THE EVOLUTION OF A SERIAL

KILLERBy Lindsey Spackman

WHAT IS A SERIAL KILLER?

• A serial killer is a psychopath who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month.

• A serial killer murders far from home with multiple victims, satisfying their fantasies.

• The motivation for a serial killer is usually based on psychological gratification.

Signs of a Serial Killer

Ritualistic Behavior

Compulsivity

Suicidal Tendencies

History of Serious Assaults

Hyper Sexuality

Animal Cruelty

PSYCHOPATHIC SERIAL KILLERS

Psychopaths

Do not feel Nervous

Do not feel Embarrassed

Do not feel Sad

Do not feel Remorseful

• Psychopaths are people with either an aspect of personality disorder characterized by enduring dissocial behavior or antisocial behavior.

• Psychopaths can be manipulative, aggressive, seductive and impulsive.

• They are of average to above average intelligence and masters of disguise

SERIAL KILLERS VS. NATURE• Most serial killers come from abusive,

dysfunctional families.

• Studies have shown that most serial killers have been neglected or physically abused, from this abuse the child grows to feel unwanted and unloved which leads to anger, hate and depression.

• Growing up in a abusive household can lead psychopaths to vivid thoughts of a violent nature.

• Being abused and feeling unwanted can lead to a serious state of depression which makes you turn against the world and a specific group that made you feel that way.

SERIAL KILLERS VS. NATURENormal Psychopath

A study at University of Wisconsin at Madison compared brain scans of people who were considered normal to those who were convicted criminals. The findings were that the orbital frontal cortex, the anterior cingulated cortex and the amygdale, which plays a large part in the control of negative and violent emotions, had diminished activity.

PsychopathathyInterpersonal Factor• Glib, superficially charming• Callous, manipulative• Grandiose sense of self-worth

Affective Factor• Lack of remorse or guilt• Shallow affect• Callous, lacking empathy• Failure to accept responsibility

Lifestyle Factor• Stimulation seeking• Impulsive• Irresponsible• Parasitic lifestyle• Lack of realistic goals

Antisocial Factor• Poor behavioral controls• Early behavior problems• Juvenile delinquency• Revocation of conditional release• Criminal versatility

Three kinds of Serial Killers

Organized

• Loner by choice, little to no evidence, solid job history, personalized victims, confident

• Hardest serial killer to apprehend.

Disorganized

• Loner by default, leave evidence behind, poor job history, depersonalized victims, blitz attack, lacks confidence

• A killer who kills when and where his heart desires.

Mixed

• May have domestic issues, loner/reclusive, may return to crime scene.

• Usually organized but the “rush and thrill for the kill trumps the planning and preparation.

ARE PSYCHOPATH SERIAL KILLERS BORN OR BRED?“FOR A TRUE PSYCHOPATH IT’S BOTH!"

Family and society build

character

Loving Family

AbusiveFamily

Supportive Family

NeglectfulFamily

• Genetics play a major role in the creation of psychopaths, just like schizophrenia, alcoholism, and even cancer can be inherited, predispositions to violence can be inherited.

• Some are born with lower levels of connectivity-less likely to bond.

• Born with reduced empathy, highly impulsive and don’t consider the consequences of their actions.

PSYCHOPATHS ARE NOT ALWAYS KILLERS!

Loving Family

Abusive Family

Hostility toward others

Detached & Depressed

Antisocial

Thrill seeker

Successful Under Pressure

Career Driven

• With a loving and healthy environment psychopaths can grow to be a ruthless business leader or a thrill-seeking, elite sportsperson.

• The environment of a young child predisposed to psychopathic tendencies can teach them to be high functioning successful people, or can create a violent monster

• Environment is as big a factor as genetics.

CAN SERIAL KILLERS BE PREVENTED OR CURED?

Is there early prevention of someone who is prone to violence?• Prevention involves

intervention as a child with ethical and moral education with a loving upbringing.

Is there a cure for an adult psychopath?

• There has been no cure found for psychopathic serial killers to date.

• Medication can control some of their impulses, only if they find it beneficial to themselves.

“We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.”

-Ted Bundy

Serial killer Psychopaths are created by the perfect storm. They are genetically different from birth, and most of them grow up in abusive homes. If they do not live in abusive homes they have something traumatic happen in their childhood that they are not equipped to handle. This causes them to go against the norm and develop a violent hate towards society.

QUESTIONS?