Insight into Serial Killers: Definitions, Types, Motives & Psychology

SERIAL MURDERERS SERIAL MURDERERS Definition Famous Serial Killers Types of Serial killers FBI Classification based on Motive Psychology of Serial Killer

Definition Someone who commits three or more murders over an extended period of time with cooling off periods in between. Cooling off period : may last days, weeks, months or years. Most serial killers are psychopaths suffering from personality disorder and do appear to be quite normal, even charming. Tracking and tracing of serial killers can be achieved by evaluation of their modus operandi, scene of crime, pattern of killings and profiling of victims involved.

Famous Serial Killers

Types of Serial Killers - FBI Usually of high intelligence. An above avg. IQ ( 105-120 Range) Organized : Plan their crime methodically. Usually abduct victim, kill the in one place and dispose them off in other. Personality is one of fantasizing and ritualistic. Socially adequate Low intelligence. An below avg. IQ ( 80 - 95 Range) Disorganized : Commit crimes impulsively. Rarely bother to dispose of the body. Usually carry out blitz attacks.May carry out rituals such as necrophilia, mutilation and cannibalism once the victim is dead. Socially inadequate

Classification based on Motives Missionary Serial Killers Visionary Serial killers Hedonistic Serial Killer Gain Motivated Killer Power and control motivated Believes that their acts are justified on the basis that they are getting rid of certain type of person who is harmful or a shame to the society. Murder in response to voices or visions urging to kill them. Thrill seeker and generally kills for getting kick out of it. It is exciting for this person to kill others and see the suffering and helplessness amongst their victims. Motivated by their need to have materials, or cash or possessions or property. Main objective is to kill to gain and exert power over their victims.

Psychology of Serial Killer According to result of Hare s Psychopath Check list Revised (PCL-R), Psychological classification : Psychopathic Sexual Sadist Antisocial Personality Disorder Hare s Psychopath Check list Revised (PCL-R) includes 20 items. It measure behaviors and infer personality traits considered fundamental to the clinical construct of psychopathy.

Items in the Checklist are : Glib and Superficial charm Grandiose sense of self worth Need for stimulation/ proneness to boredom Pathological lying Conning - Manipulativeness Lack of remorse or guilt Shallow effect Callousness/lack of empathy Parasitic lifestyle Poor behavioral control Promiscuous sexual behavior Early behavior problems Lack of realistic long term goals Impulsivity Irresponsibility Failure to accept responsibility to one s own actions Many short term marital relationships Juvenile delinquency Revocation of conditional release Criminal versatility

Causative Factors in Serial Killing Are generally driven by internal compulsions Kill for an elusive psychological gain Have fore thought and do extensive planning which is always observable Have the ability to thoroughly conceal their criminal activities These four traits serve to make the serial killer very dangerous. Their lack of conscience as a result of antisocial personality disorder, lack of external motivation, planning and ability to hide their criminality make them virtually invisible.

Psychology of Serial Killer - ASPD Other personality traits : Feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, sometimes owing to humiliation, bullying, and abuse in childhood, poverty, etc. To feel the sense of potency and often revenge by giving them a feeling of power, both at the time of the actual killing and afterwards. Has no emotional control. Fantasizes a lot about murder in particular. They daydream compulsively of domination, submission, murder etc. Pathological narcissism, as a defense or compensatory mechanism. They are emotionally aloof and suffer from grandiosity and self importance.

Psychological aspects related to serial killers are many. Serial Killing though invariably is a work of one person, there could be others involved in it too. Most serial killers have dysfunctional or pathological family. Some family members may have psychiatric problems and may have history of alcoholism with sexual abuse and neglect. Repression and anxiety filed environment could also contribute to behaviors in which they manifest antisocial and deviant behavior. High degree of pent up aggression and frustration.

Pre Morbid Personality Indulge in fire setting, destroying things, showing extreme cruelty to animals and old or helpless persons. Temper outbursts, behave impulsively, and may attack verbally or physically without sufficient provocation. School performance below par and will engage in gangster activities, show disrespect to teachers, atrocious behavior.

Methodology of Serial Killer Nomadic Territorial Stationary Rarely they change their mode of killing, especially if they think there is some risk of being found out. But this change does not last long and they soon go back to their original method of killing.

Investigations of Serial Crime Processing the crime Scene Recognition of Evidences from corpse, suspect, scene Documentation Interrogation Identification of corpse