Criminal violence/Serial Killing

  Types of homicide 

  1. Instrumental (felony-related): -Directed towards strangers & motivated by a desire to increase their economic position Ex; robbery &homicide 
  2. Expressive(argument-related): -occurs btwn strangers & acquaintances to  vent anger, frustration, remedy disputes, or coerce or force 

                          Biological 

  • Basis of these theories is the cause of crime is biological inferiority 

                 Psychological theories 

  1. Intelligence and crime; -Idea that crime is primarily the product of low intelligence 
  2. Psychoanalytic theories; -Cause causation associated w ppl who had unresolved, deep-seated probs were psychopaths. Used often w serial/spree/mass killers (Sigmund Freud) 
  3. Psycho 

Individual Explanations of Criminal Violence 

  • Free-will/rational choice 
  • Neo-classical; Certain factors can inhibit the notion of free-will. (insanity/other mental illness) 
  • Psychological 
  • Biological 

                                Serial Killing 

  1. Differences btwn Mass, Spree, and Serial Murders 

  • Mass murder; 4+ victims 1 event 1 location ,no cooling off 

  • Spree Murder; 2+ victims,1 event, 2+locations,no cooling off 

  • Serial Murder; 2+ victims, 2+events, 2+locations, cooling off period 

  • Difference btwn serial and mass murder is mass murder has NO cooling off period 

    1. Characteristics in Serial and Mass Murderers 

  • Serial murderers; Body 

    • Sex 
    • Weapons 
    • Viciousness 
    • Sophistication 

    Disorganized 

    • Disfigure 
    • After death 
    • Unsuccessful 
    • Finds at scene torture low 

Organized 

  • Hidden 

  • Before death 

  • Successful 

  • Brings 

  • Quick 

  • High, learns 

  • Each time 

  • Mass 

    • Typically white, middle-aged men 
    • They usually feel slighted, under/ unappreciated, and Not loved 
    • Aggression issues 
    • Underlying mental illness (sometimes undiagnosed) 
    • Can't find a gf or bf 
    1. Types of profiling for serial murder 

**While “Mass murder” refers to the murder of several people at the same time, "serial murder" describes several killings by the same perpetrator in a repetitive pattern. ** 

  1. Difference btwn the diff degrees of homicide & manslaughter 
  • Excusable homicide: Accidental/unintentional 
  • Justifiable homicide: Law enforcement/ defending life or property 
  • First degree: PLANNED; person kills another w premeditation and deliberation 
  • Second degree: NO THOUGHT; malice aforethought but not premeditation (under the influence) 
  • Manslaughter: Homicide lacking malicious intent or reckless disregard for life 
  • Voluntary manslaughter: (HEAT OF PASSION); Homicide w intent but not malice 
  • Involuntary manslaughter: Person's acts are negligent and without regard for potential harm 
  • Felony murder: Types of 1st degree murder death during commission of a felony 
  1. Differences we see in international serial killing (definitions & what's unique to U.S.): 
  • South Africa: -High murder rates, -Not gender specific, Wide range of victim, rarely use firearms 
  • Japan:- Low crime rate, -RESPECT ELDERS, =Social control more powerful 
  1. Social Common themes we see in mass murders, some myths of mass murder  
  2. M.O and Signature 
  • M.O(Modus Operandi); Characteristic pattern of behavior repeated in a series of offenses (CAN CHANGE/EVOLVE) 
  • Signature; Points to personality traits, hang-ups, and compulsions (DO NOT CHANGE)