THE MIND OF

General Serial Killer Profile Demographics 1. Ethnicity- The majority of serial killers are Caucasian 82-86%. African Americans make up 13-20%. Hispanics 2%.

2. Age Most serial killers are between the ages of 26 & 31: Distribution of Serial Killers Ages (recorded at time of arrest). Age category Percentage 18-25 17% 26-31 28% 32-36 12% 37-42 25% Over 42 18%

3. Gender Serial killers are predominantly male (95%). **Female serial killers are mostly “black widows” or “angels of death”.

4. Sexual History Sexual orientation--predominantly heterosexual, followed by homosexual, and bisexual, respectively. Sexual activity: Pornography (64-81%) Fetishes (sex toys, etc. --58%) Voyeurism (17%) Voyeurism = Spying on people engaged in sex Bestiality (sex with animals)-less common, but has occurred in some serial killers.

5. Gender Victimology Serial killers tend to prey on women of their same race (predominantly Caucasian). Women account for as much as 67% of the victims in serial murders. In studies of sexually sadistic criminals, it was reported that 73% of the offenders only victimized females, compared with 17% who only victimized males. Ten percent victimized both genders.

6. Behavior Personality: Serial killers tend to be sexually dysfunctional & low in self-esteem. Nature of killings: killings tend to be sexual in nature. Usually are part of an elaborate fantasy that builds to a climax at the moment of their murderous outburst. Serial killers generally murder strangers with cooling off periods between each crime Many enjoy cannibalism, necrophilia, & keep trophy-like body parts as momentos of their work (e.g., fingers, heads). Killers are usually sadistic in nature and often return to crime scenes or grave sites of their victims to fantasize about their killings. Many follow the police investigation of their crimes & some enjoy taunting authorities with letters or carefully placed pieces of evidence (e.g., Zodiak Killer, Serial Snipers).

7. Background Most serial killers grew up in violent and dysfunctional households. Most had conduct disorder behaviors: enjoying torturing animals, setting fires, chronic bed-wetting etc. In adulthood many serial killers have been reported to have some type of brain damage & substance abuse problem (alcohol and/or drugs).

TERRIBLE TRIAD TERRIBLE TRIAD There are three characteristics that are present in almost all serial killers during their childhood. These characteristics, known as the terrible triad, are bed-wetting, fire-starting and animal torture. 1. Bed-wetting-at least 60% of serial killers were wetting the bed past the age of 12. 2. Fire-starting-Otis Toole and Carl Panzram are two serial killers who started fires as children. Carl Panzram burned down the reformatory he was sent to. Toole set fire to a neighbor's house. Fire fascination is an early manifestation of their obsession with destruction. 3. Animal torture-many serial killers, before moving to human victims, start with small animals. Ed Kemper killed neighborhood cats. A dog's severed head was found on a stick in the woods near Jeffrey Dahmer's childhood home. There is no guarantee that if all three conditions are present, the child will grow up to become a serial killer. They are early warning signs to be aware of.

Types of Serial Killers Visionary Motive Type-This type is considered insane or psychotic. They often hear voices in their head telling them to commit the crime. They may also see visions. Mission-Oriented Type This type displays no psychosis to the outside world, while on the inside the killer has a need to rid the outside world of what he considers immoral or unworthy. This type of killer will select a certain group of individuals to kill (prostitutes, young women, gay men, etc.)

Types of Serial Killers Thrill-Oriented Type This type is in it for the fun. This killer gets a high from killing. He is very sadistic and kills for excitement. Lust Killer This type is a sexual killer, and kills for the pure turn-on. The amount of pleasure the killer derives depends on how much they torture their victim. The more heinous the torture, the more aroused they become. This type is in touch with reality.

Organized v Disorganized Organized serial killers have an average or above average intelligence. These individuals are less likely to be expected to inflict such gruesome acts on other human beings, since they are normally socially accepted by society, though they may later be classified as being a psychopath. They are organized and plan each murder somewhat meticulously. They control the murder scene by limiting evidence since they are familiar with forensic knowledge. Organized serial killers sometimes lure their victim to them and they kill the victim in one location, and dispose of the body in another location. This type of killer thinks ahead in an attempt to “throw off” investigators by framing people, forging suicide notes, or whatever else may be necessary to point the finger anywhere but in his or her direction.

Organized v Disorganized cont’d Disorganized serial killers are known to be liars and cause mischief both illegally and legally, and have average or below average intelligence. People (acquaintances or coworkers) who know the killer are normally not surprised if a disorganized killer is captured, since they sometimes lack socially acceptable behavior or are introverted beings. These killers kill spontaneously without regard of leaving any evidence that may identify them, normally with a victim that does not know the killer or not very well. Disorganized killers are more likely to have some form of psychosis, which may be identified in whatever harsh treatment (i.e. cannibalism, mutation, necrophilia) they exude on their victim.

Souvenirs and Trophies Souvenirs & Serial Killers: Serial killers often keep mementos of their victims. These collections are placed into 2 categories souvenirs and trophies. Souvenirs: Personal items allow the killer to enjoy the memories of the crime. Souvenirs fuel fantasies. Trophies are objects that are saved as proof of kill. A trophy can become something of a shrine . Ultimately they both serve the same purpose. They fill the killer with a sense of his own power, and allow him to relive his crimes. Jeffrey Dahmer kept photos in his apartment. He had skulls of his victims in a closet, refrigerator, and freezer. Genitalia was preserved in formaldehyde. In 1957, when police searched the Wisconsin farmhouse of Eddie Gein they found a bowl made from a human skull, a chair and suit made of human skin. In which movie was this suit featured? Explain

Buffalo Bill in “Silence of the Lambs” .

Signatures Some serial killers driven to act out the same type of brutality repeatedly, leave psychological markers. In multiple-victim cases, forensic scientists always look to see if there is a signature so they can tie victims together. Signatures include posing, concealing victims, or inserting objects in the bodies after death for the killer’s gratification. A killer's signature intensifies as the killer learns through experience what types of violence and reactions arouse him. The need to punish and degrade the victim is A signature is different from a modus operandi, (mode of operation, MO). The MO is the way they find, overpower, and kill a victim without getting caught. The MO changes as the killer refines their methods. What is the signature of “Buffalo Bill”? What is the MO of “Buffalo Bill”?

Signature and MO of “Buffalo Bill” His killing signature involves killing and skinning overweight women. The victims Diamond-shaped patches of skin have also been taken from their shoulders. A moth pupa is placed in the throat of the victim The Tobacco horn worm moths His MO involves baiting (with a cast) and kidnapping overweight women, starving them for about a week, and then killing and skinning them, before dumping the bodies in nearby rivers. Lecter's mention of having consumed a victim's liver with "some fava beans and nice chianti". Liver, fava beans, and wine all contain a substance called tyramine, which can actually kill you if you're also taking a certain class of antidepressant drugs known as MAO inhibitors. MAO inhibitors were the first antidepressant drugs developed, and were used primarily on patients in mental institutions. Lecter both worked in, and was committed to, a mental institution.

The real serial offenders that inspired Buffalo Bill Buffalo Bill is the combination of three real life serial killers: Ed Gein, who skinned his victims; Ted Bundy, who used the cast on his hand as bait to make women get into his van; and Gary Heidnick, who kept women he kidnapped in a pit in his basement.

Thought Question Interpret the following psychological quote in your notebook: “Evil men do what good men only dream of.” Share your thoughts with a partner. Be prepared to share out with whole group.

Who is Sigmund Freud? (6 May 1856 – 23 September 1939) An Austrian neurologist who founded the discipline of psychoanalysis Best known for his theories of the unconscious mind and the mechanism of repression Created the clinical method of psychoanalysis for investigating the mind through dialogue between a patient and a psychoanalyst

Psychodynamic Approach Freud believed: We are pushed by desire, pulled by conscience. Underneath the surface, our personalities represent the power struggles going on deep within us. Our behavior and behavior disorders are determined mainly by basic drives and past psychological events. People may not know why they feel, think, or act the way they do because activities are partly controlled by the unconscious part of the mind.

The Id, Superego, and Ego Id (pleasure principle). – The unconscious portion of personality containing basic impulses and urges The id’s operating principle, guides people toward whatever feels good. Ego (reality principle)– The part of personality that mediates conflicts between and among the demands of the id, the superego, and the real world. The ego functions in reality and creates comprises between the id and the superego. Superego (conscience)– The component of the personality that tells people what they should and should not do. Usually, our conscience comes from our parents or a parental figure. As we grow, we internalize their standards, those same standards that make us feel so guilty when we tell a lie or cheat on our taxes. But does everyone have a conscience?

EXIT SLIP http://video.about.com/psychology/Sigmund-Freud-s-Id--Ego--and-Superego-Theory.htm Answer the following writing prompt in your notebook: Create an example when your thoughts are guided by the id and explain how the superego represses those actions.