Inside The Mnd Of A Serial Killer

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Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer
Serial killers are people who commit series of unrelated murders, more than three, with no apparent scheme or motive but having notable patterns or recurring characteristics. Some people think serial killing is a form of insanity resulting from mental disorder or psychopathic attributes (Dietz 483). Consequently, serial killers pose as predators of human prey or as people with fantasies of violence and killing, albeit, a common ground of all cases of the vice is that victims profiling is a result of thinking or ‘the mind of the serial killer'. Warf and Waddell (325), elaborate serial killing as a form of mental illness and not mere insanity or lunacy for that matter. The notion remains an ambiguous matter in the different societies of the world. This paper however recognizes that psychotic factors, need for power, pleasure and control and genetic attributes to some extent are responsible for acts of serial killing and not evil forces.
A range of theories that strive to describe the basis of serial killing claim that the perpetrators have generic tendencies while others claim they adopt such behavior. This represent a psychological view of what really takes place inside the mind of a serial killer; this topic has gone ahead to attract considerable controversies in regards to whether serial killers are born or raised. A good number of scholars are of the opinion that serial killing is not fully of genetic background; rather, it is a pattern of undesired behavior, which people cultivate over time. Still, this thought does little to refute the fact that some people exhibit more violent behavior patterns than others (Guillen, 57). This represents a platform for some to argue that serial killers, who tend to possess a gene known as ‘Monoamine Oxidase', have their minds structured with a likeness of violence from the onset of childhood to or adulthood.
Nevertheless, it is widely understood that people often behave in certain ways as a product of environments they become progressively exposed to. The minds of most serial killers contain harsh and violent life experiences they have had while growing up, which in turn affect their behavior. As such, serial killers miss the aspect of empathy in their minds. This can well be noticed even during childhood, like in instances where a child may be extremely cruel to animals or show signs of pyromania or other vicious behaviors. These indicate a yearning for transferring ones anger and or pain to other life forms or experience of power or control, which they might have desired when abused in other instances. It is with no doubt that, these acts of cruelty linger in the minds of serial killers in a progressive nature (Petee & Jarvis, 215).
The idea of child abuse and molestation has come out to be a significant possible cause for serial killings. The perpetrators often have a burning need to alleviate their pain and anger or get back at someone who may be out of their reach or long gone (dead) and so they direct their anger towards people whom they make assume the unfortunate position. This paper supports the nurture theory of serial killers; the whole idea is a long-term process involving a number of experiences in a serial killer's life accumulated from the childhood stage (Schechter & Everitt, 11). Many psychologists and sociologists have studied the minds of serial killers to try to learn the driving forces behind their actions using this theory as a foundation. From an early age, serial killers most likely live in a fantasy world wherein they have control and power as opposed to fear. This depicts that early life experiences are directly related to the psychopathic behaviors of serial killers
Studies have also indicated that many serial killers barely displayed signs of spiritual and or religious bearings to their actions. They seem to lead normal lives but with minute unusual behaviors like lying or being too controlling and aggressive, which people can attribute to common life challenges. However, a set of complex motives that include but are not limited to genetic, environmental and psychological factors are believed to be the driving force behind the actions of serial killers since it is not normal for a person to commit murder with ‘passion'. Understanding the mind of a serial killer is no child's play even though it is understood that the stated forces form the major catalysts sources for this undesired demeanor (Barbara et al.199).
Mental illnesses or disorders form a major part of psychopathic qualities of serial killers, who mostly seek mental satisfaction. In some cases however, serial killers have been reported to seek sensual satisfaction or other physical gratification. Still, this does not dispute the being of a mindset characterized by a desire to gain and exercise power and or control over life as a means to get back at initial life experiences. This is supported by the fact that most serial killers tend to target victims that are physically weaker than they, especially the aged, women and children. (Dietz 485).
Attempting to explain the phenomenon behind serial killing has proved to be more difficult in modern day society as explained by Barbara et al (205). This is so since most serial killers known in time failed to fit the descriptions of expected paradigm in regards to their backgrounds, social behavior patterns and psychological and physical profiles. Nevertheless, it has been noted that serial killers often bear enhanced curiosity of members of society in their surroundings. With increasing aspects of technological advances, serial killers are much more able to track and identify suitable victims. Caucasian males in their middle ages with psychotic and sadistic tendencies form a group of people that fits the description of serial killers the most (Fox & Levin, 19).
Most serial killing cases remain unsolved since the perpetrators are difficult to find as well as evidence linking the to the crime, this is so since the act is usually planned and organized as opposed to most criminal activities that are likely to have witnesses (Hanson et al. 346). As such, it is extremely important to educate members of the public about serial killing and the nature of serial killers. Absolute astronomy places the motives of serial killers within categories of ‘visionary', ‘hedonistic' (sensual indulgence), ‘power or control' and ‘mission-oriented'. To better comprehend the mindsets of serial killers, this paper explores visionary serial killers, whom in most cases people are suffering from psychotic tendencies that drive them out of touch with reality. Some serial killers have been reported to believe the...