BIO 494 with Michael Angilletta, PhD

1. Module 4:
Why People Kill

2. Module 4: Day 1
What is murder?
A thief steal property but a killer steals
lives. Perhaps that why every society has
stiff penalties for unlawful killing. But
what makes some deaths unlawful while
others are tolerated or even sanctioned
by society? Today, we explore the way
that people value lives based on
relatedness, age, and relationship. You
will learn that the difference between
killing and murder has everything to do
with evolutionary biology.

3. Module 4: Day 2
Domestic Homicides
Most murders are committed by
men, and many of these murders
occur inside the home. Today, we
explore the factors that cause
people to kill their children. You
will learn that having a stepfather
or a mother who is poor, young,
and single puts a child at greater
risk of homicide.

4. Module 4: Day 3
Crimes of Passion
Many homicides occur when men
react violently to a stressful
situation. Today, we explore how
escalating aggression causes men to
kill their spouses and other men.
You will learn that testosterone puts
a man at risk of escalating
aggression with other men.
Similarly, women are most at risk of
being killed at an age when their
husbands have high levels of
testosterone.

5. Module 4: Day 4
Cold-blooded Killers
Hollywood periodically stokes our fascination
with serial killers, but these people are
fortunately rare in society. Nevertheless, we
should consider what makes them so rare as
much as we should wonder what makes them
behave so abnormally. Today, we explore the
habits, motivations, and neurobiology of serial
killers. You will learn that male
and female serial killers differ
in frequency, behavior, and
motivation. But both kinds of
serial killers have psychopathic
traits that stem from altered
function of the brain.

6. Module 4: Day 5
Organized Murder
Organized crime gets a bad rap when you
consider that nations can steal and kill
honorably by just declaring war. This mass-
killing between groups has been
sanctioned by every society at one time or
another. Today, we explore the frequency
of war among humans and other primates.
You will learn that humans are more
violent that their relatives, have spread
their genes and culture through war, and
may be genetically programmed for
prejudice against outgroups.