Serial killers are individuals who kill at least three people with psychological gratification as their primary motive. The progression from ordinary individual to serial killer can begin early in life, and many show signs of childhood trauma and abuse. Psychologists classify serial killers into “organized” and “disorganized” types and based on the types of murders they commit. Serial killers have existed since ancient times, and their numbers may have increased in the 20th century due to population growth and social changes. Law enforcement uses psychologists and experts to catch serial killers quickly.
A serial killer is someone who kills at least three victims one by one in a series of sequential killings, with some form of psychological gratification as the primary motive. The need for psychological gratification distinguishes serial killers from other types of killers, who usually kill for things like profit or revenge. Because an element of psychological instability is involved in serial killing, many serial killers are committed to mental institutions if and when caught, reflecting a general belief that they are not sane.
While many people think of serial murder as a crime that emerged in the 20th century, it’s actually quite ancient. Records from places like China indicate that serial killers were operating long before the common era, and some particularly famous serial killers like Erzsebet Bathory and Jack the Ripper date back to periods before the 20th century. It is true, however, that the number of serial killings appears to have increased in the 20th century, perhaps due to population growth or social and cultural changes.
As a general rule, someone doesn’t start life as a serial killer. The progress from ordinary individual to serial killer can begin early in life, but it proceeds in stages, starting with crimes such as arson, progressing to animal abuse, and then moving into the realm of human abuse. The reasons why people turn into serial killers are not known, although many show signs of childhood trauma and abuse.
Psychologists believe that all serial killers demonstrate some form of antisocial personality disorder, along with other psychiatric conditions that cause them to have a worldview that is fundamentally different from that of other people. Many psychologists further divide serial killers into so-called “organized” serial killers, who use their high intelligence when planning their crimes, and “disorganized” serial killers, who strike in a much less disciplined manner with subnormal intelligence. .
A serial killer can also be further classified based on the types of murders he commits. Some serial killers commit their crimes because they are motivated by visions, for example, while others do it for sheer hedonistic pleasure. Some, like Jack the Ripper, are missionary serial killers, using their actions to send a message, and some kill out of a sense of power and control.
Discovering a serial killer in a community can be extremely stressful for citizens, who may fear that they are potential targets, especially in cases where the victims appear to have been chosen at random. Law enforcement maintains a staff of psychologists and other experts who can be deployed to the sites of suspected serial killings to apply their knowledge to the case in hopes of catching the killer quickly.
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