what makes a serial killer became a serial killer

This kind of killer may suffer from visual hallucinations and paranoid, grandiose, or bizarre delusions. They are suffering from psychotic breaks with reality and often are compelled by the Devil or God. As mentioned before, they are ones who are killing because of mental illness. Let’s start with the visionary killers, which are often classified as act-focused, demon or God-mandated psychotics. There are two categories of killers within this group – visionary and mission-oriented. Act-focused killersĪn act-focused killer kills quickly and does it only for the act itself. The typology consists of two general groups of act-focused and process-focused killers, which are separated into four different categories: visionary killers, mission-oriented killers, hedonistic, and power or control killers. Most often used and most widely accepted is four-fold typology, developed by criminologists Ronald Holmes, Stephen Holmes, and James De Burger. There may or may not be overt sexual contact reflected in the crime scene. Sexually-based killers kill to fulfill their sexual needs or desires. This kind of killer may suffer from visual hallucinations and paranoia with grandiosity or delusions. Psychosis-driven killers are suffering from psychotic breaks with reality and often are compelled by the Devil or God. It often fulfills their desire for power and control. Power or thrill seekers are killing for empowerment and/or excitement when they kill. It may be terrorist groups or one or more individuals who attack a specific racial, gender or ethnic group. Ideology killings are oriented to a specific individual or group, in order to further their goals and ideas. Usually, the victims are family members or close acquaintances. Examples of these types of killers are black widows, robbery homicides, or multiple killings involving insurance or welfare fraud. Financial gainĪ motivation in which the offender benefits monetarily from killing. Those who benefit in status or monetary compensation by committing murder that is drug, gang, or organized crime-related. Killers who display rage or hostility towards a certain subgroup of the population or with society as a whole. But what are the motives of killing innocent people?Īccording to the FBI, there are seven categories of motivation: anger, criminal enterprise, financial gain, ideology, power or thrill, psychosis and sexual desire. After his first attempt, the killer starts focusing on committing future murders more efficiently and successfully. Before a serial killer strikes for the first time, his fantasies normally focus on committing the murder.

What makes a serial killer became a serial killer