Psychology of Serial Killers
"We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow."
Theodore Robert Bundy
In the past decade, Americans and researchers have given more and more of their attention to serial killers. The United States alone has contributed about 85% of the world's serial killers. It has been said that they come in many different forms. Society has many words for serial killers. Holmes and DeBurger define serial murders as "consisting of repetitive killings which are one-on-one with rare exception, where the relationship between victims and the offender is that of a stranger or slight acquaintance, and the motivation to kill and apparent motives are lacking." (Serial Murder; Studies in Crime, Law and Justice, Vol 2, p.138) Some say that this type of criminal behavior goes as far back to a serial killer's past. Others argue that serial killers sometimes do not have a motive for killing people. Many of them have been faced with sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug abuse, or alcoholism. Some parents see the red flags but often ignore these signs. Some of these signs include torturing animals, setting fires, and often wetting the bed. One of America's first serial rapist/killer was Ted Bundy. Alvin Lewis, a Pima County Community College professor who has conducted clinical studies on rapists, gave a general description on the attitude of a rapist. He said they are normally between 20 and 35 years old, insecure, possibly abused as a child and possibly using alcohol or drugs. "Normally they get sexually abused and then go on to do it themselves," Lewis said. He also said rapists are normally not intelligent, ("Students, officials discuss how to prevent rape on campus"). This paper will look at Bundy from Sigmund Freud's ideas. Before the analysis of Ted Bundy from Sigmund Freud's point of view, here is an overview of Ted Bundy and his past. Ted Bundy was not your average serial rapist /
Theodore Robert Bundy
In the past decade, Americans and researchers have given more and more of their attention to serial killers. The United States alone has contributed about 85% of the world's serial killers. It has been said that they come in many different forms. Society has many words for serial killers. Holmes and DeBurger define serial murders as "consisting of repetitive killings which are one-on-one with rare exception, where the relationship between victims and the offender is that of a stranger or slight acquaintance, and the motivation to kill and apparent motives are lacking." (Serial Murder; Studies in Crime, Law and Justice, Vol 2, p.138) Some say that this type of criminal behavior goes as far back to a serial killer's past. Others argue that serial killers sometimes do not have a motive for killing people. Many of them have been faced with sexual abuse, physical abuse, drug abuse, or alcoholism. Some parents see the red flags but often ignore these signs. Some of these signs include torturing animals, setting fires, and often wetting the bed. One of America's first serial rapist/killer was Ted Bundy. Alvin Lewis, a Pima County Community College professor who has conducted clinical studies on rapists, gave a general description on the attitude of a rapist. He said they are normally between 20 and 35 years old, insecure, possibly abused as a child and possibly using alcohol or drugs. "Normally they get sexually abused and then go on to do it themselves," Lewis said. He also said rapists are normally not intelligent, ("Students, officials discuss how to prevent rape on campus"). This paper will look at Bundy from Sigmund Freud's ideas. Before the analysis of Ted Bundy from Sigmund Freud's point of view, here is an overview of Ted Bundy and his past. Ted Bundy was not your average serial rapist /
Cited: Serial Murder; Studies in Crime, Law and Justice, Vol 2, Ronald M. Holmes, James DeBurger, Sage Publications; ©March 1988 http://65.1017.21.206/science/psychology/freud/FreudianWebOV.html The Freudian Web, David B. Stevenson '96, Brown University Gleitman, Henry Basic Psychology, New York: W. W. Norton & Co. ©1990 http://serial-killers.net/rapists/bundy_ted.htm A collection of statements regarding Bundy 's crimes and his psychological background. © 1990 Ted Bundy the film released in 2002, Tartan Films, Overseas Filmgroup; Director: Matthew Bright, Screenwriters: Matthew Bright, Stephen Johnston http://wildcat.arizona.edu/dailywildcatpapers/95/681/01_3.htm "Students, officials discuss how to prevent rape on campus" University of Arizona daily Wildcat, Wednesday November 14, 2001