Explanation
Serial murder refers to a pattern of killings committed by the same individual (or group) over an extended period of time, with emotional, sexual, or psychological motives rather than material gain. Key features include:
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Multiple victims (commonly defined as three or more)
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Temporally distinct events
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Cooling-off phases between the murders
Unlike mass murder, where several victims are killed in a single event, or spree killing, which involves multiple victims in quick succession without cooling-off periods, serial murder involves a ritualized and repetitive element.
Serial killers often develop a modus operandi, and some leave behind a “signature” – a symbolic act or object associated with the crime. The phenomenon has attracted significant media attention and is the subject of both psychological and sociological investigation.
Theoretical Reference
Relevant for criminological, forensic, and psychopathological theories. Often discussed in relation to psychopathy, social learning, trauma, and Cultural Criminology.