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104 Serial Killer Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

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Serial killers have long been a subject of fascination and terror for people around the world. The idea that someone could commit multiple murders without remorse or regret is both horrifying and intriguing. If you are studying criminology or psychology, writing an essay on serial killers can be a captivating and challenging task. To help you get started, here are 104 serial killer essay topic ideas and examples to inspire your research and writing:

• The psychology of serial killers: analyzing the motivations and behaviors of notorious serial killers.
• Nature vs. nurture: are serial killers born or made?
• The role of childhood trauma in the development of serial killers.
• How media coverage of serial killers influences public perception and fear.
• Serial killers and misogyny: exploring the connection between gender and violence.
• The impact of social isolation on the development of serial killers.
• The relationship between serial killers and psychopathy.
• The influence of popular culture on the mythos of serial killers.
• The role of mental illness in the actions of serial killers.
• The significance of victim selection in understanding serial killers.
• Serial killers and the criminal justice system: how are they caught and prosecuted?
• The impact of technology on the investigation and apprehension of serial killers.
• The evolution of serial killer profiling in law enforcement.
• The phenomenon of groupie culture surrounding serial killers.
• The role of trauma bonding in the relationships between serial killers and their followers.
• The ethics of studying and writing about serial killers.
• Serial killers and the death penalty: should they be executed or given life in prison?
• The portrayal of serial killers in literature and film.
• The influence of childhood abuse on the development of serial killers.
• The connection between animal cruelty and serial killers.
• The role of substance abuse in the actions of serial killers.
• The role of fantasy in the crimes of serial killers.
• The impact of childhood neglect on the development of serial killers.
• The role of social media in the glorification of serial killers.
• The impact of trauma on the victims of serial killers.
• The relationship between serial killers and organized crime.
• The role of pornography in the actions of serial killers.
• The connection between serial killers and cults.
• The influence of family dynamics on the development of serial killers.
• The significance of signature behaviors in the crimes of serial killers.
• The impact of technology on the prevention of serial killings.
• The role of forensic science in the investigation of serial killers.
• The connection between serial killers and terrorism.
• The influence of cults on the actions of serial killers.
• The significance of ritualistic behaviors in the crimes of serial killers.
• The role of religion in the motivations of serial killers.
• The impact of childhood trauma on the development of female serial killers.
• The connection between serial killers and organized religion.
• The role of race and ethnicity in the actions of serial killers.
• The significance of geographic profiling in the investigation of serial killers.
• The influence of social media on the actions of serial killers.
• The connection between serial killers and the occult.
• The impact of celebrity status on the actions of serial killers.
• The role of gender identity in the motivations of serial killers.
• The significance of mental health treatment in preventing serial killings.
• The connection between serial killers and political extremism.
• The influence of trauma bonding in the relationships between serial killers and their victims.
• The impact of childhood abuse on the development of female serial killers.
• The connection between serial killers and organized crime.
• The significance of signature behaviors in the crimes of female serial killers.
• The influence of family dynamics on the development of female serial killers.
• The relationship between childhood neglect and the development of female serial killers.
• The role of mental illness in the actions of female serial killers.
• The connection between female serial killers and cults.
• The impact of substance abuse on the actions of female serial killers.
• The significance of ritualistic behaviors in the crimes of female serial killers.
• The influence of gender identity on the motivations of female serial killers.
• The role of religion in the actions of female serial killers.
• The connection between female serial killers and terrorism.
• The impact of social isolation on the development of female serial killers.
• The significance of media coverage in the apprehension of female serial killers.
• The influence of social media in the glorification of female serial killers.
• The role of forensic science in the investigation of female serial killers.
• The connection between female serial killers and the occult.
• The impact of childhood trauma on the development of black serial killers.
• The significance of signature behaviors in the crimes of black serial killers.
• The influence of family dynamics on the development of black serial killers.
• The relationship between childhood neglect and the development of black serial killers.
• The role of mental illness in the actions of black serial killers.
• The connection between black serial killers and cults.
• The impact of substance abuse on the actions of black serial killers.
• The significance of ritualistic behaviors in the crimes of black serial killers.
• The influence of gender identity on the motivations of black serial killers.
• The role of religion in the actions of black serial killers.
• The connection between black serial killers and terrorism.
• The impact of social isolation on the development of black serial killers.
• The significance of media coverage in the apprehension of black serial killers.
• The influence of social media in the glorification of black serial killers.
• The role of forensic science in the investigation of black serial killers.
• The connection between black serial killers and the occult.
• The impact of childhood trauma on the development of Hispanic serial killers.
• The significance of signature behaviors in the crimes of Hispanic serial killers.
• The influence of family dynamics on the development of Hispanic serial killers.
• The relationship between childhood neglect and the development of Hispanic serial killers.
• The role of mental illness in the actions of Hispanic serial killers.
• The connection between Hispanic serial killers and cults.
• The impact of substance abuse on the actions of Hispanic serial killers.
• The significance of ritualistic behaviors in the crimes of Hispanic serial killers.
• The influence of gender identity on the motivations of Hispanic serial killers.
• The role of religion in the actions of Hispanic serial killers.
• The connection between Hispanic serial killers and terrorism.
• The impact of social isolation on the development of Hispanic serial killers.
• The significance of media coverage in the apprehension of Hispanic serial killers.
• The influence of social media in the glorification of Hispanic serial killers.
• The role of forensic science in the investigation of Hispanic serial killers.
• The connection between Hispanic serial killers and the occult.
• The impact of childhood trauma on the development of Asian serial killers.
• The significance of signature behaviors in the crimes of Asian serial killers.
• The influence of family dynamics on the development of Asian serial killers.
• The relationship between childhood neglect and the development of Asian serial killers.
• The role of mental illness in the actions of Asian serial killers.
• The connection between Asian serial killers and cults.
• The impact of substance abuse on the actions of Asian serial killers.

These essay topic ideas and examples provide a starting point for exploring the complex and disturbing world of serial killers. Whether you are interested in the psychology, sociology, or criminology of serial killers, there is no shortage of fascinating and challenging topics to explore. By delving into the minds and motivations of these notorious criminals, you can gain a deeper understanding of human behavior and the dark side of humanity.

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Serial Killer Research Paper Topics: How to Pick One

Why should anyone write a research paper on serial killers? It is the very question you should keep in mind when assigned to perform a home task on this topic. Serial killers are not products of the long-gone times of Jack the Ripper, but a frightening reality. Moreover, despite all the achievements and efforts of forensic science, various fields related to psychology, psychiatry and different social services, people who have a pathological urge to satisfy their contorted needs through serial killings find new ways to escape both treatment and punishment, as well as to trap victims. The US is the world's serial killers leader with the share of 76 percent, while Europe ranks second with only 17 percent. And although the number of serial killers fell significantly in the noughties compared to the 1970-1990s, only from 2010 to 2015 more than 500 victims were killed and 54 serial killers were apprehended and identified in the United States.

That's why you need to understand that you are asked to write about serial killers for a reason - to contribute to preventing this type of crime in one way or another. And that's why you need to take the task seriously starting from the very choosing of a topic for your serial killers research paper. Some students make a mistake taking allegedly "entertaining" topics like "The US number one dangerous killer" or "The most terrible crimes committed by maniacs in the history." Such topics are suitable for thrilling readers rather than for conducting in-depth research aimed at some practical purpose. Those practical purposes may cover understanding how people become serial killers; what we can do to identify deviant behavior in people early on; what should be done to eliminate factors contributing to the development of violent behavior and so on.

To this end, serial killers are studied in several fields like psychology, sociology, forensics and some other sciences, which consider the phenomenon from various perspectives to better understand it. Obviously, students should choose serial killer research paper topics based on the subject they study and set the appropriate goals - to explore the psychology of criminals, to distinguish the most vulnerable social groups or to learn about ways that may help in catching a serial killer. Even if you are writing without focusing on a particular subject, you can make a real difference by dispelling myths about serial killers and presenting facts that can educate you and your readers.

Research Paper Topics on Serial Killers: Ideas and Examples

We have selected the most promising topic ideas on serial killers covering psychological, social, cultural, demographic and many other aspects of this phenomenon. Note that the list doesn't include topics on mass murders or school shooting since many forensic schools consider serial killers a separate group of criminals, who are different in their specificity from those mentioned. However, you should clarify through your tutor, which category of criminals you are assigned to research, and if necessary, you can transform the proposed topics accordingly.

• Where did the term "serial killer" come from?
• Family physical, psychological and sexual abuse and deviant behavior in serial killers.
• Mental disorders in serial killers.
• What lies behind a serial killer's signature?
• Is it possible to diagnose a would-be serial killer?
• What makes a serial killer tick?
• How do juvenile criminals become serial killers?
• Distinctive aspects of repeated murders committed by women.
• The social background of serial killing.
• How does a serial killer differ from a maniac?
• Victim profile: demographic characteristics and individual traits.
• A spree killer, a mass murderer, and a serial killer - terms and legislation.
• Serial killers in the United States: Ethnicity and demographics.
• Are there naturally born serial killers?
• Measures taken by the countries with the highest level of serial killing to reverse the trend.
• Angels of mercy: distinctive features.
• The impact of serial killings on pop culture.
• Are there death penalty alternatives for serial killers?
• Genetic predisposition to violence in serial killers: myth or fact?
• Is there a tendency to increase or decrease in serial killings in the US in the XXI century?
• Serial murders and paraphilia.
• Can modern therapies available for sociopathic and psychopathic disorder set serial killers to rights?
• Criticism of the Macdonald triad.
• Organized, disorganized and mixed killers - how do they differ?
• Multiple murders for money.

You can adjust the offered research paper topics on serial killers to your needs by broadening or, conversely, narrowing them down. Make sure to find and read information on the topic selected before making a final decision to avoid lack of evidence.

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15 Interesting Serial Killer Research Paper Topics 

July 17, 2021 by Prasanna

Serial Killer Research Paper Topics: Serial killers are not results of the distant memory seasons of Jack the Ripper, yet an alarming reality. Besides, in spite of the multitude of accomplishments and endeavors of legal science, different fields identified with brain research, psychiatry and distinctive social administrations, individuals who have an obsessive inclination to fulfill their distorted requirements through sequential killings discover better approaches to get away from both treatment and discipline, just as to trap casualties.

Serial killers are concentrated in a few fields like brain research, humanism, criminology and some different sciences, which think about the wonder according to different points of view to more readily get it. Clearly, understudies ought to pick Serial killer research paper points dependent regarding the matter they study and put forward the proper objectives – to investigate the brain science of Criminals, to recognize the weakest gatherings of people or to find out about ways that may help in getting a Serial killer. Regardless of whether you are composing without zeroing in on a specific subject, you can have a genuine effect by scattering fantasies about Serial killers and introducing realities that can instruct you and your readers.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Topics on Serial Killers

A Serial killer is somebody who kills with at least four a long time with minimal mental solace to proceed with criminal activities. A psychopathic executioner is an individual having an absence of relational sympathy and neglects to feel thoughtfulness toward his casualties. A psychopathic executioner doesn’t esteem human existence and couldn’t care less about the discipline of his violations. Analyze the earnestness of their mental condition and how to get them all together shield the security of the local area from them. Serial killers are conceived and made relying upon the conditions they live in or it’s anything but a hereditary mishap they got from their folks.

Research Titles for Serial Killers

The topics related to Serial killers are:

• Who are Serial Killers?
• Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
• What is the Nature of Serial Killers?
• Serial Killer in the United States
• Serial Killer Psychology
• Treatment of Serials Killers
• What do the Serial Killers think?
• What is in the mind of Serial Killer?
• Analysis on Serial Killers
• Who made them Serial Killers?
• A well-planned Murder by Serial Killer
• What steps are taken by the country to control Serial Killers?
• How do juveniles become serial killers?
• Serial killing for Self Satisfaction
• Serial murders for Money
• How to Cure a Serial Killer?

You can change the offered research paper subjects on Serial killers to your necessities by expanding or, on the other hand, narrowing them down. Make a point to discover and read data on the theme chosen prior to settling on an ultimate choice to keep away from absence of proof.

Research Paper on Crime and Criminals

Criminals are made because of their general public. In any case, hoodlums are made on account of the conditions they were going through, regardless of whether by the savagery of guardians or by the local area. Crooks resort to brutality and utilize the danger as a method of living, and they don’t feel remorseful about their activities. Numerous Criminals feel outcast in view of the treatment they get from their networks, where the strikes they get are a result of their general public; not they were brought into the world with viciousness. Individuals with high testosterone levels are for all intents and purposes bound to submit to brutality more than the individuals who don’t have this level. Hence, hostile conduct is well known which gives a substitute recognizable proof to Criminals.

Criminals will have furious inclinations toward their folks when they get dismissed or all the more respectful companions. At the point when a criminal gets dismissed by his friends, the outcome will be negative because of incendiary or risky guardians or the absence of sufficient parental control. Hence, taking part in a pack or executioner gathering of people will make up for the heartfelt shortcoming, raising the individuals’ feeling of good individual connection. At last, kid sexual maltreatment is one of the principal factors that cause extraordinary injury to the hoodlums, prompting separation from their networks for a significant stretch of time.

Criminals assault kids and treat them as homeless canines, prompting questions and scorn of society. The youngster develops with dread and carries on with a troublesome life rather than others and that makes him the loathing of society, which keeps an eye on wrongdoing and viciousness to fulfill his savage longings. Nonetheless, when an individual feels distanced from society, he will end up being a criminal on account of the unforgiving conditions he encountered, like lewd behavior and harassment.

FAQ’s on Serial Killer Research Paper Topics

Question 1. How to start a good statement for Serial killer topics?

Answer: We can start with the statement as’ serial killers are not born or they are not killers by birth, instead, they are made by our society. These serial killers have one or another history of assault and abuse in their previous lives. Therefore, before we mark them for their cruelty, we should analyse what was the situation that made them serial killers.

Question 2. What are the main objectives of a serial killer?

Answer: As per the analysis and investigation have done on serial killers, their motives are anger, seeking attention, thrill, self-satisfaction, and money.

Question 3. What are the common types of serial killers?

Answer: A serial killer that has power and wants to control or dominate their victims are the most common type of them.

Question 4. Who was Jack the Ripper?

Answer: Jack the ripper was a serial killer in London. He was also called Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.

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70 Serial Killer Essay Topics

🏆 best essay topics on serial killer, ✍️ serial killer essay topics for college, 🎓 most interesting serial killer research titles, 💡 simple serial killer essay ideas.

• Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy: Mental Disorder Analyzed
• Serial Killers: Speech Analysis
• Serial Killer Ted Bundy: Background and Psychological Theories
• Gary Ridgway: The Green River Killer
• Andrei Chikatilo: Behavioral Analysis
• Ted Bundy: A Notorious Serial Killer
• Pop Culture and Serial Killer in Darkly Dreaming Dexter
• American Serial Killer John Wayne Gacy John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer who killed 33 victims mainly by strangling them. His childhood experiences contributed significantly to his serial-killing adult life.
• Ted Bundy: Social Behavior of the Serial Killer This paper is an in-depth investigation of the relationship between the early life, social behavior and criminal life of the serial killer, Ted Bundy.
• Social Construction of Serial Killers Serial killing is a homicide category occurring when an offender murders more than three victims unknown to the criminal.
• Why Are People Fascinated by Fictional Serial Killers? This paper dwells upon the factors that contribute to the popularity of serial killers in modern cinematography and the development of the audience’s views on these characters.
• Albert Fish, The Grey Man and Serial Killer With his record of kidnapping, murder, grand larceny, and overall deviant behavior, Albert Fish wrote himself into the history of the most infamous and criminally dangerous people.
• Female Serial Killers and Their Key Features Female serial killers differ from male serial killers in the reasons and motives behind the murder, as well as the fact that they tend to murder relatives, lovers, or children.
• Serial Killers’ Psychology: Aileen’s Case Aileen was not born a killer; her family made her that way. Knowledge about serial killers’ psychology is essential to understanding their motives for committing crimes.
• The American Serial Killer in New Orleans From May 1918 through October 1919, the unidentified American serial killer terrorized the city of New Orleans and its neighboring areas, particularly the town of Gretna.
• Offender Profiling in Apprehending Serial Killers The current essay proves the significance of offender profiling in apprehending serial killers by demonstrating the effectiveness of investigative psychology and other methods.
• Serial Killers’ Motivation for Committing Crimes Most rapist murderers who have committed a series of crimes have psychological or psychophysical problems due to the stress experienced in childhood.
• Aileen Wuornos’ Life and Crimes The article is dedicated to Aileen Wuornos: her biography, the crimes committed, and theories are put forward in an attempt to explain her behavior.
• Serial Killers and Mayhem: What Makes Them So Fascinating for Society Celebrity monsters have been playing an essential part in popular culture since the 1970s. Multiple TV programs describe horror in their fictional and nonfictional themes.
• Serial Killers: Patient Groups Investigated by Psychology and Psychiatry Serial killers are characterized as people with psychosis and dissocial personality disorders. The murder of a stranger is not seen as motivated by prior interpersonal frictions.
• Psychosocial Factors That Serial Killers Have in Common
• John Wayne Gacy: Becoming a Cold-Hearted Serial Killer
• Aileen Wuornos: The First Female Serial Killer
• Serial Killers: Society’s Strange Addiction
• Evaluating the Unique Characteristics of a Serial Killer
• Serial Killers and the Influences on Hollywood’s Pop Culture
• The Making of a Serial Killer: Nature or Nurture?
• Serial Killer: The Mechanism from Imagination to the Murder Phases
• Israel Keyes: Where Did Alaska Serial Killer Travel?
• The Mary Bell Story: The Eleven-Year-Old Serial Killer
• Hunting Serial Killers: Understanding and Apprehending America’s Most Dangerous Criminals
• Serial Killers and Abuse in Childhood
• The Main Identity Traits That Serial Killers Acquire
• Serial Killers: Born or Made Evil
• The Psychological Theories and Aspects That Make an Individual a Serial Killer
• The Problem of Serial Killers in the Philippines
• Analysis of the Mind of Serial Killers
• Frequencies Between Serial Killer Typology and Theorized Etiological Factors
• H.H. Holmes: One of America’s First Recorded Serial Killers
• Serial Killers: How Traumatic Childhood Events Are a Baseline for Criminal Behavior
• Differential Association Theory and Serial Killer Ted Bundy
• Erikson’s Theory-Based Analysis of the Behavior of Robert William Pickton, a Serial Killer
• Serial Killer Definition: History, Characteristics, and Motives
• Understanding What Drives Serial Killers
• Ed Gein, the Serial Killer Who Inspired Leatherface, and Norman Bates
• Serial Killer Couples: Paul Bernardo and Karla Homolka
• Characteristics and Backgrounds of Serial Killers
• The Rise of Serial Killers: America’s Most Dangerous Criminals
• Serial Killers with Mental Illnesses
• The Reasons Behind the Rise of the Scary Phenomenon of Serial Killer Culture
• Zodiac: The Mysterious Serial Killer of 1960-1970s
• How Serial Killer Ted Bundy Shocked the United States
• How Juveniles Become Serial Killers
• Schizophrenic Serial Killer: David Richard Berkowitz
• Why the Glamorization of Serial Killers Is Dangerous
• The Mind and Motivation of a Serial Killer
• Treatment and Rehabilitation of Serial Killers after Crime
• The Jeffrey Dahmer Case: A Look into the Psychology and Criminal Typology of a Serial Killer
• Andrei Chikatilo: The True Story of the Rostov Serial Killer
• Serial Killers: Toxic Traits, Myths And Facts
• An Overview of the Famous Serial Killers and Their Crimes
• The Role of Childhood in Becoming a Serial Killer
• Psychological Problems of Serial Killers
• The Reasoning Behind Why Serial Killers Kill
• Understanding the Phases of Serial Killers
• Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture
• The Rise of Serial Killers and the Role of Media in Society’s Perception
• Understanding Why Aileen Wuornos Became a Serial Killer
• Most Notorious Serial Killers in America
• The Main Motive Behind the Killings by Serial Killers

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StudyCorgi. (2023, July 18). 70 Serial Killer Essay Topics. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/serial-killer-essay-topics/

"70 Serial Killer Essay Topics." StudyCorgi , 18 July 2023, studycorgi.com/ideas/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . (2023) '70 Serial Killer Essay Topics'. 18 July.

1. StudyCorgi . "70 Serial Killer Essay Topics." July 18, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

Bibliography

StudyCorgi . "70 Serial Killer Essay Topics." July 18, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

StudyCorgi . 2023. "70 Serial Killer Essay Topics." July 18, 2023. https://studycorgi.com/ideas/serial-killer-essay-topics/.

These essay examples and topics on Serial Killer were carefully selected by the StudyCorgi editorial team. They meet our highest standards in terms of grammar, punctuation, style, and fact accuracy. Please ensure you properly reference the materials if you’re using them to write your assignment.

This essay topic collection was updated on August 23, 2024 .

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84 Serial Killer Research Topics & Essay Examples

📝 serial killer research papers examples, 💡 essay ideas on serial killer, ❓ serial killer research questions.

• Serial Killers and Who Are They Law essay sample: In most murder cases, individuals kill out of anger or revenge but serial killing is a different case as seen in Dennis Rader’s confessions.
• Sexually Motivated Serial Killers and Their Victims Law essay sample: This paper gives short information about sexually motivated serial killers. Among them are Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, Theodore Robert Bundy, Gary Leon Ridgway, and some others.
• Criminal Justice: Charles Manson, the Serial Killer Law essay sample: The convicted serial murderer Charles Manson inspired a cult of youthful runaways. These individuals clung to his every word and engaged in the 1969 murders.
• Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer, the Serial Killer Law essay sample: Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer is a widely studied serial killer whose crimes involved unimaginable acts on deceased bodies.
• Aileen Wuornos: The Serial Killing Habits Law essay sample: This essay discusses the attributes of Aileen Wuornos that encouraged her serial killing habits and the theories that explain the reasons for the outcomes.
• Into the Mind of Jeffrey Dahmer, a Serial Killer Law essay sample: Everyone who knew Dahmer before he underwent surgery to treat a double hernia at four described him as an energetic and happy child.
• Serial Killers: Search and Detention Law essay sample: The search and detention of serial killers are fraught with various difficulties, such as their high mobility and the choice of victims.
• The Book "Serial Murderers and Their Victims" by Eric Hickey Law essay sample: In his book "Serial Murderers and Their Victims", Eric Hickey looks at the concepts of various monsters, analyzing these fictional characters as prototypes for real criminals.
• Public and Media Pressure on Serial Murders Investigation Law essay sample: The openness of law enforcement agencies during the serial murders investigation process would prevent the spread of dangerous myths and panic.
• Jeffrey Dahmer: The Story of the Milwaukee Monster Law essay sample: This paper analyzes various factors that may have contributed to Dahmer's mental abnormalities, including his childhood, schooling, and family relationships.
• Derrick Todd Lee, a Serial Killer From Louisiana Law essay sample: Derrick Todd Lee is a serial killer as he carried out a large number of murders of women. This work tells about the life of serial killer Derrick Todd Lee.
• Social Construction of Serial Killers Law essay sample: The social construction of serial killers involves significant psychological distortions causing antisocial behavior.
• Charles Manson: The Serial Killer Law essay sample: The biographic sources show how Charles Manson descended into a life of crime, becoming inseparable from his sociopathic tendencies.
• Ed Gein: Social Learning Analysis Law essay sample: The paper states that Ed Gein was a controversial and highly influential figure in pop culture and history. He has managed to take his community by storm.
• Psychological Profiling: Unraveling the Minds of Serial Killers
• The Evolution of Investigative Techniques in Serial Killer Cases
• Nature vs. Nurture: Exploring the Roots of Serial Killer Behavior
• Thinking Like a Criminologist: Zodiac Serial Killer
• Forensic Evidence in Serial Killer Investigations: Challenges and Advances
• The Role of Trauma Disorders in Criminal History of Serial Killers and Mass Shooters
• Criminal Profiling and Its Role in Identifying Serial Killers
• Modus Operandi vs. Signature: Analyzing Patterns in Serial Killer Cases
• The Aspects of Serial Killers as Criminals
• The Differential Association Theory and Its Relevance to the Serial Killer Ted Bundy
• The Impact of Media Portrayals on Public Perception of Serial Killers
• Profiling a Unique Female Serial Killer: Aileen Wuornos
• The Role of DNA Technology in Serial Killer Investigations
• Serial Killers and the Criminal Insanity Defense: Legal and Ethical Implications
• The Impact of a Serial Killer’s Motives on Their Right to Legal Justice
• Cultural Influences on Serial Killer Trends: A Comparative Analysis
• The Intersection of Serial Killers and Organized Crime: Investigative Strategies
• The Influence of Childhood Trauma on the Development of Serial Killers
• Female Serial Killers: Examining the Unique Characteristics and Challenges
• The Role of Forensic Psychology in Evaluating and Profiling Serial Killers
• Criminal Investigative Task Forces: Effectiveness in Serial Killer Cases
• The Psychopath and the Serial Killer Personality
• Beyond the Body Count: Motivations and Objectives of Serial Killers
• Criminological Theories on the Motives of Serial Killer
• Serial Killers in the United States: Ethnicity and Demographics
• Technology and Serial Killers: Tracking and Apprehension Strategies
• Serial Killers in Historical Context: Analyzing Infamous Cases Through Time
• The Role of Victimology in Understanding Serial Killer Patterns
• Serial Killer vs. Mass Murderer: What Is the Difference?
• The Influence of Social Media on the Investigation and Capture of Serial Killers
• The Serial Killer’s Signature: Symbolism and Meaning in Crime Scenes
• Investigative Challenges in Solving Cold Cases Linked to Serial Killers
• A Spree Killer, a Mass Murderer, and a Serial Killer: Terms and Legislation
• The Impact of Serial Killer Cases on Legal Reforms and Policies
• Criminal Accountability: Legal Frameworks for Juvenile Serial Killers
• The Psychology of Serial Killer Fan Base: Implications for Investigations
• Defining and Explaining Serial Killers in the United States
• The Dark Web and Serial Killers: Analyzing Online Subcultures
• Analyzing the Difference Between Male and Female Serial Killers
• The Role of Victim Families in Serial Killer Investigations and Legal Processes
• What Impact Do Legislative Changes Have on Serial Killer Strategies?
• How Does Criminal Profiling Assist in Identifying and Apprehending Serial Killers?
• What Challenges Do Investigators Face When Establishing a Link Between Crime Scenes and a Serial Killer?
• How Many Types of Serial Killers Are There?
• What Personality Types Do Serial Killers Have?
• In What Ways Do Legal Systems Grapple with Jurisdictional Issues in Tracking Transient Serial Killers?
• What Legal Challenges Arise When Serial Killers Change Their Methods?
• How Do Juveniles Become Serial Killers?
• What Are the Main Characteristics of a Serial Killer?
• In What Ways Can Legal Frameworks Adapt to the Unique Challenges of Serial Killers With Ritualistic Behaviors?
• How Does a Serial Killer Differ from a Maniac?
• What Steps Are Taken by the Country to Control Serial Killers?
• Why Are There More Males Than Females Serial Killers?
• How Do Advancements in Forensic Technology Impact the Investigation and Conviction of Serial Killers?
• What Role Does Public Awareness Play in Influencing Legal Outcomes for Serial Killers?
• Which Country Has the Most Serial Killers?
• What Legislative Changes Have Occurred in Response to High-Profile Serial Killer Cases?
• How Does the Legal System Address Cases Where Serial Killers Act Collaboratively?
• What Legal Factors Influence the Release of Information About Deceased Serial Killers?
• How Are Serial Killers Usually Caught?
• Are There Death Penalty Alternatives for Serial Killers?
• What Role Does Forensic Psychology Play in Understanding the Motivations of Serial Killers?
• Who Was the Deadliest Female Serial Killer in History?
• How Does the Legal System Address the Insanity Defense in Serial Killer Cases?
• Why Does the US Have Far More Serial Killers Than Any Other First World Country?
• How Can Technology Legally Assist in Tracking and Apprehending Serial Killers in the 21st Century?
• What Lies Behind a Serial Killer’s Signature?
• How Do Investigators Ethically Manage Challenges in Profiling and Surveillance During Serial Killer Cases?
• Are There Any Active Serial Killers in the US Today?
• What Role Does Public Perception Play in Shaping Legal Outcomes for Serial Killers?

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LawBirdie. (2024, February 14). 84 Serial Killer Research Topics & Essay Examples. https://lawbirdie.com/topics/serial-killer-research-topics/

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Amazing 50 Criminal Psychology Research Paper Topics

When it comes to criminal psychology research papers, you have the freedom to write any relevant topic on the subject. You could explore any topic under the sun related to crime, forensics, and criminal behavior. To get you started, we’ve put together a list of 50 intriguing topics to spark your imagination. Are psychopaths born or made? How can we rehabilitate offenders? What motivates serial killers? These are just a few criminal psychology research questions you could explore in your criminal psychology research paper. Whatever criminal psychology topics you choose, make sure to do your due diligence and provide citations for all of your sources.

Interesting Criminal Psychology Research Topics

Intriguing forensic psychology research topics, well-thought forensic psychology research paper topics, fascinating psychology and law research topics, hot topics in forensic psychology.

• Do You Need Forensic Psychology Topics For Research Paper?

Are you looking for an interesting topic for your research on criminal psychology? Whether you are a high school student, undergraduate, or postgraduate student, be sure to develop an excellent criminal psychology research paper. Let’s discuss several research topics that you can explore.

• The role of psychological theories in explaining criminal thoughts
• Understanding criminal sentiments and behaviors in adult men
• Weaknesses of psychological theories in explaining crime
• How emotions inhibit and facilitate crime among young adults
• Is there a relationship between personality attributes and crime?
• Is poverty the main cause of crime? A psychology review
• The relationship between antisocial behavior and crime among the youth.
• Does childhood aggression and divorce contribute a lot to crime?
• Clinical psychologists and police investigators: A detailed relationship
• Criminal psychology and genetics: Is there any relationship?

It can be tough to come up with forensic psychology topics because you can’t tell where to start most times. Issues in forensic psychology will provide some great suggestions. If you’re just starting or looking for new ideas, read our list keenly.

• How forensic psychologists’ prowess in communication influences the roles
• Forensic psychology in showcasing tragedy. pathologies and human frailties
• Mental health and committing a crime: A forensic study report
• Forgery crimes and the nature of victim’s handwriting: An expert view on the true relationship
• How witness profile affects the overall results in forensic studies
• Is forensic psychology more of science or common sense?
• The role of criminal forensic psychology programs meant for experienced psychologists
• Evaluations of crime risks and forensic psychology
• Understanding abnormal behaviors in forensic assignments
• How drugs and psychopharmacology influence forensic results.

Are you a history student looking for great forensic psychology topics for paper? Forensic psychology combines psychology and law, and it offers many psychology and law topics to explore. Here are some well-thought-out topics to get you started:

• The impact of mental health on criminal behavior
• Forensic assessment in the courtroom setting
• Ethics is a major challenge in forensic psychology examinations
• A psychological perspective on how testimonies and false information hinder crime evaluation
• Psychotherapy with incarcerated individuals
• Forensic psychologists and social media: A review on how social media platforms continue to play a major role
• Forensic psychology stereotypes and the best way forward in developed countries
• Rehabilitation and recidivism rates in convicted criminals
• Religious and ethical beliefs and practices as a hindrance to forensic audits
• The use of forensic psychologists in death investigations

History students are always busy when writing their final papers. It’s because writing criminal and legal psychology papers isn’t a walk in the park. You must analyze several forensic psychology research questions to come up with forensic psychology paper topics that work for you. If you want the best psychology and law research topics, look no further!

• Religion rules and regulations and contributions to crimes in developed countries
• Capital punishment is a way to create a productive and crime-free society
• The role played by courts of law in lowering criminal activities
• Is there any justice in lengthy convictions after committing minor crimes?
• Understanding human rights and what needs to change to protect women from crime better
• Human trafficking and slavery as the basis of today’s crime and torture
• How jury selection influences justice in criminal cases that start at the prostitution level
• Bullying and crime and why legal enactments are needed to avoid crime due to frustrations.
• Psychology and legal crimes among top security officials
• Internet laws and criminal psychology: A review of must-have changes

As forensic psychology students, you need to know about the latest forensic psychology issues, trends, and developments in the field. We will explore the most current and controversial topics in forensic psychology. Here we go!

• Is criminal profiling effective?
• Profiling methods and accuracy of the different information revealed
• Myths about criminal profiling that most people are not talking about
• Criminal psychology behavior analysis: Amber alert informative speech
• African-Americans and their relationship with criminal police
• Sexual abuse has a major impact on crime in middle-class society
• Technological signs of progress in handling crime: A focus on psychology, crime, and technology.
• Authorities and their contribution to crime: Criminal psychology view on power.
• A study on peer pressure and criminal psychology
• How Violence in the homes and media facilitates crime

Do You Need Forensic Psychology Topics For Research Paper? Talk To Us

Criminal psychology research often goes into the minds of criminals and their thought processes to better understand them. That’s why there’s a lot you can handle in criminal psychology. You’ll often get topic ideas from criminal Sentiments and psychological theories, historical happenings around criminal psychology , criminal profiling, criminal behavior, and the causes and effects of crime.

Again, a lot of criminal psychology research is centered on trying to understand what causes individuals or groups of people to commit crimes or specific types of crimes. We go beyond that and suggest captivating psychology and the law research topics and, more so, write your paper irrespective of the issues in forensic psychology you want to talk about. Talk to us now.

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15 Interesting Serial Killer Research Paper Topics

15 interesting papers on serial killers.

Serial Killer Research Paper Topics – Serial killers aren’t a result of Jack the Ripper’s distant memories, but a disturbing reality. Additionally, despite the numerous accomplishments and endeavors made in legal science, psychiatry, social administrations and other areas, people who are driven to kill others repeatedly find better ways to avoid treatment and discipline.

Some serial killers specialize in certain fields, such as brain research, humanism and other sciences. This allows them to think differently about the mystery to be more likely to find it. Understudies should select Serial killer paper points according to the subject they study. The objective is to research the brain science in Criminals, identify the weakest group of people, and discover how to get a serial killer. No matter how broad your subject area is, it doesn’t matter if you haven’t delved into the details. You can still make an impact by spreading fantasies about Serial Killers and sharing realities that can help your readers.

Topics about Serial Killers

A serial killer is someone who kills four or more people at once and then has minimal mental help to carry out criminal activity. A psychopathic executioner refers to someone who has no relational empathy and does not feel compassion for his victims. The psychopathic executioner has no regard for human life and is not concerned about disciplining his transgressions. How to make them all work together and protect the security in the area. The conditions in which they live are what make serial killers.

Research Titles For Serial Killers

These are the topics that relate to serial killers: – Who is a Serial Killer? – Are serial killers born or made? – What is Serial Killer Nature? – The Serial Killer in America Psychology of Serial Killers – Treatment of serials killers What are the thoughts of serial killers? – What is going on in the mind a Serial Killer’s head? – Analysis of Serial Killers – Who were they? – A serial killer plots a well-planned murder – What are the national steps to combat serial killers in your country? How can juveniles become serial killers – Self satisfaction through serial killing – Money Serial Murders How to Cure the Serial Killer?

The research papers on serial killers can be modified to suit your needs by either expanding or narrowing the topics. To avoid missing proof, make it a habit to read and discover data about the chosen theme before making a final decision.

Investigating Crime and Offenders – A Study Their general public is what makes criminals. Hoodlums are made regardless of how brutal guardians or locals treated them. Crooks resorting violence and using risk as a means for living, they don’t feel guilty about what they do. Many criminals feel rejected by their networks. The strikes that they get are a result they received from the public, not because they were born with brutality. High testosterone levels will, for all intents and purpose, make people more willing to accept brutality than those who do not have it. Criminals have no substitute for recognizable evidence of hostile behavior.

Criminals will feel furious towards their family members if they are fired or surrounded by more respectable people. A criminal will lose his friends if he is not dealt with by his peers. This could be due to the incendiary, risky guardians or a lack of parental control. A pack or executioner group will help to make up the emotional gap and improve the individual connection. The main factor that causes extreme injury to the hoodlums is kid sexual maltreatment.

Children are often treated as homeless dogs by criminals who assault them. The youngster is filled with fear and lives a miserable life. Society hates him for this, as it looks out for his evil ways and punishes him viciously to satisfy his wild desires. An individual can feel disconnected from society and become a criminal as a result of the unforgiving situations he was exposed to, such harassment and lewd conduct.

FAQ’s about Serial Killer Research Paper Topics

What is the first inquiry? How do you start a statement about serial killer topics? Answer: Let’s start with the assertion that serial killers don’t exist. They have all been victims of violence and abuse in the past. We should therefore analyse the circumstances that made these serial killers.

What is the second enquiry? What are the main goals for serial killers? Answer: According to investigation and analysis, serial killers’ motives are anger and seeking attention.

What is the third query? What are the most common types? Answer: They are most often a serial killer who has the power to dominate or control their victims.

What is the fourth inquiry? What is the identity of Jack the Ripper? Answer: Jack the Ripper was an infamous serial killer from London. He was also known as Whitechapel Murderer or Leather Apron.

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Inside the mind of a serial killer, does a one-question test reveal psychopaths, free example of serial killers essay.

15 Interesting Serial Killer Research Paper Topics 

Serial Killer Research Paper Topics: Serial killers are not results of the distant memory seasons of Jack the Ripper, yet an alarming reality. Besides, in spite of the multitude of accomplishments and endeavors of legal science, different fields identified with brain research, psychiatry and distinctive social administrations, individuals who have an obsessive inclination to fulfill their distorted requirements through sequential killings discover better approaches to get away from both treatment and discipline, just as to trap casualties.

Serial killers are concentrated in a few fields like brain research, humanism, criminology and some different sciences, which think about the wonder according to different points of view to more readily get it. Clearly, understudies ought to pick Serial killer research paper points dependent regarding the matter they study and put forward the proper objectives – to investigate the brain science of Criminals, to recognize the weakest gatherings of people or to find out about ways that may help in getting a Serial killer. Regardless of whether you are composing without zeroing in on a specific subject, you can have a genuine effect by scattering fantasies about Serial killers and introducing realities that can instruct you and your readers.

You can read more  Essay Writing  about articles, events, people, sports, technology many more.

Topics on Serial Killers

A Serial killer is somebody who kills with at least four a long time with minimal mental solace to proceed with criminal activities. A psychopathic executioner is an individual having an absence of relational sympathy and neglects to feel thoughtfulness toward his casualties. A psychopathic executioner doesn’t esteem human existence and couldn’t care less about the discipline of his violations. Analyze the earnestness of their mental condition and how to get them all together shield the security of the local area from them. Serial killers are conceived and made relying upon the conditions they live in or it’s anything but a hereditary mishap they got from their folks.

Research Titles for Serial Killers

The topics related to Serial killers are:

• Who are Serial Killers?
• Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
• What is the Nature of Serial Killers?
• Serial Killer in the United States
• Serial Killer Psychology
• Treatment of Serials Killers
• What do the Serial Killers think?
• What is in the mind of Serial Killer?
• Analysis on Serial Killers
• Who made them Serial Killers?
• A well-planned Murder by Serial Killer
• What steps are taken by the country to control Serial Killers?
• How do juveniles become serial killers?
• Serial killing for Self Satisfaction
• Serial murders for Money
• How to Cure a Serial Killer?

You can change the offered research paper subjects on Serial killers to your necessities by expanding or, on the other hand, narrowing them down. Make a point to discover and read data on the theme chosen prior to settling on an ultimate choice to keep away from absence of proof.

Research Paper on Crime and Criminals

Criminals are made because of their general public. In any case, hoodlums are made on account of the conditions they were going through, regardless of whether by the savagery of guardians or by the local area. Crooks resort to brutality and utilize the danger as a method of living, and they don’t feel remorseful about their activities. Numerous Criminals feel outcast in view of the treatment they get from their networks, where the strikes they get are a result of their general public; not they were brought into the world with viciousness. Individuals with high testosterone levels are for all intents and purposes bound to submit to brutality more than the individuals who don’t have this level. Hence, hostile conduct is well known which gives a substitute recognizable proof to Criminals.

Criminals will have furious inclinations toward their folks when they get dismissed or all the more respectful companions. At the point when a criminal gets dismissed by his friends, the outcome will be negative because of incendiary or risky guardians or the absence of sufficient parental control. Hence, taking part in a pack or executioner gathering of people will make up for the heartfelt shortcoming, raising the individuals’ feeling of good individual connection. At last, kid sexual maltreatment is one of the principal factors that cause extraordinary injury to the hoodlums, prompting separation from their networks for a significant stretch of time.

Criminals assault kids and treat them as homeless canines, prompting questions and scorn of society. The youngster develops with dread and carries on with a troublesome life rather than others and that makes him the loathing of society, which keeps an eye on wrongdoing and viciousness to fulfill his savage longings. Nonetheless, when an individual feels distanced from society, he will end up being a criminal on account of the unforgiving conditions he encountered, like lewd behavior and harassment.

FAQ’s on Serial Killer Research Paper Topics

Question 1. How to start a good statement for Serial killer topics?

Answer: We can start with the statement as’ serial killers are not born or they are not killers by birth, instead, they are made by our society. These serial killers have one or another history of assault and abuse in their previous lives. Therefore, before we mark them for their cruelty, we should analyse what was the situation that made them serial killers.

Question 2. What are the main objectives of a serial killer?

Answer: As per the analysis and investigation have done on serial killers, their motives are anger, seeking attention, thrill, self-satisfaction, and money.

Question 3. What are the common types of serial killers?

Answer: A serial killer that has power and wants to control or dominate their victims are the most common type of them.

Question 4. Who was Jack the Ripper?

Answer: Jack the ripper was a serial killer in London. He was also called Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.

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Edmund Kemper: The Serial Killer Research Paper

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Introduction

History of crimes, reflection and searching for the reasons.

Edmund Kemper is one of the most famous serial killers, since he was mentioned in various popular shows and movies because of the cruelty of his crimes. The men murdered ten people, including grandparents and mother, and called the police to report about his crimes (Tallerico, 2017). Although the actions of the serial killer indicate deep mental problems, the causes of the occurrence are also important. Consequently, this article will examine the biography of Edmund Kemper, as well as the history of his murders, to find the reasons for his terrible crimes.

A person’s childhood has a significant influence on the formation and prediction of his or her adult life. Ed Kemper had a difficult childhood and has been showing alarming signs from an early age. He was born in Burbank in 1948, and after his parents split up, he lived with his mother and sister (Greig, 2017). Kamper was gloomy and aggressive, loved violent games, and abuse animals. In an interview, he said that he and his sister were playing “a gas chamber or an electric chair,” and, once, he buried their cat alive in the garden (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). He also once told his sister that he would first have to kill the teacher he has a crush on before kissing her (Greig, 2017). Kemper’s problematic behavior was also facilitated by his relationship with adults, since his mother often insulted and humiliated him, his father did not want to live with him. Such relationships with adults, as well as early mental problems, formed the character of the men.

In adolescence, Kemper became even more closed, aggressive, and gloomy. The teachers had no complaints about him, since he did not stand out for his behavior but was much larger and taller than other children. At the farm, the boy had a tense relationship with his grandparents, but he also had the opportunity to hunt birds, ferrets, and other animals, although adults did not approve of this hobby (Greig, 2017). After a small quarrel with his grandmother at the age of 15, Kemper shot her in the kitchen and after he met the grandfather, who came from the grocery store and shot him too. On his mother’s advice, Kemper called the police, and when officers asked about the reason his actions, he replied: “I just wondered how it would feel to shoot Grandma” (Greig, 2017). Kemper was arrested and sent to a secure hospital for the mentally ill in Atascadero, and after five years, he was released on the recommendation of psychiatrists. Consequently, one may note many traumatic and disturbing circumstances in the early years of Ed Kemper.

Kemper committed most of the murders in one year and confessed to his crimes only after he killed his mother. In an interview, Kemper says that initially, he picked up hitchhikers only to get to know them, as well as “play the game” and lure the girls to sit in his car in a few simple tricks (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). In addition, the man had a special campus sign in the car where his mother worked, which allowed him to drive to college. For this reason, Kemper picked up college students who hitchhiked along the road and later became his victims.

Kemper felt rage, sexual desire, and the need to kill, and the defenselessness of the victims helped him realize his fantasies. In May 1972, the first victims were two students, whom Kemper picked up on the Palo Alto road. He tried to strangle the first girl, stabbed her, and cut her throat, as well as the second girl (Killers Documentaries, 2017). Then he took their bodies home, sexually abused them, cut off their heads, and hid parts of their bodies in different places (Greig, 2017). Kemper admits that he was shocked by the first killings as he did everything wrong, and the most difficult for him was to get rid of bodies. However, each time the rage and desire became stronger, and his knowledge that he received in the bar about a new friend of the policeman helped him to go unnoticed (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). For this reason, the killings continued for almost a year.

Kemper later used the same method to find victims as he randomly picked them up from the road. He had a gun to kill the victims, then drove them to his home, committed sexual acts, dismembered bodies, and hid. One day, he went to talk to his mother, while a dead girl lay in his trunk because it gave him a strange pleasure (Ressler & Shachtman, 2015). Another time, Kemper went on a visit to two psychiatrists who noted progress in his treatment and sealed his case, while one’s girl’s head was in his trunk (Ressler & Shachtman, 2015). However, in a short time, Kemper decides to stop and report on his crimes to the police.

The turning point in Kemper’s life was the decision to kill his mother. As the man notes, he was convinced that he would kill his mother a week before the murder and realized that he should stop after that (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). He repeats in several interviews that, at that moment, he had a childish desire to hear something that could stop him. However, his mother mockingly said, “O my God, I suppose you want to stay up all night and talk” (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). These words touched Kemper even more, so he waited until she fell asleep, and then killed her with a hammer, decapitated, and humiliated her corpse (Ressler & Shachtman, 2015). After that, he also invited her mother’s best friend to the house and also killed her and had intercourse with her body; later, he called the police and confessed to his crimes (Tallerico, 2017). Kemper was convicted for eight counts of first-degree murder and is still in the California Medical Facility (Tallerico, 2017). In this way ended the story of one of the most famous serial killers in the United States.

Although there is no excuse for Kemper’s brutal killings, one can notice causes and signs pointing to his mental problems. The first feature was a tense relationship with the family, since the mother constantly insulted and blamed her son and scorned him, and the father became a stranger after leaving his family. This treatment influenced the closed and insecure boy who became even more alienated. Kemper himself says that his social insecurity and inability to communicate with women also exist due to the cruel and matriarchal attitude of his mother and grandmother towards him (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). Consequently, the boy grew up a troubled teenager, but adults did not care about his problems, so they continued to develop.

It should also be noted the relationship between animal abuse, which showed Kemper and violence that later manifested itself to people. The man says that his desire to decapitate also comes from childhood because once his father cut off the heads of two pet chickens and the boy was forced to eat them for dinner (Serial Killers Documentaries, 2017). Besides, facts from his biography show that he was cruel to animals since childhood. Hensley, Browne, and Trentham (2017) also note that there is a link between animal abuse in children and later interpersonal violence. In addition, violent games and phrases about the killings were also supposed to cause concern among parents.

Moreover, interviews and facts from the biography demonstrate that Kemper has a high intellect, as well as the ability to communicate clearly and be charismatic. However, his skills were used in malicious intent because Kemper succumbed to his mental problems, hatred, and loneliness. Therefore, it is possible that if Kemper’s parents paid attention to his issues at an early age, the adult man could control his cruelty, fantasies, and desires, or would not have them at all. Besides, he could become a more self-confident and successful person, since he had no obstacles for this, except for his mental problems.

Therefore, Kemper’s story is an example of how childhood traumas and untreated mental problems lead to terrible consequences. Many people were killed at the hands of one man and could have suffered even more if he had not confessed to the police. Although it is difficult to interpret the reasons for Kemper’s behavior accurately now, studying his biography demonstrates that problems could probably have been avoided by timely intervention and help.

• Hensley, C., Browne, J. A., & Trentham, C. E. (2017). Exploring the social and emotional context of childhood animal cruelty and its potential link to adult human violence. Psychology, Crime & Law, 24 (5), 489–499.
• Greig, C. (2017). The world’s worst criminals . London, England: Arcturus Publishing.
• Ressler, R.K. & Shachtman, T. (2015). Whoever fights monsters: My twenty years tracking serial killers for the FBI. New York, NY: St. Martin’s Press.
• Serial Killers Documentaries (2017). Edmund Kemper documentary – In his own words [Video file].
• Tallerico, B. (2017). Watch the real-life interviews with serial killer Ed Kemper that were recreated on ‘Mindhunter ‘. Business Insider . Web.
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Youth Serial Killers: Psychological and Criminological Profiles

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Serial murder is a specific type of violent crime that falls into the crime category of multicide. According to the nomenclature of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Violent Crime Classification Manual and Academic Researchers for the Classification of Violent Crimes, most serial killers are adults. However, serial murder is also committed by young people, although to a lesser extent. Young serial killers are a topic of relevance in areas such as psychology, criminology, and the justice system. Given that the study of the variables that could be the basis of such multicide criminality is not conclusive, the need for further research is evident. The homicides perpetrated by children and young people point to a social panorama that is alarming due to their young age. This issue is prevalent enough to conduct a review. The performed review concludes the importance of psychosocial factors to better understand the process by which children and young people commit crimes as serious as serial murders. The scope of the problem of serial murders perpetrated by minors is controversial because it often depends on how the number of real cases is counted. Although official statistics indicate the low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, childhood is a period in which antisocial behaviour can have its beginning. Some authors consider that it is not uncommon for the first murder of this type to occur in adolescence. It is important to consider psychopathy as an influential factor in the various forms of serial criminal conduct committed by children and young people. The research works consulted provide evidence of the special relevance of psychopathy in the generation of serious juvenile delinquency.

1. Introduction

The phenomenon of serial murders occupies a unique place in the field of Criminology and the criminal justice system, especially when the perpetrators of this and other kinds of violent crimes are underage. In this sense, we use the terms child, juvenile and youth without distinction, as in the Convention on the Rights of the Child [ 1 ], to refer to those under the age of 18 when which they committed homicide.

In addition to the difficulties that this supposes for criminal investigation by the police and judicial systems, serial murder cases attract excessive attention from the media, mental health experts, the academic world, and the general public. This social, media and professional impact is even worse when the serial murders are perpetrated by either young people or women, since reality is greatly softened in the case of these populations, the more unpleasant aspects of the crime tending to be mitigated [ 2 ].

Furthermore, much of the lack of understanding of the phenomenon of serial murders, especially in the case of underage perpetrators, is surrounded by a halo of media sensationalism that usually arises from a question about the mind of serial killers asked and debated across numerous articles and opinion columns: are serial killers born or made? Added to this is another question of a similar nature, which refers to the popular idea of serial killers as predators, monsters, or devils [ 3 ]. In this sense, if this sensationalist question had to be settled, the conclusion would be obvious: serial killers are predators only in the sense that their methods of attack are very similar to those of predatory animals—they stalk, attack, and kill [ 4 ]. On the other hand, labelling them as monsters or devils, however abominable and indescribable the acts of such individuals may be, is only part of the media circus surrounding such cases at both judicial and social levels [ 5 ], and contributes to the media-influenced collective mentality that spares no detail [ 6 ] and which even, inexplicably, makes celebrities of such people [ 7 ].

Nevertheless, the generally badly characterised film image of the typical murderer who creates a plan of action and chooses their victim is ostensibly false in the case of most juvenile homicides. Only in very few cases (mainly serial killers, mass murderers and itinerants) does it respond to reality [ 8 ].

Putting aside the speculations of the media world, only empirical works of research and academic books that deal rigorously with this delicate and singular subject were considered in this review on serial murders perpetrated by children and youths. In this review, the problem of children and youths who commit homicide or murder, but not serially, was first reviewed to differentiate them from those young people who are serial killers.

Secondly, the concept and characterization of serial murders were defined as a form of multicide and as a specific type of violent crime. According to the conceptualization given by both the FBI’s Violent Crime Classification Manual and various researchers, the great majority of serial killers are white males aged between 25 and 35. Nevertheless, serial murder is also committed by youths, although to a much lesser extent.

Thirdly, the analysis of the psychological and criminological profiles of children and youths who had committed serial murders allowed us to characterize them with a series of psychosocial aspects and criminal motivations. In addition, it is also important to stress the need to consider other types of serial criminal conduct in which some young people become involved, and which can be considered as forerunners to the later perpetration of serial murders. Fourthly, the importance and role played by child–juvenile psychopathy in violent, criminal conduct and the perpetration of serial murders was explored.

The acquisition and development of aggressive and violent behaviour patterns, which may increase the risk of minors committing murder, respond to the joint action of multiple etiological factors (psychological, social, biological, environmental, etc.). Given that the study of the variables which might comprise the basis of such multicide criminality is inconclusive, the need for further investigation is evident. This review aims to provide the necessary knowledge to outline the therapeutic needs of serial killer children, and to deal with them through specific interventions.

To achieve a better knowledge of the phenomenon of murder committed by youths, as well as to understand the extent and severity of this phenomenon, we carried out a scoping review of research articles written in various countries.

Similarly, we reviewed and compared research works related to the concept and characterisation of serial killers. In addition, we analysed the said manifestations in youths to be able to understand their psychological and criminological profiles.

The information was obtained from the following databases: ScienceDirect, Scopus and PsycoINFO. For this review, publications were selected using the following descriptors: (serial killers AND youths) AND (juvenile delinquency AND psychosocial OR psychopathy factors).

Concerning exclusion criteria, all those studies in which the said search descriptors were not present were discarded. Similarly, despite the inclusion of research papers related to other serial criminal behaviour patterns often carried out by young people, such as arson, cruelty to animals, or sexual crimes [ 9 ], those studies that referred to non-serial juvenile violence were excluded.

The year of publication of these research papers was not an exclusion criterion, given their scarcity.

3.1. Youth Homicides and Non-Serial Killers: Extent and Severity of the Problem

The extent and severity of the problem of serial murders committed by minors (children and youths) begins with homicide and murder of a non-serial nature, but equally violent. There are numerous cases of this type throughout the world, and they are widely documented.

Despite the terminology frequently used by the media, young delinquents are not monsters or beasts, and often have not committed previous acts of violence [ 10 ]. The analysis and investigation that this author carried out on 80 attempted or consummated homicides, perpetrated by youths, shows that a great number of these crimes occurred because they found it difficult to refuse to participate in something previously planned by a group of peers, so the criminal motivations were only partially due to the minor’s personality. An explanation can often be found in an accumulation of arbitrary circumstances, and in the way an extremely aggressive individual reacts to such circumstances [ 10 ].

In this sense, Lempp [ 10 ] studied the probable motives for homicides committed by young delinquents and situated them in psychic and environmental contexts for each case to contribute to the scientific study of the phenomenon, evaluating the psychological, legal, psychiatric, and social aspects of each case.

Nevertheless, as mentioned previously, if the reality of these cases seems to be twisted, then what is the real extent of the problem? In this sense, the controversy and debate concerning the extreme violence of minors is widespread, since there are a diverse range of opinions and data about criminality in general among minors and young people. Rechea and Fernández [ 11 ] consider that the percentage of young people who commit this type of act is low.

The analysis of the participation of juveniles in homicides is still a serious problem in the USA, since between the mid-1980s and the start of the 1990s, there was an unprecedented growth in homicides perpetrated by youths [ 12 ]. The available data suggest that juveniles currently participate in more homicides than in previous generations [ 13 ].

Independently of the figures, the cases of juvenile homicide and murder cannot be underestimated, since the psychosocial and criminological reality of these cases is as particular as it is fatal for the victims.

Braga, Kennedy, Waring, and Morrison [ 14 ] stress the significance of homicides carried out by youths who belong to street gangs. It must be said that this criminal phenomenon is very particular, as its situational variables are different and should be studied separately from the rest of juvenile crime [ 15 , 16 ].

Due to all of the above, the psychosocial and criminological profile of youths who commit homicide and murder is not comparable to that of the common delinquent. In this sense, Lempp [ 10 ] warns that greater importance is not given to cases of child–juvenile homicide due to the generalized belief that “no-one would have believed them capable of such acts, precisely because they did not fit in any way the general image we have of a murderer”.

3.2. Serial Murders: Conceptual Limits and Main Characteristics

There is much controversy about the operational definition of serial murder [ 17 ]. However, in general, it can be considered a kind of multicide that can be defined as the repeated homicide of two or more persons [ 18 ], and with a cooling-down period between one crime and another [ 4 ].

The term serial killer was first coined to identify individuals who methodically murder a number of people within a period of time, although the motives, the victims and the methods vary from one serial killer to another [ 19 ].

Although the minimum number of victims considered necessary to define murders as serial murders is arbitrary, authors such as Egger [ 20 ] place the said minimum number as at least three victims. Similarly, although there is no single, generally accepted definition, Ferguson, White, Cherry, Lorenz, and Bhimani [ 21 ] coincide in pointing out that the essential element for defining a serial killer is the execution of three or more murders during multiple discreet events. Therefore, traditionally, a serial killer is defined as an individual who has murdered three or more victims [ 18 ].

However, it is important to point out that there are other types of homicide (for instance, terrorists, mass murderers, etc.) in which the perpetrators can murder more than three victims in their first killing spree, but who can then still become serial killers with a cooling-down period between one crime and another [ 22 ].

In any case, the aspect of the number of victims would have to be reconsidered, as there are murderers who only kill one person and are quickly arrested and imprisoned. Then, after studying their criminal behaviour patterns, it can be seen that there is a high probability that they would have killed again if they had not been caught and imprisoned [ 4 ].

The need to have a precise, working definition of a serial killer takes on greater importance when considering the process of generating the psychological and criminological profile of this type of individual, since there are many subtypes of serial killer. This gives rise to a variety of behaviour patterns and criminal motivations that reflect heterogeneous characteristics [ 23 ]. It is thus important to establish the psycho-criminological profile of these multicides on a differential level [ 24 , 25 ].

3.3. The Phenomenon of Serial Murders Committed by Minors

3.3.1. the psycho-criminological profiles of child and youth serial killers: psychosocial aspects and criminal motivations.

Serial murder is a type of multicide predominantly perpetrated by male adults [ 22 ]. The cases of child and youth serial killers are, of course, much less frequent than adult cases [ 9 ]. From the academic and professional sphere of forensic psychiatry, Myers [ 26 ] studied six cases of serial killers who were under 18 years of age throughout the entire series of their crimes, identifying only six in the last 150 years, the majority from the USA. According to this author, at least two of the six serial killers began to commit murder in their adolescence, and most of their successive crimes occurred at somewhat older ages.

According to Myers [ 26 ], each of these six young serial delinquents committed sexually motivated homicides as an expression of their aberrant erotic interest, which they later openly displayed at the crime scenes. The signs of sexual sadism and criminal characteristics reflect the behavioural profile of a more predatory type of violence (proactive or instrumental) than affective or reactive violence. In this sense, Myers [ 26 ] points out that these subjects preferred to use their own hands in the diverse methods and ways used to kill their victims, that is, cutting, stabbing, strangling and/or dismembering. Three of these children had problematic upbringings, yet, according to the reports, only one was physically abused by his father. The great majority of these juvenile serial killers showed signs of sexual sadism, a characteristic generally found in adult sexual serial killers [ 26 ].

Furthermore, this author states that “humans are not physiologically ‘wired’ to have sexual pleasure during the experience of significant anger” [ 26 ]. However, children usually explore their sexuality and the spectrum of pleasure/pain at an early age. Thus, according to this author, the physiological trait that traces the line between pleasure and pain is absent in these young serial killers, and it is this fact that could have given rise to the generalized conclusion that a serial killer’s behaviour is caused by psychological, social, and biological problems [ 26 ].

Some of these serial killers come from broken homes where they could not acquire a stable personality. Thus, they continually look to satisfy their desires through fantasies of domination and control [ 27 ]. Similarly, some of them were physically, sexually, and emotionally abused in childhood, and often such abuses were simultaneous [ 28 ].

Research into the impact of child abuse on violent behaviour has demonstrated that abuse and exposure to violence, in any of its multiple forms, is a very important factor for predicting criminal conduct [ 29 ]. The research of Dutton and Hart [ 30 ], carried out on males condemned for various crimes, suggests that those minors who were physically, sexually, and/or emotionally abused were three times more likely to act violently when adults. Nevertheless, Mitchell and Aamodt [ 31 ] state that, in the serial killer population, neglect experienced in childhood does not have a significant prevalence.

Myers [ 26 ] does not mention the important fact that the phenomenon of sexual pleasure/pain can be a learnt characteristic. In this sense, it had already been pointed out that “the blurring of pain/pleasure lines can occur during abuse, exposure to violence, or as psychological training (more often seen in socially accepted sexual masochism and slave/master social circles)” [ 32 ].

In any case, Myers concludes that “the murderers’ impulses to kill did not in the least decrease as they grew up; serial killers also fit into the category of ‘predator’” [ 26 ]. Due to the limited number of child serial killers, Myers [ 26 ] was unable to extrapolate the results of his study, and the idea of biological traits being the principal influence of serial killers requires more research to either prove or disprove it. In a later study on the psychological motivations of 12 sexual serial killers, this author and his team could only conclude that this type of individual expresses their positive feelings of sexual pleasure, and even euphoria (instead of anger or other unpleasant states of mind), through their criminal acts [ 33 ].

Although serial killings would seem to be a rare event, some authors suggest that it is difficult to determine the incidence and prevalence of this phenomenon [ 34 ]. Given that this form of violence has a strong social impact, and that it can appear to be the result of interacting biological, psychological, and sociological factors, research into this phenomenon should start in infancy [ 28 ].

As the cases of child and youth serial killers are much less frequent than those committed by adults, it is necessary to approach the studies of cases in this area differently to be able to advance our knowledge of such youths. Thus, an initiative to be recommended in this sense consists of more detailed research into other criminal serial behaviour patterns used by these youths. Such behaviour patterns as are set out below.

3.3.2. The Role of Five Categories of Criminal Serial Behaviour Patterns Used by Children and Youths: Criminological History of Adult Serial Murders?

According to Myers and Borg [ 9 ], there are generally six categories of criminal serial behaviour patterns which are normally studied in the case of children and youths: (1) ‘generic’ juvenile delinquency (which provides an explicative framework for other violent or non-violent crimes); (2) crimes of firesetting; (3) crimes of cruelty to animals; (4) crimes of a sexual nature; (5) crimes of sadism; and (6) serial murders. According to these authors, “the first five categories do not represent all the possible forms of serial crimes committed by young people, and neither do they cover the more serious types or all the specific profiles” [ 9 ]. In this sense, they also point out that “a wider treatment of this area could include additional, less serious crimes which, are by nature serial, such as kleptomania” [ 9 ].

Based on a thorough review of the literature concerning the five categories of serial criminal behaviour patterns in children and youths, Myers and Borg [ 9 ] believe that many of them could be the precursors of later serial murders, by which they seem to be ‘testing things out’; for instance, how they feel upon setting fire to objects, houses, and forests, mistreating and killing animals, etc. Thus, the maximum expression of criminal behaviour would reside in the murder of one or more people. Some young people begin with other types of serial criminal behaviour patterns which serve as a ‘preparatory’ step. Does this mean that serial murder can be learned? Considering the application of the theory of social learning to acts of firesetting by children and youths, Singer and Hensley [ 35 ] found that the motivational patterns of the subjects suggested just that.

Although the research estimates that serial killers begin their criminal careers at 20 years of age, what is certain is that it is not uncommon for the first murder of this type of multicide to happen in adolescence. For example, Burgess, Hartman, Ressler, Douglas, and McCormack [ 36 ] found that 10 out of the 36 adult serial killers in their study, imprisoned for sexual homicide, had also previously committed murder when they were young. Similarly, it is important to mention that the behavioural indicators of sexual murder predict the presence of sadistic sexual fantasies in both delinquents and the general population [ 37 ].

Thus, the criminal conduct of serial sexual attacks is also an important factor to be considered when trying to better understand the criminological and psychosocial profile of serial killers [ 38 , 39 ]. This is because many of them perpetrate serial sexual homicides [ 40 ] with diverse patterns and motivations [ 41 , 42 ]. Similarly, crimes of firesetting committed by children and youths are also examples of criminal conduct that should be considered, as they appear in many cases of serial killers [ 43 ]. Juvenile sexual homicides seem, in many cases, to be correlates or criminological antecedents of adult serial killers [ 44 ].

3.4. Psychopathy, Violent Delinquency, and Serial Murder

3.4.1. the role of child–juvenile psychopathy in violence and delinquency.

It is certain that the first five categories of serial criminal conduct in children and youths studied by Myers and Borg [ 9 ] should be considered in research into both serial murders and attempts to understand the motivational psychology and criminal profiling of violent delinquents [ 45 , 46 ]. In addition to these types of serial criminal conduct, variable psychopathy is another relevant factor to be considered in these cases since these youths usually score high in psychopathy [ 47 ].

Psychopathy is a clinical–forensic construct that gives rise to serious problems in the affective, interpersonal, and behavioural domains, so much so that psychopaths can victimize and manipulate others apparently without their conscience being affected [ 48 ]. Psychopathy is characterized by a series of well-defined traits [ 49 ].

Psychopathy may appear in connection with two separate concepts: that which stresses the social factors or childhood experiences are the root of the disorder; and those who defend the view that the biological, psychological, and genetic elements are the biggest contributors to its appearance [ 50 ].

It is necessary to distinguish between subclinical psychopathy (or non-criminal psychopathy) and criminal psychopathy [ 2 ]. While subclinical psychopathy is studied in the general population [ 51 , 52 , 53 , 54 , 55 , 56 ], criminal psychopathy is studied in clinical–forensic contexts such as courts and prisons [ 8 , 50 ].

The study of psychopathy is useful for understanding seriously antisocial behaviour and violence among children and youths [ 57 ]. In this sense, juveniles who experience a variety of antisocial risk factors, such as mental health issues, upbringing problems, a history of substance abuse, or prolonged criminal participation, are characterised by a profound impulsiveness, emotional instability, and a total absence of guilt with respect to the execution of the crime [ 58 ]. The result is the appearance of psychopathic characteristics, which seem to be risk factors for persistent violence among minors [ 59 ].

Although there are numerous myths and unspecified associations surrounding psychopathy in relation to violence and criminality [ 60 , 61 , 62 ], what is certain is that research has found that criminal psychopathy is a risk factor as far as violence and recidivism are concerned [ 63 , 64 , 65 ]. Taking into account the marked antisocial behaviour of criminal psychopathy [ 66 ] and the characteristic of criminal versatility mentioned in the Psychopathy Checklist—revised (PCL-R) [ 50 ], the main difference between subclinical and criminal psychopathy lies in the concrete perpetration of a crime, of whatever kind, as the basic structure of personality and emotions is practically the same in both types of psychopaths, the criminal and subclinical [ 2 ].

Many traits of psychopathy begin to emerge in infancy [ 50 ] and are clearly identifiable and evaluable in childhood, adolescence, and youth [ 67 ]. However, the inclusion of the concept of psychopathy in the child–juvenile population is not without controversy. While Semel [ 68 ] stresses the limitations of the evaluation of juvenile psychopathy in clinical and forensic contexts, Forth, Bergstrøm, and Clark [ 69 ] clarify the necessity and implications of this evaluation of minors. Although professionals and doctors are still reticent about using the term ‘psychopath’ in the cases of children and youths [ 70 ], the scientific evidence in this respect cannot be denied due to its relation to criminal conduct in this population.

In light of the above, Dåderman [ 71 ] studied the personality traits present in adolescents diagnosed with severe behaviour disorders who showed psychopathy-related traits, e.g., searching for intense sensations, high impulsiveness, and low conformity, socialisation, and social desirability.

Glueck and Glueck [ 72 , 73 , 74 ] were the first to focus the subject of psychopathy on chronic and serious delinquents, some of whom were minors. These authors found that psychopathy was a useful variable for differentiating delinquents from non-delinquents. They described psychopathic delinquents as ostensibly destructive, antisocial, asocial, and less susceptible to therapeutic or educational efforts. Other characteristics include insensitivity towards social demands or towards others, a superficial emotionality, egocentrism, and a total lack of empathy [ 49 ], as well as, in many cases together with impulsive behaviour patterns, an absence of stress or anxiety concerning their lack of social adaptation, serious irresponsibility, and emotional poverty [ 48 ]. Young psychopaths seemed not to respond to any attempted treatment or rehabilitation, and they did not seem to be worried by their persistent criminal behaviour [ 72 , 73 ]. These authors observed that a psychopath was almost 20 times more common among their sample of delinquents than in the control group of non-delinquent subjects.

The relationship between child–juvenile psychopathy and chronic violent delinquency is currently still being studied. Salekin [ 75 ] studied a cohort of 130 children and youths to examine the effect of psychopathic personality on legal problems and life opportunities. This author found that psychopathy remained stable over the period the subjects were followed (four years), and the children with the highest scores of psychopathic traits in their early stages of life tended to maintain these scores later in adolescence. In addition, psychopathy is a significant predictor of both delinquency in general and various forms of violent delinquency.

Current theories concerning crime (such as the situational prevention of crime) are based on the study of the circumstances in which these youths commit their crimes, rather than discovering the reasons why they committed them. Some authors have shown that it is possible to reduce the extent of the violence if the probability of detection increases and there is an effective response from the courts to dissuade young delinquents from enacting their violent behaviour patterns [ 14 ].

The effects of psychopathy on serious juvenile delinquency are more stable and persistent than the effects of the other 14 correlates of delinquency, including demographic characteristics, intelligence, previous delinquency and problems at school, parental factors, drug use, and delinquent companions, among others [ 75 ].

3.4.2. The Role of Child–Juvenile Psychopathy in Serial Murder

The role played by psychopathy in the phenomenon of serial murders can be better understood if we look at its aetiology, which is not exempt from controversy. A great part of this controversy comes from the frequent generalization of the results of much research with common delinquents and non-serial but violent delinquents.

The problem concerning psychopathy lies in the fact that many of the results of research into the typical correlates of delinquency in general have been extrapolated to psychopathic delinquents, thus generating distorted images of psychopathy [ 62 ]. Similarly, the frequent and erroneous comparison of equating psychopathy with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) becomes an additional problem because, while ASPD describes the common delinquent in general [ 8 , 49 ], most delinquents are not psychopaths, while not all psychopaths are delinquents [ 48 , 49 ]. Thus, in this respect, it should be stressed that the terms ASPD and psychopathy are often incorrectly used as synonyms [ 76 ]. ASPD is a kind of mental disorder (a personality disorder) included in psychiatric classifications, while psychopathy requires, according to the diagnostic criteria of Cleckley [ 49 ], a complete absence of any manifestation of a psychopathological nature.

The typical correlates of delinquency in general have been widely studied, and the most frequently studied variables or factors are diverse: gender, age, race, temperament, personality, self-control/self-regulation, school records, and family/parental factors [ 77 ]. Many antisocial delinquent youths present these and many other factors that are usually related to criminality. Although there are numerous clinical–psychiatric diagnoses associated with antisocial young people with behavioural problems [ 78 , 79 ], the great majority of young delinquents do not present evident and complete psycho-pathological syndromes, but simply serious problems of aggressivity and violence that respond to other explanations, such as psychosocial and criminological, rather than psychopathological [ 80 , 81 ]. To avoid pathologizing any type of criminal conduct, psychopathology is an area of study that should not adhere exclusively to the sphere of delinquency, as otherwise we could fall into the temptation of wrongly conceptualizing delinquency as a clinical disorder when it is not. Moreover, some delinquents present mental problems of diverse natures.

As for the specific role of child–juvenile psychopathy in serial murder, it is much easier to understand if the psychopathological approach is disregarded and we focus, more adequately, on the personality and motivations of this type of individual. In this sense, it is important to stress that one of the central, defining characteristics of psychopathy is the absence of empathy, reflected in a lack of consideration for and cruelty towards others, as well as a complete absence of remorse and feelings of guilt. Thus, if we pay attention to psychopathic personality and motivations, it is even possible to distinguish between simple homicides and multiple homicides through the presence or absence of psychopathy.

Woodworth and Porter [ 82 ] found that the characteristics of so-called simple homicides carried out in cold blood (instrumental and premeditated aggressors) depend on the psychopathy that characterizes them, emotional insensitivity, and a complete lack of remorse. These authors found that simple psychopathic homicides present a type of aggression that is predominantly instrumental (that is, premeditated, planned, ‘in cold blood’, motivated by an external objective and not preceded by any possible affective reaction), while simple non-psychopathic homicides present a type of aggression that is emotional (that is, not premeditated, reactive, or on the spur of the moment, motivated by an internal objective and preceded by some personal, emotional reaction).

‘Instrumental aggression’ is also present in most serial murders, and psychopathy plays a very important role. Many serial killers, in childhood and adolescence, present the typical traits of psychopathy [ 76 ] included in the serial criminal conduct categories of children and youths studied by Myers and Borg [ 9 ].

According to Morton [ 83 ], there is no generic profile for serial killers, who differ in many aspects, including their motivations for murder and their behaviour at the crime scene. However, certain common traits can be identified for some serial killers, including the desire for thrills, a lack of remorse, impulsiveness, the need for control, and abusive practices. These traits and behaviour patterns are consistent with psychopathy. The relationship between psychopathy and serial murders is particularly interesting. Not all psychopaths become serial killers, though serial killers usually possess some or many of the traits consistent with psychopathy. Psychopaths who commit serial murders put no value on human life and are extremely cruel in their interactions with their victims. This is particularly evident in serial killers with sexual motivations who repeatedly stalk, attack, and kill without remorse [ 83 ].

Nevertheless, it is also important to stress the fact that psychopathy alone does not explain the motivations of all serial killers [ 83 ], and neither does it explain the motivations of simple homicides. So why murder people, with or without psychopathy? This question is answered by Botelho and Gonçalves [ 84 ], who carried out a critical review of the literature on factors associated with homicides. Starting from a constructivist social perspective and ensuring that the factors related to homicides could be organized into four main categories, these authors observed that the acquisition and development of aggressive and violent behaviour patterns, which could provoke such a crime as homicide, had multi-factorial origins and implied multiple interconnections.

However, in the case of serial killers, it is necessary to stress the aspects of criminal motivations since they are specific in this type of multicide. In this sense, the concept of Perpetrator-Motive Research Design (PMRD), proposed by Vecchi, Van Hasselt, and Angleman [ 85 ], is of special relevance, as it deals with an analysis strategy that helps us understand the motivations, values and tactics of such violent delinquents as serial killers, serial rapists, paedophiles, youth murderers, arsonists, and cyber delinquents. This criminal investigation methodology could also help our understanding of the specific roles played by psychopathic traits in the criminal motivations of diverse types of violent delinquent, especially in the case of serial killers.

Although the absence of remorse is a principal characteristic of psychopathy found in adolescent delinquents and which ought to be investigated, along with other variables relevant at a theoretical and forensic level [ 86 ], it is not a characteristic which, of itself, can account for the diverse criminal motivations of the different types of violent delinquent when considering serial killers, who also have many other psychopathic traits. We thus believe that applying the PMRD methodology could help to clarify such questions and evaluate to what extent child–juvenile psychopathy could be an extremely relevant correlate in serial murders.

In short, what we can say so far is that there is no specific profile for serial killers, as they are a heterogeneous group of violent delinquents presenting very varied psychosocial and criminological factors [ 87 ], some of which can be considered risk factors in this type of multicide [ 28 ].

Thus, the aetiology of the psychopathic serial killer is diverse, and its origins are usually evident from numerous serial behaviour patterns in childhood and adolescence [ 9 ]. Although the role of psychopathy in serial murders can help police investigations by create profiles [ 76 ], further research is needed to help clarify the frequency and degree with which psychopathy is present in serial killers. This would help in the creation of more refined criminal profiles aimed at identifying this type of multicide [ 83 ].

4. Conclusions

First of all, this review has tried to distinguish between two particularly controversial phenomena that reflect the current landscape of psychosocial and criminological reality: serial killer children and young people, and non-serial killer children and young people. We have tried to focus on the areas that deserve special attention, and we have focused on the extent and seriousness of the problem. The homicides perpetrated by children and young people point to a social panorama that is alarming due to the young age of these murderers. This problem is important enough to warrant study because it “raises exploratory questions about the social, psychological and biological factors that might explain such a tragic phenomenon” [ 88 ].

Secondly, the conceptualization of serial murders is still controversial in the sense that it depends on the number of victims that each author stipulates as necessary to be considered as such. In any case, the characterization of this phenomenon is clear, as it is reflected in the criminal profiles of this type of serial killer and what distinguishes them from other forms of multicide (such as mass murder or spree killing). An additional controversy is the enormous media attention surrounding serial murder [ 89 ], an effect that is even greater when the perpetrators of the serial murders are minors.

Thirdly, as for the phenomenon of serial murders perpetrated by minors, the extent of the problem is controversial because it often depends on how the number of real cases is counted, while, additionally, the official statistics are difficult to find [ 90 ].

It can be established that, despite the low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, childhood is a period in which antisocial behaviour begins to flourish. Similarly, the low incidence of serial killers who are minors may be due to the early imprisonment of minors and adolescents who commit a single murder, but who were quite likely to have turned into serial killers [ 4 ].

On the other hand, although there would seem to be a greater number of adult serial killers, some authors believe it not infrequent for the first murder of this kind to occur in adolescence [ 36 ].

In any case, the profiles of children and youths who commit murder are clearly established [ 91 ] and, however inconceivable their crimes may seem to us [ 92 ], the criminological reality of these minors as murderers is evident, with serious social and legal repercussions [ 93 ].

Fourthly, it is also important to consider the psychopathy variable as an influential factor in the diverse modalities of serial criminal conduct committed by children and youths which could be the first ‘steps’ in their criminal career as serial killers later on [ 9 ]. In addition to this reason, the importance of the psychopathy variable has also been stressed as a determinant in the process of psychological–criminal profiling of the diverse types of violent serial delinquents, in particular, those who commit sexually aggressive crimes and murder [ 94 ].

This current review article is not exempt from limitations. The low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, as well as the presence of juvenile murderers that are not serial killers, makes the generalization of the study more difficult, so the analysis should extend its scope to other serial criminal activities committed by juveniles. Likewise, with respect to the review carried out, it is necessary to comment that a systematic review would have been more valuable.

Despite these limitations, the present review underlines the importance of psychosocial factors for the better understanding of the process by which under-eighteens end up committing such serious crimes as serial murders. We have seen that, on numerous occasions, such crimes are accompanied by other equally serious criminal behaviour patterns (arson, sexual assault, animal abuse, etc.). The research works consulted provide evidence of the special relevance of psychopathy in the generation of serious juvenile delinquency [ 75 ].

In this sense, the need to design intervention plans focused on the above-described therapeutic needs is evident. This is because different serial criminal manifestations re-quire specific focuses [ 94 ], highlighting the need to deal with these problems with extreme caution in future research.

Funding Statement

Financed jointly by FEDER & Junta de Extremadura funds (Exp. GR21024).

Author Contributions

All authors conceived the paper and participated actively in the study. Conceptualization, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., E.G.-B. and M.B.-A.; data curation, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., M.B.-A. and M.G.-M.; formal analysis, J.M.M.-M., M.B.-A. and M.G.-M.; methodology, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., E.G.-B. and M.B.-A.; supervision, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B. and E.G.-B.; writing—original draft, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B. and M.B.-A.; writing—review and editing, J.M.M.-M., M.E.G.-B., E.G.-B., M.B.-A. and M.G.-M. All authors have read and agreed to the published version of the manuscript.

Institutional Review Board Statement

Informed consent statement, data availability statement, conflicts of interest.

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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15 Interesting Serial Killer Research Paper Topics 

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Serial killers are concentrated in a few fields like brain research, humanism, criminology and some different sciences, which think about the wonder according to different points of view to more readily get it. Clearly, understudies ought to pick Serial killer research paper points dependent regarding the matter they study and put forward the proper objectives – to investigate the brain science of Criminals, to recognize the weakest gatherings of people or to find out about ways that may help in getting a Serial killer. Regardless of whether you are composing without zeroing in on a specific subject, you can have a genuine effect by scattering fantasies about Serial killers and introducing realities that can instruct you and your readers.

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Topics on Serial Killers

A Serial killer is somebody who kills with at least four a long time with minimal mental solace to proceed with criminal activities. A psychopathic executioner is an individual having an absence of relational sympathy and neglects to feel thoughtfulness toward his casualties. A psychopathic executioner doesn’t esteem human existence and couldn’t care less about the discipline of his violations. Analyze the earnestness of their mental condition and how to get them all together shield the security of the local area from them. Serial killers are conceived and made relying upon the conditions they live in or it’s anything but a hereditary mishap they got from their folks.

Research Titles for Serial Killers

The topics related to Serial killers are:

• Who are Serial Killers?
• Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
• What is the Nature of Serial Killers?
• Serial Killer in the United States
• Serial Killer Psychology
• Treatment of Serials Killers
• What do the Serial Killers think?
• What is in the mind of Serial Killer?
• Analysis on Serial Killers
• Who made them Serial Killers?
• A well-planned Murder by Serial Killer
• What steps are taken by the country to control Serial Killers?
• How do juveniles become serial killers?
• Serial killing for Self Satisfaction
• Serial murders for Money
• How to Cure a Serial Killer?

You can change the offered research paper subjects on Serial killers to your necessities by expanding or, on the other hand, narrowing them down. Make a point to discover and read data on the theme chosen prior to settling on an ultimate choice to keep away from absence of proof.

Research Paper on Crime and Criminals

Criminals are made because of their general public. In any case, hoodlums are made on account of the conditions they were going through, regardless of whether by the savagery of guardians or by the local area. Crooks resort to brutality and utilize the danger as a method of living, and they don’t feel remorseful about their activities. Numerous Criminals feel outcast in view of the treatment they get from their networks, where the strikes they get are a result of their general public; not they were brought into the world with viciousness. Individuals with high testosterone levels are for all intents and purposes bound to submit to brutality more than the individuals who don’t have this level. Hence, hostile conduct is well known which gives a substitute recognizable proof to Criminals.

Criminals will have furious inclinations toward their folks when they get dismissed or all the more respectful companions. At the point when a criminal gets dismissed by his friends, the outcome will be negative because of incendiary or risky guardians or the absence of sufficient parental control. Hence, taking part in a pack or executioner gathering of people will make up for the heartfelt shortcoming, raising the individuals’ feeling of good individual connection. At last, kid sexual maltreatment is one of the principal factors that cause extraordinary injury to the hoodlums, prompting separation from their networks for a significant stretch of time.

Criminals assault kids and treat them as homeless canines, prompting questions and scorn of society. The youngster develops with dread and carries on with a troublesome life rather than others and that makes him the loathing of society, which keeps an eye on wrongdoing and viciousness to fulfill his savage longings. Nonetheless, when an individual feels distanced from society, he will end up being a criminal on account of the unforgiving conditions he encountered, like lewd behavior and harassment.

FAQ’s on Serial Killer Research Paper Topics

Question 1. How to start a good statement for Serial killer topics?

Answer: We can start with the statement as’ serial killers are not born or they are not killers by birth, instead, they are made by our society. These serial killers have one or another history of assault and abuse in their previous lives. Therefore, before we mark them for their cruelty, we should analyse what was the situation that made them serial killers.

Question 2. What are the main objectives of a serial killer?

Answer: As per the analysis and investigation have done on serial killers, their motives are anger, seeking attention, thrill, self-satisfaction, and money.

Question 3. What are the common types of serial killers?

Answer: A serial killer that has power and wants to control or dominate their victims are the most common type of them.

Question 4. Who was Jack the Ripper?

Answer: Jack the ripper was a serial killer in London. He was also called Whitechapel Murderer and Leather Apron.

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Home — Essay Samples — Law, Crime & Punishment — Crime — Serial Killer

Essays on Serial Killer

1. prompts to get you started.

Let's take a look at some sample prompts. These will help you understand the direction your essay could take:

• Discuss the psychology behind the actions of notorious serial killers.
• Examine the cultural fascination with serial killers and its impact on society.
• Analyze the role of law enforcement in tracking and capturing serial killers.
• Explore the portrayal of serial killers in popular media and its influence on public perception.

These prompts can serve as a fantastic starting point for your essay, offering you a clear path to follow while crafting your masterpiece.

2. Brainstorming and Choosing Your Topic

Choosing the right topic is crucial for a captivating serial killer essay. Here are some points to consider while brainstorming:

• Interest: Pick a topic that genuinely intrigues you. Your enthusiasm will shine through in your writing.
• Uniqueness: Avoid common or overused topics. Instead, opt for a unique angle or perspective.
• Research Potential: Ensure there is enough research material available to support your chosen topic.
• Ethical Considerations: Be mindful of the ethical implications of your topic and approach it sensitively.

Once you've taken these points into account, you'll be better equipped to narrow down your topic to something that truly stands out.

3. Unique Essay Topics

Now, let's explore some unique and thought-provoking essay topics related to serial killers. Remember, avoiding trivial or common topics will make your essay more engaging:

• The Dark Charisma: Analyze the magnetic personalities of some notorious serial killers and their ability to manipulate others.
• The Female Serial Killer: Investigate the lesser-known world of female serial killers and their motives.
• Serial Killers in Fiction: Examine how literature and movies have portrayed serial killers over the years and their impact on our perceptions.
• The Zodiac Killer Mystery: Dive into the unsolved case of the Zodiac Killer and the ongoing fascination surrounding it.
• Serial Killers and Social Media: Explore how social media platforms have shaped the public's obsession with serial killers.
• Ted Bundy: A Study in Charisma and Deception - Analyze the charming facade and manipulative tactics of Ted Bundy, one of the most notorious serial killers in history.
• The Zodiac Killer's Unsolved Mystery: Explore the enigmatic case of the Zodiac Killer and the enduring fascination with his identity.
• Aileen Wuornos: The Life and Motives of a Female Serial Killer - Examine the life and motives of Aileen Wuornos, one of the rare female serial killers.
• John Wayne Gacy: The Killer Clown - Investigate the dual life of John Wayne Gacy, who portrayed himself as a friendly clown while committing heinous crimes.
• The Influence of Jeffrey Dahmer on Popular Culture: Discuss how Jeffrey Dahmer's crimes have been depicted in books, movies, and documentaries.
• Richard Ramirez: The Night Stalker's Reign of Terror - Analyze the reign of terror unleashed by Richard Ramirez in Los Angeles.
• Serial Killers and Childhood Trauma: A Psychological Analysis - Investigate the role of childhood trauma in the development of serial killers, using real cases as examples.
• The Green River Killer Investigation: Explore the complex investigation that led to the capture of Gary Ridgway, the Green River Killer.
• Ed Gein: The Inspiration for Fictional Horror - Examine how Ed Gein's gruesome crimes inspired iconic fictional characters like Norman Bates and Leatherface.
• The BTK Killer: A Study in Cold Calculation - Analyze the chillingly calculated actions of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer.
• The Golden State Killer: Solving a Cold Case Decades Later - Discuss the breakthroughs and technology that led to the apprehension of the Golden State Killer, Joseph DeAngelo.
• Andrei Chikatilo: The Butcher of Rostov - Investigate the gruesome crimes and psychological profile of Andrei Chikatilo, one of the most prolific serial killers in Russia.
• The Role of Forensic Psychology in Profiling the Unabomber - Explore how forensic psychology contributed to the capture of Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber.
• Albert Fish: The Horrors of a Cannibal Killer - Examine the horrifying crimes and motives of Albert Fish, a serial killer with cannibalistic tendencies.
• Serial Killers and Their Impact on True Crime Journalism: Analyze the influence of true crime reporting in sensationalizing serial killers' stories using real-life cases.
• The Hillside Stranglers: A Partnership in Crime - Discuss the deadly partnership of Kenneth Bianchi and Angelo Buono, known as the Hillside Stranglers.
• The Nightstalker: Richard Ramirez and Satanic Panic - Explore how Richard Ramirez's crimes contributed to the Satanic Panic of the 1980s.
• The Moors Murders: Ian Brady and Myra Hindley - Investigate the disturbing case of Ian Brady and Myra Hindley, who abducted and murdered children in England.
• The Case of Aileen Wuornos: A Legal and Ethical Analysis - Discuss the legal and ethical dilemmas surrounding the case of Aileen Wuornos.
• The Milwaukee Cannibal: Jeffrey Dahmer's Psychological Profile - Analyze the psychological profile and motivations of Jeffrey Dahmer, the Milwaukee Cannibal.

These topics offer a fresh perspective on the subject matter and are sure to pique the interest of your readers.

4. Sample Paragraphs and Phrases for Inspiration

Now, let's get down to the meat of your essay - the content! Here are some sample paragraphs and phrases that can serve as inspiration as you craft your serial killer essay:

Paragraph 1: Introduction

Serial killers have long fascinated society with their chilling tales of murder and mayhem. From the cunning tactics of Ted Bundy to the enigmatic mystery of the Zodiac Killer, these individuals have left an indelible mark on our collective psyche. In this essay, we will delve deep into the world of serial killers, exploring their psychology, cultural impact, and the enduring allure that surrounds them.

Paragraph 2: The Psychology Behind Serial Killers

Understanding the mind of a serial killer is a complex and intriguing endeavor. Psychologists have delved into the depths of their psyche, attempting to unravel the motivations and triggers behind their heinous acts. One common thread that emerges is the profound need for control, often stemming from early trauma or a disturbed childhood. This insatiable desire to dominate and inflict pain on others becomes a driving force for their gruesome actions.

Paragraph 3: The Media's Role in Serial Killer Infatuation

It's no secret that the media plays a significant role in perpetuating our fascination with serial killers. Television shows, movies, and true crime documentaries often sensationalize their crimes, turning these criminals into antiheroes of sorts. This glorification blurs the line between reality and fiction, leading to a macabre celebrity status for some serial killers.

Paragraph 4: Serial Killers in Popular Culture

From Hannibal Lecter to Dexter Morgan, fictional serial killers have found their way into popular culture with compelling narratives that explore the complexities of their characters. These portrayals often humanize the killers, forcing audiences to grapple with the uncomfortable realization that evil can wear a charming facade.

Paragraph 5: Conclusion

In conclusion, the world of serial killers is a dark and twisted labyrinth of human psychology and societal fascination. While their crimes are abhorrent, they continue to captivate our imaginations, making them a subject ripe for exploration. Whether you're intrigued by their psychology or their influence on pop culture, the realm of serial killers offers endless opportunities for thought-provoking essays that challenge our understanding of the human condition.

Interdisciplinary Insights into The Complex World of Serial Killers

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Ted Bundy: a Deep Dive into The Mind of a Notorious Serial Killer

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Aileen Wuornos, The Female Serial Killer

Research paper on what makes a serial killer, serial killers: born or made evil, zodiac, the mysterious serial killer of 1960-1970s, get a personalized essay in under 3 hours.

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Research of Whether Serial Killers Are Born Or Made

John wayne gacy – a man full of evil, research on ted bundy – one of america’s most evil serial killer, serial killers: born evil or the result of upbringing, serial killer research paper: alexander pichushkin, criminal profiling - the foundation of studying serial killers, the notorious serial killer robert pickton, the reasoning behind why serial killers kill, serial killers: a product of nature or nurture, the making of a serial killer: nature vs. nurture, how traumatic childhood events are a baseline for criminal behavior: serial killers, psychological problems in serial killers, the problem of serial killers in philippines and its reasons, werewolf of mysteria: the terrifying crimes of albert fish, aileen wuornos: story of one killer, aileen wuornos’s seven murders, how ted bundy shocked the united states, highlights upon the case of aileen wuornos, the biography of elizabeth bathory, one of the evilest women in history, peter kurten biography.

A serial killer is typically a person who murders three or more people, usually in service of abnormal psychological gratification, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant period of time between them.

Jack the Ripper, Jeffrey Dahmer, Harold Shipman (Dr. Death), John Wayne Gacy, H.H. Holmes, Pedro Lopez, Ted Bundy, etc.

The motives of serial killers are generally placed into four categories: visionary (psychotic breaks with reality), mission-oriented ("ridding the world"), hedonistic (for lust, thrill, or profit), and power or control; however, the motives of any given killer may display considerable overlap among these categories. Many serial killers also claim that a violent culture and media influenced them to commit murders.

Many serial killers have partners and families that have no idea. Since the 1980s, there are still 222,000 unsolved serial killer murders in the US. You can walk past at least 36 serial killers in your lifetime. 70% of all known serial killer murders come from America.

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Serial Killer Essay Topics & Ideas

Argumentative essay topics about serial killer.

• Aileen Wuornos, The Female Serial Killer
• Am I a Serial Killer
• Americas First Serial Killer
• Analysis of Ted Bundy Serial Killer
• Are Serial Killers Born or Created
• Biography of Famous Serial Killer Andrew Cunanan
• Dexter Morgen – Vigilante Serial Killer
• Evaluating La Donna Beatty’s “What Makes a Serial Killer”
• Good Richard Chase, Serial Killer
• Henry Howard Holmes, One of Americas first Serial Killers
• History of Serial Killer Profiling
• Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer
• Jeffery Lionel Dahmer: Well-Known American Serial Killer
• John Wayne Gacy As A Serial Killer
• John Wayne Gacy: The Role of Childhood in Becoming a Serial Killer
• Karla Homolka: Canadian Serial Killer
• Literature Review On Scholarly Review Of “The Serial Killer Whisperer”
• Made or Born a Serial Killer
• Mansion of a serial killer – Creative Writing
• Monologue of a Serial Killer

Good Essay Topics About Serial Killer

• Research Paper on What Makes a Serial Killer
• Serial Killer Edmund Kemper III
• Serial killer in the United States
• Serial Killer Research Paper: Alexander Pichushkin
• Serial Killer Richard Chase
• Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture
• Serial Killers in Modern America
• Serial Killers: Biology or Upbringing
• Serial Killers: Nature vs Nurture
• The Application of Two Personality Theories to the life of a Serial Killer – Jeffrey Dahmer

Persuasive Essay Topics About Serial Killer

• The Famous Serial Killer Ted Bundy
• The Notorious Serial Killer Robert Pickton
• The Role of Nature and Nurture in Determining a Serial Killer

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At the Democratic Convention, a Historic Nomination

What story did the democrats tell about kamala harris and will it be enough to win.

This transcript was created using speech recognition software. While it has been reviewed by human transcribers, it may contain errors. Please review the episode audio before quoting from this transcript and email [email protected] with any questions.

[BACKGROUND CHATTER]

I’m standing in a sea of people coming out of this vast convention. And people are holding signs, smiling. There’s confetti everywhere. There are balloons, white, red, and blue. And there’s a lot of excitement.

From “The New York Times,” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. And this is “The Daily” from inside the Democratic National Convention Hall, where Kamala Harris has just accepted her party’s nomination, becoming the first woman of color in US history to do so.

Today, the story this convention told about Harris and whether that story could be enough to win.

It’s Friday, August 23.

[SERENE MUSIC]

The work and prayers of centuries have brought us to this day. What shall our our legacy be? What will our children say? Let me in my heart, when my days are through, America, America, I gave my best to you.

On night one of the Democratic National Convention, the evening was really defined by this very emotional, quite bittersweet goodbye from President Biden.

And there’s nothing we cannot do when we do it together.

God bless you all. And may God protect our troops.

It was the closing of one chapter so that another could begin. It was Kamala Harris’s moment.

[UPBEAT JAZZ MUSIC]

So right now, it’s 7:40. We are on the floor at the Democratic National Convention. It is a crazy party atmosphere, which is like a massive understatement.

Day two kicked off with delegates gathering on the convention floor, casting their votes in a kind of symbolic way to make Harris the party’s nominee.

This giant festival of lights, people in cowboy hats, people with blinking bracelets, people with Christmas lights wrapped around their hats, heads, shoulders, people wearing donkey hats. I mean, it’s very, very, very celebratory in here.

We need to see that we’re moving on. We are turning a chapter in America.

How do you feel right now?

Awesome, excitement, energized. Ready to win this election.

I love it. I love it. People are just excited, electrified, and they’re just loving it, and they’re happy.

This has been the most electrifying event I’ve ever attended in my life. It’s my first convention. But what a convention to come for, right? To make history right now, as we charge forward to November 5, to elect the first female Black president. I’m excited.

So with Harris now the nominee, a new campaign slogan appeared everywhere. And that was, “A new way forward.” But in a campaign that’s just four weeks old, it was really an open question what “a new way forward” actually meant.

We’re not going back!

We’re not going back! We’re not going back!

And then over the course of the week, as speaker after speaker took the stage, we started to get an answer. The story of forward would be told through the story of Kamala Harris herself. And the question hanging over the week was really whether that story could appeal to a broad majority of Americans, voters outside of the convention hall who will ultimately decide the election.

[UPBEAT MUSIC]

Astead, welcome to the show.

Thank you for having me.

Again. The second time in a week. And I’m very excited for it.

So Astead, we had on the show on Monday to answer a question for us, that I think a lot of people have, which is, who is Kamala Harris? And you ended that conversation by saying that the Democratic Party also recognizes this reality, that for a lot of people, she is still this unknown quantity.

And that the party had a big task here at the convention this week, which was to find a way to finally tell her story. It does seem like they’ve tried to do that. Let’s walk through the case that they’re making for her. And what you’ve seen here in your reporting for your show, “The Run-Up.”

Yeah, I mean, I think that the Democrats have definitely laid out a case for her as a candidate, but also a story for her as a person. They have leaned into the different parts of her biography to really follow through on what, I think, is the best version of her campaign, which is a little bit for everybody. There is a story there about more moderate legislation, but pieces of progressive history. There’s different parts of her bio that speak to Black communities, immigrant communities.

Of course, the historic nature of her gender and the roles like that. And I really think it has followed through on what I expected for this week, which is that she seems to function politically as a mirror of some sort, where the party wants to position her as someone who basically, no matter what you’re looking for in terms of a vessel to beat Donald Trump, you can find it in this candidate.

Let’s dig into that more. Where did the convention start, that story?

Hello, Democrats!

Yeah, I think it really starts in her personal biography.

And I’m here tonight to tell you all about the Kamala Harris that I know.

They have told a story that she often tells about her being a first generation American.

Her mother moved here from India at 19.

And being a daughter of an immigrant mother who really raised two daughters in the Bay Area from working class roots. And that’s been a real thing that they’ve tried to own.

Kamala was not born into privilege. She had to work for what she’s got.

When she was young, she worked at McDonald’s.

They talk about her working at McDonald’s in college.

And she greeted every person without thousand watt smile and said, how can I help you?

I think it’s overall about trying to present this as someone who pulled himself up by bootstraps. It represents the American dream. And I think for Democrats, it really returns them back to the place they want to be. Democrats like thinking of themselves as a party who appeals to the diversity of America, both in racial ways, in gender ways, but also in class ways.

In Kamala Harris, we have a chance to elect a president who is for the middle class because she is from the middle class.

And I think they used other parts of her identity, specifically thinking about being the first Black woman to accept a major party’s nomination.

We know folks are going to do everything they can to distort her truth.

And I think Michelle Obama’s speech, specifically, spoke to the power and anxiety that sometimes that identity can bring.

My husband and I sadly know a little something about this.

For years, Donald Trump did everything in his power to try to make people fear us. See, his limited, narrow view of the world made him feel threatened by the existence of two hard-working, highly educated, successful people who happen to be Black.

And I would also say that it was an implicit response to what Republicans and others have been trying to say, talking about Kamala Harris as a DEI hire, someone who was only in their position because of their identity. But the way that Michelle Obama framed it was that those identities have power.

I want to know. I want to know. Who’s going to tell him, who’s going to tell him that the job he’s currently seeking might just be one of those Black jobs?

Just because someone the first to be in a position, does not mean that is the only reason in the position. But it also doesn’t make those identities meaningless. The fact that she is a Black woman should be seen as a strength, not as a weakness.

Is there a risk to that, though? I mean, by openly talking about race, is there a risk that goes too far and begins to alienate voters outside the convention out in the world who they need to win in November.

I mean, there’s always a risk. But I don’t really think so. Democrats have had increasing trouble with Black voters. There’s been a downturn in Black vote share all the way dating back to 2012.

In Biden’s now suspended candidacy, that was one of the things driving his polling weaknesses was kind of tepid reception from Black voters. A pitch to them is something that is a upside of the Kamala Harris campaign. And the hope that they could consolidate that community is where any Democratic nominee needs to be as a baseline.

We both got our start as young lawyers, helping children who were abused and neglected.

One thing I noticed that came up a lot during the speeches was her background as a prosecutor. How did the party present that part of her biography?

As a prosecutor, Kamala stood up for children who had been victims of sexual abuse.

She put rapists, child molesters, and murderers behind bars.

They talk about it in the way that I think fuels what they want to say is the reason she can take on Trump, that this is someone who has stood up to bullies before, who’s not going to be intimidated easily —

And Kamala is as tough as it comes.

— who’s tough, and who doesn’t shirk away from a challenge.

And she knows the best way to deal with a coward is to take him head on, because we all know cowards are weak. And Kamala Harris can smell weakness.

I think all of that adds up to say, you can trust this person to go up against Donald Trump. You can trust this person to go up against the Republican Party, because she’s not someone who is scared.

She never runs from a fight.

A woman, a fierce woman for the people.

But then, of course, we heard about another side of Kamala Harris, a more personal side.

Yeah, and I think this is the part of Kamala Harris where I think was kind of most missing in the presidential run. Frankly, it’s the part that she keeps most private. She is a warm family member and friend.

Hello to my big, beautiful blended family up there.

And I think what the speech from her husband did was really show and lay that out.

I got married, became a dad to Cole and Ella. Unfortunately, went through a divorce, but eventually started worrying about how I would make it all work. And that’s when something unexpected happened, I ended up with Kamala Harris’s phone number.

He talks about the kind of awkwardness of their first interaction.

I got Kamala’s voicemail, and I just started rambling. “Hey, it’s Doug.”

And I think you have a real kind of sense of their genuine connection to one another.

By the way, Kamala saved that voicemail. And she makes me listen to it on every anniversary.

Like, yes, this is someone who is tough, who is taking on corporations and cartels and all of that stuff by day. But this is someone who also makes a point to cook Sunday dinner for family every week.

And she makes a mean brisket for Passover.

And makes sure to really go close to his kids and is very close with her family.

That’s Kamala. She’s always been there for our children. And I know she’ll always be there for yours, too.

Going back to the last time the Democratic Party nominated a woman, Hillary Clinton, she had presented herself in a very different way. She kind of ran away from that stuff. She was saying, I don’t bake cookies, that’s not what I do. I’m kind of out there with the men, fighting.

And this convention and this candidate, Harris, is very different. She’s a newer generation. And she can do her career and bake cookies. Those things are not in conflict. This is a different type of woman leader.

This week we talked to Senator Elizabeth Warren on “The Run-Up,” and one of the things that she mentioned was she feels that there’s been a big change from 2016, even 2020 to now. Not just the amount of women in public office, but she said they don’t have to choose between sides of themselves. And I think that’s what diversity means.

Of course, Kamala Harris can be a tough politician and also bake cookies. Hillary Clinton did that, too. It was just that she was told that was not the way that she had to present herself. What Kamala Harris is benefiting from is there’s a greater space and ability to choose multiple things at once. And so particularly if others are going to talk more directly about gender or race or other things, that kind of frees her from having the burden of doing that herself.

And in fact, Hillary Clinton, herself, did speak, of course, on day one. She talked about that glass ceiling in the history that has led to now, including her own experience in 2016.

Yeah, I thought the Hillary Clinton speech was really powerful. I think a lot of the speakers put this moment in historical context, both politically and personally.

My mother, Dorothy, was born right here in Chicago before women had the right to vote. That changed 104 years ago yesterday. And since that day, every generation has carried the torch forward. In 1972, a fearless Black congresswoman named Shirley Chisholm —

— she ran for president. In 1984, I brought my daughter to see Geraldine Ferraro, the first woman nominated for vice president. And then there was 2016, when it was the honor of my life to accept our party’s nomination for president.

The last time I was here in my hometown was to memorialize my mother, the woman who showed me the power of my own voice. My mother volunteered at the local school.

I’m the proud granddaughter of a housekeeper, Sarah Daisy, who raised her three children in a one-bedroom apartment. It was her dream to work in government, to help people.

My grandmother, the woman who helped raise me as a child, a little old white lady born in a tiny town called Peru, Kansas.

I want to talk now about somebody who’s not with us tonight. Tessie Prevost Williams was born in New Orleans not long after the Supreme Court ruled that segregated public schools were unconstitutional. That was in 1954, same year I was born. Parents pulled their kids out of the school.

There was a way that I think the candidacy and the person was placed in a long legacy, both about gender identity and racial identity that kind of teed up this Thursday as a culminating moment, both politically and I think, in a broader historical context.

Together, we put a lot of cracks in the highest, hardest glass ceiling. And you know what? On the other side of that glass ceiling is Kamala Harris raising her hand and taking the oath of office as our 47th president of the United States!

I wish my mother and Kamala’s mother could see us. They would say, keep going. Shirley and Jerry would say, keep going!

I think you can do a lot to set up a candidate to be in a good position. All of this stuff adds up to some part of the puzzle, but the biggest piece is the candidate themself. At the end of the day, they have to close the deal. And I think this moment is her chance to tell her own story in a way that sometimes she has not decided to. And that’s still what this whole convention success and failure will ride on.

We’re going to watch tonight. We’re going to watch with our colleague, Reid Epstein. And you are going to have a great episode of “The Run-Up” on Friday. We will all be tuning in.

Thank you. I appreciate you doing this, Sabrina.

Really thanks a lot, Astead.

Are you a delegate?

Sorry, we caught you mid French fry eating. What’s your feeling about Kamala and what her story has been? Are you getting to know her this week? Are there things you’ve learned about her this week?

Yeah, I’m learning more and more as we go along. The more and more I learn about her, the more I’m impressed with her. I mean, she worked at McDonald’s when she was going to college to try to pay her way through.

Her very small beginnings. Not a trust fund baby type of thing. I relate to that. Like, I was on food stamps this year. So it’s like if she can do it with that background, it gives everybody hope.

Hillary was my girl. When Hillary ran, I championed her as well. But I didn’t feel this way as I feel about Harris. I’m like, do I want to run for office? If she can do it, I can. She looks just like me, right? She represents, she works at McDonald’s. She paid for every. It’s relatable. And that’s what everybody needs.

We’re going to break that glass ceiling. I’m getting teary, teary in my eyes. And it just means so much to be inclusive.

[WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

What does it mean to you that Kamala Harris is a woman? What does it mean to you that she’s a Black woman?

To have a Black woman become the president of the United States, and for her to turn the world upside down in 30 days, to know that I’m in the midst of this miraculous history is phenomenal.

One delegate who really stood out to us was Beverly Hatcher, a 76-year-old Black woman from Texas.

I was raised by a wonderful Baptist mama. I just lost her. But I am who I am because of my mother. We were always pushed to do whatever we wanted to do. I’ll never forget. I wanted to be a majorette. I taught myself, because we had no money for, what is it called, lessons

And a majorette is like the baton twirler, right?

Yes. And when I did finally try out in my 11th grade, I won right off. And my classmates, who were predominantly white, as years have gone by, have told me at class reunions and stuff, Beverly, the sleepy town of Wellington woke up.

Oh, my god, we got a Black girl getting ready to be the head majorette. But it happened because I had the drive and the will. My mother and my family stood behind me, and didn’t miss a parade, or a football game, or a basketball game.

And you see that in Harris?

Beverly, what would your mom say if she saw this?

My sisters have been telling me every day how proud my mom is. And I’m just happy. I’m happy to make her happy. Yeah.

We women, who have had mothers like Kamala, like Michelle, I remember Hillary’s mother, we women value their strength and their wisdom. And we’re just glad that they gave us a legacy to pass it on.

Thank you very much.

We’ll be right back.

Reid, hello.

OK. Kamala Harris just wrapped up her acceptance speech. Before we talk about what she said and the case she presented, tell us how her campaign was thinking about the stakes of this moment.

Sabrina, this evening was one of two opportunities, along with the debate next month, for her to speak to tens of millions of people at once. And so for that, the stakes were really high.

Her goal was to present herself as a serious person and a serious candidate, who was not the candidate who flamed out in 2019 or the unsteady vice president from the beginning of her term. She had to show that she had the gravitas to be the commander in chief, the political aptitude to reach out to the middle, and also to progressives in her party all at the same time.

A very tall order. Tell us how she went about doing that.

Good evening, everyone. Good evening.

Well, she started talking around 9:30 Chicago time to a packed United Center with 14,000 or 15,000 people, many, many wearing all white, the color of the suffragettes, a color that makes a statement just by wearing it. And when Harris took the stage —

— they erupted in a cheer that forced her for a couple of minutes to wait before she could start talking.

Thank you. OK, let’s get to business. Let’s get to business. All right.

And what did she finally say once she started talking?

She told the story of her life.

The path that led me here in recent weeks was, no doubt, unexpected. But I’m no stranger to unlikely journeys.

My mother, our mother, Shyamala Harris, had one of her own. And I miss her every day, and especially right now.

She talked about the influence of her mother, who raised her and her sister.

And she also taught us, “And never do anything half-assed.” And that is a direct quote. [LAUGHS]

She spoke about her family’s humble beginnings in Oakland.

Before she could finally afford to buy a home, she rented a small apartment in the East Bay.

Then she started talking about her career as a prosecutor.

In the courtroom, I stood proudly before a judge and I said five words.

She brought back one of the lines that she used in her 2020 campaign about how when she stood up in a courtroom, she began with the same words.

Kamala Harris for the people.

And she said she would bring that same philosophy to the White House, that she was not working for specific individuals, but for the people at large.

And so on behalf of the people —

Eventually she did a bigger wind up to formally accepting the nomination.

— on behalf of every American, regardless of party, race, gender, or the language your grandmother speaks —

And listed the people on whose behalf she did so.

— on behalf of everyone whose story could only be written in the greatest nation on Earth —

It was really a kind of a feat of speech writing to build up to this big emotional moment.

— I accept your nomination to be president of the United States of America.

And what did you make of that, how she was doing that?

It was building up this speech to be a serious political document and present her as a serious figure in this moment. And so she still has to prove to people that she is capable of being the commander in chief and running the country.

And how does she try to prove that she’s capable of being a commander in chief?

What she did was try to draw the distinction between herself and Donald Trump.

In many ways, Donald Trump is an unserious man. But the consequences, but the consequences of putting Donald Trump back in the White House are extremely serious.

And she warns that Trump would not have guardrails on him if he were elected to a second term.

Just imagine Donald Trump with no guardrails.

And how he would use the immense powers of the presidency of the United States not to improve your life, not to strengthen our national security, but to serve the only client he has ever had, himself.

The speech was very clear-eyed about the stakes of the election.

They know Trump won’t hold autocrats accountable because he wants to be an autocrat himself.

There was a whole section in the middle of the speech where she ticked through, one by one, a whole series of warnings about things that Trump would do to the country if he were back in the White House.

Get this, he plans to create a national anti-abortion coordinator and force states to report on women’s miscarriages and abortions.

Simply put, they are out of their minds.

What else stuck out to you?

It was remarkable, the section of the speech where she talked about Gaza.

President Biden and I are working around the clock, because now is the time to get a hostage deal and a ceasefire deal done.

She did not veer too far to the left.

I will always stand up for Israel’s right to defend itself.

She managed to say things that would be appealing to both sides.

President Biden and I are working to end this war, such that Israel is secure, the hostages are released, the suffering in Gaza ends, and the Palestinian people can realize their right to dignity, security, freedom, and self-determination.

It was a remarkable moment to hear the arena erupt at the end of that section, to hear her support for both the Israelis and the Palestinians reveal that kind of enthusiasm, after the party has been really ripped apart for months about how to handle the situation.

Fellow Americans, I love our country with all my heart.

She ended this speech with a paean to patriotism.

We are the heirs to the greatest democracy in the history of the world.

She dove headlong into the American exceptionalism argument that is native to Republicans and to older generations of politicians, like Joe Biden.

It is now our turn to do what generations before us have done. Guided by optimism and faith to fight for this country we love. To fight —

But is not something you always hear from younger Democrats, who are a little less comfortable with some of the flag waving.

Let’s vote for it. And together, let us write the next great chapter in the most extraordinary story ever told. Thank you. God bless you and may God bless the United States of America. Thank you all.

She seemed to really be taking aim at this criticism of her, which is that she’s this radical California liberal and she can’t be trusted with the keys to the country.

I mean, that was one of the tasks that she had tonight, was to make the argument, particularly to voters in the middle, the suburban voters that used to vote for Republicans, but have been repelled by Trump and driven to Democrats in the last several years, that they can vote for her without worrying that she’s some kind of Bernie Sanders acolyte.

And some of that is based on the way she ran her last presidential campaign. Some of it, frankly, is because she’s a Black woman from California. And that the voters who will determine this election are voters in less diverse states, for the most part.

So Reid stepping back here, it feels worth remembering just where we were at the end of the Republican National Convention that was just over a month ago. Things couldn’t have felt more different. The GOP was on top of the world, while the Democrats were in disarray over Biden’s refusal to leave the race.

And now here we are. And it feels like things couldn’t be better for the Democrats. At least that’s the feeling I’m having coming out of this convention.

I mean, the whole race has turned upside down from where it was when we left Milwaukee. And Democrats are upbeat. They are confident. It is a party that is remarkably united behind their candidate.

But you have to remember, this election will be very close. It is, indeed, a game of inches in the key battleground states. And what she was trying to do was to present herself as someone who can be trusted as commander in chief to win over the tiny slices of the electorate that will determine the winner in places like Wisconsin, and Michigan, and Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Arizona.

And those are the states that will determine the election. And they have made a calculated decision that those voters needed to see her as a commander in chief, something they had not seen from her before. And we will see in the coming days and weeks whether she’s accomplished that in a way that brings enough of those people on board for her to win a term as president.

Reid, thank you.

Thank you, Sabrina. [WHIMSICAL MUSIC]

Here’s what else you should know today. On Thursday, the Supreme Court allowed Arizona Republicans, for now, to impose tougher voting requirements, including a new rule that people registering to vote there before the coming election must show proof of citizenship.

As a result, Arizonans newly registering to vote for this year’s presidential election must provide copies of one of several documents, such as a birth certificate or a passport, in order to prove that they are US citizens. Democrats have denounced the new rule as an attempt to prevent legal immigrants from voting.

And US Health officials have approved the latest slate of annual COVID vaccines, clearing the way for Americans six months and older to receive updated shots in the coming days. The approvals come amid a prolonged surge of COVID infections, which have risen all summer.

Remember to catch a new episode of “The Interview” right here tomorrow. This week, Lulu Garcia-Navarro talks with Jenna Ortega, the star of the Netflix series “Wednesday,” and the new “Bettlejuice” sequel, about her head-spinning success over the past few years.

One day I just I woke up in somebody else’s shoes. I felt like I had entered somebody else’s life. And I didn’t know how to get back to mine.

Today’s episode was produced by Lynsea Garrison, Rob Szypko, Jessica Cheung, Asthaa Chaturvedi, and Shannon Lin. It was edited by Rachel Quester, contains original music by Rowan Niemisto, Dan Powell, Diane Wong, and Marion Lozano, and was engineered by Chris Wood. Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly.

[THEME MUSIC]

That’s it for “The Daily.” I’m Sabrina Tavernise. See you on Monday.

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Hosted by Sabrina Tavernise

Featuring Astead W. Herndon and Reid J. Epstein

Produced by Lynsea Garrison Rob Szypko Jessica Cheung Asthaa Chaturvedi and Shannon Lin

Edited by Rachel Quester

Original music by Rowan Niemisto Marion Lozano Dan Powell and Diane Wong

Engineered by Chris Wood

Listen and follow ‘The Daily’ Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Amazon Music | YouTube | iHeartRadio

Last night, at the Democratic National Convention, Vice President Kamala Harris accepted her party’s nomination, becoming the first woman of color in U.S. history to do so.

Astead W. Herndon and Reid J. Epstein, who cover politics for The Times, discuss the story this convention told about Ms. Harris — and whether that story could be enough to win the presidential election.

On today’s episode

Astead W. Herndon , a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “ The Run-Up ” for The New York Times.

Reid J. Epstein , who covers politics for The New York Times.

Background reading

Kamala Harris promised to chart a “new way forward” as she accepted the nomination.

“The Run-Up”: It’s her party now. What’s different?

There are a lot of ways to listen to The Daily. Here’s how.

We aim to make transcripts available the next workday after an episode’s publication. You can find them at the top of the page.

The Daily is made by Rachel Quester, Lynsea Garrison, Clare Toeniskoetter, Paige Cowett, Michael Simon Johnson, Brad Fisher, Chris Wood, Jessica Cheung, Stella Tan, Alexandra Leigh Young, Lisa Chow, Eric Krupke, Marc Georges, Luke Vander Ploeg, M.J. Davis Lin, Dan Powell, Sydney Harper, Michael Benoist, Liz O. Baylen, Asthaa Chaturvedi, Rachelle Bonja, Diana Nguyen, Marion Lozano, Corey Schreppel, Rob Szypko, Elisheba Ittoop, Mooj Zadie, Patricia Willens, Rowan Niemisto, Jody Becker, Rikki Novetsky, Nina Feldman, Will Reid, Carlos Prieto, Ben Calhoun, Susan Lee, Lexie Diao, Mary Wilson, Alex Stern, Sophia Lanman, Shannon Lin, Diane Wong, Devon Taylor, Alyssa Moxley, Olivia Natt, Daniel Ramirez and Brendan Klinkenberg.

Our theme music is by Jim Brunberg and Ben Landsverk of Wonderly. Special thanks to Sam Dolnick, Paula Szuchman, Lisa Tobin, Larissa Anderson, Julia Simon, Sofia Milan, Mahima Chablani, Elizabeth Davis-Moorer, Jeffrey Miranda, Maddy Masiello, Isabella Anderson, Nina Lassam and Nick Pitman.

Astead W. Herndon is a national politics reporter and the host of the politics podcast “The Run-Up.” More about Astead W. Herndon

Reid J. Epstein covers campaigns and elections from Washington. Before joining The Times in 2019, he worked at The Wall Street Journal, Politico, Newsday and The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. More about Reid J. Epstein

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