"During a child's development, there are important periods in which he learns about love, trust, empathy and basic rules about how to interact with other human beings. If these traits aren't imprinted upon the child during that period, it may not be possible for him to learn them later in life.
Serial killers were often physically or sexually abused as children or witnessed the abuse of family members. This pattern of neglect and abuse, some researchers say, leads serial killers to grow up without a sense of anyone other than themselves. But at the same time, many children grow up neglected and abused, but do not become violent criminals or serial killers."
Apparently fiction's often-used 'not guilty by reason of insanity' doesn't wash in the real world, and only two people have successfully applied this to themselves. Likewise, meeting the definition of psychopathy is rare, apparently. Maybe we just like to think that 'normal' people could never some up with or execute the types of crimes that disturb us so thoroughly.
Too, it's important to note:
"Psychopaths are not insane -- they do know right from wrong. But this diagnosis may explain their behavior during their killing cycles."
"Some researchers theorize that serial killers have brain damage or other biological abnormalities that contribute to their actions. Damage to areas like the frontal lobe, the hypothalamus and the limbic system can contribute to extreme aggression, loss of control, loss of judgment and violence."
http://people.howstuffworks.com/serial-killer4.htm
Some types of serial killers listed at this site include:
Missionary Killer (goes after people they voew as wrongdoers, such as Prostitutes).
Lust Killer (goes after people whose torture or death will provide them with sexual gratification)
Thrill Killer (enjoys the excitement of the act of stalking and killing their victims)
"A serial killer keeps killing until one of four things happens: he is caught, he dies, he kills himself or he burns out."
http://peope.howstuffworks.com/serial-killer5.htm
Most researchers agree that there is no way to "cure" a serial killer. Some serial killers who spent time in mental institutions after committing their crimes or received psychiatric treatment were deemed "cured" and released, but they went on to kill again.
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