Week 5 (Serial Killer Typologies Reading)

Question 1

What are the four major types of serial killers?

Answer 1

Visionary: Driven to kill by voices/vision - God/angels/demons/devils.
- e.g delusions of grandeur
Mission-oriented: Concentrates of killing and its outcome.
- e.g duty to kill those that are unworthy/undesirable such as prostitutes from society.
Hedonistic: Lust killer (sex before/during/after the killing) /thrill killer (simply for enjoyment/pleasure/excitement)
- e.g psychopaths
Power/Control: Complete dominance over the victim, killer feels important/powerful.
- e.g psychopathic gay murderer who would stash limbs/skulls as a collection to remind him of their beauty.

Question 2

What is the general incentive behind serial murders in the US?

Answer 2

Asserting power/sexual sadism (almost 2/3).

Question 3

Characteristics of serial killers and their murders (male)

• race & intelligence?
• methods frequently used?
• type of victim?

Answer 3

• mostly white moderate - high intelligence males
• strangulation, stabbing, ligature weapons, beating, injury to head/anus, bind victims, sexually assault.
• prostitutes, women, young boys/girls (generally strangers).

Question 4

Characteristics of serial killers and their murders (female)

• How prevalent?
• incentives?
• methods used?
• type of victim?

Answer 4

• 12 to 17 percent of all serial killers
• Motivated by financial security, revenge, enjoyment, and sexual stimulation
• More likely to use poison (e.g infanticide natural appearing deaths with poison).
• generally who they know i.e shared relo with (70% targeting family members who are dependant on them - filicide, infanticide.