62 Annotated Bibliography 2 – “Are Serial Killers Born or Created?”
Scotlyn Koehler
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Are serial killers born or created?
Knight, Zelda G. “Some Thoughts on the Psychological Roots of the Behavior of Serial Killers as Narcissists: An Object Relations Perspective.” Social Behavior & Personality: An International Journal, vol. 34, no. 10, Dec. 2006, pp. 1189–1206. EBSCOhost, doi:10.2224/sbp.2006.34.10.1189.
The article talks about the different psychological reasoning behind certain behaviors of serial killers. It explains the main characteristics of sexually motivated serial killers. The author explores the relationship between “pathological” and “destructive” narcissism as well as the psychological roots and the behaviors of male serial killers, explaining how early developmental deficiencies, childhood abuse, sexual sadism, and fantasies contribute to the development of serial killers.
This article is useful because it gives examples of environmental factors that may push someone to become a serial killer. It provides insight into the family-dynamic aspects of creating a serial killer, which is one of the points I want to talk about. The author elaborates on the sexual abuse that often happens to people who become serial killers, ultimately supporting my stance that they are created, not born.
The author, Zelda Knight, is a professor of Psychology at the University of Johannesburg. She has a PhD in Psychology and is a registered counseling psychologist. She is the vice president of the World Council for psychotherapy African chapter as well as a member of the ‘International Association for Psychoanalytic and Self Psychology.’ She is a credible source because of her numerous qualifications and years of experience in the Psychology field. This article appears in a peer reviewed academic journal, which makes it a reliable source.
Miller, Laurence. “Serial Killers: I. Subtypes, Patterns, and Motives.” Aggression & Violent Behavior, vol. 19, no. 1, Jan. 2014, pp. 1–11. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1016/j.avb.2013.11.002.
This article explores the history and behavioral patterns of serial killers, examining the definition, description, and characteristics of a serial killer in detail. The author classifies various subtypes of serial killers and assesses the different categories found by researchers. The article also discusses the context of special populations of serial killers such as sadist-masochists, females, couples, and professionals.
This source would be beneficial to my essay because it elaborates on the effects of physical and mental abuse on children who eventually become serial killers. One of my supporting paragraphs talks about trauma, and this would be beneficial to explaining my stance. The author explores different patterns that form the dynamic of a serial killer; the helpful insight that is provided throughout this article will help my argument.
The article is in a peer-reviewed academic journal. The author is Laurence Miller, a university professor with a PhD in psychology. He has been practicing psychology for 25 years, specializing in psychotherapy, neuropsychology, and business psychology. He has written several books and has over 200 publications related to psychology. His level and years of experience make him a credible author who provides reliable information.
Pakhomou, Serge-Moses. “Serial Killers: Offender’s Relationship to the Victim and Selected Demographics.” International Journal of Police Science & Management, vol. 6, no. 4, Winter 2004, pp. 219–233. EBSCOhost, doi:10.1350/ijps.6.4.219.54138.
This article deals with the current generalization of serial killers as white males between twenty and thirty years old. It follows a study of 21 serial killers to test the hypothesis of the generalization, thoroughly discussing statistical data relating to the serial killer demographic and particular groups within it. The article explores offenders’ relationship to their victims through prior experiences such as marital status, education, military service, psychiatric diagnosis, and prior criminal charges.
The article also discusses the role parents play in a child’s life: this is a point I want to use to support my argument that serial killers are made, not born. This study asserts that absent or divorced parents play a part in the emergence of a serial killer; the relationship with their parents has a significant effect on children during their developmental stages. This information clarifies a powerful subpoint that can be used to aid my argument.
Serge-Moses Pakhomou is involved in the ‘research in violent behavior’ program at the John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York. According to his bio, he specializes in the methodology of mental activity, competency, and crimes of sexual motivation (Pakhomou 219). This academic journal article has been peer-reviewed and revised by other scholars in the same profession. The author’s qualifications, along with the fact the article was reviewed by other professionals, makes this a reliable source.
Spence, Sean. “Bad or Mad?” New Scientist, vol. 181, no. 2439, Mar. 2004, pp. 38–41. EBSCOhost, search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx direct=true&db=aph&AN=12648026&site=ehost-live.
This article discusses how neuroscience is being used to examine different functions of the brain that do not work properly in severely antisocial people. The frontal cortex of the brain shows low activity in impulsive killers; however, in serial killers it does not. This study asserts that the defect lies in the amygdala in serial killers, which is the region of the brain that processes emotional cues.
I plan on using this source as a counterargument. The author talks about how serial killers have brain issues that play a role in their impulses to kill. This article presents a stance in viewing the possibility that serial killers are people who have natural problems that cause them to act in violence. However, this is a weak concept that I will be able to argue against to further prove my point that serial killers are created, not born.
Sean Spence is a Professor of General Adult Psychiatry. His main research focus is on neuroscience and exploring different regions of the brain. He is the author of several books and research articles that deal with these topics, showing that he is an expert on the subject. New Scientist is a periodical with good quality controls and a reputation for trustworthiness, making this a credible source.
Ürmösné Simon, Gabriella. “The portrayal and the attributes of serial killers and some of the most notorious ones.” Internal Security, vol. 10, 2018, pp. 1-12.
This article discusses the general attributes, key traits, and clusters of serial killers, examining core classifications of organized and disorganized serial killers. The author examines the evolutionary aspects of some of the most notorious serial killers, explaining how elements such as childhood trauma, superiority, humiliation, neglect, and family history can be crucial factors in the development of a serial killer.
I anticipate using this source in one of my body paragraphs. It talks about how, if a child is bullied for their appearance or a disability, it could push them into becoming a serial killer later in life. One of my main points is how early childhood environment shapes a future serial killer and this is a perfect example of that.
This source is from an academic journal and the author, Gabriella Ürmösné, has a PhD in Linguistics. She attends the National University of Public Service in Budapest and is the Head of Department of Foreign and Technical Languages. She is a part of the Law Enforcement Faculty and an assistant professor. The credentials of the author support that her article is a reliable source.
