Motives of a Serial Killer: Male vs. Female

2853 Words12 Pages
The motives of male and female serial killers differ severely, but regardless of gender the thought and meaning of a serial killer is just as horrific. A serial killer is a person who murders more than four people, one at a time, using the same modus operandi (m.o) each time over a period of weeks, months or years. Serial killers are different from mass murderers in that killings are one after another instead of all at one time. Usually, but not always, the killer has no prior acquaintance with the victims and chooses randomly or by a set group of characteristics (such as gender, hair color, age, resemblance of a relative, etc.). Serial killers have a propensity to share general characteristics. These characteristics are the majority are single white males that are often very intelligent and have very high IQs. Despite their heightened intelligence they usually do poorly in school, can’t hold a job and work basic jobs. They are known to come from “broken” families where they experience abuse from their mothers and are abandoned by their fathers. More often than not the family has a criminal, psychiatric and/or alcoholic history, naturally this leads to abuse both physically and emotionally which forces a mistrust of the parents. Due to the obvious psychiatric damage suffered many serial killers spend time in institutions at a young age and have been known to attempt suicide. Other common characteristics include bed wetting after age twelve, more erotic or sadistic fetishes and the torture of small creatures, usually a pet. Serial killers can be classified into three categories: "organized", "disorganized" and "mixed", those who exhibit both organized and disorganized tendencies. Using these classifications two groups of offenders can be defined, disorganized/asocial offenders and organized/nonsocial offenders. Organized/nonsocial offenders fit the

More about Motives of a Serial Killer: Male vs. Female

Open Document