Advances in computational intelligence and the establishment of large datasets have meant that researchers in serial homicide are moving towards predictive models and understanding. Regardless of the type of prediction, to develop any such model, it is important that researchers understand the chain of events that preceded the homicides. These profiles, in turn, are meant to aid law enforcement officers in the detection and apprehension of violent offenders, including serial killers.
Disorganized scenes, in contrast, exhibited a form of murder carried out by an offender who was less apt to plan the offence, who obtained victims by chance, and who behaved haphazardly during the crime Douglas et al.
Profiles are created retrospectively — that is, after a crime had been committed. However, one limitation to this is that the profiles generated rely, to a large extent, on the use of educated guesses developed on the basis of data that may be unreliable.
While profiles are undoubtedly a useful investigative tool that should not be overlooked, the accuracy of profiling could still be developed. The results from those interviews have helped to inform the development of criminal profiles today. The present study uses a broader categorization, such as those designed by Holmes and Holmes Although this definition covers a spectrum of abuse, the three main types defined in the present study are physical, sexual, and psychological abuse.
Physical child abuse relates to acts that cause actual physical harm or have the potential for harm. Sexual abuse is defined as those acts in which a child is used for sexual gratification. Psychological abuse includes the lack of an appropriate and supportive environment or acts that have an adverse effect on the emotional health and development of a child.
It is possible that this is due to habituation and tolerance of pain, depending on the extent to which the abuse had been experienced as violent or painful Joiner, A method is needed that can systematically link and sequence childhood abuse with typology of the criminal and crime scene behaviours.
The present study provides this novel methodological approach to understanding the link between childhood abuse and later serial killer behaviour. BSA, also referred to as lag sequence analysis, is a method for investigating how chains of behaviours and events are linked over time.
Behaviour Sequence Analysis involves the study of transitions between behaviour pairs Marono et al. Sequences can be on large lifetime, e. In lag-one BSA, which the present study uses, the antecedent behaviour e.
Obviously, there are intervening behaviours and events through the lifetime; however, the purpose of the present study is to highlight BSA as a method for understanding homicide and connecting established risk factors and behaviours. This provides a simplified model of types of abuse linked to type of murders. Put simply, a BSA will determine how likely it is, compared to chance, that a sequitur occurs following an antecedent.
Sequence Analysis is not limited to only two behaviours; it is possible to analyse the pattern between potentially unlimited numbers of behaviours from the start to end of a sequence. The present study uses a BSA approach to investigate the effects of different types of early childhood abuse physical, psychological, and sexual abuse on later serial killings. The pattern of actions explored begins with this early abuse, leading on to the typology of the serial killer.
This is included in the analysis to indicate links between abuse and typology, rather than direct sequential effects. The next behaviour explored was the crime scene behaviour — such as how the victim was killed and what was done with the body. Thus, the sequence from early childhood abuse, typology of the killer, and crime scene behaviours was analysed. While formal hypotheses are not made, owing to the novel nature of the research, several expected links can be outlined.
It is also likely that individuals who have experienced early physical abuse will show a greater amount of violence — for example, signs of torture and overkill infliction of excessive and unnecessary violence. An all-male sample of serial killers with a documented history of childhood abuse was collected.
The dates of first kill ranged from to The date of last kill ranged from to As the sample had been obtained from secondary sources and so does not contain any studies with human participants, ethics approval was not needed.
The sample was split according to the type of abuse experienced in childhood. Power killers were those who derived pleasure from having complete control over their victims.
Financial gain killers were those who killed for motivations based on the accumulation of goods or finances.
Anger killers were those who killed for motivations that stemmed from feelings of anger, frustration, or betrayal, whether real or imagined. The overall methods used across kills was also recorded for all killers. Percentages of participants for each individual were calculated at each stage. Given the straightforward nature of the task, there was no ambiguity over responses or coding. The typology of serial killers was assessed by forensic psychologists. After data were coded into chains of discrete behaviours and categories, data were entered into the statistical software R R Core Team, and analysed using a behaviour sequence analysis program developed by the researchers.
The main stage of BSA is to focus on the transitions between pairs of behaviours. Transition frequencies between antecedents and sequiturs are calculated, and chi-square analyses are indicated if these transitions occur above the level of chance. State transition diagrams can then be drawn, which indicate pairs of behaviours with high standardised residuals SR.
It is important to note that while pairs of behaviours can be connected to form longer chains, the analyses are only on pairs of behaviours. One of the authors of this study, Michael G. The researchers found that serial killers treated badly during childhood tended to sexually assault their victims before murdering them. On the other hand, serial killers who did not experience childhood abuse did not display sexually violent behavior.
In a study for the National Institute of Justice, Dr Herrenkohl and his colleagues found that childhood abuse heightened the risk for criminal behavior in adulthood by encouraging antisocial behavior during childhood. Genetics, environment, trauma, and personality — various factors drive serial killer behavior. Generalizing the cause of criminal behavior would be presumptuous and inaccurate, but the link between childhood abuse and serial killing has been apparent in many studies over the decades.
Beyond certain common personality traits, serial killers are unique, shaped by their own extraordinary experiences, circumstances, and mindsets. Whether genetic investigations like brains scans or behavioral studies to gauge serial killer tendencies prove to be groundbreaking in criminal profiling and crime prevention remains to be seen.
However, with an extensive and ever-growing treasure trove of evidential research in this space, the key to understanding what makes a serial killer may be just around the corner. Show More. Gary Ridgway was convicted of killing 48 people in Washington State in the s and s. Matthew Ridgway, his son , described him as a normal father who showed up to support him during the games; Soccer Dad. For Matthew, he was a supportive father because he was always there when he needed him.
Matthew has only good memories of his father, as his father never cursed or shouted at him. Matthew Ridgway is now married and lives in California , and had no idea that his father was more than a regular if part-time dad. Joseph Kallinger , a schizophrenic serial killer who himself was horribly abused as a child.
Joseph killed his son over a life insurance policy. In , Joseph took his son Michael on a rape and murder spree. Joseph turned up with his son by his side, so that no one suspected him. However, inside, all the victims were bound and, according to witnesses, were also involved in these crimes, although it was said that he was under the control of his father.
Michael was on probation until he was Sources say he changed his name and was never seen again. Joseph died of a seizure in prison in Statistics show that over 90 percent of serial killers are male.
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