Preview

Facts About Serial Killers

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
497 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Facts About Serial Killers
Have you ever watched the show Criminal Investigations? This T.V show is based on a team of FBI agents that get together with local police stations to track down criminal murders. Their goal is to track down these bad guys and put them away for their crime. This show was helpful to my research, because after watching a few episodes and watching them profile serial killers, I got a better understanding of similarities that serial killers have in common. I just watched an episode of Ted Bundy on how he confessed to all the murders he did right before he got executed. This source is fitting in with my research, because it gave me more aspects to look at and study about why serial killers kill.
Davis, Jeff. "Criminal Minds." Criminal Minds. CBS. 22 Sept. 2005. Television

John Wayne Gacy, was a 1970’s serial killer from Cook County Illinois, who raped and murdered at least 33 teenage boys and young men and was labeled “the killer clown” by the news media, and the authorities. In 1978 the Cook County Sheriff’s dept. found 26 bodies in the basement of Mr. Gacy’s home. Mr. Gacy was among one of the most gruesome serial murders in U.S. History. These murders
…show more content…
Serial killers have a propensity to act and think a certain way due to environmental stressors. Through a combination of other factors such as self-esteem and self-control coupled with social skill issues, the person retreats into serial killer mode. The killer, at that point, believes that they can correct their problems through killing. (Holmes and DeBurger 1998) These serial killers get a thrill out of murdering people. Once they do it they crave that excitement to do it all over again. They are not thinking of who they are hurting and how they are affecting the families of these victims. Serial killers, essentially allay their self-esteem and self-control issues through violent acts against others. (Guillen, Tomas Serial Killer

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Better Essays

    John Wayne Gacy

    • 2065 Words
    • 7 Pages

    John Wayne Gacy was a convicted serial killer who murdered 33 young males. His nickname was the Killer Clown. As a child. he was often severely beat by his drunken father because he had congenital heart disease and was seen as abnormal in the family. When he first started attending school, other students teased him. Sometime later, he discovers that he was strongly attracted to males.…

    • 2065 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    In the article “Serial Killers do we know enough to catch them?” Sarah Glazer gives an overview about the past history and the knowledge on serial killers. Glazer explains how serial killing has been on the rise. She states “The FBI popularized the notion of the “serial” murderer and contended the phenomenon was increasing in the 1980s, during a wave of child kidnapping and serial murders” (Paragraph two). For example, serial killers numbers of victims started to hit the thousand ranges and the numbers kept rising. She stated “The implication at the time was that these were senseless murders with no apparent motive, and thus likely to be the work of a serial killer” (Paragraph two). Since the 1960’s these killings were rising and by time it hit the 80’s, the numbers doubled. Less than 70 percent of murders are being solved now and days but compared to the 60’s, there was a 90 percent chance of them being solved. Glazer quotes FBI agent John E. Douglas who helped start the behavior unit “further point out that crime-solving techniques have become more…

    • 424 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    People become serial killers for a reason. The expression “Serial Killers” first presumably originated in 1970 by late FBI Agent Robert Ressler. Before this time society categorized them with Mass Murders. Agent Ressler was lecturing at a college when he heard someone describe the killing as having an unending ‘serial’ cycle. Going back to his childhood, he remembered the movie industry titled “Serial Adventures” which showed short films of Batman and other heroes. None of the shows that were played came to a gratifying close. It always left you wanting more. Ressler came to the conclusion that there should be two separate category’s for mass murders, a single killing of many people at one location, and serial homicide, multiple killings that…

    • 292 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    John Wayne Gacy

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Serial killers have existed throughout American history and many of whom, would never be expected to kill innocent people. However, looks can be deceiving and this was the case for a serial killer in small town of Chicago. This serial killer was considered in the community to be well liked, generous, loyal, and a hard-working man. But no one could have predicted that this well liked man was destined to become one of the most sadistic serial killers and rapists in United States history. This “model” citizen was John Wayne Gacy Jr., a prolific serial rapist and murderer. Gacy sexually assaulted boys and young men, killed them, and then proceeded to bury them under his home in a small crawl space. Gacy was later recognized as “The Killer Clown” because he would dress as his alter ego, Pogo the Clown, allowing Gacy to lure children into his home without looking suspicious.…

    • 915 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Throughout the history, authorities have made an effort to identify the serial killers’ life, define the explanation of them and also seek either what lead or encourage them to become a serial killer so that many studies are still conducted for the purpose of reaching these questions’ answers. Moreover, the topic of the serial killer is at all times found interesting by means of the people, so many films or series have made such as Dexter or Dr. Hannibal Lecter. Additively, thanks to the investigations of The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the serial killer has categorized into 3 different types which are medical, organized and disorganized serial killer.…

    • 2100 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Charles Manson Psychology

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages

    Some killers often get drunk and end up killing (e.g. Jeffrey Dahmer). Another thing to note about serial killer’s home lives is abuse. If you look deep enough into a killers past you more often than not find that they were abused by their parents. Abuse can stay with a person forever and childhood can shape who we are as people. Abuse could also be a reason why killers lack empathy; because the killer feels they felt similar if not worse pain and took it. Lastly, killers have a form of brain damage. Adrien Raine, a criminology professor said “research found criminals with psychopathic tendencies often had a shrunken ventromedial cortex - the area of the brain that controls decision-making.” This would explain why they often continue their bad behaviors until caught and why they do it in the first…

    • 671 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Upbringing, I believe, has a heavy weight on shaping people's personalities. Addiction is a new way for me to look at the problem of serial killings and has explained some things for me, such as, why do they continue to kill even when the police are hot on their tracks? Sometimes it would be smart for a serial killer to lay low when they become high profile, but their addiction doesn't allow them to do this. We still might not have a complete understanding of how a serial killers mind works, but I believe we are slowly progressing. Recent confessions of serial killers has also given us a priceless tool for looking into the mind of these people. When BTK was taken into custody, he finally began to confess and didn't stop. He ended up spending thirty three hours in interrogation, walking investigators through his crimes and telling them what was going through his mind. John Wayne Gacy allowed psychologists to ask him questions up until he was put to death. These encounters gave what we call "normal people" a chance to look into the head of a psychopath. Maybe someday we can pinpoint the exact factors for creating a serial killer, and prevent them from a full…

    • 1470 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    One of the most famous questions of all time asks, “Why do serial killers, kill?” Everyone is different in their own way, so no one can really answer that question specifically. Dr. Helen Morrison, author of “My Life Among The Serial Killers” interviewed ten famous serial killers to try to answer this question. She found that almost all of them had similar characteristics besides killing. Unlike what most people believe, she surprisingly found that these characteristics did not include insanity, child abuse, or drug abuse. Instead she explains that their most common trait is that they have an emotional age of an infant. Other characteristics include fluent lying, the lacking ability to comprehend that they did anything wrong, and no memory of the murders however when they do remember they show no mercy.…

    • 1128 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    References: Apsche, J.A. (1993). Probing the mind of a serial killer. (p.235). Morrisville, PA: International Information Association…

    • 4115 Words
    • 17 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Serial Killers usually murder not for terror or revenge, but instead for the thrill of taking lives. Approximately two- thirds of serial killers find motivation by the thrill of power or sexual sadism (Buss 106). Serial Killers enjoy the excitement, the sexual satisfaction, as well as the dominance and power that they achieve over the lives of their victims. On the other hand, the reason mass murders kill can range from revenge to hatred. The most publicized type of mass murder involves the indiscriminate shooting of strangers in a public place by a lone gunman. Many massacres are considered suicidal rampages because before the gunman takes their own life; the gunman intends to get even with everyone he or she holds responsible. Thus, showing even though mass murderers and serial killers have different reasons for the actions they take, the reasons are still beyond understanding for…

    • 689 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    The crime of serial murder is not just one that in the United States it is a problem that happens globally. In the US we have the help of the Behavioral Analysis Unit as well as the FBI when working a case in any jurisdiction. To help law enforcement and investigators learn new techniques on how to solve these crimes a symposium was held for two days in 2008 to teach them new techniques. In attendance at this conference were mental health experts, scholars, media experts who have been studying serial murders for yeas and investigators in law enforcement field. The conference was held at INTERPOL headquarters, there were delegates from thirty-seven different countries in attendance at the conference.…

    • 1163 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    FBI on serial killers

    • 1447 Words
    • 6 Pages

    The relative rarity of serial murder combined with inaccurate, anecdotal information and fictional portrayals of serial killers has resulted in the following common myths and misconceptions regarding serial murder:…

    • 1447 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Serial Killers

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages

    Serial killers have always been a topic I’ve enjoyed. What most people find disturbing I find fascinating. A serial can just be some person who you think is normal but deep down inside they have an emptiness that can only be satisfied through murder and death. Which is why I chose the book dismembered by Susan d Mustafa and sue Israel which is based on Sean Vincent Gillis who is also known as the other Baton Rouge killer. He was responsible for the death of 8 women in Baton Rouge, Louisiana for over a period of 10 years. These women were hunted down bludgeoned and strangled after which he would go on to rape them or engage in necrophilia and mutilate their bodies. An arm here, a leg there, a breast, a tattoo. He was cutting them into pieces.…

    • 806 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    Serial Killer Research

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages

    Serial murder is a psychological crime in many aspects. It is a planned, thought out action. The crimes themselves are often committed in order for the killer to gain a sense of power, control, and domination. There must be psychological desires and/or perceived needs that are otherwise lacking in his or her life.…

    • 1206 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Better Essays

    Introduction – (Attention getter) As Ted Bundy once stated, “We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere…” (Orienting material) A serial killer is classified as someone killing three or more people in a short period. The exact reason why people kill is unknown. However, experts suggest that it may date back to traumatic events faced during childhood which…

    • 1104 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Better Essays