Serial Killers

In the article, What Makes a Serial Killer, La Donna Beaty explores the many different aspects of serial killers. La Donna begins by first discussing what makes up a serial killer, then proceeds to discuss possible causes for their inhumane crimes, and concludes with conveying the importance of studying serial killers to in the future prevent other serial killers.
The article begins with showing what makes a serial killer by using series of facts and statistics about serial killers. La Donna acknowledges that “serial killings are not a new phenomenon,” then tells the horrific story of two serial killers from 1798 (315). Beaty then lists two estimates, one from Ann Rule, “that between 3,500 and 5,000 people become victims of serial murder each year in the United States alone,” and the startling estimate that“350 serial killers currently at large in our society;” both of which come from from Serial Murder by Holmes and DeBurger (315). Beaty finalizes the characteristics of serial killers with her rhetorical question; “what could possibly turn attractive, ambitious human beings into cold-blooded monsters (316)?”
La Donna goes on to explore many theories that cause people to become so destructive. Beaty reveals that one cause maybe from the presence of violence in society and the television (316). The result, as summed up by Beaty is that “it is, therefore, possible that after viewing increasing amounts of violence, such children determine that this is acceptable behavior; when they are then punished for similar actions, they may become confused and angry and eventually lash out by committing horrible, violent acts (317).” Similar to the influence of society, Beaty states the next theory, the influence of family (317). La Donna incorporates the prior theory of media influence, with the family influence theory to show two possibilities, that the television along with family encourage violence, or that the influence of the family determines a child’s morals, and this allows a child to neglect the influence of media.
Beaty’s third theory explores mental illness. She charges that the rise in serial killings could be result of the deinstitutionalization movement, and uses examples of mentally ill serial killers to back up her claim (Beaty 318-319). La Donna’s fourth theory presented is the possibility that genetic makeup and certain portions of the brain could be an influence in serial killing. Beaty reports that Lawernce Taylor’s Born to Crime found that unusual brain waves “have been found in only 10 to 15 percent of the general population, but over 79 percent of known serial killers test positive for these waves (320). Beaty’s final present theory is the influence of alcohol use. She defends this theory with stunning statistics noting the presence of intoxicating levels of alcohol in a majority of murders, and serial killers with family histories of alcohol abuse (320).
The article then concludes with Beaty showing the importance of studying serial killers, in that by studying then, we may find ways to prevent future serial killers (320).