Four Types Of Serial Killers

A serial killer is defined as a person who kills “three or more victims over a period of days, weeks, months, or even years” (Hickey, 2003). However, since 2008 the minimum number of victims needed to be classified as a serial killer has been reduced to two (Hickey 2015). Although the classification of a serial killer is rather broad, typologies of serial murder exist in order to narrow the vast types of killers. Hickey uses Holmes’ and DeBurger’s (1988) research to identify four types of general serial killers which include: Visionary Type, Mission-Oriented Type, Power/Control-Oriented Type, and Hedonistic Type. The first, Visionary Type depicts murderers who “kill in response to voices or visions usually emanating from the forces of good
However, the more refined Integrated Paraphilic Model (Arrigo & Purcell, 2006) is more thorough in explaining potential motives behind the erotophonophilic killer. The main components in this model are formative development, low self-esteem, early fantasy development, and paraphilic and traumatic events. Formative development is the beginning foundation from where paraphilic behaviors emerge and pertains mostly to early childhood and adolescent experiences. This step includes traumatic events and genetic predisposition. Low self-esteem is the result of an abnormal childhood which leaves the perpetrator feeling rejected, because he feels his isolation is due to his own personal failure and inability to relate to others. Consequently, the extreme loneliness and unsuccessful attempts to create secure relationships lead the offender to create fantasies where he is accepted fully. Over time, fantasies become “more violent and erotic, incorporating assorted fetishes, rituals, and/or unusual and sexually charged objects as stimuli” (Purcell & Arrigo, 2006). The compilation of these factors quickly becomes an increasingly violent and impenetrable cycle that repeats itself with each killing and with the help of facilitators (alcohol, drugs, and
Jeffrey’s intense need to control others sexually finally gave way and he began his string of serial killings when he moved in with his grandmother. His sexual orientation forms Dahmer’s victim typology. Most often he would target young men, and boys whom he found of attractive regardless of race. He enjoyed “sexually assaulting, drugging, strangling, dismembering,” and eating some of his victim’s flesh. While committing his heinous crimes, Dahmer was often extremely intoxicated to the point of sometimes not being able to “blacking-out” (Newton, 2000). This murderer’s alcoholism and carelessness is what eventually leads to his discovery, after a victim escapes and directs a police car to Dahmer’s apartment where they found 12 decomposing bodies and was additionally found guilty of five other murders for a grand total of 17 victims. When analyzing Jeffrey Dahmer using the Integrative Model, he like Gacy was incapable of controlling his sexual deviant fantasies that led to serial murder. His formative development was extremely tainted by parental neglect and rejection. Additionally, his young encounter with sexual abuse definitely had an impact in his development. His inability to have healthy, secure, attachments to his mother and father destroyed and type of ability to form nurturing relationships with