Beverlyne Jean
Name of the Instructor
English
21 January 2020
Serial Killer
There are various incidences, where people assassinate others since they believe that killing that person might bring ease in achieving objectives. From the early times of mankind’s history, people have been experiencing such incidents, which tend to ignite conflict, rather sloving them. If any individual takes the life of other individuals in a series, he is labled as a serial killer. The psychology of human nature suggests that if a crime remains uninterrupted, it becomes a reason for people to do it again without feelings of guilt; and a serial killer is a senseless individual. This lack of sense which develops his personality, persuade him to commit more crimes, which usually involves taking or risking the life of fellow humans. Finally, these negative changes in human personality become inescapable and the society starts referring to him as a serial killer. Some movies display an accurate image of serial killers, most of which depicts their actual personality.
Defining a serial killer is quite a pressing task since it requires a close examination of different human and social aspects. There are many criminal investigation agencies, which have quantified certain norms to define a serial killer. The most notable of them is America’s Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), which mentions that ‘a serial killer is someone who commits three murders in a month. However, the experts of human psychology believe that it is hard or possibly impossible to define a serial killer since there are different aspects, which push a person to commit a crime. For example, one may commit murder in self-defence as well, or a gang- member ends up killing three of his rival gang members in a period of three months. These examples suggest that the external environment may also become a reason for killing someone. In order to define a serial killer, one needs to consider the environmental factors (external), the psychological traits and the sexual motives behind it as well. Therefore, if a person who commits murder under psychological strain, he has the ability to become a serial killer.
The human brain is dynamic, it takes on different perspectives, interpret it and develop the understanding of the world around. Being an important part of the human body, it remains influential on the physical conduct of people. It plans things according to a certain situation, and in the case of a serial killer leads in creating an undesirable situation. Bjorklund and Pellegrini write that human psychology is only influenced by the internal and external factors, and these factors tend to create the personality of individuals ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Arn8sMQo","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bjorklund and Pellegrini 119)","plainCitation":"(Bjorklund and Pellegrini 119)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":453,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/QYCN3R2L"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/QYCN3R2L"],"itemData":{"id":453,"type":"book","publisher":"American Psychological Association","source":"Google Scholar","title":"The origins of human nature: Evolutionary developmental psychology.","title-short":"The origins of human nature","author":[{"family":"Bjorklund","given":"David F."},{"family":"Pellegrini","given":"Anthony D."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2002"]]}},"locator":"119","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bjorklund and Pellegrini 119). They go on to write that in the case of serial killers, these mind processes take a little longer since it’s been attracted to negative things ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"QLPSqX7A","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Bjorklund and Pellegrini 121)","plainCitation":"(Bjorklund and Pellegrini 121)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":453,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/QYCN3R2L"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/QYCN3R2L"],"itemData":{"id":453,"type":"book","publisher":"American Psychological Association","source":"Google Scholar","title":"The origins of human nature: Evolutionary developmental psychology.","title-short":"The origins of human nature","author":[{"family":"Bjorklund","given":"David F."},{"family":"Pellegrini","given":"Anthony D."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2002"]]}},"locator":"121","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Bjorklund and Pellegrini 121). Strauss has interpreted this negativity in different manners. He believes that negativity in a serial killer’s mind is genetically transferred, and there are fewer chances that he gets influenced from things happening in the external environment ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"YjIVRcSx","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Strauss 78)","plainCitation":"(Strauss 78)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":455,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/8TT3NINY"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/8TT3NINY"],"itemData":{"id":455,"type":"book","publisher":"Routledge","source":"Google Scholar","title":"Social psychology and human values","author":[{"family":"Strauss","given":"Anselm L."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}},"locator":"78","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Strauss 78).
This perspective suggests that a serial killer’s mind is nothing different, compared to an ordinary person. Somehow, these aspects remain debatable, since human development keeps on taking place unless a certain period of time. The genetic traits, however, could be the triggering element for a serial killer. For example, the case study of Santa Cruz is related to how genetic traits give birth to a serial killer. Born in 1949, Cruz experienced a restrictive environment in-home ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"Gv7ZVKLt","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ostrosky and Ardila 21)","plainCitation":"(Ostrosky and Ardila 21)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":457,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/KF6LVC9X"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/KF6LVC9X"],"itemData":{"id":457,"type":"chapter","container-title":"Neuropsychology of Criminal Behavior","page":"68–85","publisher":"Routledge","source":"Google Scholar","title":"Serial Killers","author":[{"family":"Ostrosky","given":"Feggy"},{"family":"Ardila","given":"Alfredo"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}},"locator":"21","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ostrosky and Ardila 21). His father, who was detained for the killing of an African- American driver, whom he had hired while travelling outside California. Cruz, who was accompanying his father, witnessed the harsh exchange which ended with the murder of the driver by his father. Being an eye-witness, this episode left a remarkable impression over Cruz’s memory. In June of 1965, Cruz killed the driver whom he believed to be the murderer of his girlfriend. This suggests that genetic traits somehow play a substantial role in creating a serial killer.
Another case study of Jack Unterweger from Austria is related to abuse and abandoning in early ages ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"key36USW","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Ostrosky and Ardila 23)","plainCitation":"(Ostrosky and Ardila 23)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":457,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/KF6LVC9X"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/KF6LVC9X"],"itemData":{"id":457,"type":"chapter","container-title":"Neuropsychology of Criminal Behavior","page":"68–85","publisher":"Routledge","source":"Google Scholar","title":"Serial Killers","author":[{"family":"Ostrosky","given":"Feggy"},{"family":"Ardila","given":"Alfredo"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2017"]]}},"locator":"23","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Ostrosky and Ardila 23). Unterweger was abused and defamed during his teens in a rented apartment by his uncle, with whom he shared the flat. Untermeyer’s life suggests that he had been struggling to pull out the reason, why he was maltreated by someone he believed he could trust. Unterweger later murdered his uncle, who attempted to molest him. After confessing to this murder, Unterweger molested some underage boys in the backyard and was convicted of murdering four of them. These episodes of molestation and murder, present a differential view of being a serial killer. This case study suggests causation model behind the rise of a serial killer. The case of Unterweger and Santa Cruz are totally different from each other and present contrasting views about the development of a serial killer. There are more instances and case studies which present new perspectives about the causes which lead to becoming a serial killer.
Harrison writes that “serial killing is nothing but an act of revenge, somehow carried in the same manner by a provoked individual ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"vU1SZsnn","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Harrison et al. 298)","plainCitation":"(Harrison et al. 298)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":459,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/IMYXNZS3"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/IMYXNZS3"],"itemData":{"id":459,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Evolutionary behavioral sciences","source":"Google Scholar","title":"Sex differences in serial killers.","author":[{"family":"Harrison","given":"Marissa A."},{"family":"Hughes","given":"Susan M."},{"family":"Gott","given":"Adam Jordan"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019"]]}},"locator":"298","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Harrison et al. 298)”. These perspectives and case studies present interesting insights into the life and upbringing of a serial killer. However, once a serial killer commits a crime, police and law enforcement are among the first ones to take action. There is various literature, which talks about how an institutional approach dealt with the cases requiring immediate attention. Harrison believes that it must not be left to the Police, rather human behaviour experts and psychologists must be taken on board as well ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"vEBKBxdX","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Harrison et al.)","plainCitation":"(Harrison et al.)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":459,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/IMYXNZS3"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/IMYXNZS3"],"itemData":{"id":459,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Evolutionary behavioral sciences","source":"Google Scholar","title":"Sex differences in serial killers.","author":[{"family":"Harrison","given":"Marissa A."},{"family":"Hughes","given":"Susan M."},{"family":"Gott","given":"Adam Jordan"}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2019"]]}}}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Harrison et al.). As he believes that a serial killer is more like an infant, who can be taught and brought back to life. His opinion was widely criticized, but he resorted to his view that laws and governing bodies don’t treat the infant killers more candidly, as a result, they get interested in continuing self- appeasing crimes.
There are various methods detectives and the police use to trace and monitor the activities of a suspected killer. They trace their activities right from the time, an initial report is launched against a suspected killer. Though it takes time, a close monitoring and an analysis of their medical history are enough to have an idea about their mental intents. If during this process, they commit another crime or a murder, they are not given the chance to move freely and they are represented in front of a civil magistrate, as early as possible ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"U1eWWNAB","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Egger 112)","plainCitation":"(Egger 112)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":461,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/9795UQDU"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/9795UQDU"],"itemData":{"id":461,"type":"book","publisher":"New York: Prentice Hall","source":"Google Scholar","title":"The killers among us","author":[{"family":"Egger","given":"Steven A."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2002"]]}},"locator":"112","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Egger 112). In some countries such as the UK, the cases pertaining to serial killings are presented to Royal Courts which oversee further processes. Owing to the technological innovations, the police might trace or monitor the activities of the individual in unusual ways, but the pilot proceedings are still the same, as done in recent history ADDIN ZOTERO_ITEM CSL_CITATION {"citationID":"SN5g1414","properties":{"formattedCitation":"(Haggerty 174)","plainCitation":"(Haggerty 174)","noteIndex":0},"citationItems":[{"id":463,"uris":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/X98DXVE2"],"uri":["http://zotero.org/users/local/8reWiRZH/items/X98DXVE2"],"itemData":{"id":463,"type":"article-journal","container-title":"Crime, Media, Culture","issue":"2","page":"168–187","source":"Google Scholar","title":"Modern serial killers","volume":"5","author":[{"family":"Haggerty","given":"Kevin D."}],"issued":{"date-parts":[["2009"]]}},"locator":"174","label":"page"}],"schema":"https://github.com/citation-style-language/schema/raw/master/csl-citation.json"} (Haggerty 174).
This paper has presented differential perspectives related to becoming a serial killer. It has also taken into account, two case studies and methods involved in tracing killers. Though, a little outdated, but the detection methods are still the same as practices in the past, recently. It suggests that unless the flaws in society or in a human environment are not addressed, it remains impossible to prevent someone from becoming a serial killer. This research paper therefore, recommends that law enforcement, police, civil society, humanitarian organizations and people themselves must discourage incidences which become a reason for someone to become a criminal, or in this case, a serial killer. These stakeholders can also adopt a common mechanism to address this menace.
Works Cited
ADDIN ZOTERO_BIBL {"uncited":[],"omitted":[],"custom":[]} CSL_BIBLIOGRAPHY Bjorklund, David F., and Anthony D. Pellegrini. The Origins of Human Nature: Evolutionary Developmental Psychology. American Psychological Association, 2002.
Egger, Steven A. The Killers among Us. New York: Prentice Hall, 2002.
Haggerty, Kevin D. “Modern Serial Killers.” Crime, Media, Culture, vol. 5, no. 2, 2009, pp. 168–187.
Harrison, Marissa A., et al. “Sex Differences in Serial Killers.” Evolutionary Behavioral Sciences, 2019.
Ostrosky, Feggy, and Alfredo Ardila. “Serial Killers.” Neuropsychology of Criminal Behavior, Routledge, 2017, pp. 68–85.
Strauss, Anselm L. Social Psychology and Human Values. Routledge, 2017.
