Three Types Of Serial Killers

Male serial killers tend to use “hands-on” methods like shooting, strangling, suffocating, stabbing, or bludgeoning their victims with knives, blunt objects, and even their own hands to kill (Keeney and Heidi 385 and Hickey qtd. in Hinch and Hepburn). Not only are male serial killers more violent when killing, but also in the time prior to the kill. It is not uncommon for the males to torture the victim before death, or to defile the body after death.

These kinds of murders get a lot of media attention because they are often done in a unique, ritualistic may. Serial Killer’s motives fall under sexual homicide. Sexual homicide is “a homicide that has a sexual component in the sequence of events that lead to murder” (“Motives for Murder”). The sexual element of the crime is usually unique to the individual committing the crime. Some killers have fantasy-driven homicidal desires that they act upon to achieve sexual gratification (“Motives for Murder” 319).

Organized and Disorganized Killers Organized Killers Organized killers, such as Dennis Rader, are people we may see or know. They are our neighbors, family members, friends, co-workers. They are mostly highly intelligent with above average skills they use to plan the murder and its stages. Their methodical plans stand out when investigators are piecing the puzzle left by the serial killer. (Canter, Alison, Alison, & Wentink 2004)

It can be difficult to understand why anyone would choose to murder another human being. However, not all serial killers have the same motivation behind their crimes. There are many different categories, and each tend to have different reason for why they choose to take the lives of others. The two main types of serial killers are organized and disorganized. From there, they can be broken down into even more specific categories, however, each category will usually fall under organized or disorganized.

Sasha Sheppard Ms. Stubenrauch Psychology per. 1 10, December, 2015 The Kemper Files What would drive a person to kill? What would make them continue ending lives? According to the dictionary, a serial killer is a person who murders three or more people, usually due to abnormal psychological gratification.

There are two types of mass murderers, organized and disorganized. An example of an organized mass murderer is Eric Harris and his friend Dylan Klebold. They killed thirteen people and wounded more than twenty others at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 (“Eric Harris”). In the biography of Harris, they called him a psycho, which falls under the subcategory of an organized murderer known as a disciple killer. Disciple killers are known to follow commands or fall under a ‘spell’ of their leader.

Secondly, serial killers are simply ordinary and strive to not draw attention to themselves, most are

Mass murderers and serial killers are nothing new to today’s society. We learn about them in TV shows, books, research papers, in our classes, etc. Psychologists have spent decades trying to uncover the truth behind these killers’ madness. Serial killers vary in their behaviors, techniques, desires, mental illnesses and their personal lives. Have you ever heard of the Tamiami Trail Killer?

Aileen Wuornos Rebecca McRunnel CRJ 308 Psychology of Criminal Behavior Professor David Ojo October 6, 2014 A serial killer is defined as a “person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a “cooling off” period between each murder, which whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification.” (University, n.d) Many times serial murders go unsolved and other times it takes decades to unravel. According to the FBI there is no set profile of a serial killer, because they can come in all sizes, ages, shapes, colors and groups. (Welch, 2011)

Is it the nature of their lives and their surroundings? Is it their family genes and the way they grew up with their family? Many serial killers are affected differently. They aren’t all driven by the same thing though. There is something in each serial killer that makes them different.

The MacDonald Triad is an important piece of information that can possibly identify deviant behavior in juveniles that lead to serial killings in the future. The triad includes three ominous parts to it including; fire setting, enuresis, and cruelty to animals. A key element to the triad is large number of serial killers have admitted to experiencing and committing at least one aspect of the triad. Neglect and child abuse have all been concurrent with serial killers that have characteristics relating to the triad.

Being a seriel killer also may have some sort of psychological gratification with the murder committed. The number one reason a serial killer murders is for some sexual reason others are motivated by anger, thrill, finanxial gain and because they crave the attention. Murders can be attempted or completed in the same manner. Victims would have either

Serial homicide is more sexual then single homicide. In both single and serial homicide victim and offender both have similar backgrounds an lifestyle(Moses,2006). This could be why the offender chose the prostitute anyways. Serial Murders have different motives than single murders. These motives are usually sexual in nature.

Dr. Lector, Mickey and Mallory have so many differences in their style of killing but they all didn’t deny they were true monsters. The only serial killers so far that we’ve studied wanted to remain what society calls “normal” was Dexter and Mr. Brooks, they wanted to deny or deflect who they are. They both had their normal covers, like they wanted to hide part of them or deflect who they are by giving a reason for why they killed other people. They didn’t enjoy the attention of a kill these two enjoyed the pleasure the kill, offered. The killings, felt like a needed thing to them and not something they wanted to do because it presents itself to them.

A lot of serial killers have an aversion of rejection that is often irrational. 3. Power is a huge one. According to Twisted Minds the power to cause pain is the only power that matters(2007). C. Fun fact, the stereotype for a serial killer is a white middle age man who has no military background.