Psychological Profile of a Killer - 1577 Words

During the last decade the world has witnessed a staggering elevation in serial killings. To give some insight into the scale of the problem posed by the serial killer, in the United States can be gained from examining the statistics for just one year. In 1989 (the last year for which detailed figures are available) there were 21,500 recorded homicides, of which some 5,000 are unsolved. Unofficial sources believe that as many as a hundred serial killers may be at large at any given time. Add to this the number of known victims of serial killers, then between 3,500 and 5,000 people are killed by serial murderers every year. (Lane and Gregg 3) These numerous multiple murders, often without consequence and justice, have shocked civilized†¦show more content†¦Visionaries include killers who act in response to voices and alter egos, where instructions received serve to justify and legitimize the act of murder. David Berkowitz better known as the Son Of Sam is an example of a visionary who claimed that his delusional persecutions by demons were responsible for the shootings and killings of his 17 victims. I am the demon from the bottomless pit here on earth to create havoc and terror. I am War, I am death. I am destruction (Elliot and Leyton 151)! Missionaries are comprised of killers with a self-imposed nature, which feel responsible for purifying society by expelling its undesirable components. Peter Sutcliffe better known as the Yorkshire Ripper justified his slaying of 20 women with a warped perception that any woman out after dark must be a prostitute and should be eliminated in order to clean-up the world. A hedonist, a complex category where pleasure is the reward for murder, contains three sub-types. The first sub-type, lust killers, is probably the largest sub-section of serial killers for whom sexual gratification is the primary motivation and whose crimes most frequently exhibit a considerable element of sadism. Two examples of lust killers are Jerry Brudos and Douglas Clark. Jerry Brudos kept the foot of one of his victims in the deep-freeze to periodically take out and dress up with his collection of black stiletto-heeled womens shoes. Douglas Clark kept a victims head, which he cleaned andShow MoreRelatedEssay about Issues In Psychological Profiling1329 Words   |  6 PagesIssues In Psychological Profiling Historically, crime and criminals have always caught the attention of law-abiding citizens. Whenever there is mention of serial killers or unsolved murders or abductions, psychological profiling, floats to the top of the list of concerns (Egger, 1999). 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In 1989 (the last year for which detailed figures are available) there were 21,500 recorded homicides, of which some 5,000 are unsolved. Unofficial sources believe that as many as a hundred serial killers may be at large at any given time. Add to this the number of known victims of serial killers, then between 3,500 and 5,000 people are killed by serialRead MoreAnalysis of the Film Silence of the Lambs1358 Words   |  5 PagesCommunity College). The Silence of the Lambs not only highlights the crimes committed by serial murderers, but it also analyzes the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU) and the processes they undergo to determine, profile, and apprehend a serial murderer. 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They want the feeling of being and wanting to have complete control over their victims. Douglas dissects each crime scene, reliving it in his mind, creating profiles and predicts their next moves.