Serial Killers A Psychological Viewpoint Essay - 1858 Words

This literature review focuses on serial killers from a psychological viewpoint while trying to answer the question, â€Å"Are serial killers born to kill or are they bred to kill?† Firstly, this review will define a serial killer and the different kinds of killers, then it will take a look at different case studies of children who fantasized about mass killing and identify similarities between the cases attempt to find a way to possibly prevent their fantasies from becoming reality. The debate of nature vs. nurture is also discussed as psychologists and researchers come to the conclusion that environmental factors play a bigger role in the developmental character of a person than genetics, but there is still no definite answer as to why some individuals grow up with the urge to murder other people and/or animals. INTRODUCTION Throughout history, serial killers and murderers have received a significant number of news articles dedicated to them and have attracted audiences all around the world; however, the question that nobody can seem to answer is, â€Å"Why?† What causes people to grow up with the desire to kill and what can we do to prevent others from becoming serial killers in the future? â€Å"All serial killers are murderers, but not all murderers are serial killers,† as stated on The Undergraduate Times. A serial murder is defined by Encyclopedia Britannica as â€Å"the unlawful homicide of at least two people, carried out in a series over a period of time,† while mass murder is theShow MoreRelated Serial Killers: Monsters or Mentally Ill Essay1571 Words   |  7 Pages Studies show that traits of a serial killer can be seen in a person at a very young age. Most warning signs go unnoticed which is why the growth of the killer continues. A thing such as animal cruelty is one o f many clues inside the growth of a serial killers mind â€Å"They often start out their careers by maiming, harming, and torturing small animals.† â€Å"In extreme cases, they have been known to spend hours inflicting a slow death on animals...this is a form of control that allows them the power toRead MorePersuasive Essay On The Death Penalty1187 Words   |  5 Pagespickpocket. However, a serial killer, a cold-blooded murderer, who repeatedly kills people for satisfying his personal gain, undoubtedly deserves to die. For example, Gary Ridgway, better known as â€Å"The Green River Killer†, murdered at least 49 women in Washington our state. In fact, he told the investigators he had killed as 75-80 women along Route 99 in South King County, and then strangled his victims and dumped the bodies in remote locations. Or, John Wayne Gacy, known as â€Å"The Killer Clown† was a husbandRead MoreSocial Influences on Behavior Essay1663 Words   |  7 Pages May 23, 2011 Life Span Development and Personality Paper Albert Fish was a 20th century serial killer, child rapist, sadomasochist, and cannibal. This paper is a brief description focused on the forces that impacted his life from the viewpoint of developmental psychology. The author made an effort to distinguish between the influences of hereditary and environment on psychological development. He also explains what family issues and social support systems may have influenced AlbertRead MorePsychoanalysis and Transference737 Words   |  3 Pages or be overly compliant to someone who resembles a childhood friend. 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