This document discusses the nature vs. nurture debate around what facilitates male sexual serial murder. It suggests that most researchers believe both genetics and environment during development are factors. Childhood experiences like abuse, isolation, and lack of healthy relationships cause social difficulties and distorted views of relationships and sex. These early experiences interact with predispositions and result in fantasies of violence and revenge emerging during teenage years. By adulthood, failure to achieve needs for power and sex drive some to turn these fantasies into reality through murder. Overall, the document concludes that while genetics play a role, the true facilitators lie more in the negative nurturing environments and experiences during formative years that leave serial killers unable to cope with emotions and society.
Rape Victims Are A Class Of Persons Often Defined By Gender Medical ...MedicalWhistleblower
Every two minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Only one in 50 women who have been raped reports the crime to the police.
Although both women and men may be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, women are the victims of the vast majority of these crimes. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 85% of violent victimizations by intimate partners between 1993 and 1998 were perpetrated against women. Women are between 13 and 14 times more likely than men to be raped or sexually assaulted; for instance, in 1994, 93% of sexual assaults were perpetrated against women. Four of five stalking victims are women. Data on male victimization do not show that males experience comparable victimizations and injury levels, do not account for women who act in self defense, and do not measure financial control, intimidation, and isolation used by perpetrators of domestic violence against women.
The gender issue is foremost in sexual assault issues, and is usually background in general victimization. The unique cultural bias and shaming that accompanies rape cases needs its own focused opposition. The history of rape law is a history of the law used as a tool to protect rapists, rather than the raped. The anti-rape movement confronts, as it must, the cultural myths that uniquely exist in the context of rape. Manipulation of these myths, along with humiliation and victim blaming, are typical informal defenses to rape charges. Blaming victims in rape cases may be an effective means to secure acquittal. In contrast, blaming a robbery victim is typically ineffective because robbery is unaccompanied by the same pernicious cultural myths. The nature of stigma and abuse in rape cases is profound and unique, a criminal process that mistreats and excludes other types of victims also inflicts secondary victimization.
In 2002, there were 247,730 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. One out of every six American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (14.8% completed rape; 2.8% attempted rape). A total of 17.7 million women have been victims of these crimes. In 2002, one in every eight rape victims were male. 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims knew their attacker; 34.2% were family members and 58.7% acquaintances. Only seven percent of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim.
One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by victims for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal from the assailant.
• In 2001, only 39% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials — about one in every three. [1999 NCVS]
• Approximately 66% of rape victims know their assailant.
• Approximately 48% of victims are raped by a friend or acquaintance; 30% by a stranger; 16% by an intimate; 2% by another relative; and in 4% of cases the relationship is unknown.
• About four out of ten sexual assaults take place at the victim’s own home. More than half of all rape/sexual assault incidents were reported by victims to have occurred within one mile of their home or at their home.
• In one study, 98% of males who raped boys reported that they were heterosexual.
• Rapists are more likely to be serial criminals than serial rapists. In one study, 46% of rapists who were released from prison were rearrested within 3 years of their release for another crime -- 18.6% for a violent offense, 14.8% for a property offense, 11.2% for a drug offense and 20.5% for a public-order offense.
• 61% of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Those rapists, of course, never serve a day in prison.
So, even in the 39% of attacks that are reported to police, there is onl
Very few of us know that 73% of the rape victims know the rapists. Moreover, 40% of rapes happen at victim’s home and 20% occur in the homes of familiar people.
It turned out that most of us have no idea about the effective precautions needed to protect ourselves from the traumatic experience, because we expect danger from a wrong source. A widespread belief is that one should expect a rapist to sit in the bushes in the park late at night, while the reality is different.
My colleague Paulina Grzelak and I were astonished while exploring this topic, as we were quite oblivious to the real situation as well. Therefore, we decided to make a small questionnaire and ask people what they think about rape.
This presentation begins with the analysis of what makes a person become a rapist, which is followed by the comparison of the results of the questionnaire with real data.
I would be grateful if you shared this presentation as many people need this knowledge.
I also want to add that most figures we present come from the States where definition of rape and social situation may differ from ours. Hence, comparing data from the U.S. with opinions from Poland and Ukraine may seem improper. For instance, being forced into sexual contact by husband may not even be recognized as rape in Ukraine, “because it’s his natural right”. And even if a wife admits this fact, social welfare system (which does not exist here, let’s face it) leaves her no option apart from remaining silent, while in the U.S. rape victims are less dependent on family members. Therefore, one has to approach the statistics carefully. Still, we believe that using American data can be justified by the fact that they explore the subject more than any other country.
Ruling out rape: understanding and ending the campus sexual assault epidemicPeachy Essay
Sexual assault is epidemic in the United States. Recent media
reports, public outrage, and activism have been focused on the
institutional settings in which these assaults occur. Colleges
and universities, as well as the military and athletic programs,
have come under increasing scrutiny as settings that not only fail to deter, but possibly foster rape.
Perceptions of the Social Consequences of Rape in EzinihitteMbaise, Imo State...AJHSSR Journal
Rape is a criminal act of obtaining sexual consent or submission forcefully or by use of threat.
In many places, the scar of rape is perceived to be permanent and the female victims are usually stigmatized.
The paper examined the perceptions of the social consequences of rape in Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.
The paper is anchored on feminist theory, Marxian theory and rational choice theory. The sample size and study
participants were 324 adult residents of the area. They were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure and
purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) were the quantitative and
qualitative instruments of data collection used in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and interpreted in tables of frequency/percentage distributions.
Transcription of the recorded electronic and field note interviews provided data for the qualitative analysis. The
result amongst others revealed that 20.3% of the respondents were of the view that stigmatization; withdrawal
from social activities (18.6%), delay in getting married (25.2%) were notable social consequences of rape.
However, the paper concluded that stigmatization or possible avoidance of marrying rape victims sustains the
trauma and would also serve as a secondary victimization. It therefore recommended amongst others that
government in partnership with NGO's should embark on adequate sensitization campaigns in rural areas to
discourage stigmatization and thereby reorientate many on the wrong notion that rape scar remains with the
victims for life. Females should avoid walking unaccompanied in the night and visiting of acquaintances at
lonely places.
Rape Victims Are A Class Of Persons Often Defined By Gender Medical ...MedicalWhistleblower
Every two minutes, somewhere in America, someone is sexually assaulted. One out of every six American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Only one in 50 women who have been raped reports the crime to the police.
Although both women and men may be victims of domestic violence, sexual assault, and stalking, women are the victims of the vast majority of these crimes. According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, more than 85% of violent victimizations by intimate partners between 1993 and 1998 were perpetrated against women. Women are between 13 and 14 times more likely than men to be raped or sexually assaulted; for instance, in 1994, 93% of sexual assaults were perpetrated against women. Four of five stalking victims are women. Data on male victimization do not show that males experience comparable victimizations and injury levels, do not account for women who act in self defense, and do not measure financial control, intimidation, and isolation used by perpetrators of domestic violence against women.
The gender issue is foremost in sexual assault issues, and is usually background in general victimization. The unique cultural bias and shaming that accompanies rape cases needs its own focused opposition. The history of rape law is a history of the law used as a tool to protect rapists, rather than the raped. The anti-rape movement confronts, as it must, the cultural myths that uniquely exist in the context of rape. Manipulation of these myths, along with humiliation and victim blaming, are typical informal defenses to rape charges. Blaming victims in rape cases may be an effective means to secure acquittal. In contrast, blaming a robbery victim is typically ineffective because robbery is unaccompanied by the same pernicious cultural myths. The nature of stigma and abuse in rape cases is profound and unique, a criminal process that mistreats and excludes other types of victims also inflicts secondary victimization.
In 2002, there were 247,730 victims of rape, attempted rape or sexual assault. One out of every six American women have been the victims of an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime (14.8% completed rape; 2.8% attempted rape). A total of 17.7 million women have been victims of these crimes. In 2002, one in every eight rape victims were male. 93% of juvenile sexual assault victims knew their attacker; 34.2% were family members and 58.7% acquaintances. Only seven percent of the perpetrators were strangers to the victim.
One of the most startling aspects of sex crimes is how many go unreported. The most common reasons given by victims for not reporting these crimes are the belief that it is a private or personal matter and that they fear reprisal from the assailant.
• In 2001, only 39% of rapes and sexual assaults were reported to law enforcement officials — about one in every three. [1999 NCVS]
• Approximately 66% of rape victims know their assailant.
• Approximately 48% of victims are raped by a friend or acquaintance; 30% by a stranger; 16% by an intimate; 2% by another relative; and in 4% of cases the relationship is unknown.
• About four out of ten sexual assaults take place at the victim’s own home. More than half of all rape/sexual assault incidents were reported by victims to have occurred within one mile of their home or at their home.
• In one study, 98% of males who raped boys reported that they were heterosexual.
• Rapists are more likely to be serial criminals than serial rapists. In one study, 46% of rapists who were released from prison were rearrested within 3 years of their release for another crime -- 18.6% for a violent offense, 14.8% for a property offense, 11.2% for a drug offense and 20.5% for a public-order offense.
• 61% of rapes/sexual assaults are not reported to the police. Those rapists, of course, never serve a day in prison.
So, even in the 39% of attacks that are reported to police, there is onl
Very few of us know that 73% of the rape victims know the rapists. Moreover, 40% of rapes happen at victim’s home and 20% occur in the homes of familiar people.
It turned out that most of us have no idea about the effective precautions needed to protect ourselves from the traumatic experience, because we expect danger from a wrong source. A widespread belief is that one should expect a rapist to sit in the bushes in the park late at night, while the reality is different.
My colleague Paulina Grzelak and I were astonished while exploring this topic, as we were quite oblivious to the real situation as well. Therefore, we decided to make a small questionnaire and ask people what they think about rape.
This presentation begins with the analysis of what makes a person become a rapist, which is followed by the comparison of the results of the questionnaire with real data.
I would be grateful if you shared this presentation as many people need this knowledge.
I also want to add that most figures we present come from the States where definition of rape and social situation may differ from ours. Hence, comparing data from the U.S. with opinions from Poland and Ukraine may seem improper. For instance, being forced into sexual contact by husband may not even be recognized as rape in Ukraine, “because it’s his natural right”. And even if a wife admits this fact, social welfare system (which does not exist here, let’s face it) leaves her no option apart from remaining silent, while in the U.S. rape victims are less dependent on family members. Therefore, one has to approach the statistics carefully. Still, we believe that using American data can be justified by the fact that they explore the subject more than any other country.
Ruling out rape: understanding and ending the campus sexual assault epidemicPeachy Essay
Sexual assault is epidemic in the United States. Recent media
reports, public outrage, and activism have been focused on the
institutional settings in which these assaults occur. Colleges
and universities, as well as the military and athletic programs,
have come under increasing scrutiny as settings that not only fail to deter, but possibly foster rape.
Perceptions of the Social Consequences of Rape in EzinihitteMbaise, Imo State...AJHSSR Journal
Rape is a criminal act of obtaining sexual consent or submission forcefully or by use of threat.
In many places, the scar of rape is perceived to be permanent and the female victims are usually stigmatized.
The paper examined the perceptions of the social consequences of rape in Ezinihitte-Mbaise, Imo State, Nigeria.
The paper is anchored on feminist theory, Marxian theory and rational choice theory. The sample size and study
participants were 324 adult residents of the area. They were selected using multi-stage sampling procedure and
purposive sampling technique. Questionnaire and In-Depth Interviews (IDIs) were the quantitative and
qualitative instruments of data collection used in the study. Quantitative data were analyzed using Statistical
Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) and interpreted in tables of frequency/percentage distributions.
Transcription of the recorded electronic and field note interviews provided data for the qualitative analysis. The
result amongst others revealed that 20.3% of the respondents were of the view that stigmatization; withdrawal
from social activities (18.6%), delay in getting married (25.2%) were notable social consequences of rape.
However, the paper concluded that stigmatization or possible avoidance of marrying rape victims sustains the
trauma and would also serve as a secondary victimization. It therefore recommended amongst others that
government in partnership with NGO's should embark on adequate sensitization campaigns in rural areas to
discourage stigmatization and thereby reorientate many on the wrong notion that rape scar remains with the
victims for life. Females should avoid walking unaccompanied in the night and visiting of acquaintances at
lonely places.
Hall del elizabeth del proyecto de la unidad 9 que determina la traducción es...Elizabeth Hall
Word Processor Spanish Translation- of Paper originally written in Englsih
Traducción española del procesador de textos del papel del wri originalmente
This paper will discuss serial killers and identify a research pro.docxherthalearmont
This paper will discuss serial killers and identify a research problem in regard to the topic. Generally, a serial killer can be defined as a person who has murdered three or more people within a time range of more than a month with some significant emotional cooling periods in between the events. Furthermore, this has to be in service of abnormal psychological gratification. However, over the years, various professionals such as mental health experts and law enforcement investigators have been trying to study serial killers in vain since they have never reached a consensus in regard to the issue in question. Therefore, the problem to be addressed by this study is that there is not enough information about the life of the serial killers before the killings started (Abe, 2017). Comment by EasyTiger: Try to form a concise problem statement that has it’s own paragraphs apart from the rest of the sections or in a section of its own. The problem statement should have a maximum of 500 words.
Understanding serial killers
Generally, from the studies, it is clear that the motivations for serial killers are quite complex and therefore, only an intensive psychological analysis on the individuals can help in providing some significant insight. This might include how and why the individuals in question became serial killers. Information from the analysis can then be used in preventing cases of serial killings in future. For example, since the various incidences of serial killing are known to have a number of similar features, these similarities can be used to identify a killer who is actively killing and, hence, prevent any other cases of homicide in the future. However, the problem is that many relevant authorities or rather bodies that are supposed to deal with cases of serial killing lack this vital information that might be instead used to curb any further homicidal incidents. However, in a bid to understand them, there are some areas that need to be discussed in detail that include: the motivations involved in serial killings, the psychological, and neurodevelopment disorders (Ioana, 2017).
Psychological Disorders
As much as the research into serial killers might still be in its infancy, current evidence indicates that psychological disorders play a significant role. This can be well understood by looking into the motivations of serial killers. Evidence shows that some of the motivations involved in serial killing include the need for perfection or power or the fear of rejection. As a result, a majority is usually much afraid of rejection and is usually also very insecure. They also avoid close or painful relationships. This is the reasons many of them are usually reported to having sex with their victims or even their corpses to reduce the chances of being rejected. Furthermore, they tend to prolong the suffering of their victims, especially when killing with the main aim of creating a sense of power over the victims. In addition, they also hold on ...
Explaining ViolenceH174, Prevention of Violence in Ameri.docxnealwaters20034
Explaining Violence
H174, Prevention of Violence in American Society
Cheryl L. Holmes
Why are humans violent?Answer is not straightforward!No SINGLE answerEven with a single precipitating event, perpetrator has a multitude of reasons for choosing to use violenceA number of factors influence violent behavior
*
Factors Influencing Violent BehaviorOur behavior is the result of numerous elements that interact and sway our behavior in complex ways.Many factors influence behavior and there is NO ONE factor predictive of behavior.Some factors work consciously; some work subconsciously.No time in history and no location on our planet has been free of violence.Given the same situations, different persons react differently.
*
EvolutionaryHumans evolved to inhabit a world where violent behavior proved necessary for survival.
*
ChimpanzeesGenetically humans are most closely related to chimpanzees, sharing 96-99% of the same DNA.Humans are closer genetically to chimps than chimps are to gorillas.Chimpanzee violence can demonstrate the evolutionary root of human violence.Jane Goodall popularized the perception of the peaceful chimpanzee.
*
ChimpsResearchers have documented chimps:Attack and kill males from rival groupsStalk and ambush males from rival groupsPatrol boundaries of their territory and attack trespassersEngage in raids of rival groups, kill the males, incorporate the females into their groupMale on female violence, similar to human domestic violence.Also attack humans!
*
Human and Chimp Violence - SimilaritiesChimp violence in general, battering in particular, are largely male perpetrated.Female chimps are less aggressive and less violent than male chimps.Same is true for humans.One of the most consistent patterns of violence: it is mostly perpetrated by males.True the world over.Most violence victims and offenders are men.
*
Humans and ChimpsOften violence revolves around issues of status and dominance.Once a male chimp achieves high status, his use of violence falls dramatically.Much chimp violence is used to achieve and maintain a higher rank.How does this differ from humans?
*
Is Everyone Capable of Violent Behavior?
Under what circumstance(s) could you become violent?
*
Evolutionary TheoriesEarly work = faulty researchCrime was perpetrated by DEFECTIVE individuals.Criminals were born not made.Only “nature”, DNA, mattered.
*
Later ResearchCriminal characteristics are no more common in criminal populations that in the general population.However, these theories have had long term influence.Do we still use physical characteristics and appearance to categorize other people? How?
*
Like Minded TheoriesViewed crime and violence coming from certain types of individuals and populations.Inherently crime prone and violent.Often feeble minded and defective.Implications of these theories used to justify:RacismDiscriminationOppressionSlaveryGenocide
*
One example: EugenicsAttempts to.
This powerpoint was used during my graduating presentation: "With 1 out of every 4 women experiencing domestic violence or sexual assault in their lifetime, with these crimes rising at a rate 4 times faster than other crimes, with the U.S. political environment rising to the effect of the infamous “War on Women,” we must ask ourselves at what point do we choose to stop being a bystander and actively engage in the traumatic events that are being perpetrated against the women we care about? Throughout this workshop, we will work to identify the ways in which women who have endured traumatic experience continue to endure oppression through judicial, social, and clinical reinforcements and how this stunts their healing."
1. 1
Running Head: Serial Murder: Nature, Nurture or Both?
Exploring the Facilitation of Male Sexual
Serial Murder: Is it Nature, Nurture or Both?
Elizabeth Hall
Kaplan University
College Composition II—Effective Writing II for Criminal Justice Majors CM223-02
Deborah Zeringue
8.9.2010
Gary Ridgeway the Green River Killer
http://www.dirjournal.com/info/americas-famous-
serial-killers/
2. 2
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
Exploring the Facilitation of Male Sexual Serial Murder: Is it Nature or Nurture?
Introduction
Upon exploring the motives of male serial killers, one finds that while they all differ in
many ways, most share certain similarities such as sadism, fantasy and a compulsion to kill
(Schlesinger, 2000). Torture, sex and extreme violence seem to be present in almost all cases,
leading researchers to question whether they murder because of nature or nurture. In spite of the
growing interest in the subject of serial murder, there is still much speculation whether the
causality of this phenomenon is due the natural genetics of the killer or by the lack of growing up
in a functional family environment. It is widely believed amongst researchers that during the
developmental and teenage years of sexual serial killers, they spend much of their time being
isolated by their peers and left unable to obtain a normal female companionship, which results in
a building up of enormous antipathy for the society that they feel rejected by. Many of those we
consider authorities on the subject of serial murder believe that the sexual drive of the offender
plays a large role in the commission of crimes like these (Douglas & Olshaker, 1999). During
these critical years when the child is developing sexually, they tend to cope with the social
isolation by escaping into fantasy worlds in which they are in total control of others. It is in this
fantasy world that sex and violence merge.
It is also common knowledge among researchers that many of these predators have
suffered some form of traumatic childhood ordeal, whether that is abuse, physical trauma or
neglect (Giannangelo, 1996). All human behavior is a result of their hereditary factors,
backgrounds (including the way they were nurtured or not) and the individual preferences they
choose while undergoing their developmental years (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005). By
the time they meet the definition of a serial killer and come into the light of law enforcement,
3. 3
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
they have already killed three people on three different occasions (Brown, 2003). By then it is
thought to be too late to try to rehabilitate this type of offender. In order to reduce crimes and
recidivism of this brutal nature, science must move forward yet again and identify a method to
reach these offenders before they offend for the first time.
Inevitably, when we find one of these violent criminals in our midst, the questions asked
by the public, the media and officials remain the same; how does someone get to this place in his
life; how can someone commit these atrocities without any remorse? According to the Federal
Bureau of Investigation (FBI), the answer to these questions and others like them rest in the
individual growth of the perpetrator from their birth to the time they reach adult maturity
(Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005). In light of this distinction, it seems that the true
facilitators of a serial killer must lie somewhere in between nature and nurture with more of an
emphasis on nurture. This is because during their developmental years, a lack of social skills
leaves them with an inability to cope and hardened emotional reactions, along with distorted
views on human relationships and sex.
Defining Serial Murder
The general consensus for the definition of a serial killer says that they must kill at least
three victims during separate attacks, where there has been a cooling off period between the
incidents. This differentiates them from mass murderers who kill multiple people at one location
in a single attack and spree killers who kill multiple people at multiple locations with no cooling
off period. The serial killer has been fantasizing about committing these crimes long before he
commits the first kill. Mass murderers and spree killers are usually triggered by an event in their
lives that sets the pattern in motion, such as the loss of a job or a loved one. The fantasies serial
4. 4
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
killers have usually involve sex and rage, which intertwine and escalate in the offender’s mind,
becoming inseparable, and leading to the merge of fantasy with reality. (Brown, 2003)
Developmental Years of a Serial Killer – The Formative Years
When examining the developmental years of most serial killers, whether extremely
evident or deeply rooted in secret, there is always something not quite right about the
relationships with the people closest to them. This includes uncles, aunts, parents, coaches,
clergymen, siblings, and friends, among others. The process of making a serial murderer often
starts with a genetic predisposition to violence, prenatal exposure to drugs and or alcohol, or
some kind of head trauma (Giannangelo, 1996). Not all of this is evident unless one goes
digging into their past, this is because while some information can be found in their personal
history, other issues such as prenatal exposure to drugs and alcohol can only be discovered by
delving into their parental backgrounds. Issues such as a genetic predisposition to violence will
only come to light with further research and extensive testing.
Their formative years are rife with negative parenting, emotional, sexual, or physical
abuse, and rage building up inside of them (Schlesinger, 2000). Again, this abuse may be
evident or not, depending on the type of abuse endured. No one may be aware that Uncle Johnny
molested little Jimmy or Daddy beat his children and spouse behind closed doors and offenders
like these do not readily admit these sorts of things.
The problems these children have do not receive proper attention and counseling;
consequently, they develop social issues due to a general mistrust of others, a lack of self worth,
and feelings of rejection (Giannangelo, 1996). This is not inconceivable considering that they
5. 5
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
may have either a genetic predisposition to violence, or some kind of head trauma along with
physical, emotional or sexual abuse. Rationally, these factors are enough to drive anyone into
isolation, but most people have someone they can confide in to keep them on an even keel.
Budding serial killers are so isolated by this time they do not feel comfortable talking to anyone
about anything personal, so it is driven inward to inevitably fuel the rage that drives their fantasy
worlds (Brown, 2003).
Some good examples of these perpetrators are John Wayne Gacy, Richard Ramirez, Ted
Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer. Gacy grew up with an abusive father, and had a clot in his brain
caused by a swing hitting him in the head. Richard Ramirez grew up with his parents who were
always away at work, was diagnosed with epilepsy, and witnessed his cousin murder his wife at
the tender age of 12 (Carlos, 1996). Ted Bundy was under the impression that his mother was
his sister for most of his young life, and was very distressed to discover the lie. Jeffrey
Dahmer’s parents practically abandoned him after they went through a divorce. Had these
people had loving relationships with their caregivers, perhaps their victims would not have had
to suffer at all (Schechter, 2003).
Sexuality of a Serial Killer- The Teenage Years into Early Adulthood
These people begin to fantasize about murder and rape as a form of revenge on the
society, or people they feel have slighted them. The fantasy stage dominates the individual’s
thoughts and can be enough to sustain them for years (Schlesinger, 2000). Repeated frustration
from the social isolation fuels the rage building inside of them. Some of them realize that they
are homosexuals or pedophiles during this time, and that factor fuels the fantasy. They often are
compelled to masturbate during these fantasies. Eventually they feel the compulsion to act on
their fantasy to kill. Generally, in their late teens or early adulthood, their frustration with life,
6. 6
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
and the growing satisfaction they receive from their fantasy world where they hold all power
builds to the point that they decide to turn fantasy into reality and make their first kill
(Schlesinger, 2000).
Into Adulthood- Why They Kill
There are multiple factors that contribute to the making of a serial murderer. Just because
someone is abused or neglected does not mean that he will automatically become a serial killer.
They are usually loners, although some form pairs (Godwin, 2000). They have a very hard time
dealing with stress, even though they may appear to be functioning normally in society. This is
where genetics and learned behaviors intertwine with personal experiences, choices, nature, and
consequences. The individuality of human nature plays a large part in the process. Serial
murderers are narcissistic in nature, and failure is what inevitably starts their murderous careers.
To feel powerful, they feel the compulsion to feed their narcissism with murder, because they are
failing miserably in their non-fantasy lives. There are several basic needs every human must
have to maintain a balanced life. The three primary needs are food, water, and sex. Abnormal
behavior is considered the direct result of the rules of society, and inherent human needs which
sometimes conflict with these (Hickey, n.d.). Taking the life of another human being, or having
complete, sexual power over another human being is a very powerful feeling, almost godlike.
Whether sexual activity is defined or not, is committed by a male or female, the sexual
gratification these people get out of killing makes serial murder a sexual crime (Arndt, Hietpas,
& Kim, 2004). To put this in another light, one that is more easily understood by
nonprofessionals, serial killers are people who have experienced abuse during their upbringing,
whose psyche distorts to the point that their sexual needs will not subside without violence. This
7. 7
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
creates a dangerous criminal, because one of their basic human needs for survival can only be
realized during the commission of a heinous crime.
Conclusion
It is because of this distinction that the true facilitators of a serial killer must lie
somewhere in between nature and nurture with more of an emphasis on nurture. This is because
during their developmental years, a lack of social skills leaves them with an inability to cope and
hardened emotional reactions, along with distorted views on human relationships and sex.
Despite media attention that portrays serial killers as inhumane monsters, they are very much as
human as anyone else. After the abusive formative years are over, they emerge enraged and
ready to wreak havoc on society in a never-ending cycle. It takes a combination of both desire
and impulse to allow a human to savagely steal the life of another without any remorse or guilt.
Their development depends on several factors including but not limited to; “biological
predisposition molded by their psychological makeup, which is present at a critical time in their
development” (Federal Bureau of Investigation, 2005). They begin life already prone to
narcissism, and develop into anti-social adults with anger management issues after enduring
childhoods rife with problems. Serial killers are not born, but fashioned from a noxious cocktail
of genetics, life experience, and learned behavior.
8. 8
Serial Murder:Nature or Nurture or Both?
References:
Arndt, W.B, Hietpas, T. & Kim, J. (2004). Critical Characteristics of Male Serial Murderers.
American Journal of Criminal Justice. AJCJ; Fall 2004; 29, 1; Criminal Justice
Periodicals pp. 117
Brown, P. (2003). Killing for Sport: Inside the Minds of Serial Killers. Phoenix Books. Beverly
Hills
Carlo, P. (1996). The Night Stalker: The Life and Crimes of Richard Ramirez. New York:
Kensington Books.
Douglas, J.E. & Olshaker, M. (1999). The anatomy of motive: The FBI’s legendary mind hunter
explores the key to understanding and catching violent criminals. New York, NY:
Scribner.
Federal Bureau of Investigation. (2005). Serial Murder: Multi-Disciplinary Perspectives for
Investigators. Retrieved from: http://www.fbi.gov/publications/serial_murder.pdf
Giannangelo, S.J. (1996). The Psychopathology of Serial Murder: A Theory of Violence.
Westport, CT. Praeger Publishing.
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