profile of a killer Essay examples - 1561 Words

During the last decade the world has witnessed a staggering elevation in serial killings. To give some insight into the scale of the problem posed by the serial killer, in the United States can be gained from examining the statistics for just one year. In 1989 (the last year for which detailed figures are available) there were 21,500 recorded homicides, of which some 5,000 are unsolved. Unofficial sources believe that as many as a hundred serial killers may be at large at any given time. Add to this the number of known victims of serial killers, then between 3,500 and 5,000 people are killed by serial murderers every year. (Lane and Gregg 3) These numerous multiple murders, often without consequence and justice, have shocked civilized†¦show more content†¦Characteristics of a serial killer are imperative in demarcating the type of person capable of committing a serial murder. quot;Most known serial killers are 25-35 years oldquot; (Falk 85). quot;It is also significant that the victims of serial murderers are not concentrated in any age rangequot; (Falk 85). quot;Serial killings are almost always committed by white males instead of blacks because class resentment is far more likely to occur to a person with a good education than someone without an appreciation of how society worksquot; (Falk 85). To truly understand the phenomenon of serial murder one must know what motivates a person to commit such a horrendous crime. Patterns of serial killing fall broadly into two categories of motivation: quot;Extrinsic, where the impulse to kill is located outside the killer’s psyche-that is, he perceives a rational reason for murder in outside situations and eventsquot; (Fox and Levin 12). quot;More frequently the motivation is intrinsic to the psyche of the killer, whether or not that motivation is apparent to an independent observerquot; (Fox and Levin 12). Closer psychological analysis of known cases indicates that serial murders fit into one of four main types according to the predominate homicidal motivation: Visionaries, Missionaries, Hedonists, and Power Seekers. Visionaries include killers who act in response to quot;voicesquot; and alter egos, whereShow MoreRelatedPsychological Profile of a Killer1577 Words   |  7 Pagesinsight into the scale of the problem posed by the serial killer, in the United States can be gained from examining the statistics for just one year. In 1989 (the last year for which detailed figures are available) there were 21,500 recorded homicides, of which some 5,000 are unsolved. Unofficial sources believe that as many as a hundred serial killers may be at large at any given time. Add to this the number of known victims of serial killers, then between 3,500 and 5,000 people are killed by serialRead MoreHarvey s The Beautiful Bones And Profile A Serial Killer1625 Words   |  7 Pagestwisted into a passion to kill. Otherwise known as an ordinary individual, serial killers turn to violence and death in search of power over others, and to explore their fatal addiction to their immoral thrills. Even though these horrif ic crimes of a serial killer repulse most individuals, there is still a strange fascination when it comes to these deadly killers. I chose the movie The Lovely Bones to profile a serial killer. In the movie we do not really get a background of Mr. Harvey childhood, butRead MoreCharacteristics Of Mass Murderers And Serial Killers1019 Words   |  5 PagesMass Murderers and Serial Killers are nothing new to today’s society. These vicious killers are are generally vicious, fierce beasts and have an unusual inclination to murder. The questions that people ask about serial killers and mass murderers are what gives these people the desire to kill? What inspires them to continue murdering? Do these killers get fulfillment from slaughtering? Is there a contrast between mass murderers and serial killers or would people say they are the same? How do theyRead MoreThe Forensic Science of Criminal Profiling Essay1436 Words   |  6 PagesThe Forensic Science of Criminal Profiling Profiling: an invaluable tool for catching criminals and killers. Profiling is a relatively new approach to crime solving, put in place by forensic psychiatrists. Criminal profiling is the process by which a practitioner analyses information from a crime scene in order to create physical and psychological profile of the perpetrator. All information from a crime scene is a reflection of the criminals behavior. And this behavior can create a surprisinglyRead MoreMind Hunter Essay1648 Words   |  7 Pagesputting himself inside the mind of a killer and victim. Douglas has interviews with famous serial killers in prison. Douglas learned a lot about what was going on inside the killer’s mind, with clues he left at a crime scene. In the book Douglas describes serial killer’s main goals are hunting and killing. They want the feeling of being and wanting to have complete control over their victims. Douglas dissects each crime scene, reliving it in his mind, creating profiles and predicts their next moves.Read MoreSerial Killers : A Serial Killer1219 Words   |  5 PagesAlthough serial killers come in all shapes and sizes, there is a general profile that criminologists go by when trying to profile a criminal. The typical serial killer is a white male in his late 20s to early 30s, kills within his own race, his targeted victims share specific characteristics, and his method of murder is â€Å"hands on† in means of strangulation. The types of serial killers include visionaries, missionaries, lust killers, thrill killers, gain killers, and power seekers. Depending on theRead MoreSeral Killers in the Media Essay929 Words   |  4 PagesSerial Killers in the Media Serial killers are a relatively rare, yet commonly publicized, part of our society. The media portrayal of serial killers skews the opinions and creates a stereotype of murderers for the public. James Knoll, MD states in his article, â€Å"Serial Murder: A Forensic Psychiatric Perspective†, that no evidence supports the idea that serial murder is a â€Å"growing epidemic† as people believe it is (qtd. in Johnson-Sheehan amp; Paine, â€Å"Writing Today†, pg 332). This misperceptionRead MoreSerial Murder And Mass Murder936 Words   |  4 Pagesserial murder are referred to as serial killers. The term â€Å"serial killer† was coined in the mid-1970s by Robert Ressler, the former director of the FBI s Violent Criminal Apprehension Program. He chose the name â€Å"serial killer† because authorities in England called these types of murders â€Å"crimes in a series† (Freeman, 2007). John Wayne Gacy, known as the â€Å"Killer Clown,† who t ortured, raped and murdered 33 men between 1972 and 1978 is an example of a serial killer. On the other hand, mass murder isRead MoreThe Is The Scientific Study Of Mental Disorders Essay848 Words   |  4 Pagescan be defined or determined by many different characteristics, and there are many sub categories to psychopaths, however more often than not psychopaths have common beginnings. Although most psychopaths have common beginnings, police still don’t profile or find psychopaths using efficacy. Psychopathology is the scientific study of mental disorders. A psychopath is a person suffering from a chronic mental disorder with violent social behavior. Psychopaths lack conscience and feelings for othersRead MoreOverview of Criminal Profiling Essay1264 Words   |  6 Pagestelevision shows, but it is still an interesting and important job. Criminal profilers have been used to close many police and federal cases. They work in several homicide cases involving rape, racial killings, brutal killings, and involving serial killers. They help make it easier for the police to find the right person by examining the crime scene. Being a criminal profiler is a tough job but with hard work and dedication it is a great career choice. A criminal profiler gives a description of what