Running head: DEVELOPMENT OF SERIAL KILLERS 1

Development of Serial Killers

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Running head: DEVELOPMENT OF SERIAL KILLERS 2
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Development of Serial Killers

Serial murder, also known as serial killing, refers to the unlawful homicide of at least two

people carried out by the same person in separate events occurring at different times. People

who conduct these acts are known as serial killers. Traditionally, serial killers were identified as

individuals with a specific psychological motive to kill. However, Robert Ressler, a former

Federal Bureau Investigation (FBI) agent, described a serial killer as a person who kills two or

more people over 30 days with ''cooling off'' periods between each kill (Sharma, 2018). The

killers usually uniquely perform the murder, and they have a signature for which they are known.

They have unique motives, psychological and biological characteristics, as well as their

background.

Researchers have proposed different psychological, biological, and social theories that

tend to explain the nature and the motives of serial killers. The recent FBI crime statistics have

shown that more than 15,000 murders occur annually (Miller, 2014a). Over the past three

decades, the cases of serial killings have increased. Since 1950, 80% of the 400 serial killers of

the past century have emerged (Sharma, 2018). In the United States, Some of these Serial killers

have been caught and executed, whereas others have been convicted. They include Ted Bundy,

Denis Rader, and Richard Ramirez, among others. With the increasing cases of serial Killers, the

disturbing part is the reason for conducting such a heinous act. This research will outline the

reasons for the killings by using the most notorious serial killers like Ted Bundy. The study will

also use various theories to explain the motives behind a serial killer.
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Theories to Describe the Motivation of Serial Killers

Diathesis-stress Model

One of the proposed theories that explain the motives of a serial killer is the diathesis-

stress model. It states that all serial killers can think and act in a particular way due to

environmental stressors. This model suggests that factors such as self-control and self-esteem

couples with social skill problems influence an individual to become a serial killer. At this point,

the killer holds the notion that they can kill to solve their problems. Holmes and DeBurger

(1998) classified serial killers based on the intrinsic and psychological motivations for their

crimes. They identified the following types of serial killers

1. Visionary type: They noted that these serial killers believe in their psychotic symptoms,

and their motive to kill is based on their visual hallucinations or delusions.

2. Mission-oriented: These criminals believe that the world needs to get rid of certain

people like immigrants, prostitutes, and people of specific ethnic groups. Therefore, they

think it is their responsibility to get rid of such populations.

3. Hedonistic Type:

They receive happiness by killing people. Most of the serial killers fall into this category.

Hedonistic serial killers are mainly motivated by sex. Their method of murder often entails

intimate skin-to-skin contact. These serial killers derive sexual gratification by mutilating

victims, drinking their blood, and cannibalizing their corpses (Adjorlolo & Chan, 2014). They

may also force objects into the victims’ private parts and perform sexual acts before and after

death. After killing many people, their deeds become the norm.

4. Power or Control killers:

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They derive pleasure from exerting their power, control, and dominance over their

victims. Their primary motive is to make their victims feel helpless and feel happy when in

control of the situation. They enjoy torturing their victims and find it sexually arousing, but the

most satisfying and final demonstration of their control over their victims is murder (Adjorlolo &

Chan, 2014). They are patient to kill their victims slowly to extend their sadistic pleasure. Such

behavior convinces them because the killers get to decide when, how, and circumstance that will

lead to the death of their victims.

Denis Radar, also known as ''BTK'' (Blind, Torture, and Kill), is one of the renowned

serial killers of this kind. In a twisted mind like that of Radar, prolong torture and murder can

become the only way to quench his insatiable thirst for power and control (Miller, 2014a).

According to Adjorlolo and Chan (2014), power and control, serial killers are often stone-cold

psychopaths, who fall into the FBI's category of organized predators due to their meticulous

planning and patience. Suck killers are always charismatic, charming, and intelligent. Most of

them sexually assault their victims. They rape their victims before killing them. In this context,

power and control serial killers rape their predators to dominate and control them.

Moreover, these killers do not quickly lose interest in their victims even after they are

dead. Occasionally, they return to have sex with the decomposing corpse to propagate their

domination and control of the deceased. (Sharma, 2018) A good example of such a serial killer

is Ted Bundy, who would rape and kill his victims, then perform sexual acts with the

decomposing body until putrefaction. He found joy when having control over the victims until

and after their death.

It is worth noting that most of the serial killers who fall in this category were abused as

children. As a result, they developed the problem of inferiority complex, inadequacy, and
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powerlessness. They derive pleasure when they are in control of the life and death of another

person (Simon, 2015). Power serial killers select their victims to achieve some personal

objectives. They stalk and depersonalize their victims before the murder. One way these

individuals gain power over their victims is through torture and sexual abuse. Unlike hedonist

killers, power/control killers rape their victims as a way to exert control.

Serial killers have numerous biological and environmental distinctions from mentally

healthy individuals. According to the diathesis model, serial killers must have a mixture of

genetic susceptibility and an environment that nurtures that vulnerability (Dogra et al., 2012).

The absence of this combination limits the possibility of the person to become a serial killer.

Simply put, individuals with pre-existing neurochemical abnormalities brought up in

environments that influence antisocial behaviors are most vulnerable to becoming serial killers.

Studies show that children who are likely to become serial killers tend to exhibit similar

personalities. They lie compulsively, destroy other people's property, set fires, and are cruel to

their peers. Many are interested in pornography, fetishism, and voyeurism at a tender age. These

children grow up lonely, shy, and sensitive (Simon, 2015). In adulthood, they develop emotional

instability, poor impulsive control, low self-worth, and low-average intelligence.

The above symptoms are characterized by personality disorders, which, in combination

with other factors, become the foundation of a serial killer’s behavior. Miller (2014a) noted that

many serial killers have a cluster B personality disorder, which the Diagnostic and Statistical

Manual of Mental Disorders-Fifth Edition (DSM-V) describes as the emotional, dramatic, and

erratic cluster (Hopwood et al., 2012). The disorders in this group are characterized by the

individual’s inability to control impulses.

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One example of cluster B disorder is antisocial personality disorder (APD). For most

individuals, APD starts in childhood as a conduct behavior. People with APD possess common

characteristics such as intimidation and manipulation of others (Hopwood et al., 2015). These

characteristics are associated with serial killing. People with APD cannot obey the law, have a

steady job, and develop stable interpersonal relationships. Psychopathy is also observable in

some people with APD. Psychopaths tend to have behavioral traits of limited empathy, lack of

remorse for one's crimes, and grandiosity (Hopwood et al., 2015). Their inability to have to

control their emotions or have feelings for others explain why they are most likely to be serial

killers.

Other studies have also linked chromosomal abnormalities to serial murder. The most

popular chromosomal abnormalities in violent criminals are related to sex chromosomes.

Normal females have 46 XX chromosomes, while males have 46XY chromosomes (Talkowski

et al., 2012). However, those with Klinefelter's syndrome have an extra chromosome (47XXY).

According to researchers, the additional chromosome fits the psychiatric description of an

abnormal personality and has been associated with multiple criminal behaviors. Having a

supplemental Y chromosome (crime chromosome) is another chromosomal abnormality

(Talkowski et al., 2012). This abnormality is linked to violent behaviors and the ability to kill.

Its frequency among offenders is ten times higher than the normal population.

Neglect and Abuse

One theory revolves around neglect and abuse experienced by serial killers in their

childhood. During the development of a child, they always learn about important values like

love, empathy, trust, and fundamental rules on how to associate with each other. If these traits

are not learned in early childhood, they may find it challenging to learn about them in adulthood.
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According to Miller (2014b), serial killers were, at one point, physically or sexually abused or

witnessed different kinds of abuse by family members. This series of neglect and abuse influence

some individuals to grow up without a sense of humanity. Therefore, child neglect and abuse

increase the chances of a person becoming a serial killer.

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References

Adjorlolo, S., & Chan, H. C. (2014). The controversy of defining serial murder: Revisited.

Aggression and Violent Behavior, 19(5), 486-491.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178914000731

Dogra, T. D., Leenaars, A. A., Chadha, R. K., Lalwani, S., Sood, M., & Behera, C. (2012). A

psychological profile of a serial killer: a case report. OMEGA-Journal of Death and

Dying, 65(4), 299-316. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.2190/OM.65.4.d

Hopwood, C. J., Thomas, K. M., Markon, K. E., Wright, A. G., & Krueger, R. F. (2012). DSM-5

personality traits and DSM–IV personality disorders. Journal of Abnormal Psychology,

121(2), 424. https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2012-00874-001

Miller, L. (2014). Serial killers: I. Subtypes, patterns, and motives. Aggression and Violent

Behavior, 1-11. https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178913001183

Miller, L. (2014). Serial killers: II. Development, dynamics, and forensics. Aggression and

Violent Behavior, 19(1), 12-22.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1359178913001195

Sharma, M. (2018). The Development of Serial Killers: A Grounded Theory Study.

https://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4722&context=theses

Simon, Ü. G. (2015). The traits and the thrill of serial killers. Internal Security, 7(2).

http://www.internalsecurity.wspol.eu/images/free/_IS_2_2015_SKL.pdf#page=33

Talkowski, M. E., Rosenfeld, J. A., Blumenthal, I., Pillalamarri, V., Chiang, C., Heilbut, A., &

Pereira, S. (2012). Sequencing chromosomal abnormalities reveal neurodevelopmental

loci that confer risk across diagnostic boundaries. Cell, 149(3), 525-537.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0092867412004114