Correlation Between 

Serial
Killings, Sexual Gratificati
on and Family Life

Ivana Tokić
 Serial Murder

• Serial murder, also called serial killing, the unlawful homicide of at least t
wo people carried out by the same person (or persons) in separate events
 occurring at different times

• Motivations:
• Sexual gratification
• Achievement of power and control
• Expression of anger
Etiology of
Serial Killing 

• Biological perspectives: brain
abnormalities, genetic
predispositions...
• Psychosocial perspectives:
mental disorders, childhood
trauma and social learning
related influences
The Factors Leading
to Serial Killing: 
• Stress/trauma
• Power/control
• Need for belonging 
• Loneliness
• Low self-esteem 
• Sexually sadistic and violent pornography
• Parent relationship patterns 
• Neurodevelopmental complications
Family
life/Childhood
• Childhood trauma: abuse, loneliness and
abandonment 
• Adults who were abused during their childhood
were three times more likely to act extremely
violently
• Presence of a father or a father-figure 
• "Mommy issues"
• Sexual assault
Fantasy
• Creation of a new reality to which they can
escape
• Total control
• A serial killer’s motive is frequently fantasy-
based 
• Dominance, control, sexual conquest,
and violence
• Approximately two-thirds of serial killers are
sexual sadists 
Sexual Gratification

• History of sexual and physical abuse during childhood 

• Voyeurism 
• Sexually sadistic and violent pornography
• Lack of healthy intimate relationships increases the chances of potential sexual or
sadistic acts as a part of the murders
• Failure or pressure to perform sexually 
Lust Murders

• Homicide in which the offender searches for erotic satisfaction by

killing someone
• Does not always involve traditional sexual acts 
• Gaining pleasure from committing the murder itself
Conclusion

• Unstable families with criminal,

psychiatric, or alcoholic histories
• Abuse – physical, psychological,
sexual by a close family member
• Feelings of humiliation and
helplessness
• Childhood - adulthood
Works Cited:
• https://thekeep.eiu.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=4722&context=theses
• http://repository.umpwr.ac.id:8080/bitstream/handle/123456789/194/Inside%20the%20Minds%20of
%20Serial%20Killers%20-%20Why%20They%20Kill.pdf?sequence=1
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/233283857_Sexually_motivated_serial_killers_and_the_psy
chology_of_aggression_and_evil_within_a_contemporary_psychoanalytical_perspective
• https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/violence-and-aggression/from-abused-child-to-serial-
killer-investigating-nature-vs-nurture-in-methods-of-murder/
• https://www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/wicked-deeds/201909/understanding-what-drives-serial-k
illers
• https://bowiestate.libguides.com/CRJU410-001/serialkillersaschildren
• https://www.ranker.com/list/serial-killers-who-hated-their-moms/erin-wisti
• https://etheses.bham.ac.uk/id/eprint/6080/1/Kerr15PhD.pdf