The Personality and Physical Traits of Serial Killers Essay

In the past decade a creature known as the serial killer has captured the attention of America. About 70 of the world s serial killers reside in the United States. Serial killers are the most sinister and malignant type of criminal. They account for one third of the murders in the United States. A serial killer is basically defined as someone who commits 3 to 4 murders, with a cooling off period in between, and the murders reflect a need to sadistically dominate the victim. Serial killers don t murder for profit, and the usually don t know there victim. Serial killers often choose victims who are vulnerable, for example prostitutes or runaways. Also their victims fit a certain stereotype. A serial killer will continuously kill and not stop unless heshe is made to stop. Or, unless an event occurs which stops the killerMany serial killers have common personality and physical traits. In examining the killer s personality and physical traits we see that there are many similarities in these criminals, with the usual "there are exceptions to all rules." Statistically, the average serial killer is a white male from a lower to middle class background, usually in his twenties or thirties. Extreme physical, emotional, or sexual abuse can be traced to most if not all known serial killers childhood. Some were adopted. There is also some correlation between behavior and aggression in serial killers. This means that as a child, serial killers experience the same childhood difficulties. Nearly all serial killers have gone through one of the Terrible Triad . The Terrible Triad includes bedwetting, sadistic abuse of animals and pyromania. Many serial killers as children have been known to kill and abuse animals. The most popular choice of these animals is cats. They have been known to be thrown out of windows and sliced open, just to see how long they would live. Pyromania is another trait of young serial killers. They...