The Birth of a Serial Killer

The Birth of a Serial Killer

 Serial Killers have been around for centuries, in every country, every race and in every culture, but in last one hundred years this phenomenon has been widely researched. Law enforcement officials, psychologists and researchers have dedicated much time and effort into figuring out these individuals without much prevail. These individuals classified as serial killers may have similar reasons to why they commit murders, but catching them has failed horribly. Most of the captures have been by chance, a mere slip up by the killer. Before you can catch one these individuals you must first understand why they kill and what turns a murderer into a serial killer.

It can be easily said that serial killers kill, but what makes them a serial killer and not just a murderer? A simple vehicular homicide can turn a normal person into a killer. Also, it can be easily said that another accident of this sort can turn this person into a serial killer. But, before we can talk about homicidemurder we first must understand what murder is. The FBI's Uniform Crime Reports defines murder as the "willful, non negligent, killing of one human being by another" (Holmes & De Burger, 1988). Following this definition means that an intentional killing of another human being is murder. But, what makes a serial killer a serial killer? Several occupations kill more than one individual, such as: hired assassins, mercenaries and a guerrilla warrior. These people are not serial killers. Serial killers have totally different motives than these other individuals, serial killers are their own special breed.

Researchers have debated on characteristics of a serial killer, but one thing they all agree on is the sexual undertone in the murder. These sexual undertones are one of the most significant differences between the other three jobs. Another point that researchers and professionals agree on is that there is a great deal of evidence that the serial killer "acts from a conscious perspective" (Holmes & De Burger, 1988, p.98). This can easily put, the serial killer decides to kill.

These two points make a serial killer similar and be placed into one category, but they are different enough to make them hard to study. Many researchers argue that although these characteristics are similar among serial killers this does not make a distinct psychological problem. Although many psychologists believe this, the FBI (the leading authority in serial killing profiles) believes that this indeed is a distinct psychological problem.

The FBI has studied serial killer mentality for over two decades (Ressler, 1988) and they have gathered enormous amounts of information concerning killers themselves, their methods and their motivations. Still, the FBI has not developed a system for identifying serial killers before they kill. Even though there much information on serial killers, there is still much more to be learned and understood. The FBI has dedicated much of their psychological department, the Behavioral Science Unit, to study these individuals known as serial killers (Ressler, 1988).

The FBI has found many psychological problems with these serial killers. One of these problems is addiction. Serial killers, much like chronic gamblers and chronic drug users, are addicted to fantasy. This addiction is so strong that the serial killer murder to keep their addiction alive, in short it's used to keep his coping mechanisms alive. This statement cannot be supported unless we first discuss addiction.

A psychologist's definition of addiction is:

Addiction is the repeated use of a substance or a compelling involvement in behavior that directly or indirectly modifies the internal milieu (as indicated by changes in neurochemical and neuronal activity) in such a way as to produce immediate reinforcement, but whose long-term effects are personally or medically harmful or highly disadvantageous society.

(Pomerleau, 1988). The addiction becomes a method in which the addicted individual can "manage and magically control multiple forms of anxiety" (Keller, 1992, p.224). This is true with all addictions. An addict uses the addiction as a security blanket. They are obsessed with the high that temporarily relieves their symptoms, but fail to see that their addiction corrects their long-term symptoms. Also, not only does the addiction build, but it builds until the individual is destroyed.

Not only do serial killers have and addiction to fantasy, but also have a sexual addiction. Sexual addiction is like alcoholism in that in that the sex addict uses a mood-altering experience, just as the alcoholic uses a mood-altering substance (Carnes, 1983). Carnes also explains that a sex addict becomes increasingly obsessed with sex, much like a drug addict increasingly uses drugs. The importance of this addiction and all addictions is their mood-modifying nature. Sexual addiction is psychotropic behavior, just as much as alcohol or cocaine addiction. Researchers have discovered that there are precursors to sexual addiction. They believe people become preconditioned to an addiction by familiarity (Orford, 1985). An example of this would be an individual that reads a great deal of murder-based books may be begin to become predisposed to murder. To sum this sexual addiction up, it can be said that their obsession starts in their childhood.

Beyond addiction, serial killers are viewed by many experts in both psychology and psychiatry to be the ultimate extension of violence (Geberth,1990). They believe that many of the serial killers suffer from ASPD, or antisocial personality disorder. The inability to love, which is the core of ASPD is especially evident in serial killers (Holmes & De Burger, 1988). Killers also never develop lasting relationships. Another part of ASPD is that serial killers require more thrills than normal people (Holmes & De Burger,1988). Participation in activities which could result in social disapproval will generate guilt and remorse in a normal, healthy individual, bu the serial killer does not experience either of these feelings to any sufficient degree (Holmes & De Burger, 1988). In addition to an inability to love, ASPD traits they manifested are: evasive personality, strong feelings of insecurity, general anger and a tendency to run from problems (Holmes & De Burger, 1988). To sum this up, the traits that normal people develop-ability to love, to control behavior and conscience-fail to develop in ASPD serial killers.

Another addition to a common serial killer is how and why they kill. Serial murders are, as a whole, lacking in clear-cut motives (Holmes & De Burger). Some of the killers motivation consists of uncontrolled drives, reflected in their ability