Are Serial Killers Born or Made? Nature versus Nurture

Are Serial Killers Born or Made? Nature versus Nurture

One of the most pressing issues in society today is crime. It is due to this reason that crime forms the subject of various books, films, and news channels. Likewise, the reasons behind various crimes have been explored in numerous discussions and debates. The question of what specifically drives an individual to commit a crime such as murder has been looked into by scientists, criminologists, as well as psychologists. In particular, these professionals have attempted to establish whether or not criminal behavior is driven by nurture or nature. Numerous theories in criminology explaining this phenomenon have emerged with time. Nevertheless, with growth in evidence linking biological and social risk factors to the manifestation of criminal behavior, it has become increasingly hard for any one theory to ignore the strong influence that sociology and biology have in the making of a criminal (Fox 23). On the one hand, some scholars have attributed criminal behavior to the culprit’s life experience and upbringing. On the other hand, some scholars argue that criminal behavior is a complicated issue and that genetic makeup contributes to a person’s criminal behavior. Undoubtedly, nurture plays a crucial role in the making of such a criminal as a serial killer. For instance, such factors as the style of upbringing, parental attitudes, economic and social problems, and social relations act as vital signals in the creation of serial killers. Also, both psychological and genetic tendencies play a crucial role. Nevertheless, an individual’s family background plays the most significant and basic role. Specifically, most serial killers often hail from unstable backgrounds, and thus their childhoods are marred with instability. Ultimately, both nurture and nature are essential in the creation of serial killers.

Who is a Serial Killer?

Research on serial killers has intensified and become comprehensive over the years. However, while numerous investigators and researchers have explored the subject of serial killers, scientific information on the same is still being sought. In a bid to understand the genesis of serial murdering, a definition of both the act and perpetrator are crucial. Prior to the development of new laws in the United States (U.S), the killing of more than two individuals was deemed serial. The difference between a normal murder and a serial murder is determined by the motivation and ideology behind the act (Fox 24). For instance, the kills attributed to a soldier do not make him or her a serial killer. In the U.S, the definition of serial killing is defined under Title 18 of the U.S Code, under Chapter 51 and Section 1111.  Accordingly, ‘serial killings’ refers to a series of three or more killings, of which not less than one should have been committed within the U.S. The killings should also bear similar attributes suggesting increasing possibilities that they were committed by the same person or persons. Similar to serial killings is serial homicide that refers to three or more separate incidences that take place in three or more locations but bearing an emotional cooling-off period in between the incidences.

Several factors have to be considered before an individual can be branded as a serial killer (Ferguson 288). Firstly, the individual must have killed three or more individuals in multiple events that are discrete in nature. Secondly, the person must have considered the act of killing his or her victim stress relieving, pleasurable, or in line with the perpetrators’ internal values. Lastly, the murders must not have occurred with the blessing or discretion of any criminal entity. Overall, the basic elements used in defining serial murdering include the motivations, ideology behind the act, and exhibited behavior. The latter could be either torturing or sexual.

Profiling Serial Killers

Serial killers are often characterized by similar properties and profiles. Notable similarities include these criminals’ family backgrounds and histories, among other attributes. Some scholars reckon that serial killers have relatively higher levels of IQ compared to other individuals. They also have multiple skills, above-standard lives, and various special abilities. Further, while most serial killers may be married, their unions don’t last. The serial killers’ childhoods are characterized by various factors. Similar in all serial killers, these attributes are referred to as McDonald triad. Firstly, most of these criminals exhibit enuresis. Enuresis refers to chronic bedwetting and its closely associated with emotional, physical, and psychological abuse. Enuresis may be exhibited even during the serial killer’s teenage years.

Secondly, serial killers are likely to exhibit a chronic fire setting. This behavior features elevated impulse about starting a fire, and the person may experience difficulties trying to stop the impulse. This behavior is also related to such negative emotions as hatred, anger, among others. Thirdly, serial killers are likely to derive joy from torturing animals. Often, these individuals boast elevated motivation and impulse to torture animals and hang around the dead bodies. Most serial killers come from families characterized by poor parental abilities, physical abuse, or bad attitudes. In some cases, the serial killers may have been abused as children either psychologically, emotionally, sexually, or physically (Patel 5). These family related factors play a key role in shaping the serial killers’ behaviors.

The Making of a Serial Killer: Nature versus Nurture

The role of both nurture and nature cannot be overstated in the making of a serial killer. With regard to nurture, childhood memories and the appalling histories of serial killers inform their criminal ways. These dynamics are widely captured in popular media and culture particularly books and films. Most serial killers often come from very unstable families (Patel 2). Notably, most of these individuals have a history of being psychologically, physically, or sexually abused during their childhood. For a significant number of the serial killers, their biological fathers may have left them even before they were teenagers. In case the father was present, he is likely to have been abusive and domineering. Moreover, a typical serial killer’s family is characterized by alcoholic and criminal psychiatric histories. Delinquent behavior also forms a key attribute of most serial killers’ childhood. These individuals are likely to engage in such acts as cruelty to animals, theft, or pyromania as children.

Most serial killers have feelings of worthlessness or inadequacy. These feelings are attributed to the abuse or humiliation that they may have endured in their childhood.  The feelings may also be owed to low socioeconomic status or poverty in adulthood. Thus, engaging in crime serves as a means of compensating for these shortcomings and offering social revenge and a sense of potency (Shipley & Arrigo 125). Acts of crime such as serial murdering give such persons a feeling or power either during or after the act of killing. Thus, a close relationship exists between a serial killer’s criminal acts and his or her childhood abuse. Killing, in this case, is aimed at exerting or gaining power over the victim. It is this urge to feel powerful that motivates serial killers to keep repeating their crimes. These elements are consistent with the life of Henry Lee Lucas, one of the most notorious serial killers that ever lived.

The role of nature in the making of serial killers is related to heredity and other biological aspects. Most serial killers boast the XYY syndrome, implying that they have an extra Y chromosome. Biologically, the Y chromosome enhances ‘maleness’ and thus is likely to be associated with increased impulsivity, aggression, and violence (Lee & Choi 100). Individuals with the XYY syndrome are often more sadistic and highly motivated to commit homicides. Scholars argue that such persons have higher testosterone levels and may also have a thyroid goiter. These genetic tendencies are vital in the making of a serial killer and often result in increased impatience and sadistic behavior. Other important elements of nature in the creation of serial killer include presence of a brain trauma or injury during childhood, mother’s substance abuse and alcoholism during pregnancy, maternal trauma, or malnutrition during the mother’s pregnancy. These attributes increase the risk of a person becoming a serial killer. The role of nature in the making of a serial killer can be best explained using the story of Ted Bundy, a highly educated individual from a solid background who later turned out to be a serial killer.

Serial killers are both born and made since nature and nature play a crucial role in defining a serial killer. When the characteristics and history of most serial killers are examined, it becomes clear that both nurture and nature are crucial in the making of a serial killer. These individuals are likely to have physical, biological, psychological, and such issues as maternal problems, and poor parental attitudes.

Works Cited

Ferguson, Christopher J., et al. “Defining and classifying serial murder in the context of perpetrator motivation.” Journal of Criminal Justice 31.3 (2003): 287-292.

Fox, Bryanna. “It’s nature and nurture: Integrating biology and genetics into the social learning theory of criminal behavior.” Journal of Criminal Justice 49 (2017): 22-31.

Lee, Ju-Lak, and Kwan Choi. “Serial murder: An exploration and evaluation of theories and perspectives.” American International Journal of Contemporary Research 4.3 (2014): 99-106.

Patel, Mamta. “Serial killer: Elderly victims of serial killers.” International Journal of Criminology & Sociological Theory 8.1 (2015): 1-11.

Shipley, Stacey L., and Bruce A. Arrigo. “Serial killers and serial rapists.” Serial murder and the psychology of violent crimes. Humana Press, 2008. 119-139.