater number of adult serial killers, some authors believe it not infrequent for the first murder of this kind to occur in adolescence [ 36 ].

In any case, the profiles of children and youths who commit murder are clearly established [ 91 ] and, however inconceivable their crimes may seem to us [ 92 ], the criminological reality of these minors as murderers is evident, with serious social and legal repercussions [ 93 ].

Fourthly, it is also important to consider the psychopathy variable as an influential factor in the diverse modalities of serial criminal conduct committed by children and youths which could be the first ‘steps’ in their criminal career as serial killers later on [ 9 ]. In addition to this reason, the importance of the psychopathy variable has also been stressed as a determinant in the process of psychological–criminal profiling of the diverse types of violent serial delinquents, in particular, those who commit sexually aggressive crimes and murder [ 94 ].

This current review article is not exempt from limitations. The low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, as well as the presence of juvenile murderers that are not serial killers, makes the generalization of the study more difficult, so the analysis should extend its scope to other serial criminal activities committed by juveniles. Likewise, with respect to the review carried out, it is necessary to comment that a systematic review would have been more valuable.

Despite these limitations, the present review underlines the importance of psychosocial factors for the better understanding of the process by which under-eighteens end up committing such serious crimes as serial murders. We have seen that, on numerous occasions, such crimes are accompanied by other equally serious criminal behaviour patterns (arson, sexual assault, animal abuse, etc.). The research works consulted provide evidence of the special relevance of psychopathy in the generation of serious juvenile delinquency [ 75 ].

In this sense, the need to design intervention plans focused on the above-described therapeutic needs is evident. This is because different serial criminal manifestations re-quire specific focuses [ 94 ], highlighting the need to deal with these problems with extreme caution in future research.

Funding Statement

Financed jointly by FEDER & Junta de Extremadura funds (Exp. GR21024).

Author Contributions

All authors conceived the paper and participated actively in the study. Conceptualization, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., E.G.-B. and M.B.-A.; data curation, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., M.B.-A. and M.G.-M.; formal analysis, J.M.M.-M., M.B.-A. and M.G.-M.; methodology, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., E.G.-B. and M.B.-A.; supervision, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B. and E.G.-B.; writing—original draft, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B. and M.B.-A.; writing—review and editing, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., E.G.-B., M.B.-A. and M.G.-M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Publisher’s Note: MDPI stays neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.

Are Serial Killers Born or Made?

Title: Serial Killer Subject of Undergraduate Research Thesis

Grace O’Toole (C’18) explored the intersection of psychology and the legal system by focusing her senior thesis on Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

Grace O’Toole’s fascination with the psychological underpinnings of the legal system led her to do her senior thesis on the execution of Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos.

O’Toole (C’18), an American studies major and psychology and English minor who will graduate later this week, became interested in the case after taking two courses – Prisons and Punishment with government professor Marc Howard and Psychology and the Legal System with psychology professor Jennifer Woolard.

The graduating senior believes Wuornos, executed in 2002 for the murder of six men and the subject of the 2003 film Monster , was severely mentally ill and that her treatment in the criminal justice system didn’t “meaningfully incorporate mental health policy.”

Mitigating Factors

“Wournos’ execution today may have been considered unconstitutional,” O’Toole said during a presentation of her senior thesis. “She was arguably mentally ill at the time of execution and her clinical evaluations before that execution were less than an hour-and-a-half and were based on Florida’s competency standards that are more stringent compared to others.”

O’Toole noted that Wuornos was abandoned by her mother and sexually abused by family members and others starting at a very young age.

“I am investigating the way that mitigating factors such as childhood background, development and abuse are de-emphasized or not taken into relevancy in trials and cases and appeals,” she said. “With Aileen Wuornos’ case, there was a definite use of her case politically to support crime and punishment values.”

Humanizing Evil

Howard, director of the university’s Prisons and Justice Initiative, said O’Toole is “clearly not afraid to take on a really difficult project that deals with very emotional, even traumatic issues that most people I think would want to shy away from or even pretend don’t exist.”

“I think she’s helping to shed light on the much larger and more common systemic problem in our criminal justice system,” said Howard, O’Toole’s thesis advisor. “She’s humanizing the person who clearly did evil things but also understanding the background and the context and then the larger implications of the kind of one-size-fits-all criminal justice system which in the end is not very humane.”

O’Toole of Bronxville, New York, hopes to work as a paralegal after graduation before considering law school.

Making a Contribution

All American studies majors are required to do an interdisciplinary senior thesis, many of which are 60 to 80 pages long.

“The American Studies undergraduate program at Georgetown is known around the country for the rigor of the senior thesis process,” said Erika Seamon, an American studies associate teaching professor whom O’Toole considers a mentor. “The students dare to cross the bounds of disciplines and in doing so they are forced to play with multiple methodologies … to read very different kinds of text and … engage with primary sources in ways that allow them to confidently … say that they are making a contribution to scholarship in their field.”

Seamon said many of the students’ projects “feel like graduate-level work.”

A Georgetown Family

O’Toole, whose parents, Kimberly (B’88, L’91) and Edmund (L’91) met at Georgetown Law, became interested in attending the university several years before she applied.

“Throughout high school, I had it in my mind to do well on this test so that everything’s good for Georgetown,” she said. “I applied to other early action schools, but once I got into Georgetown I withdrew all my other applications because I knew I only wanted to come here.”

Her younger sister, Brennan O’Toole, is a member of the Class of 2020.

Jesuit Ideals

The graduating senior said Catholic traditions have always been part of her family, and she has found it comforting to be at a Jesuit institution like Georgetown.

“A lot of the Jesuit ideals were something I didn’t even know were important to me but I did find myself throughout my process having those be subconsciously at the forefront,” she said.

While she sometimes worries that her senior thesis topic will make her seem “fascinated with the dark and depraved,” the graduating senior says she really just wants to view cases such as Wuornos’ through the critical lens of understanding human behavior.

“Wuornos even said if she’d had support when she was young, she would have turned out differently,” O’Toole said. “There are pockets and stories of America that are not always explored because it’s hard to look at, but nothing will get remediated if people just look away.”

Class of 2018 ,
Faculty News ,
Living Jesuit Values ,

Bibliography
More Referencing guides Blog Automated transliteration Relevant bibliographies by topics
Automated transliteration
Relevant bibliographies by topics
Referencing guides

IMAGES

Serial Killers Argumentative Essay Example
Made or Born a Serial Killer
Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer Free Essay Example
Research Of Whether Serial Killers Are Born Or Made: [Essay Example
Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
Are Serial Killers Born or Made? Free Essay Example

VIDEO

Part 2
Serial Killer Theory!
1000 I.Q. Students Commit The Perfect Undetectable Murders
👮‍♂️ acting like serial killers in mississippi #shortsvideo
ASU112 presentation " Serial Killers " SP 22
The Notorius Ted Bundy

COMMENTS

The Development of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study
Grounded theory was used to study the lives 3 serial killers. Such an analysis provided a detailed understanding and description of the offenders'. childhood, adolescence and adulthood; studying commonalities and differences in the. experiences of serial killers led to the identification of etiologies that have not been.
Born or Made: the Making of A Murderer
People are born with predispositions for specific personality traits, though the environment has some effect on bringing out theses inclinations. Some serial killers had a troubled childhood and upbringing, surrounded by tragedy and darkness. "Many serial killers are survivors of early childhood trauma of some kind - physical or sexual ...
108 Questions about Serial Killers and Essay Topics
The paper at hand is devoted to the investigation of the life, personality, and criminal behavior of one of the most notorious American serial killers of 1980s-1990s, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer. It is believed that in October of the same year he killed a 13-year-old girl in Missouri and moved to Texas.
The Developmental Psychology of A Serial Killer: a Case Study a Thesis
The term serial killer was coined by an FBI investigator in the 1970s, and since then has been used to describe criminals who have committed two or more premeditated murders. In an attempt to understand what motivates these individuals, it is integral to investigate the unique experiences that every serial killer has and point out similarities
(PDF) Are Serial Killers Born or Made
Serial killers commit murders with different reasons, being shaped from their birth and childhood. As serial killers have some significant similarities, like being evil and fearless, they may have ...
Are Serial Killers Born Or Made
The idea of whether serial killers are born or made is a topic that has been heavily debated among psychologists, criminologists, and the general public. On one hand, there is evidence to suggest that certain individuals may have a genetic predisposition to psychopathic or sociopathic tendencies, which can manifest in violent and destructive ...
(DOC) The Making of a Serial Killer: A literature study into the
This thesis will examine theories with the aim to identify a potential common denominator that could be a catalyst for serial murder and answer the research question 'What makes a Serial Killer?'. This thesis will attempt to explore varying motivating factors for serial killing, with particular emphasis on biological, social and cognitive ...
From Abused Child to Serial Killer: Investigating Nature vs Nurture in
While it is safe to recognize abuse as a factor contributing to the making of a serial killer, most people who face abuse do not become serial killers. In this study, 32% of all serial killers had ...
A Criminological Analysis of Notorious Serial Killers in the United States
According to the H.H. Holmes Biography (2014), Holmes was a con artist and criminal. who is known today as one of the United States' first serial killers. Though the number is. uncertain, it is believed that Holmes killed anywhere between 20 and 200 people until he.
Serial Killers: Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
Objective: This study aims to understand whether serial killers are born to kill or if they are molded by their environment and made to be killers. Design and Method: The research method is focused on medical and scholarly literature, along with biographical literature from serial killers themselves. The medical and scholarly resources provided ...
The Making of a Serial Killer: Nature Vs. Nurture
The issue regarding whether serial killers are born or made needs to be addressed because there is not much information known about them since infamous killers such as Ted Bundy and Richard Ramirez are either no longer alive to tell their side of the story refuse to tell their story. Thesis statement: ...
Annotated Bibliography 2
The article also discusses the role parents play in a child's life: this is a point I want to use to support my argument that serial killers are made, not born. This study asserts that absent or divorced parents play a part in the emergence of a serial killer; the relationship with their parents has a significant effect on children during ...
Youth Serial Killers: Psychological and Criminological Profiles
Serial murder is a specific type of violent crime that falls into the crime category of multicide. According to the nomenclature of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Violent Crime Classification Manual and Academic Researchers for the Classification of Violent Crimes, most serial killers are adults. However, serial murder is also committed by young people, although to a lesser extent.
Outline
It is like how they studied the brain and had conversations with known serial killer Richard Rameriz (The Night Stalker) to find out which he did what he did that killed as many people as he did. There are different types of serial killers such as psychopathic sexual sadist,visionary serial killer,and the mission serial killer ( Miller,Part 1 ...
Hannah Briant: Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
Why do serial killers kill? Is it an innate thirst for blood that starts from a very young age? Or is it something that a pained and abusive childhood forces a person to become? Everyone has their own opinion on the matter, but these two case studies will make you think about what you thought you knew and that, in reality, it might not be a case of nature or nurture, but instead a case of both.
Grand Valley State University ScholarWorks@GVSU
motives and anticipated gains; serial killers will sometimes have ideal victim types whereby they hunt victims based on race, occupation, or even something as simple as their hair color (Holmes & Holmes, 2010). There are four categories of serial killers in this typology: visionary, mission, power/control, and hedonistic (Holmes & Holmes, 2009).
Serial Killer Subject of Undergraduate Research Thesis
May 17, 2018. Grace O'Toole (C'18) explored the intersection of psychology and the legal system by focusing her senior thesis on Florida serial killer Aileen Wuornos. Marc Howard, director of the university's Prisons and Justice Initiative, says Grace O'Toole (C'18), who wrote her senior thesis on a female serial killer, is "clearly ...
Thesis for serial killers Free Essays
Serial Killers. Paper Thesis: Serial killers are made‚ not born. Essay Thesis: Most serial killers have a history of abuse. A young‚ joyful little child has lived a happy life‚ until one day his parents started abusing him. The child gets beaten every time he does something wrong‚ but he doesn't tell anyone for years.
Serial Killers, Are They Born or Made
Unlike some serial killers, Ted Bundy was very open to talking with doctors, psychologist, and journalists about his murderous escapades. He mostly did this for the attention that it would give him, which fed into his ego. At one point Bundy said, "I am the only Ph. D. serial killer," it was as if he was proud to be a serial killer.
Essay On Are Serial Killers Born Or Made
Motivation of Madness Often times those who become serial killers were not born with that state of mind. Their murderous thoughts are triggered by a mental hardship or a traumatic experience. Motivation in serial killings involve anger, thrill, attention seeking, and perfection (Bonn). They tend to leave behind a trail and commit multiple ...
Impacts of a Serial Killer:
The famous trial of serial killer Ted Bundy has been portrayed throughout the years since it took place in the late-1970s. This famous serial killer has gained popularityre ,spurred by our curiosity and fascination with serial killers today versus the shocking truth about serial murder it instilled in people back in the 70s.
Dissertations / Theses: 'Serial killers'
The author formulates twenty nine statements of her own, based on the theories of Freud and Klein which she applies to the two case studies. ... be discussed in consecutive case studies. The statements are generalized to all serial killers. Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 1996. gm2013 ... A content analysis of the fifty top grossing ...