Creation of Serial Killers: How Do We Prevent Them

Madisyn Marie Morris

College of the Albemarle

ENG 112-07: Writing and Research in the Disciplines

Mary Forsblom

March 12, 2023

Annotated Bibliography
 2

Allely, C. S., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Wilson, P., & Gillberg, C. (2014). Neurodevelopmental

and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers. Aggression and

Violent Behavior, 19(3), 288–301. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.avb.2014.04.004

This article, “Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers

and mass murderers”, discusses serial killers and gives an in-depth analysis of factors that

may contribute to the development of serial murderers. Research on mass and serial

killing is still at a very early stage, but there are suggestions that neurodevelopmental

problems such as ASD or head injuries may interact in a complex interplay with

psychosocial factors to produce very negative outcomes, such as violence and serial

murder. New research is urgently needed to understand the mechanisms underlying these

forms of extreme violence so that preventative strategies can be developed. It may be that

research techniques used for extremely rare but dangerous diseases need to be adapted for

this purpose. The World Health Organization and European Union have created

collaborative research efforts that should be developed using innovative techniques

borrowed from the study of rare diseases, and all serial or mass killers who are arrested

should be thoroughly assessed using standardized tools for investigating

neurodevelopmental disorders. An international research registry should be set up to

record such information, as this may be the only way to confidently determine the

prevalence, etiological factors, and developmental trajectories associated with mass and

serial killings.

Fischman, J. (2011). Can This Man Predict Whether Your Child Will Become a Criminal?

Adrian Raine thinks brain scans can identify children who may become killers. The

Chronicle of Higher Education, 57(39).

 3

https://link-gale-com.proxy043.nclive.org/apps/doc/A258844082/BIC?

u=coa_main&sid=summon&xid=d679c114

Raine has pioneered the science of neurodevelopmental criminology, which

suggests that biological markers can predict antisocial behavior even before it happens,

potentially saving lives. Raine's research raises ethical questions, but he acknowledges

that biology is not destiny. The notion of a changeable brain was first proposed by

physical anthropologists in the 19th century but was debunked by Franz Boas in the 20th

century. Raine discovered that faulty family communication can lead to schizophrenia

and used lie-detector-like sensors to measure aggression in teenagers. Raine and

colleagues have found that children from Mauritius who show slower heart rates and

reduced skin responses when annoyed by loud tones or challenging questions tend to

have criminal records when they get older. Genetics, environment, and biology all play a

role in the development of callous, unemotional traits in children. Damasio's theory that

damage to parts of the brain is tied to antisocial actions suggests that the amygdala and

prefrontal cortex normally link up to prevent people from harming others. Murderers

from good homes had lower activity in the prefrontal cortex, suggesting that genetics and

anatomy were more influential on their development than the way they grew up. Raine's

research suggests that there is an association between the brain and criminal behavior and

that a supportive family, influential schoolteacher, or religion can help blunt the effects of

a hole in the head. Raine believes that protective factors such as omega-3 fatty acids,

cognitive-behavioral therapy, and physical reactivity can help prevent trouble in children.

Highsmith, J., Mercado, M., Hernandez, J., & Madrigal, S. (2013). Nature (MAOA) and Nurture
 4

in a Criminal. UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal.

https://escholarship.org/content/qt5w51b7bg/qt5w51b7bg_noSplash_b63d15ddd4239fcd

afdbc3dfadbca9b9.pdf?t=o23bnm#:~:text=The%20research%20predicted%20that

%20nature,necessary%20in%20understanding%20criminal%20behavior.

This journal article discusses the nature and nurture aspects that make up a

criminal's mind. Studies have shown that low levels of monoamine oxidase a gene

(MAOA) lead to higher rates of aggression, while those with MAOA-L showed more

signs of aggression. Pickles et al. (2013) conducted a study that found that MAOA and

nature are two contributing factors to aggression, with Ted Bundy showing high levels of

aggression due to his loving family and the presence of a serial killer. The review will

analyze the exact roles they play in the human mind. Nature and nurture are two key

concepts found in psychological problems, with the MAOA gene being the most common

denominator in a criminal's mind. MAOA prevents the individual from obtaining high

levels of aggression, but low levels of MAOA make it hard for individuals to resist.

Genes are also connected to the nurture aspect, as they are a major factor in why

criminals choose to commit unlawful acts. Aslund (2013) found that childhood

maltreatment is another common cause of adolescent and antisocial behavior, and free

will should be taken into consideration when considering criminals.

How A Computer Algorithm Could Help Police Track A Possible Serial Killer In Chicago [Radio

broadcast transcript]. (2019, April 17). All Things Considered. https://link-gale-

com.proxy043.nclive.org/apps/doc/A583195110/GLS?u=coa_main&sid=bookmark-

GLS&xid=6ea3c81d

The FBI is investigating the possibility of a serial killer in Chicago due to 51

 5

unsolved murders on the South and West Sides. Most of the victims have been African-

American women, many of them sex workers, and all of them were strangled or

asphyxiated. Thomas Hargrove, the founder of the Murder Accountability Project,

created a computer algorithm to uncover patterns in homicides across the country. He

believes that these 51 are all by a single killer versus a few killers. Hargrove argues that it

is unlikely that 51 women were killed by 51 separate men. He explains that serial murder

is far more common than anyone wants to admit and that Chicago Police Superintendent,

Eddie Johnson, has been saying that there is no evidence of a serial killer so far. He also

points out that there is a ton of evidence that has not been taken to the lab, and that it will

take months or years to process all of that evidence unless a special grant can be found.

Finally, he suggests that it is not fair to spotlight 51 particular cases because history tells

us that a serial killer will continue until he is stopped.

Reddy, J. (2007, January 22). The Mind Of A Serial Killer; A majority of serial killers are men

who suffer from sexual sadism and psychopathy. India Today, , 66.

https://login.proxy043.nclive.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/magazines/mind-

serial-killer-majority-killers-are-men-who/docview/198778134/se-2

Multiple-victim killers are often referred to as either 'mass murderers' or 'serial

killers'. Serial killers kill multiple victims over an extended period, usually one

victim at a time. Psychiatric literature on this is limited, but incidents of serial killing

receive considerable public attention due to the sensational nature of the crimes and

the innocence of the victims. Serial killers are usually men and are often sexually

motivated. There is a general tendency to think that serial killers are mentally ill or

insane, but there is no evidence that they are. Most serial killers suffer from sexual
 6

sadism and psychopathy, and victims are raped, sodomized, or otherwise sexually

abused before, during, and/or after the killings. Sexual sadism is a sexual perversion

that derives sexual pleasure from causing psychological or physical suffering and

humiliation to non-consenting victims. It can involve rape, restraint, causing

physical injuries, stabbing, strangulation, torture, mutilation, or killing. It is often the

result of severe abuse in childhood. Serial killers with sadistic tendencies have a

childhood history of abuse, but it is not clear how they become serial killers.

Treatment options are limited and most of them are psychopaths. There is often a

public outcry for capital punishment, but the only prudent option is to permanently

exclude them from the community by means of imprisonment in high-security

settings. Governments should be made aware of the need to house them in

appropriate places where close supervision and monitoring are possible.

Whittington-Egan, R. (2008, Autumn). The serial killer phenomenon. Contemporary Review,

290(1690), 323+. https://link-gale-com.proxy043.nclive.org/apps/doc/A189797503/GLS?

u=coa_main&sid=bookmark-GLS&xid=450c2f59

The concept of evil has been re-evaluated, with widespread agreement about what is evil.

Serial killers differ from mass murderers; they kill for a compulsive sexual reason, often

a repulsive one. Steven Wright, the Ipswich Strangler, is a British serial killer who was

sentenced to life in prison for the murder of five victims. Wright married Angela

O'Donovan, divorced Diane Cassell, and became the proprietors of the Ferry Boat Inn in

Norwich. Wright was a serial killer known for strangling his victims, removing their

clothes, and collecting keepsakes such as jewelry. Serial murder is a growth industry,
 7

with the typical killer being Caucasian, male, aged 18-32, with a cooling off period of

varying length. The Behavioral Science Unit at the FBI Academy in Quantico compiled a

database of 36 incarcerated sex murderers, of which 25 were serial killers. The FBI's

BSU classifies serial killers into three categories: asocial, non-social, and organized.

Psychologist Joel Morris distinguishes seven phases of serial killer activity: Aura,

trolling, wooing, capture, and murder. Serial killers have a history of head injuries,

difficulty with relationships, fear and mistrust of women, substance use, and

pornography. Sexual murder is about power and dominance. Scientists have done

'geographic profiling' on bees to help with serial killers, and DNA fingerprinting has been

a positive discovery in cold cases. Richard Whittington-Egan is an acknowledged

authority on Jack the Ripper, but there is still little understanding of the condition and it

is difficult to predict/treat.