"I am a Criminal Justice Major and ever since I started college, I have been interested in the minds of serial killers. What reasons do they have for committing their murders? Do they show any signs growing up that might have advanced into something more? Was there any way to stop them before they started? On the other hand, was there a no way of any kind that can prevent them from killing?" (Via _ )
Many Serial killers, Like Ted Bundy for example, began killing because of problems at home or at school. Ted had problems with his family, When ted was young, he was convinced that his grandparents were his parents and his biological mother was his older sister. Ted was told this so his mother was not shamed for being an unwed with a child. Ted also had very many problems at school, Ted was terribly shy, self-doubting and uncomfortable in social situations. He was often teased. Ted's behavior showed that he was not like other children, he looked and acted like them, but he was haunted by something else: a fear, a doubt — sometimes only a vague uneasiness — that inhabited his mind with the subtlety of a cat. Another serial killer, Joel Rifkin was adopted in 1959. Rifkin's father committed suicide in 1987 and the killing spree started two years after that, his parents stated that he was a very sweet boy, and the family had no abuse in it at anytime. He was diagnosed with Dyslexia and they found out that he wasn't physically coordinated. Joel was interested in everything but he never quite fit in with the other kids. He was teased in school and was the target for physical abuse but he never defended himself. Serial killers were often physically or sexually abused as children or witnessed the abuse of family members. This pattern of neglect and abuse, some researchers say, leads serial killers to grow up without a sense of anyone other than themselves. But at the same time, many children grow up neglected and abused, but do not become violent criminals or serial killers.
Most people who kill are not strong emotionally. It was found that many serial killers are teased as children.
Many serial killers also begin killing because they have physical or mental illnesses, or they may not be able to stop themselves from violent acts.
Rifkin went through many tests to determine why he had the urge to kill. It wasn't because he was "stupid" because when they tested him on his IQ it was above average, it was 120. He did however show some problems. He was unable to follow directions. he lost control half way through the test and he began laughing. He failed 16 times on a motor response, because he was having trouble controlling his behavior and movements. Rifkin has a problem with his Frontal Lobe which controls/stops our violent impulses. If the Frontal Lobe is not working properly then the violent impulses get out and the person acts without being able to control it. Some serial killers have been diagnosed by psychologists and psychiatrists as psychopaths. Some researchers have proven that serial killers have brain damage or other biological abnormalities that contribute to their actions. Damage to areas like the frontal lobe, the hypothalamus and the limbic system can cause extreme aggression, loss of control, loss of judgment and violence. Henry Lee Lucas, who was convicted of 11 murders, had extreme brain damage in these areas, most likely the result of childhood abuse, malnutrition and alcoholism. Arthur Shawcross, a 11-time serial killer, was found to have had several brain injuries, including two skull fractures.
Dr. Hervey Cleckley, psychiatrist, pioneer in the study of psychopaths
In Dr. Cleckley’s 1976 book, The Mask of Sanity, he identified 16 characteristics of psychopaths:
Organization in Serial Killers There is the disorganized killer and the organized killer. Most serial killers (about 3/4) are organized and their victim counts seem to be higher, that is also because they are usually above average intelligence. The disorganized offender is lonely and his murders usually display his anger, most are of a low IQ and suffer from some mental disorder, the killing is not planned and is a usually spur of the moment thing. It should also be noted that some serial killers display both the characteristics of a disorganized and organized killer, these killers are typed as being ‘mixed’. These are the basic typologies -
Organized Killer-
Many Serial killers, Like Ted Bundy for example, began killing because of problems at home or at school. Ted had problems with his family, When ted was young, he was convinced that his grandparents were his parents and his biological mother was his older sister. Ted was told this so his mother was not shamed for being an unwed with a child. Ted also had very many problems at school, Ted was terribly shy, self-doubting and uncomfortable in social situations. He was often teased. Ted's behavior showed that he was not like other children, he looked and acted like them, but he was haunted by something else: a fear, a doubt — sometimes only a vague uneasiness — that inhabited his mind with the subtlety of a cat. Another serial killer, Joel Rifkin was adopted in 1959. Rifkin's father committed suicide in 1987 and the killing spree started two years after that, his parents stated that he was a very sweet boy, and the family had no abuse in it at anytime. He was diagnosed with Dyslexia and they found out that he wasn't physically coordinated. Joel was interested in everything but he never quite fit in with the other kids. He was teased in school and was the target for physical abuse but he never defended himself. Serial killers were often physically or sexually abused as children or witnessed the abuse of family members. This pattern of neglect and abuse, some researchers say, leads serial killers to grow up without a sense of anyone other than themselves. But at the same time, many children grow up neglected and abused, but do not become violent criminals or serial killers.
Most people who kill are not strong emotionally. It was found that many serial killers are teased as children.
Many serial killers also begin killing because they have physical or mental illnesses, or they may not be able to stop themselves from violent acts.
Rifkin went through many tests to determine why he had the urge to kill. It wasn't because he was "stupid" because when they tested him on his IQ it was above average, it was 120. He did however show some problems. He was unable to follow directions. he lost control half way through the test and he began laughing. He failed 16 times on a motor response, because he was having trouble controlling his behavior and movements. Rifkin has a problem with his Frontal Lobe which controls/stops our violent impulses. If the Frontal Lobe is not working properly then the violent impulses get out and the person acts without being able to control it. Some serial killers have been diagnosed by psychologists and psychiatrists as psychopaths. Some researchers have proven that serial killers have brain damage or other biological abnormalities that contribute to their actions. Damage to areas like the frontal lobe, the hypothalamus and the limbic system can cause extreme aggression, loss of control, loss of judgment and violence. Henry Lee Lucas, who was convicted of 11 murders, had extreme brain damage in these areas, most likely the result of childhood abuse, malnutrition and alcoholism. Arthur Shawcross, a 11-time serial killer, was found to have had several brain injuries, including two skull fractures.
Dr. Hervey Cleckley, psychiatrist, pioneer in the study of psychopaths
In Dr. Cleckley’s 1976 book, The Mask of Sanity, he identified 16 characteristics of psychopaths:
- intelligent
- rational
- calm
- unreliable
- insincere
- without shame or remorse
- having poor judgment
- without capacity for love
- unemotional
- poor insight
- indifferent to the trust or kindness of others
- overreactive to alcohol
- suicidal
- impersonal sex life
- lacking long-term goals
- inadequately motivated antisocial behavior
Organization in Serial Killers There is the disorganized killer and the organized killer. Most serial killers (about 3/4) are organized and their victim counts seem to be higher, that is also because they are usually above average intelligence. The disorganized offender is lonely and his murders usually display his anger, most are of a low IQ and suffer from some mental disorder, the killing is not planned and is a usually spur of the moment thing. It should also be noted that some serial killers display both the characteristics of a disorganized and organized killer, these killers are typed as being ‘mixed’. These are the basic typologies -
Organized Killer-
- Plans out the murder (may become accustomed to using it quickly).
- Will bring a ‘rape kit’ (rope, handcuffs, chloroform etc) if desired.
- Personalizes himself with the victim( talks, leads, captures etc. the victim into/for planned murder situation).
- Rape, torture etc. may take place before murder, for the killers own gratification.
- Kills victim with awareness of evidence at crime scene (which may cleaned, destroyed etc).
- Might move the body to hide, bury it etc. in an attempt to evade/delay discovery.
- Killer will not be involved further with the victim’s body, but may take articles, jewellery etc. for trophy or gain.
- Murder usually happens spur of the moment (with no planning but the one simple objective to kill).
- Does not bring any tools (‘rape kit’) to the kill except maybe murder device.
- No contact with the victim prior to spur of the moment murder.
- No rape, torture etc. will take place before murder.
- Kills victim but does not care for evidence usually left at the crime scene (high degree of violence takes place at murder).
- Will not move body in an attempt to hide, bury it etc., unconcerned of its discovery.
- Killer might be involved further with the dead victim (mutilation, necrophilia, cannibalism, etc) and may also take souvenir.