What Motivates Serial Killers

In the article, Why do Serial Killer Kill, I learned that most serial killers are so in their own heads fantasizing about their potential crimes that their real crimes are well planned. Not only are they well planned but they rationalized every aspect of their own behavior and do not feel as though what they are doing is bad. They typically choose victims who are strangers, and view as weak. They feel that they need to brutally kill the victim, because they are a menace to society. They usually pick homeless people or prostitutes. This article states how most serial killers are white, members of the lower middle class, and between the ages of late twenties and early thirties. As children, they set animals on fire and torture them. It is also common for these children to have an interest in joining the police force type of positions, or military and security forces to have a sense of authority. This article really stresses on the mental instability of potential serial killers. It taught me that familial issues are not the only reason why people turn to killing.

Psychological Phases is an article that goes through all the phases a serial killer goes through before and after they kill. Before and while killing their victims, the killer’s mind goes through some phases. The first phase is called aura phase, which is when the killer withdraws from reality and his sense be heightened. This phase can last from hours to months up until the murder takes place. This phase can even cause the killer to self-medicate with alcohol and drugs in efforts to stop feeling this way. Next is the trolling phase where the killer identifies and stalks his victims. Then there is the wooling phase where he gains the victims trust before luring them into a trap. The capture phase is exactly what it sounds like. This is typically one of the killer’s favorite moments. The victim is either locked in somewhere or rendered unconscious by a hard blow. The murder phase is next, the killer reenacts similar situations from his childhood the difference being that he is the one with the power this time around. Totem phase is where the killer feels the need to preserve their success. They do this by keeping a souvenir from the murder or pertaining to the murder. They collect things like news clippings, parts of their bodies, eat, wear, and/or show it to there later victims. Some of them even photograph their victims and keep the photos. The last phase is the depression phase. When all is said, and done the killer still feels empty inside and has not escaped any of his old feeling of hatred towards everyone including himself. In order to escape these feeling the killer usually sets out for their next victim quickly.

I read a text called What Motivate Serial Killers to Kill and this one went into a little more depth as to why they feel the need to. The author describes how most people who become serial killers fear rejection, need to feel powerful, and perfect. These fears in turn make them quite insecure individuals, they will not even form relationships in fear of rejection. They are also terrified of being exposed, abandoned, and humiliated. This roots back to their upbringing, being that most of their fathers abandoned them. The texts states how the majority of serial killers have intercourse with their victim pre-and/or postmortem. The need for control causes for the killer to try and prolong the death of the victim in efforts to feel even more powerful, because their life is literally in his hands. For them the only power that truly matters are the one that can cause pain, kill, and destroy. Killing is usually the only way they feel empowerment. The author explains how serial killers think that they are doing a good thing by eliminating people they deem as unclean, and feel the need to continue their work. However, the main reason they continue killing is because they become addicted to it and feel some sort of euphoria each time. Another reason they do not feel the need to stop is because they rationalize their behavior. However, they still understand that there are consequences that can occur by their behavior, and usually avoid getting caught. They feel no sympathy or remorse but are able to simulate it by observing other peoples.