Serial Killers: Nurture Vs. Nature

Mass murderers and serial killers are nothing new to today’s society. We learn about them in TV shows, books, research papers, in our classes, etc. Psychologists have spent decades trying to uncover the truth behind these killers’ madness. Serial killers vary in their behaviors, techniques, desires, mental illnesses and their personal lives. Have you ever heard of the Tamiami Trail Killer? Rory Conde was a prostitute killer, also known as the Tamiami Trail killer.

Have you ever wondered what makes someone a serial killer? Usually the words obsessive, power hungry, and lack of guilt are key when defining a serial killer. These traits all correspond with the serial killer Ahmad Suradji, also known as the sorcerer.

According to CNN, how do CNN rates on serial murder compare to those of the FBI? E.g. higher, lower or same?

Look around this school and think about exactly how many students are here daily. How

The car pulls over onto the side of the road. The man rolls down the window, knowing exactly why a woman would be on the side of the highway dressed in barely anything in the middle of the night; however, the man does not know what will become of this encounter. He argues about the price, and is met with a handgun. Eventually, his body is found in a junkyard without a wallet or a watch. This man is Richard Mallory, and the killer is Aileen Wuornos. She later goes on to kill several other men. The FBI defines serial murder as the unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. Male and female serial killers alike have plagued the world for centuries, but criminal

In Dave Cullen 's book Columbine we are given a new perspective on the columbine high school shooting, and the events prior. We are shown Eric and Dylan’s personal lives outside of being the “Cruel” and “Heartless” people that they are. They are people that we have created and refuse to accept so it’s their fault for what they become. Have we as a society willingly created this?

Charles Manson’s “Family” is one of the most well-known cults in America. His cult gained influence from drugs and the Beatles song Helter Skelter (Charles). Manson’s referred to him as Satan, though he claimed to be Jesus reincarnated. “Satanism has been labelled the fastest rising criminal element in the country” (DeRemer). Charles Manson never physically conducted a murder, but he was given the responsibility for planning them. His most infamous murder claimed the lives of actress Sharon Tate, Abigail Folger, Jay Sebring, and Steven Parent. Manson chose his four most obedient followers: Charles “Tex” Watson, Susan Atkins, Patricia Krenwinkel, and Linda Kasabian to carry out the attacks (Charles).

As I was watching the interview, I was astonished. I expected Joel Rifkin to be the typical Hollywood serial killer: a deranged man set on revenge, as a result of being abused and neglected, and now was in chains behind glass with armed guards aiming their weapons at his head. Instead, I saw a stoic person who wasn’t behind glass or had a gun to his head. He just sat there and answered questions like a normal person. He wasn’t angry or remorseful. He was completely void of emotion. That was terrifying, because on the outside, he looked and acted like a normal human being, leaving me with the thought that anyone could be a cold-blooded killer and I wouldn’t even know.

There are two types of mass murderers, organized and disorganized. An example of an organized mass murderer is Eric Harris and his friend Dylan Klebold. They killed thirteen people and wounded more than twenty others at Columbine High School on April 20, 1999 (“Eric Harris”). In the biography of Harris, they called him a psycho, which falls under the subcategory of an organized murderer known as a disciple killer. Disciple killers are known to follow commands or fall under a ‘spell’ of their leader. For example, in Mexico, there are drug dealers that send people to kill their enemies. Harris and his friend were carefully planning the attack for a while, which places them under the organized category also known as pseudo commandos. There are

Organized killers, such as Dennis Rader, are people we may see or know. They are our neighbors, family members, friends, co-workers. They are mostly highly intelligent with above average skills they use to plan the murder and its stages. Their methodical plans stand out when investigators are piecing the puzzle left by the serial killer. (Canter, Alison, Alison, & Wentink 2004)

Serial killers are often your typical guy next door, the only thing that makes him different is the fantasies of murder (Davis, J. 1998). Many different practitioners of criminology, psychology, and sociology try to explain the phenomenon of serial murder. They come up with different typologies of serial killers and reasons in which the killer might commit murder. One typology is that of organized and disorganized serial killers. According to David Canter, an organized serial killer will have an orderly life as shown in his crimes while disorganized killers will kill due to a stressful event in life. Another typology as given by Davis is that of a sexual predator. A sexual predator can feel the connection between personal violence and sexual gratification

Criteria: Describe the criteria for a serial killer and what did the person do to qualify as a serial killer?

In this paper I will be applying the psychological theories to serial killer Ed Gein. Ed Gein was a prolific serial killer in the 1950’s. He murdered and robbed graves for body parts to make furniture and clothing. He was apprehended in 1957, where he stood trial and was institutionalized.

Murder is defined as the illegal taking of another human's life and is grounded in the intent of this action. Many murders occur at the time due to an increased passion of a situation; jealousy, anger, or a lapse in judgment that leads to someone else's death. In the case of serial killers, this is not about the passion of a onetime situation, it can be a compulsion that drives a person to kill over and over. The cause of this compulsion is motivated by mental illness, a sense of duty to a particular person or entity, or it is a way to release pent-up frustrations that the killer does not have the emotional capability to handle. This last one is the case for Edmund "Ed" Kemper III, also known as the Co-Ed Killer.

A serial killer is defined as a “person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a “cooling off” period between each murder, which whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification.” (University, n.d) Many times serial murders go unsolved and other times it takes decades to unravel. According to the FBI there is no set profile of a serial killer, because they can come in all sizes, ages, shapes, colors and groups. (Welch, 2011) They tend to operate within their comfort zone, which is there area where they work, live or they have relative’s homes. (Roberts, 2011)