Literature Review Ashley Ashley Columbia Southern University ENG 1302, English Composition 10 December 2022 Understanding serial killers' motivations, development, and habits can be challenging because they are among the most dangerous and elusive criminals. Researchers have conducted numerous studies to examine the various traits connected to serial killers to understand them better. A focus will be placed on the psychological, sociological, and environmental aspects that lead to the development of a serial killer as this literature review explores the various hypotheses and findings about serial killers. According to psychological theories, serial killers are motivated by deep-seated urges for dominance, control, and power. Psychoanalytic theories suggest that there may be an underlying desire for vengeance resulting from feelings of rejection and victimization. Other psychological theories link severe mental disorders like psychopathy or schizophrenia to serial murders. According to Davies (2022), not all abused children go on to commit several murders, and not all serial killers were raped as youngsters. According to the article, a person's genetic makeup, trauma, environment, and personality are some elements that contribute to serial killer behavior. However, dismissing the two's link as the result of pure coincidence is impossible. A person is more prone to act violently if they have a specific monoamine-oxidase-A gene variant and experience abuse as a child. Not every child predisposed to genetically motivated aggression grows up to be a criminal (Davies, 2022). According to sociological ideas, conditions including social and economic hardship, poverty, and a lack of access to quality education and employment prospects can mould people into serial killers. According to these views, serial killers may be motivated by a need for dominance and control over their surroundings. According to Entail (2021), an individual's propensity for serial killing is influenced by genetic and environmental factors. Serial killers are exceptional because their personal experiences have affected their personalities and attitudes. Investigations into serial killers are further complicated because many lead normal lives and hide behind very commonplace lifestyles, making it more challenging to locate them. Professionals and the general public have a lot of curiosity, which calls for more study and rigorous analysis. Without a doubt, a person's predisposition to commit serial murder may rise due to a confluence of inherited features and environmental factors. Thus, environment, trauma, personality, and inheritance all work together to determine serial killer behavior (Entail, 2021). Because a criminal's attitude is molded by both their genetic composition (nature) and their upbringing and history, Hernandez et al. (2015) contend that all criminals are judged using the same standards (nurture). Understanding the mind is a major focus in psychology, enabling .

1. Literature Review
Ashley Ashley
Columbia Southern University
ENG 1302, English Composition
10 December 2022
Understanding serial killers' motivations, development, and
habits can be challenging because they are among the most
dangerous and elusive criminals. Researchers have conducted
numerous studies to examine the various traits connected to
serial killers to understand them better. A focus will be placed
on the psychological, sociological, and environmental aspects
that lead to the development of a serial killer as this literature
review explores the various hypotheses and findings about
serial killers.
According to psychological theories, serial killers are motivated
by deep-seated urges for dominance, control, and power.
Psychoanalytic theories suggest that there may be an underlying
desire for vengeance resulting from feelings of rejection and
victimization. Other psychological theories link severe mental
disorders like psychopathy or schizophrenia to serial murders.
According to Davies (2022), not all abused children go on to
commit several murders, and not all serial killers were raped as
youngsters. According to the article, a person's genetic makeup,
trauma, environment, and personality are some elements that
contribute to serial killer behavior. However, dismissing the
two's link as the result of pure coincidence is impossible. A

2. person is more prone to act violently if they have a specific
monoamine-oxidase-A gene variant and experience abuse as a
child. Not every child predisposed to genetically motivated
aggression grows up to be a criminal (Davies, 2022).
According to sociological ideas, conditions including social and
economic hardship, poverty, and a lack of access to quality
education and employment prospects can mould people into
serial killers. According to these views, serial killers may be
motivated by a need for dominance and control over their
surroundings. According to Entail (2021), an individual's
propensity for serial killing is influenced by genetic and
environmental factors. Serial killers are exceptional because
their personal experiences have affected their personalities and
attitudes. Investigations into serial killers are further
complicated because many lead normal lives and hide behind
very commonplace lifestyles, making it more challenging to
locate them. Professionals and the general public have a lot of
curiosity, which calls for more study and rigorous analysis.
Without a doubt, a person's predisposition to commit serial
murder may rise due to a confluence of inherited features and
environmental factors. Thus, environment, trauma, personality,
and inheritance all work together to determine serial killer
behavior (Entail, 2021).
Because a criminal's attitude is molded by both their genetic
composition (nature) and their upbringing and history,
Hernandez et al. (2015) contend that all criminals are judged
using the same standards (nurture). Understanding the mind is a
major focus in psychology, enabling the study to add to the
meager body of knowledge about the mind. The ideas of nature
and nurture are at the heart of most psychiatric problems. This
highlights the importance of the relationship between genes and
their environment. Understanding the mind is a major focus in
psychology, enabling the study to add to the meager body of
knowledge about the mind (Hernandez et al., 2015).
O'Hara (2021) asserts that the nature perspective maintains that
serial killers are born with particular characteristics. It is

3. believed that they have better levels of impulse control and less
empathy than others. The article bases its arguments against
serial killers on research by Dr Richard Davidson at the
University of Wisconsin in 2000. According to Davidson and
his colleagues' examination of the brain scans, the brain activity
in the orbital frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex
was lower or absent. They discovered that the amygdala either
became more active or remained active. Killers can be
influenced by their environment, but Davidson and his
colleagues concluded that they have no control over the genetic
reactions that are a part of them (O'Hara, 2021).
In conclusion, a serial killer's development is thought to be
influenced by both nature and nurture. While a person's DNA
and genetics may incline them to violence, their environment
and social environment can significantly impact and mold that
behavior. According to studies, most serial killers, or about
60%, experienced a traumatic childhood event such as physical
or sexual abuse or neglect. It's thought that these encounters
might contribute to the emergence of personality disorders like
antisocial personality disorder, which can manifest as violent
conduct. These contextual elements may influence how a serial
murderer develops, according to some theories.
References
Davies, N. (2022, August 24).
From abused child to serial killer: Investigating nature
vs nurture in methods of murder. Psychiatry Advisor. Retrieved
December 11, 2022, from
https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/violence-and-
aggression/from-abused-child-to-serial-killer-investigating-
nature-vs-nurture-in-methods-of-murder/
Entail, W. D. A. S. K. (2021). Are Serial Killers Born or
Made?.
https://theiacs.org/are-serial-killers-born-or-
made/?print-posts=print

4. Hernandez, J., Highsmith, J., Madrigal, S., & Mercado, M.
(2015). Nature (MAOA) and Nurture in a Criminal.
UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal, 8(1).
https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5w51b7bg
O'Hara, K. (2021, October 23).
Nature vs nurture: The making of a serial murderer.
Medium. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from
https://medium.com/crimebeat/nature-vs-nurture-the-
making-of-a-serial-murderer-6e47c609f6df
Unit V Journal
Instructions
In this unit, we have focused on revising and editing;
understanding expectations; gaining perspective on your
writing; ways to outline your paper; the importance of keeping
the reader in mind; and how you can best read, process, and
respond to feedback. Part of the revision process is sharing with
others about what you have experienced. You never know what
might help others in their process. Further, sometimes it can
help you to better understand and reflect upon your process
when you have the opportunity to write it down.
For this unit's reflection, consider the process you have gone
through as you revised your paper so far—the introduction and
literature review. What have you found to be most helpful for
you? What would you share with others about your process?
What techniques, tips, and methods have you used to help the
process go more smoothly for you? You can also describe
methods that were not as helpful to you and what you would
like to do in the future that you think might be better.
Keep in mind that the spirit of this writing is to think about
ways that you and others might improve your writing process.
Your journal entry must be
at least 200 words. No references or citations are
necessary.