Ch 4 Notes Crim 260 Serial Killers
Chapter 4
Social Construction of Serial Murder
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After reading this chapter, students should be able:
1. To evaluate sociological theories as they pertain to violent behavior.
2. To understand the role of family and maladaptive childhood behaviors that may portend adult criminality, especially violence.
3. To examine the incidence of school shootings by juveniles compared to adults. 4. To examine the Myers and Kirby typologies of juvenile serial killers.
5. To explore the etiology of serial murder as it relates to Hickey’s Trauma-
Control Model.
6. To review the case studies as they relate to the process of becoming a serial murderer. 7. To understand the facilitators that influence the construction of serial murderers. KEY TERMS:
ATTRIBUTION OF BLAME: A process whereby victims are faulted for bringing maltreatment on themselves, or extraordinary circumstances are invoked as justification for questionable conduct. (p. 112)
ATTRIBUTIONAL BIAS: Interpreting ambiguous or neutral peer actions as being hostile and aggressive. (p. 129)
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE: In Labeling Theory, a state in which a person feels the stress and anxiety of being labeled, and thus feels the need to right the wrongs and restore balance. (p.117)
CONTAINMENTS: Characteristics such as a positive self-image; ego strength; high frustration tolerance; goal orientation; a sense of belongingness; consistent moral front; reinforcement of norms, goals, and values; effective supervision; discipline, and a meaningful social role that provide isolation or insulation from criminal influences. (p.114)
DEHUMANIZATION: A process of ridding the other of the benefit of humanity leading to the ultimate step of removing the other person’s opportunity to live. (p.113)
EGO-DYSTONIC HOMICIDE: An altered state of consciousness whereby the individual is faced with a psychologically unresolvable conflict, which then
Social Construction of Serial Murder
LEARNING OBJECTIVES:
After reading this chapter, students should be able:
1. To evaluate sociological theories as they pertain to violent behavior.
2. To understand the role of family and maladaptive childhood behaviors that may portend adult criminality, especially violence.
3. To examine the incidence of school shootings by juveniles compared to adults. 4. To examine the Myers and Kirby typologies of juvenile serial killers.
5. To explore the etiology of serial murder as it relates to Hickey’s Trauma-
Control Model.
6. To review the case studies as they relate to the process of becoming a serial murderer. 7. To understand the facilitators that influence the construction of serial murderers. KEY TERMS:
ATTRIBUTION OF BLAME: A process whereby victims are faulted for bringing maltreatment on themselves, or extraordinary circumstances are invoked as justification for questionable conduct. (p. 112)
ATTRIBUTIONAL BIAS: Interpreting ambiguous or neutral peer actions as being hostile and aggressive. (p. 129)
COGNITIVE DISSONANCE: In Labeling Theory, a state in which a person feels the stress and anxiety of being labeled, and thus feels the need to right the wrongs and restore balance. (p.117)
CONTAINMENTS: Characteristics such as a positive self-image; ego strength; high frustration tolerance; goal orientation; a sense of belongingness; consistent moral front; reinforcement of norms, goals, and values; effective supervision; discipline, and a meaningful social role that provide isolation or insulation from criminal influences. (p.114)
DEHUMANIZATION: A process of ridding the other of the benefit of humanity leading to the ultimate step of removing the other person’s opportunity to live. (p.113)
EGO-DYSTONIC HOMICIDE: An altered state of consciousness whereby the individual is faced with a psychologically unresolvable conflict, which then