Psychology of Serial and Mass Murderers

Catalog description

It is essential in understanding human behavior for students to include the darker side, murder - without conscience. This course will enable students to understand the definition of murder, within various classifications of it used in the United States, in particular the phenomenon of serial and mass murder. Students will be able to examine and understand within a historical context the cultural development of monsters, demons and evil and this relationship to serial and mass murder. Importantly, students will explore the biological and genetic foundations of human behavior, develop an understanding of the Diagnostic and Statistical manual (DSM-V) spectrum of personality disorders and how these disorders relate to violent behavior. Hare's PCL-R (Psychopathy Check List- Revised) factors will be examined alongside the examination of serial murder committed by legally insane offenders. Some, but not all serial killers have documented cases of mental illness (e.g. schizophrenia), personality disorders (e.g. borderline and antisocial), and psychopathy, albeit most mass murderers suffer from various psychoses. In addition, students will be able to understand sociological theories as they pertain to violent behavior and include factors such as, the role of the family, sexual and physical abuse, and maladaptive childhood behaviors. Often serial murders are preceded by perpetrators' (i.e., males) use of various types of criminal paraphilia (violent or non-violent). These are examined by students to understand the roles these play in the sexual fantasy development of (i.e., males) perpetrators and specific types of sex crimes. The healthcare industry, a hidden, but important environment for serial murderers, is examined by students in order to understand how occupations are important to serial murderers, as by way of their employment, many have easy access to victims. There are numerous differences between male and female serial killers, and team killers. These differences are explored by students by reviewing case studies of each, which include their profiles, mobility and techniques. Finally, global mass and serial murder is to be explored by students, which compare methods, motives and demographics. Numerous case studies of serial and mass murderers will be reviewed to link the psychological, biological and sociological factors to enable students to construct their own profile of a serial or mass murder by researching particular murderers and their psychological, biological and sociological factors.