Serial Killers And Gender Differences Essay - 974 Words

eywords: Serial killers, females, psychopathy, archival research Motivations of Serial Killers Gender Differences Serial killing is a topic that has long fascinated those who study psychology, criminal behavior, and even the general public. Figures such as Ted Bundy, Ed Gein, and Jeffrey Dahmer have been the subject of numerous studies, documentaries, and books. Females do not readily come to mind when one thinks of serial killers because it is a rare phenomenon. Aileen Wuornos is one female who brought the concept of a female serial killer to the public’s attention, but she is not the only woman who has committed these types of crimes. PK (a pseudonym) is another female studied who was similar to Aileen in that she was also predatory and reactive. Serial killers have different methods and traits, but some primary motivations can be gleaned from studying their case reports. One can also attempt to ascertain why the female serial killer is such a rarity and whether their motivations are similar. One motivation that quickly becomes apparent within a serial killer is that of psychopathy. Psychopathic traits include narcissism, irresponsibility, lack of empathy, promiscuity, poor behavior, lying, and impulsivity (Arrigo Griffin, 2004). Because psychopaths lack the ability to care or feel for their victims, it is easy for the perpetrator to disregard them and perform whatever acts they wish upon them. A psychopathic person also feels a low sense of self-worth, which can beShow MoreRelatedSerial Killers And Gender Differences950 Words   |  4 PagesMotivations of Serial Killers Gender Differences Serial killing is a topic that has long fascinated those who study psychology, criminal behavior, and even the general public. Figures such as Ted Bundy, Ed Gein, and Jeffrey Dahmer have been the subject of numerous studies, documentaries, and books. Females do not readily come to mind when one thinks of serial killers because it is a rare phenomenon. Aileen Wuornos is one female who brought the concept of a female serial killer to the public’s attentionRead MoreKiller Vs. Serial Killers929 Words   |  4 PagesKiller vs Killer Countless people especially, criminologist have researched serial killers because they are so fascinating. Many disagree as to what the legal definition of a serial murder, which is, â€Å"[t]he unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. (Morton et al. 9). There is certainly not any dispute that there have been both male and female serial killers. Most of the research and documentation is specifically aimed around male serial killers. Over allRead MoreKiller Vs. Serial Killers924 Words   |  4 Pages Killer vs Killer Countless people, especially, criminologists have researched serial killers since they are fascinating. Many disagree as to what the legal definition of a serial murder, which is, â€Å"[t]he unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. (Morton et al. 9). There is certainly not any dispute that there have been both male and female serial killers. Much of the research and documentation is specifically aimed around male serial killers. Overall,Read MoreThe Murder Of Serial Killers1703 Words   |  7 PagesA grieving mother drapes herself over the casket of her deceased son. The 14 year old had fallen victim to one of the most infamous serial killers in history, Jeffrey Dahmer. Dahmer killed a total of 17 known victims, all between the ages of 14 and 33. In his most recent murders, he often resorted to necrophilia, cannibalism, and permanent preservation of body parts (â€Å"Jeffrey Dahmer Biography†). The mother looks at what is left of her son’s face, the face that once smiled to her every morning beforeRead MoreFemale Serial Killers: Statistics and Research864 Words   |  3 PagesFemale Serial Killers: Serial killer is described as an example of a murderer who kills several individuals over a long period of time. While these people are usually male motivated by various psychological motives such as power, the number of female serial killers has increased significantly in the recent past. Unlike their male counterparts, female serial killers use less visible means of murder such as poisoning in order to keep under the radar and remain discrete (Gilbert et. al., 2003). SinceRead MoreRelationship Between Ethnic Minority And Women And The Level Of Traits Essay1710 Words   |  7 Pages Introduction Sociopaths have continued to be an interesting phenomenon to the outside world. What most people don’t know is that sociopaths usually suffer from some spectrum of Antisocial Personality Disorder. According to Grohol (2016), Differences Between a Psychopath vs. Sociopath, sociopath and psychopath are both categorized as antisocial personality disorders. Deceit and manipulation are the main features to this personality disorder. An associate professor of Psychology and NeuroscienceRead MoreWomen Serial Killers or Partners to One678 Words   |  3 Pagesthe victims. Most peoples initial reaction to a woman taken into custody for murder is â€Å"She must have been abused.† There is very limited research on female serial killers, and even less so as women in partnerships with men since they are rare cases. However, according to a study produced by Hickey (2006), 31% of the 64 female serial killers between 1826 and 2004 were in a partnership. Women who enter these partnerships either want to be taken seriously as an offender (Thompson 2009), or want toRead MoreEssay on Female Serial Killers738 Words   |  3 PagesFemale Serial Killers While most of the violent crimes that happens most are them are belongs to men, women have not been the wilting flowers promoted so heartily by Victorian adorers and (right or wrong) often evident in todays society. Before we get into detail about the fascinating phenomenon of the Black Widow, it is worth a brief overview of womens escalating role in the world of violent crime, particularly in the United States. Since 1970, there has been an increasing and alarming riseRead MoreSerial Killers Case Study1526 Words   |  7 PagesIntroduction Throughout history, people have been fascinated by the topic of serial killers, primarily because one cannot understand why an individual would be willing to take multiple lives with no remorse. For many years investigators, sociologist, and criminologist have continuously researched these individuals. Current research on anti-social personality disorder and psychopathic behavior has led to information on serial killer’s biological development and environmental factors. There is very littleRead MoreThe Effects Of Sociopaths On The Criminal Justice System Essay1417 Words   |  6 Pagesto Grohol (2016), Differences Between a Psychopath vs Sociopath, sociopath and psychopath are both categorized as antisocial personality disorders. Deceit and manipulation are main features to this personality disorder. An associate professor of Psychology and Neuroscience from the University of New Mexico, and a District Judge from Denver, Colorado, wrote in an article, The Criminal Psychopath: History, Neuroscience, Treatment, and Economics, and stated that a big difference in psychopaths is that