Serial Killers

Amelia Sewing

Mr. Odam

English 10 Adv.

26 January 2017

Serial Killers

Defined by Charlie Rose from U.S. News & World Report serial killer is someone who kills at least four people over time with breaks in between each murder (2). Now, the probability of having to deal with one is very unlikely, but serial killers are something that the general public should be more educated about, so that they know the risks. When dealing with a serial killer or what might be one, one has to know the diseases and disorders they might have, then based on their actions what types of victims they choose and what their patterns are, and last about the investigation process to help the police if one were to come across any helpful information. The probability of being in a situation involving a serial killer is small but sadly, there is still a risk.

Serial killers, and even various other criminal types typic suffer from antisocial personality disorder. As explained by Rose "Antisocial personality disorder is a chronic mental condition in which a person's way of thinking, perceiving situations and relating to others are dysfunctional and destructive." It cannot be cured but can try to be treated (2). Rose explains though the cause of antisocial personality disorder is unknown, there are signs that it's developed through genetics, a child's home life, and any traumatic events that may have happened to the person as a child (2). A person can show signs of having antisocial personality disorder as early as age fifteen). Typically the signs are, disregard of right and wrong, using charm or wit to gain pleasure for personal reasons, recurring difficulties with the law, lying or misrepresentation, and poor or abusive relationships. Sadly, According to Shannon Guess from Public Relations Quarterly, antisocial personality disorder can't be cured, but it can still be treated (14). However, when a patient with antisocial personality disorder, or any type of personality disorder is discharged from a hospital, explained by Guess “...they become two to three times more likely to commit a violent act then those who don't have a personality disorder.” But, if they do have a personality disorder, the rate of that person committing a violent or sexual crime is 3.7 times higher than it normally is (14).

Author of Secrets of a serial killer, Matthew Springen, stated “Serial killer's victim depends on the serial killer. A victim is chosen based on his or her characteristics” (5). Some serial killers may target a person or a group of people who they find undesirable and want gone. However, if that person or group is unavailable, they may settle for a substitute (5). The victim may also have money and status that is higher than the killer's, or they may even be similar to the killer, and they may find that threatening. Though a majority of killers will still kill at random (5). It is said that female serial killers kill and continue to kill because they want to. Aileen Wuornos was a prostitute. She claimed to have killed seven of her clients in self defense, but she was also charged for other murders (2). Jeffrey Dahmer had a set type of victim. He based his victims on sexual preference and attraction. The majority of his victims were all dark-skinned, male homosexuals (5). Explained by Armijo Devon, who took part in writing Ripped Straight From The Headlines: Jack The Ripper's Public Relations, “Jack the Ripper, one of the nineteenth century's most infamous killers. For his prey, he liked to find women who were desperate [whores] because no one would notice them gone.

Most serial killers are picked to have eight to fourteen victims over a period of four to eight years. Women serial killers tend to commit murders over a longer period of time than men. Serial killers typically stick to certain types of people when they kill, for instance all the victims are prostitutes, not just