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Serial Killers Born or Built?

Brennon Wax

Ashford University

GEN103: Information Literacy

Stuart Collins

July 7, 2020

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Serial Killers Born or Built?

Research Question:

Is there evidence that indicates that things such as childhood trauma, upbringing, and intellectual

abilities are related to becoming a serial killer in all cases?

Thesis Statement:

Research indicates that things such as childhood trauma, upbringing, and intellectual abilities

lead to serial killers being built not born in most cases.

Scholarly Article 1

Reference:

Reid, S., Katan, A., Ellithy, A., Della Stua, R., Denisov, E. V., & Beauregard, E. (2019). The

Perfect Storm: Mapping the Life Course Trajectories of Serial Killers. International Journal of

Offender Therapy & Comparative Criminology, 63(9), 1621–1662. https://doi-org.proxy-

library.ashford.edu/10.1177/0306624X19838683

Annotation:

In this article, data is collected from 70 different serial killers to find the similarities that each

killer shares. The research was conducted by four different authors by analyzing several sources

of information relating to each serial killer and comparing the findings. After 11 months of

vigorous research and collaborative information exchange, the evidence was presented thus

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obtaining the common themes exhibited by each subject. The discoveries indicated that the

majority of serial killers shared things such as: prenatal drug and alcohol exposure, prenatal

exposure to violence and toxic stress, genes and hereditary factors, childhood abuse, Exposure to

domestic violence, childhood and abandonment, a complex relationship with mothers, loneliness,

maladjusted coping, escapism, conceptualizing death, sexual fantasies, conduct disorder and

other psychiatric issues, relationships, psychiatric functioning, criminal records, the urge to

murder, and restorative psychology.

Overall, the article seems to be well thought out and has several sources to support the

information that is presented. Moreover, the authors indicate that there is a strong correlation

when it comes to early childhood development and upbringing. The tragic life of killers often

leads them to their descent into madness. Often it seems that their painful existence has far more

to do with who they become rather than being born a killer. In a way, it is easy to empathize

based on this sad reality. Additionally, the authors mention that in rare cases outliers who lived a

relatively ordinary life such as Ted Bundy and Edmund Kemper exist, but one can only speculate

what led them to their malicious actions. This article answers my research question by

demonstrating that in most cases things such as childhood trauma, upbringing, and intellectual

abilities are related to becoming a serial killer excluding a few cases.

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Scholarly Article 2

Reference:

Ioana, I. M. (2013). No One is Born a Serial Killer! Procedia - Social and Behavioral Sciences,

81, 324–328. https://doi-org.proxy-library.ashford.edu/10.1016/j.sbspro.2013.06.436

Annotation:

In this article, the author examines the main factors that contribute to becoming a serial killer.

Firstly, the author indicates that a chromosomal abnormality called “Klinefelter’s syndrome” is

widely believed to be linked to criminal behavior. So much so, that many media outlets labeled

this anomaly as the “crime chromosome.” Additionally, the author mentions that

psychopathology directly coincides with this as well. In Essence, this means that killers enjoy

what others find horrendous. Even though they are aware that it is wrong, they can justify the

feeling it provides them thus feeling no remorse for their actions. This also creates internal

conflict because the killer is aware yet detached from themselves due to their actions. Another

factor that is mentioned is damage to the temporal lobe which is responsible for the regulation of

emotions. It is also mentioned that in many cases no physical damage was discovered, however,

the brain has functional problems that lead to a lack of emotion. Similarly, the author states that a

lack of maturity leads to this behavior due to things such as dependence, intellectual disabilities,

insecurities, and the inability to regulate their emotional reactions. Finally, sexual pleasures

relating to killing have also been associated with this as well.

Overall, the author lists several sources that contribute to the credibility of the article. In the

conclusion of the article, the author mentions that knowing the red flags will help detect, prevent,

and rehabilitate serial killers. Far too often we ignore the obvious signs thus adding to the

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problem. The more we learn about these conditions the better equipped we are to combat this in

the future. This article relates to my research question by hitting on all the topics that were

mentioned. Specifically, it does a fantastic job of exploring the intellectual aspects relating to this

and also how childhood trauma is connected.

EBook

Reference:

Petherick, W. (2005). Serial Crime: Theoretical and practical issues in behavioral profiling.

Retrieved from https://ebookcentral-proquest-com.proxy-library.ashford.edu

Annotation:

In this book, the author investigates the nature and behavior of criminals. Naturally, we are

intrigued as to why exactly people commit crimes. Understanding what makes criminals tick is

imperative when it comes to identifying, educating, and limiting future offenses. Specifically, I

looked into chapter 10 SERIAL MURDER: BIOPSYCHOSOCIAL APPROACH because it

related to my research topic the most. In this chapter, the author highlights that serial killings are

not just a product of modern times. This indicates that serial killing is almost instinctual thus it

has to be related to the satisfaction one obtains from killing. Additionally, the author suggests

that if serial killings are more common one could argue that a normal person is capable of

committing this crime. Conversely, the author states that if it is a rare occurrence then the serial

killer must have unique factors that influenced them.

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The book also emphasizes that traumatizations such as child abuse, ostracization, exposure to

violence, and a hard home life contribute to becoming a serial killer. That being said, it is

mentioned that those with a significant predisposition or vulnerability to trauma such as this are

more likely candidates. To them, killing provides a feeling of regaining a sense of control and

fulfilling their sick fantasy. Unfortunately, this eventually wears off until their next victim. This

article answers my research question by relating to all aspects of it. Not only does it mention the

factors involved in becoming a serial killer, but it also shows how we try to justify a reason as to

why a person would commit such atrocities even if they are considered mostly normal.

Non-Scholarly Source 1

Reference:

Clay, R. A. (2016, February). Listening to killers. Retrieved from

https://www.apa.org/monitor/2016/02/killers

Annotation:

The publisher's information comes from a second-hand source after speaking with James

Garbarino, PhD about interactions with several murders over his lifetime. After years of studying

and an impressive resume, Garbarino has become an expert on developmental psychology, child

abuse, and neglect. As a result, Garbarino has dedicated his life to the study of the psychology

behind why people kill. This has led Garbarino to sit in for hours listening to convicted murders

on death row to better understand what led them to such atrocities. To me, the purpose of this

article was clear. It seemed like the author was trying to inform its audience that if left untreated

children who experience childhood trauma could experience later complications. In most cases,

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the killers obtain a hypersensitivity to threat due to the childhood trauma that they experience.

The author also mentions that most killers are largely misunderstood, and with the proper

rehabilitation they can be introduced back into society. Although in most cases they can be

rehabilitated, the author also mentions that some killers are just considered incurable.

When you factor in the events that lead individuals to become serial killers a common theme is

identified. Childhood trauma. Information published about serial killers is considered timeless

due to this and until new information is presented this will always be the case. I find that this

article is extremely relevant to my research question. The reason why I believe this is because the

author reaches out to a general audience and discusses common ideas shared in the writing.

Specifically, when the author speaks about the developmental psychology of killers he is

exhibiting ideas shared in my research question. Things such as chronic trauma in early

childhood are largely to blame for future offenses. This directly relates to my research question

based on how the author mentions that things such as early development and childhood trauma

are major factors when it comes to becoming a killer.

Non-Scholarly Source 2

Reference:

Conroy, J. (2018, August 10). What makes a serial killer? Retrieved from

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/aug/10/what-makes-a-serial-killer

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Annotation:

In the text, the author explores the age-old question of killers being a product of nature or

nurture. It is explained that in most cases childhood trauma is a factor, but goes further by

mentioning that maybe the only reason that we do not become killers is due to our good

upbringing. One big thing that factors into becoming a killer is that in most cases the capacity to

attack or kill is transitioned to a sexual impulse. Additionally, it is mentioned that in some cases

killers had well-adjusted childhoods with no evidence of trauma. Outliers such as this make one

question what is the true cause of becoming a killer. If childhood trauma is the true connection

behind becoming a killer does this mean it isn’t the killer's responsibility? One interesting thing

that was also explored in this article was how many killers display a lack of empathy and how

childhood trauma is related to the suppression of these feelings. Overall the main theme of this

article is that no matter how much research we conduct we do not know 100% what leads one to

become a serial killer.

I’d say that overall this source of information seems credible for the most part. The article

explores several different cases of serial killers and what leads them to who they become. The

author does a fantastic job of using examples from each case to support the ideas displayed in the

writing. This source relates to my thesis and research question by exploring what makes a serial

killer. In several instances, the author mentions that childhood trauma, upbringing, and

intellectual abilities lead to the atrocities that serial killers commit. This source will be a fantastic

tool because it practically reiterates everything mentioned in both my thesis and research

question. Obviously, in some rare cases, killers do not possess any of these characteristics. That

being said, we can never be certain as to what creates a killer, but we can narrow down the

common traits that most killers possess.

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