Psychology of Serial Killers

Many of us have heard the terrifying stories of serial killers, the havoc that they cause and the lives that they take. But not all understand the true underlying psychological aspects of the crimes that they commit. These monstrous individuals seem to have no filter over what is wrong to do. Perhaps this is why they are perceived as such terrifying people, because they are truly capable of anything that their urges insist they do. Over the years, as more and more serial killers have emerged, psychologists have often pondered exactly why they do it. Are there conditioning aspects, is it hormonal, or biological? Perhaps its a mixture of all of these things, but there is no clear cut answer. Clearly, however, there is a deeply rooted crack in their functioning. And once that crack is exposed, unpredictable catastrophic events can unfold.

In my opinion the most terrifying aspect of a serial killer isn't that they are severely disturbed, and could act on any urge. It is that they are intelligent and thoughtful, they know exactly what is going on, yet they have no remorse, or need to stop what they are doing. I find it intriguing that while they typically  have no remorse, they still try to always find an outside excuse as to the actions that they did, instead of putting the blame onto themselves. Ted Bundy put his blame on pornography, while Jeffery Dahmer clam is that he was born with a part of him missing.

As this website here states, there are specific classifications that are used to identify a serial killer.

• They have to have at least 3 victims, with a brief, or extensive break in between. 
• They murders will appear to be random and unconnected to them.
• They typically do not do these crimes in order to gain any sort of material profit, but instead they do it for their sick mental satisfaction. 
• They often have a specific and unique way about killing their victims. 
• They choose a victim who is vulnerable, and low profile.

Now that it is clear exactly what perimeters a killer must fit inside to be classified as a serial killer, we can discuss a specific individual. Perhaps the most well know of all monstrous men is this man...

Charles Manson
Based out of California Manson was capable of many things, including manipulating a group of followers called "the family" to carry out his chaotic crimes for him. He assembled a type of cult, and within a short amount of time they were able to install fear into the homes of every family in the region. He is truly a sick man who will live in prison for the rest of his days. Charles Manson has been diagnosed with numerous mental disorders, and that combined with his rough upbringing created this monster. However, that is the wonder of the human mind, no matter how sick and twisted someone can be, they are still human and rooted from the same forces as us  "normal" citizens.  For specific information about Manson you can check out this site here.

It has always terrified me that any person, given the wrong mental set up, the wrong up bringing, can formulate a dark and sinister creature like all of the serial killers that we have heard of today, yet they are all driven from the same psychological factors.

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