Loading...
Journal Title
Readers/Advisors
Heinrich, Ursula
Journal Title
Term and Year
Spring 2022
Publication Date
2022
Book Title
Publication Volume
Publication Issue
Publication Begin
Publication End
Number of pages
Collections
Files
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Journal Issue
Abstract
Abstract
Background: Serial Killers have always been a thing, from the past to the present and most likely in our future. Of course, detaining them and finding them is at the top of the list. We cannot help and wonder how these human beings began a killing spree. When did we start labeling them? That goes back years and when our "legal system" started. We wonder how it is that someone becomes a serial killer, what they have, that we "normal" humans of society do not. We dive into the world of psychology and also focus on the actual person. Even though forensic science has been a breakthrough in helping our justice system, we believe analyzing a crime and creating a "profile" has been extremely helpful.
Objective: This study aims to identify if a serial killer is "made" due to nurture or nature, possibly even both.
Design & Method: The research method is based on scholarly articles. They are written and researched by many psychologists and doctors. We are shown many graphs to help us identify the typology of serial killers and how they derive from them. They also acquire interviews from people who have decided to talk to researchers to understand the reasoning behind the killing. This research question aims to address: Are serial killers formed from nature or nurture? As we dive into the main question, we come across a few subtopics that are as well mentioned in almost all the scholarly articles I have acquired. Which are: Does childhood affect the reason why people become killers? Are people born with serial killer "genes"? Do childhood traumas give the killer its "signature"?
Results: This study is significant because you see how psychology takes over many of our crime scenes. Even though forensic evidence is the best way to fully be accurate, it's hard and isn't also 100% reliable since many have learned to cover their tracks. A belief is that "profiling" does not help know who did it exactly, but I feel it all depends on the crime and what they get from it. They isolate the characteristics and go from there. We have come up with typologies and an understanding of why people decide to kill. We also analyze their childhood and adolescence, the most important time.
Conclusion: Reading through the articles has made me realize that it is a bit of both; nature and nurture come hand in hand since I believe we humans have an animal instinct. However, I do feel like we have a lot more research to gain insight into someone. We also keep in mind while interviewing someone whose whole life has lied and manipulated people to get their way.
Keywords: profiling, serial killer, behavior sequence analysis, forensic science, case study, psychopathology, psychopathy, childhood, abuse, head injury, characterize serial killers.
Citation
DOI
Description
Accessibility Statement
Purchase College - State University of New York (PC) is committed to ensuring that people with disabilities have an opportunity equal to that of their nondisabled peers to participate in the College's programs, benefits, and services, including those delivered through electronic and information technology. If you encounter an access barrier with a specific item and have a remediation request, please contact lib.ir@purchase.edu.