MACDONALD'S TRIAD CITATIONS

The Psychology
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“Serial Killers vs. Mass Murderers.” Crime Museum,
www.crimemuseum.org/crime-library/serial-killers/serials-killers-vs-

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mass-murderers/.

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Behind a
Ghiasi, Noman. “Psychiatric Illness And Criminality.” StatPearls
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[Internet]., U.S. National Library of Medicine, 23 June 2020,

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www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK537064/.
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“Criminal Behavior.” Criminal Behavior - an Overview | ScienceDirect

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Topics, www.sciencedirect.com/topics/psychology/criminal-behavior.

Robins, Becki. “Traits That Most Serial Killers Eerily Have in Common.”
Serial Killer
A Grunge.com, Grunge, 13 Mar. 2020, www.grunge.com/110562/traits-
SL serial-killers-eerily-common/.

“Serial Killer: Nature vs. Nurture How Serial Killers Are Born.” American
Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, www.aaets.org/traumatic-

BED-WETTING stress-library/serial-killer-nature-vs-nurture-how-serial-killers-are-born.

Brogaard, Berit. “Do All Serial Killers Have a Genetic Predisposition to

J.M Macdonald came up with this theory,
stating that there are three signs which could
show whether someone would grow up to be
a serial killer or a violent criminal.
Arson: Children may set fires so they can vent
their feelings of aggression and helplessness
from the humility they receive from adults.
Cruelty to Animals: Children may act out on
animals, as they are weaker and defenseless,
so that they can feel in control.
Bed-Wetting: Due to stress and anxiety,
children may wet their beds. This contributes
to the cycle of humility.
Kill?” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 26 Mar. 2018,
www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-superhuman-
mind/201803/do-all-serial-killers-have-genetic-predisposition-kill.
Wang, Jack. “Scientists Studied the Brains of More than 800 Prisoners.
Here's What They Found.” University of Chicago News,
news.uchicago.edu/story/scientists-studied-brains-more-800-prisoners-
heres-what-they-found.
Davies, Nicola. “From Abused Child to Serial Killer: Investigating Nature
vs Nurture in Methods of Murder.” Psychiatry Advisor, 28 Jan. 2019,
www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/violence-and-
aggression/from-abused-child-to-serial-killer-investigating-nature-vs-
nurture-in-methods-of-murder/.
The Term, web.lemoyne.edu/~Freemams/index_files/psych_serial.htm.
“Dangerous Minds: Mental Illnesses of Infamous Criminals.” Forensics
Colleges, www.forensicscolleges.com/blog/resources/dangerous-
minds-criminal-mental-illness.
“Serial Murder.” FBI, FBI, 21 May 2010, www.fbi.gov/stats-
services/publications/serial-murder.
BY: SARAH ANIL
WHO ARE SERIAL GENETICS AND BRAIN
KILLERS? PATTERNS?
Brain scans show that serial killers have
A person who murders three or more
low orbital cortex activity. This area is
people in a period of over a month, with
believed to be involved with decision
durations of “cooling down” time
making, ethical behavior, and impulse
between murders. The murders are
control. The abnormal version of the
separate events, and are often driven by
Monoamine oxidase A gene, located in
a psychological gratification, thrill, or
the X chromosome, is also linked to
pleasure.
aggressive behavior and violence.

CHARACTERISTICS? CHILDHOOD TRAUMA?

Deceitful Antisocial Infancy, childhood, and relationships with
Manipulative behavior parents are often key parallels among
Egocentric Impulsive serial killers
Lack of empathy Sensation-seeking 42% suffered from physical abuse
and remorse behavior 74% suffered psychological abuse
35% witnessed sexual abuse
43% faced sexual abuse themselves

Genetics and 29% were "accident-prone" kids

DISORDERS?
As a group, serial killers suffer from a
environment work
variety of personality disorders, such as
anti-social personality, borderline
together to encourage
personality disorder, schizophrenia, and
psychopathy.
violent behavior.
- CRIMONOLOGIST DR. ADRIAN RAINE