defining serial murder
Defining serial murder
The term "serial killer" was coined by FBI agent Robert Ressler in the 1970s so that criminologists could distinguish those who claim victims over a long period of time from those who claim multiple victims at once (mass murderers). A third type of multiple killer is a spree killer.
The following are brief definitions of these three types:
A serial killer is someone who commits three or more murders over a long period of time. In between their crimes they appear to be quite normal and often very pleasant and law-abiding (the so-called 'mask of sanity'). There is frequently - but not always - a sexual element to the murders.
A mass murderer, on the other hand, is an individual who kills four or more people in a single event and in one location. The perpetrators very frequently commit suicide, meaning knowledge of their state of mind and what triggers their actions is down to more speculation than fact.
A spree killer commits multiple-murders in different locations over a period of time that may vary from a few hours to several days. Unlike serial-killers, however, they do not revert to their normal behaviour in between slayings.
*i love school library research
peace out boy scout
The term "serial killer" was coined by FBI agent Robert Ressler in the 1970s so that criminologists could distinguish those who claim victims over a long period of time from those who claim multiple victims at once (mass murderers). A third type of multiple killer is a spree killer.
The following are brief definitions of these three types:
A serial killer is someone who commits three or more murders over a long period of time. In between their crimes they appear to be quite normal and often very pleasant and law-abiding (the so-called 'mask of sanity'). There is frequently - but not always - a sexual element to the murders.
A mass murderer, on the other hand, is an individual who kills four or more people in a single event and in one location. The perpetrators very frequently commit suicide, meaning knowledge of their state of mind and what triggers their actions is down to more speculation than fact.
A spree killer commits multiple-murders in different locations over a period of time that may vary from a few hours to several days. Unlike serial-killers, however, they do not revert to their normal behaviour in between slayings.
*i love school library research
peace out boy scout