Running Head: THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 1

The Theoretical Motivations for Serial Killings

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THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 2

Abstract

The paper describes the theoretical motivations of serial killing. The paper gives an introduction

of the topic that provides background information and current understanding of serial murder and

identifies that media has an enormous influence on serial killers. The literature review section

provides a wide body of literature concerning serial murder. The literature includes information

on a serial killer’s ‘birth’ that is a result of child upbringing, the main motivations that compel

serial killers such as thrill, fear of rejection, and monetary rewards, and a description of how

serial murders are reported on media. The theoretical framework identifies the criminological

theory of self-control, describes it, and relates it to serial murder. The discussion section

summarizes the findings of the study on the influence of media on serial killers and serial murder

in general. It reveals that the media has a huge influence on serial killers as the serial killers

obtain gratification from publicity and that media should cover victims of serial murder as well.
THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 3

The Theoretical Motivations for Serial Killings

Introduction

Law enforcement agencies are called to respond to murders daily. All homicides are

tragic, but none of them are more heartbreaking and difficult to understand than serial murder.

For years, mental health experts, criminal investigators, and the media have studied serial

murder, from Jack the Ripper in the 1800s to Ted Bundy in the late 1900s. The groups have

attempted to comprehend the complexities related to serial murder. None of them, however, has

reached a consensus on the issue. A serial killer is a person who commits a series of murders, for

psychological gratification, and following a predictable pattern of behavior (Newcomb, 2020)

Problem Statement

Serial murder is typically covered by the media, just like all critical information. It is

always easy to get information about the serial killer than it is about the victims. Thus, the media

often report known stories about the killer. The information revealed can lead to the general

public sympathizing with the serial killer. Some people easily feel sorry about the killer’s awful

past experiences if the murder is allegedly a result of the killer’s past trauma. Some people even

relate the murder patterns to works of art. In so doing, the serial killers are glorified as they

receive the publicity and gratification they so much want (Maggie, 2019)

Research Question

The alleged media glorification of serial killers prompts the question of “What is the

influence of media on serial killers?" Being famous on the media is arguably the biggest

motivation for modern-day serial killers (Maggie, 2019). The study seeks to enlighten the
THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 4

general public of their role in promoting serial murder and on the probable ways of preventing

further gratification of serial killers by the media. Questionnaires were used to find out the

influence of media on serial killers, and the data analyzed. The paper describes the reviewed

body of literature concerning media influence on serial killers, the theoretical framework, and the

discussion and conclusions of the study findings. The paper abstract is also given.

Literature Review

In this section, a wide body of literature about media influence on serial killings is

described. The literature is obtained from survey books, scholarly articles, and various published

sources. The literature includes a description of the birth of a serial killer, serial killer motivation,

and the reporting of the serial murders.

The Birth of a Serial Killer

“Childhood trauma does not come in one single package.” The popular quote by Asa Don

Brown, 2008 forms the basis of the popular argument that serial killer behavior is a result of

deeply traumatic childhood experiences. Child upbringing significantly shapes individuals’

personality and life choices. It is prudent to look into the relationship between childhood abuse

and criminal behavior especially with the rising reported cases of childhood abuse being linked

to serial murder among serial killers. Nevertheless, not all serial killers are victims of childhood

abuse and similarly, not all abused children become serial killers. The distinct connection

between the two concepts, however, cannot be disregarded as just a coincidence (Aldestein et al.,

2020)

Personal traumas significantly affect choices of behavior. The famous murderer from El

Paso, Texas ‘The Night Stalker’ Ramirez who was found guilty of killing 13 people in Los
THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 5

Angeles and San Francisco had a traumatized childhood as he had to endure brutal beatings by

his father. Similarly, Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, famous serial killers who murdered

hundreds of people, experienced both physical and psychological abuse growing up. Specifically,

they were beaten after being forced to dress up as young girls (Miller, 2014). Childhood abuse

encourages antisocial behavior which translates into criminal behavior when the child reaches

adulthood (Aldestein et al., 2020)

Serial Killer Motivation

Many cases of serial murder reports do not provide meaning or motivation behind the

criminal act. However, there exist a variety of desires and needs that are fulfilled by a serial

killer whenever he/she murders someone. One popular belief is that most serial killers derive

great satisfaction from the act of murder. The clear distinction between serial murderers and one-

time killers who kill purely to serve other criminal interests is the gratification that the serial

killers receive out of killing. Thus, serial killers have an overwhelming need to commit murder,

not only for the psychological gratification they derive but also for the thrill that comes out of it

(Shanafelt & Pino, 2013)

Though superficially counterintuitive, many serial murderers kill due to fear of rejection.

The fear of rejection compels especially insecure individuals to commit serial murders. The

insecurity, in many cases, stems from having been abandoned or mistreated by their mothers in

early childhood. Known serial killers such as Ted Bundy and Joel Rifkin were abandoned by

their mothers. Edmund Kemper was abused, tortured, and tormented by his mother. Serial killers

who were abandoned or ill-treated by their mothers seek to avoid painful relationships by

eliminating individuals who they believe might be close to them (Leary et al., 2019)
THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 6

Some serial killers are motivated by the expected rewards in the form of financial gain or

a criminal enterprise. By committing an act of murder, the offender expects to gain a monetary

reward either for self or by order from a third party. Such types of homicides include robbery-

homicide or multiple murders involving fraudulent insurance or welfare in which the offender

obtains all the accrued benefits. The murderer may also expect enterprise gain in which the

benefits are drug, crime, or gang-related. The offender may for instance murder a series of

individuals to eliminate competition across criminal gangs. Such offenses are perpetrated by the

gang leader (Shanafelt & Pino, 2013)

Reporting of Serial Murders

The news media are an important and powerful category of players in the social

construction of evil and criminal offenses such as serial murders. The media must deliver to the

general public such important information as serial murder reports. The media are profit-making

organizations that seek to obtain as much profit as practically possible in their daily coverage.

Thus, most journalists typically style and exaggerate such news on serial murder to attract a wide

public audience. The information may elicit positive criticism that condemns such acts or

negative criticism that glorify serial murders as work of art or justify the acts as resulting from

past trauma. The type of criticism solely depends on the mode of conveyance of such news and

the audience in question (Cummins et al., 2019)

Media covers a lot of information concerning the serial murderer while little to no

information is publicized concerning the victims of the serial murders. The serial killers' stories

are usually known hence readily available for coverage. To demystify the murders, the media

looks into the possible murder motivates. Most serial murders are reported to be resulting from
THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 7

past traumatic events and childhood abuse. Such motives are widely exaggerated by the media.

The public then begins to form a connection between the serial murders and the awful

experiences that might have prompted the murders. The attention is thus shifted from finding the

murderers and putting them to justice to sympathizing with them. The victims are not considered

while the murderers are left free to commit just more murder (Wiest, 2018)

The Theoretical Framework

Criminology sets to explain why people commit crimes and why they behave in the ways

that they do. After understanding why individuals commit crimes, it is then possible to develop

ways of rehabilitating or controlling the crime. There are various theories of criminology. Some

believe that committing a crime is one's personal decision while others believe that society must

prevent crime by ensuring the community is a safe and secure place to live in. Other theories, on

the other hand, maintain that individuals have traits that determine how the individuals act when

in certain negative situations such as trauma or mental disorders. It is the traits that push the

individuals into committing acts of crime (Hagan &.Daigle, 2018)

One common theory that explains criminology is the self-control theory. The self-control

theory is the general theory of crime which argues that lack of individual self-control is the

reason for committing a crime. It suggests that individuals who had good parenting before the

age of ten years have better self-control than individuals who had poor parenting before the same

age. The theory also suggests that individual self-control improves as one age due to the

influence of environmental factors such as exposure, learning, and peer influence. Low self-

control levels are arguably associated with criminal and impulsive behavior as criminal acts are

generally non-controlled, short-sighted, and opportunistic (Hagan &.Daigle, 2018)

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The self-control theory explains and tries to demystify serial murders. Serial killing is

criminal behavior that is difficult to understand. The perpetrators of serial murders are often

victims of childhood abuse, neglect, or mental illness. As such, their traumatic experiences

alongside poor parenting significantly distort their self-control. Thus, the serial murderers easily

murder several people successively in a non-controlled fashion. Serial killers view serial killing

as an opportunity to make up for their past traumatic experiences (Miller, 2014)

The Discussion

The study sought to find out the influence of media on serial killers, and serial murders in

general. Questionnaires were used to obtain such information on serial killers from the general

public. The findings revealed that media has an overwhelming influence on serial killers and the

tremendous increase in the cases of serial murders that are reported daily. The amount and type

of coverage of the cases of serial murder affect the public response on the serial murders that

further motivates the murders. Wide media coverage and the resultant publicity motivate the

killers to engage in even more murder, as they feel glorified. The glory is a motivating factor

especially for serial killers whose main motive is gratification and thrill.

The findings also revealed that media coverage of the serial murders results in the easy

tracing of the serial killers and ensure fast justice for the victims. When the reports on serial

murders are published in the media, the public empathizes with the victims and is hence willing

and able to give as much information as they can about such cases. The members of the public

are often witnesses in the courts of law during the trial of arrested serial murderers. As such, the

media positively influences serial killers by ensuring the public is aware of such cases, and help
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during investigation of the cases. The media, thus, must ensure it covers as many cases of serial

murder as possible.

The study found new understandings and insights into the influence of media on serial

killers. The media should widely cover information about the victims, and cover less information

about the serial killers. When less information is covered about the perpetrators, they are less

motivated to commit more murder as they do not receive as much attention and publicity as they

desire. The findings are concurrent with the evaluation of Maggie (2019) that the media should

focus on the victims rather than the perpetrators.

The Conclusion

Serial killings are motivated by thrill, fear of rejection, and monetary rewards. The

media, in the coverage of serial murder reports, glorify serial killers as the major serial killer

motivating factor is psychological gratification. The media should, therefore, focus on the

victims in the coverage to elicit a positive public response such as helping investigate the

murders and reduce serial killer gratification.

The self-control criminological theory best explains serial killing. Most serial killers have

traumatic childhood experiences such as violent abusive fathers and irresponsible mothers. Such

experiences cause low self-control among serial killers. Low self-control is linked to criminal

acts such as serial murder. Further research should be done on the evolution of serial murder.
THE THEORETICAL MOTIVATIONS FOR SERIAL KILLINGS 10

References

Adelstein, D., Diaz, E., Hood, M., McAulife, C., Pickett, T., & Rule, M. (2020). Serial Killer &

Childhood Trauma.

Cummins, I., Foley, M., & King, M. (2019). Serial Killers and The Media: the Moors Murders

Legacy. Springer.

Hagan, F. E., & Daigle, L. E. (2018). Introduction to Criminology: Theories, Methods, and

Criminal Behavior. Sage Publications.

Leary, T., Southard, L., & Aamodt, M. (2019). Serial Killers and Intelligence Levels: Variability,

Patterns, and Motivations to Kill. North American Journal of Psychology, 21(4).

Maggie. (2019, April 15). The Media Serial Killer Glorification. Youth Voices.

 https://www.youthvoices.live/2019/04/15/the-media-and-its-effects-on-the-societal-

glorification-of-serial-killers

Miller, L. (2014). Serial killers: II. Development, dynamics, and forensics. Aggression and

violent behavior, 19(1), 12-22.

Newcomb. (2020). 7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers. Encyclopedia Britannica. 

https://www.britannica.com/list/7-of-historys-most-notorious-serial-killers

Shanafelt, R., & Pino, N. W. (2013). 16 Evil and the common life Towards a wider perspective

on serial killing and atrocities. New Directions in Crime and Deviancy, 252.

Wiest, J. B. (2016). Casting cultural monsters: Representations of serial killers in US and UK

news media. Howard Journal of Communications, 27(4), 327-346.