“We serial killers are your sons, we are your husbands, we are

everywhere. And there will be more of your children dead tomorrow.” —

Ted Bundy

In A Nutshell

Serial killers aren’t a new thing. It is only fairly recently, however, that

serial killers have been broken down into different types based on their

motivations for killing. These include those that are motivated by anger, by

financial gain, by psychosis, and by a need for power. There are also serial killers

that commit their murders based on ideology, inclusion in a criminal organization, or

because of a sexual need. There are, of course, cases that fall between the cracks

or hit multiple areas, and these categories certainly are not 100 percent complete

or absolute.
 The Whole Bushel

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation, there are seven main

different types of serial killers, although some organizations combine some of

these different types. It’s also important to note that there can be some overlap.

For instance, the serial killer driven by psychosis to murder can also have

characteristics that would make him an anger-motivated killer.

An anger-motivated serial killer is one that’s driven by an intense hatred of

a group of people. This anger can be based on religion, gender, lifestyle, or race,

and could be fueled by something from a life-changing event to the irrational

development of racist views. Some profiles also call this type a “mission serial

killer,” as they believe it is their purpose in life to rid the world of a certain type

of person.

Ideology can also be a very powerful motivator for some types of serial

killers. These are the people that also tend to target a single group of people, but

it’s to further their own cause and ideals rather than to rid the world of a very

specific type of person, as in anger-motivated killings. Terrorist groups are often

ideology-based.
Some serial killers are motivated by financial gain. These are the killers that

ingratiate themselves into a household, then perhaps kill for their inheritance, and

they’re the ones that take out insurance policies then kill to receive their payoff.

Robbery-homicides are also an example of crimes with a financially motivated

serial killer. These killers are also known as comfort-oriented serial killers, and

many female serial killers fall into this category.

Some serial killers commit murder because they’re driven to do so by their

own psychosis or mental illness. Also called visionary serial killers, they often

suffer from delusions and hallucinations, thinking that something is telling them to

commit murder. These are the serial killers that are usually found incompetent to

stand trial, as they often truly believe that demons, gods, or other otherworldly

influences are pushing them.

Power or thrill killers simply do it for the rush. These people are often

aware that they’re going against what’s socially acceptable, but the feel of power

and domination is too great for them to pass up. Sometimes the dominance can take

on a sexual aspect, but here it’s more about the feeling of power than about the

actual act itself.

 There are also those that kill because of their own perverse sexual desires.

Unlike power or thrill killers, it’s about the act instead of the power that it imparts

to them over their victim. In some cases, this might not even be reflected clearly

in the crime scene, and it may only be later, at home or in an environment they feel

is safe, that they can fulfill their fantasies.

The other main type of serial killer is that which commits multiple murders

in conjunction with another criminal element. Examples include a member of a drug

or street gang committing gang violence, an enforcer for organized crime.

When it comes to investigations, these are broad guidelines that are often

applied to help investigators understand the motivations behind their suspects

actions. They are by no means absolute and 100 percent complete, and there is

always the possibility for overlap between motivations. Applying the general

principles behind these categories can also prove valuable during suspect interviews

and during trials.