The Characteristics of the Most Notorious Serial Killers in the United States and Albert Fish

What is a serial killer and what makes them kill? There are many answers to this question. Although only a hand full of serial killers make the national news every year. The FBI reports that there are as many as 35 to 50 serial killers in the United States at any given time. Since the year 1800 there have been at least 150-documented cases of serial killers in the United States alone. It is estimated that of the 7,000 murders in the U.S. every year about 120 are by serial killers. World wide it is estimated that there are as many as 6,000 serial killer victims per year. In order to be considered a serial killer a person must kill three to four people with brief intervals between the murders. These killers kill over a period of days, weeks, months, even years.

They have a cooling off period which means they go through periods of times where they do not even kill. Most serial killers pick people at random to kill. The murders of serial killers are all linked in at least one way such as the manner in which they are committed, and the characteristics of the victims. A serial killer works alone except in very rare cases, and they continuously kill unless they are made to stop. The killers motivation is based on any type of profit, their motivation generally comes from an event in their life.

A serial killer usually has an I.Q. anywhere between 100 and 145. There is no typical social class that a serial killer comes from. He may come from lower, middle, or upper class societies. Most serial killers are described as cowards who cannot establish or maintain relationships with women.

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There are four types of serial killers. The visionary motive type hears voices in their head and is usually considered insane. The missionary oriented type feels that they have to rid the world of unworthy people and kills a certain group of people. The thrill oriented type get a high from killing and kill people for the thrill of it. Then there is the lust killer one of the most famous types of serial killer. They kill because it turns them on. They take pleasure in knowing how much they can torture a victim.

Although serial killers are unique in their own ways, many of them have things in common. For instance, as children most serial killers tortured animals, wet the bed often, and set fires. It is also common for a serial killer to have been abused as a child or to have had exposure to traumatic events. Most serial killers usually have some brain damage. The brain damage is usually caused by the abuse of drugs. Most serial killers are white males in their 20s and 30s. Serial killers are often said to have low self-esteem and are sexually dysfunctional.

Explanations as to why a serial killer kills have been given. Some say it is because of genetics, a predisposition to kill. Others believe it is because of their environment, or in the way they were brought up. A definite answer lies in the childhoods of serial killers. At an early age, behavioral patterns that lead to serial killing begin.

The following childhood traits of serial killers were determined in a study by Robert Ressler, Ann Burgess and John Douglas of 36 incarcerated serial killers: The three most reported behaviors were daydreaming, compulsive masturbation and isolation. Daydreaming, or fantasy, is a major component of the psyche of a serial killer. In a 1998 FBI study of 151 imprisoned serial killers, it was found that 42% were abused or neglected as children, 74% were psychologically abused as children, and 35% witnessed sexual violence as children.

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