Rachel Pointer

Ms. Santiago

UWRT 1102

7 February 2017

Topic Proposal

What is it that makes someone become a serial killer? This has been a very controversial

topic between experts ever since the existence of serial killers have been acknowledged

(Adjorlolo 486). Simply defining what a serial killer is has been a topic of debate as well

(Adjorlolo 486). The best definition I have come across so far that incorporates many

perspectives of a serial killer is one stated in Giannangelos book that says: to be considered a

serial killer you must have committed at least two murders, consisting of people who have no

relationship to the killer; these murders must have happened at different times and none of the

murders must have any connection to the others (4). Also, there must be no motive to these

murders other than to fulfill the killers desire to end a human life (Giannangelo 4-5).

With serial killers, there have been some patterns seen in the psychological disorders they

have been diagnosed with (Giannangelo 19). Many have been labeled with having one or a

combination of the following disorders: antisocial personality disorder, psychopathic personality

disorder, borderline personality disorder, or narcissistic personality disorder (Giannangelo 19).

Traits that can also be observed are dissociation, doubling, post-traumatic stress, and obsessive-

compulsiveness (Giannangelo 19). Many of these disorders and traits have been said to be
caused by a history of physical, sexual, or mental abuse (Giannangelo 19). Knowing this, there

may be more than just a nature versus nurture argument regarding serial killers; it could easily be

both that effect their actions.

There is a lot of controversy surrounding the phenomenon known as the serial killer

(Adjorlolo 486). I feel that collecting research from many sources and coming to my own

conclusions will be helpful to the people trying to come to a consensus of what a serial killer is

and how someone becomes one. There are two main perspectives on this subject that I will be

reviewing (Egger, Serial Murder ed. 1 61). There is the sociogenic perspective that focuses on

the societal factors that have influenced a serial killer and then there is the psychogenic

perspective, which focuses on how a killers brain works and what psychological factors affect

them and possibly cause them to kill (Egger, Serial Murder ed. 1 61). With these perspectives,

some people believe one factor motivates a killer over the other and some people believe both

factors influence a serial killers actions (Egger, Serial Murder ed. 1 61).

Serial killers have also recently been sensationalized within movies, books, and the media

(Giannangelo 3). This means that there are many false portrayals of serial killers (Giannangelo

3). Sharing my collection of research with the public may clear up many stereotypes and false

information. This can lead to a better understanding of what a serial killer is and how the

development of one can be prevented.

During my research, I have collected a lot of sources focusing on the psychological

factors that affect serial killers. My next step is to find more information on the sociological

factors. To get this information, I will most likely keep searching through the books I have on

my topic. I want to keep searching through these books because I feel that scholarly articles are

usually short and to-the-point, while books are better for finding in-depth explanations and
research on my topic. After I have found sufficient research on both factors, I will then be able to

review my findings and come to a conclusion.

 Bibliography

Adjorlolo, Samuel, and Heng Choon Chan. "The Controversy of Defining Serial Murder:

Revisited." Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 5, 2014, pp. 486-491.

Allely, Claire, et al. Neurodevelopmental and Psychosocial Risk Factors in Serial Killers and

Mass Murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 3, 2014, pp. 288-301.

Angrilli, Allessandro, Giuseppe Sartori, and Giovanna Donzella. Cognitive, Emotional, and

Social Markers of Serial Murdering. The Clinical Neuropsychologist, vol. 27, no. 3,

2013, pp. 485-494.

Berry-Dee, Christopher, and Steven Morris. How to Make a Serial Killer: The Twisted

Development of Innocent Children into the Worlds Most Sadistic Murderers. Ulysses

Press, 2008.

Egger, Steven. Serial Murder: An Elusive Phenomenon. Praeger Publishers, 1990.

Fallon, Jim. Exploring the Mind of a Killer. TED, February 2009. Lecture.

Giannangelo, Stephen. The Psychopathology of Serial Murder: A Theory of Violence. Praeger

Publishers, 1996.

Holmes, Ronald, and James Burger. Serial Murder. 1st ed., SAGE Publications, 1988.

---, and Stephen Holmes. Serial Murder. 2nd ed., SAGE Publications, 1998.

Levin, Jack. Serial Killers and Sadistic Murderers: Up Close and Personal. Prometheus Books,

2008.
Miller, Laurence. Serial Killers: I. Subtypes, Patterns, and Motives. Aggressive and Violent

Behavior, vol. 19, no. 1, 2014, pp. 1-11.

---. Serial Killers: II. Development, Dynamics, and Forensics. Aggressive and Violent

Behavior, vol. 19, no. 1, 2014, pp. 12-22.

Morton, Robert. Serial Murder. FBI. https://www.fbi.gov/stats-services/publications/serial-

murder. Accessed 9 February 2017

Sears, Donald. To Kill Again: The Motivation and Development of Serial Murder. Rowman &

Littlefield Publishers, 1991.

Vronsky, Peter. Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters. Penguin Publishing

Group, 2004.

Whitman, Terry, and Donald Akutagawa. Riddles in Serial Murder: A Synthesis. Aggression

and Violent Behavior, vol. 9, no. 6, 2004, pp. 693-703.

 Works Cited

Aamodt, Mike. Serial Killer Statistics. Radford. 4 September 2016.

http://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/serial%20killer%20information%20center/project%20de

scription.htm. Accessed 9 March 2017.

Adjorlolo, Samuel, and Heng Choon Chan. "The Controversy of Defining Serial Murder:

Revisited." Aggression and Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 5, 2014, pp. 486-491.

Egger, Steven. Serial Murder: An Elusive Phenomenon. Praeger Publishers, 1990.

Fallon, Jim. Exploring the Mind of a Killer. TED, February 2009. Lecture.

Giannangelo, Stephen. The Psychopathology of Serial Murder: A Theory of Violence. PraegerPublishers,

1996.

Holmes, Ronald, and James Burger. Serial Murder. 1st ed., SAGE Publications, 1988.

---, and Stephen Holmes. Serial Murder. 2nd ed., SAGE Publications, 1998.

Miller, Laurence. Serial Killers: I. Subtypes, Patterns, and Motives. Aggressive and Violent Behavior,

vol. 19, no. 1, 2014, pp. 1-11.

---. Serial Killers: II. Development, Dynamics, and Forensics. Aggressive and Violent

Behavior, vol. 19, no. 1, 2014, pp. 12-22.

Ted Bundy Biography. Biography. A&E Television Networks. http://www.biography.com/people/ted-

bundy-9231165. Accessed 4 March 2017.

The VW Owned by Serial Killer, Ted Bundy. Crime Museum. http://www.crimemuseum.org/crime-

library/the-volkswagen-owned-by-serial-killer-ted-bundy/. Accessed 4 March 2017.

Vronsky, Peter. Serial Killers: The Method and Madness of Monsters. Penguin Publishing Group, 2004.