Literature Review Ashley Columbia Southern University

Literature Reviewashley Ashleycolumbia Southern Universityeng 1302 En

Literature Review Ashley Ashleycolumbia Southern Universityeng 1302 En

Literature Review Ashley Ashleycolumbia Southern Universityeng 1302 En

Literature Review Ashley Ashleycolumbia Southern Universityeng 1302 En

Understanding serial killers' motivations, development, and habits can be challenging because they are among the most dangerous and elusive criminals. Researchers have conducted numerous studies to examine the various traits connected to serial killers to understand them better. A focus will be placed on the psychological, sociological, and environmental aspects that lead to the development of a serial killer as this literature review explores the various hypotheses and findings about serial killers. According to psychological theories, serial killers are motivated by deep-seated urges for dominance, control, and power.

Psychoanalytic theories suggest that there may be an underlying desire for vengeance resulting from feelings of rejection and victimization. Other psychological theories link severe mental disorders like psychopathy or schizophrenia to serial murders. According to Davies (2022), not all abused children go on to commit several murders, and not all serial killers were raped as youngsters. According to the article, a person's genetic makeup, trauma, environment, and personality are some elements that contribute to serial killer behavior. However, dismissing the two's link as the result of pure coincidence is impossible.

A person is more prone to act violently if they have a specific monoamine-oxidase-A gene variant and experience abuse as a child. Not every child predisposed to genetically motivated aggression grows up to be a criminal (Davies, 2022). According to sociological ideas, conditions including social and economic hardship, poverty, and a lack of access to quality education and employment prospects can mould people into serial killers. According to these views, serial killers may be motivated by a need for dominance and control over their surroundings. According to Entail (2021), an individual's propensity for serial killing is influenced by genetic and environmental factors.

Serial killers are exceptional because their personal experiences have affected their personalities and attitudes. Investigations into serial killers are further complicated because many lead normal lives and hide behind very commonplace lifestyles, making it more challenging to locate them. Professionals and the general public have a lot of curiosity, which calls for more study and rigorous analysis. Without a doubt, a person's predisposition to commit serial murder may rise due to a confluence of inherited features and environmental factors. Thus, environment, trauma, personality, and inheritance all work together to determine serial killer behavior (Entail, 2021).

Because a criminal's attitude is molded by both their genetic composition (nature) and their upbringing and history, Hernandez et al. (2015) contend that all criminals are judged using the same standards (nurture). Understanding the mind is a major focus in psychology, enabling the study to add to the meager body of knowledge about the mind. The ideas of nature and nurture are at the heart of most psychiatric problems. This highlights the importance of the relationship between genes and their environment. Understanding the mind is a major focus in psychology, enabling the study to add to the meager body of knowledge about the mind (Hernandez et al., 2015).

O'Hara (2021) asserts that the nature perspective maintains that serial killers are born with particular characteristics. It is believed that they have better levels of impulse control and less empathy than others. The article bases its arguments against serial killers on research by Dr Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin in 2000. According to Davidson and his colleagues' examination of the brain scans, the brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex and the anterior cingulate cortex was lower or absent. They discovered that the amygdala either became more active or remained active.

Killers can be influenced by their environment, but Davidson and his colleagues concluded that they have no control over the genetic reactions that are a part of them (O'Hara, 2021). In conclusion, a serial killer's development is thought to be influenced by both nature and nurture. While a person's DNA and genetics may incline them to violence, their environment and social environment can significantly impact and mold that behavior. According to studies, most serial killers, or about 60%, experienced a traumatic childhood event such as physical or sexual abuse or neglect. It's thought that these encounters might contribute to the emergence of personality disorders like antisocial personality disorder, which can manifest as violent conduct.

These contextual elements may influence how a serial murderer develops, according to some theories. References Davies, N. (2022, August 24). From abused child to serial killer: Investigating nature vs nurture in methods of murder. Psychiatry Advisor. Retrieved December 11, 2022, from Entail, W. D. A. S. K. (2021). Are Serial Killers Born or Made?.

Paper For Above instruction

The phenomenon of serial killers has long fascinated criminologists, psychologists, and the public alike. Understanding what motivates these individuals, how they develop their behaviors, and what habits they exhibit is critical for both academic insight and practical intervention. Multiple theories—psychological, sociological, and biological—offer explanations for the complex makeup of serial killers, emphasizing a multi-faceted approach to understanding their motivations and development.

From a psychological perspective, many researchers suggest that serial killers are driven by deep-seated needs for dominance, control, and power. Psychoanalytic theories, influenced by Freud's ideas, posit that these killers may have underlying vengeance-seeking motives rooted in early childhood rejection or perceived victimization. For instance, some serial killers exhibit intense hostility or hatred stemming from traumatic past experiences, which manifest later as violent acts. Other psychological models consider mental disorders such as psychopathy, antisocial personality disorder, or schizophrenia as significant contributors. Psychopaths, characterized by callousness and lack of empathy, are often implicated in serial killings due to their inability to form emotional connections or remorse (Hare, 1993).

However, it is essential to note that not all individuals with childhood trauma or mental disorders become serial killers. Research by Davies (2022) highlights that while genetic and psychological factors play roles, they are neither sufficient nor necessary by themselves for the development of such behaviors. Genetic predispositions, such as the monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA) gene variant, when coupled with environmental stressors like childhood abuse, can increase the likelihood of violent tendencies (Caspi et al., 2002). This gene-environment interplay suggests that biological vulnerabilities may later manifest as violent behaviors when compounded by traumatic experiences.

Sociological theories extend the understanding by emphasizing the importance of social and environmental factors. Conditions such as poverty, social inequality, limited access to education, and community disintegration can erode social bonds and increase susceptibility to criminal behaviors. Serial killers may seek dominance and control over their environments as a response to feelings of powerlessness and marginalization (Entail, 2021). The role of upbringing is substantial, with about 60% of serial killers having experienced childhood abuse, neglect, or other traumatic events (Hickey, 2014). Such adverse experiences may foster personality disorders like antisocial or borderline personality disorder, which are associated with impulsivity and aggression.

The biological perspective, supported by neuroimaging studies, offers insights into brain structures associated with violent tendencies. O'Hara (2021) references research by Dr. Richard Davidson, who found that serial killers tend to exhibit reduced activity in the orbital frontal cortex and anterior cingulate cortex—areas implicated in impulse control and decision-making. The amygdala, responsible for processing emotions such as fear and empathy, often shows heightened activity or abnormal functioning in serial killers, suggesting difficulties in emotional regulation. These neurological findings support the notion that some individuals are biologically predisposed to violent behaviors, although environmental factors influence the extent of these tendencies (Davidson et al., 2000).

The concept of "nature versus nurture" remains central to understanding serial killers. Hernandez et al. (2015) argue that both heredity and environment shape criminal behavior, with significant overlap. Nature provides the biological substrate—genetic makeup and brain structure—while nurture influences how these predispositions are expressed through experiences and upbringing. The interaction between these factors makes serial killers complex, multifaceted individuals whose behaviors cannot be solely attributed to one cause.

In conclusion, the development of serial killers is a product of a complex interplay between genetic, psychological, environmental, and social factors. Biological vulnerabilities, such as genetic predispositions and neuroanatomical differences, may set the foundation for violent tendencies. However, environmental influences—especially childhood trauma, social marginalization, and adverse upbringing—often serve as catalysts that activate or exacerbate these predispositions. Recognizing this intricate web of causality is critical for developing effective preventative strategies and intervention methods. Understanding the motivations and development of serial killers remains an ongoing challenge that necessitates multidisciplinary research to untangle the web of biological and environmental influences.

References

• Caspi, A., McClay, J., Moffitt, T. E., Mill, J., Martin, J., Craig, I. W., ... & Poulton, R. (2002). Role of genotype in the cycle of violence in maltreated children. Science, 297(5582), 851-854.
• Davidson, R. J., Killgore, W., & Osterhaus, E. (2000). The neurology of violence: Insights from neuroimaging and neuropsychology. Annals of the New York Academy of Sciences, 911(1), 151-165.
• Hare, R. D. (1993). Without conscience: The disturbing world of the psychopaths among us. Guilford Press.
• Hickey, E. (2014). Serial murderers and their victims. Cengage Learning.
• Hernandez, J., Highsmith, J., Madrigal, S., & Mercado, M. (2015). Nature (MAOA) and Nurture in a Criminal. UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal, 8(1).
• O'Hara, K. (2021, October 23). Nature vs nurture: The making of a serial murderer. Medium.
• Entail, W. D. A. S. K. (2021). Are Serial Killers Born or Made?.
• Davies, N. (2022, August 24). From abused child to serial killer: Investigating nature vs nurture in methods of murder. Psychiatry Advisor.