There is an interesting article on the FBI website which discusses serial killers. It is a summary of a multidisciplinary conference (Serial Murder Symposium) which took place in 2005, to work towards a consensus on the complex issues surrounding serial murder. Serial murder was defined as the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events.
The study notes that serial murder is not a new phenomenon, and there are records of serial killings since ancient times. In 1886 Dr. Krafft-Ebbing described numerous case studies of sex killings in Psychopathia Sexualis.
Serial murder is a relatively rare event, comprising less than 1% of all murders committed in any given year. The article notes that the unsolved Whitechapel murders fueled public fascination with serial killers and spawned many legends about ‘JtR’. It noted that much of the public’s knowledge about serial killers is comes from Hollywood, and self-proclaimed ‘experts’ who perpetuate misconceptions and not from reality.
The conference highlighted a number of these myths:
Myth: serial killers are all dysfunctional loners.
The majority appear to be ‘normal’ members of the community. They may have jobs, wives and families.
Myth: serial killers are all white males.
They span all racial groups.
Myth: serial killers are only motivated by sex.
Some murders are for other reasons such as anger, thrills, financial gain and attention seeking.
Myth: they travel interstate.
Most killers have a defined area of operation, although they may operate further afield as their confidence grows.
Myth: they cannot stop killing.
Many may stop at times if they find a substitute activity.
Myth: they are insane or evil geniuses.
Most are not psychotic. There is however a high proportion with personality disorder.
Myth: they want to be caught.
As they commit murder without being captured they become empowered. They are usually caught because they become complacent and slip up.
Causality is a complex mixture of biological, social and environmental factors.
Those who are sexually motivated eroticize violence during childhood.
All psychopaths do not become serial killers, but a lot of serial killers have psychopathic traits, they are callous and have no remorse for their victims.
The study notes that serial murder is not a new phenomenon, and there are records of serial killings since ancient times. In 1886 Dr. Krafft-Ebbing described numerous case studies of sex killings in Psychopathia Sexualis.
Serial murder is a relatively rare event, comprising less than 1% of all murders committed in any given year. The article notes that the unsolved Whitechapel murders fueled public fascination with serial killers and spawned many legends about ‘JtR’. It noted that much of the public’s knowledge about serial killers is comes from Hollywood, and self-proclaimed ‘experts’ who perpetuate misconceptions and not from reality.
The conference highlighted a number of these myths:
Myth: serial killers are all dysfunctional loners.
The majority appear to be ‘normal’ members of the community. They may have jobs, wives and families.
Myth: serial killers are all white males.
They span all racial groups.
Myth: serial killers are only motivated by sex.
Some murders are for other reasons such as anger, thrills, financial gain and attention seeking.
Myth: they travel interstate.
Most killers have a defined area of operation, although they may operate further afield as their confidence grows.
Myth: they cannot stop killing.
Many may stop at times if they find a substitute activity.
Myth: they are insane or evil geniuses.
Most are not psychotic. There is however a high proportion with personality disorder.
Myth: they want to be caught.
As they commit murder without being captured they become empowered. They are usually caught because they become complacent and slip up.
Causality is a complex mixture of biological, social and environmental factors.
Those who are sexually motivated eroticize violence during childhood.
All psychopaths do not become serial killers, but a lot of serial killers have psychopathic traits, they are callous and have no remorse for their victims.
They also tell lies, so how can we trust what they tell us after they have been caught?
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/serial_murder.htm
http://www.fbi.gov/publications/serial_murder.htm
No comments:
Post a Comment