Abstract

1. Background of a Serial Killer

-Serial killer: An individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification. Serial killers are not the same as mass murderers or spree killers. The majority of serial killers are white males in their late twenties to early thirties. Many Serial Killers often faced hardships in their childhood.

-First Serial Killer: One of the first documented serial killers was Herman Webster Mudgett, or H. H. Holmes. His killings occurred in 1893 in Chicago.

2. Need for this study

By studying serial killers, and the social, psycological and environmental factors that lead to the development of a serial killer, it may be possible to diminish the number of serial killers in society. If we can deduce what makes a serial killer, we can stop the process in which a serial killer is produced.

3. Purpose of my study

The purpose of my study is to understand how a serial killer comes to be. I am trying to learn whether it is just a mental dysfunction or whether it is other factors that create a serial killer.

4. Organization of the study

Knowledge of serial killers would be necessary to answer my question. I feel it will take many comparisons between vast majorities of killers in order to conclude what leads to the development of a serial killer. Of course I would visit libraries in order to find some information on serial killers. If possible it would be a great help to contact someone who has dealt first hand with serial killers such as FBI agents.