A serial killer is typically defined as an individual who has murdered three or more people[1][2] over a period of more than a month, with down time (a "cooling off period") between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychologicalgratification.[3][4] Some sources disregard the "three or more" criteria, and define the term as "a series of two or more murders, committed as separate events, usually, but not always, by one offender acting alone" or, including the vital characteristics, a minimum of at least two murders.[4][5] Often, a sexual element is involved in the killings, but the FBI states that motives for serial murder include "anger, thrill, financial gain, and attention seeking".[5] The murders may have been attempted or completed in a similar fashion and the victims may have had something in common, for example, occupation, race, appearance, sex, or age group.[6]
Serial killers are not the same as mass murderers, nor are they spree killers, who commit murders in two or more locations with virtually no break in between.
Typical characteristics of serial killers include:
Generally being described as possessing IQs in the "bright normal" range,[6][19] although they are more likely to have low/average intelligence.[19] A sample of 174 IQs of serial killers had a median IQ of 93. Only serial killers who used bombs had an average IQ above the population mean.[20]
Often, they have trouble staying employed and tend to work in menial jobs. The FBI, however, states, "Serial murderers often seem normal; have families and/or a steady job."[13]Â Other sources state they often come from unstable families.[6]
They were often abused—emotionally, physically and/or sexually—by a family member.[6]
Fetishism, partialism, and necrophilia, are paraphilias which involve a strong tendency to experience the object of erotic interest almost as if it were a physical representation of the symbolized body. Individuals engage in paraphilias which are organized along a continuum; participating in varying levels of fantasy perhaps by focusing on body parts (partialism), symbolic objects which serve as physical extensions of the body (fetishism), or the anatomical physicality of the human body; specifically regarding its inner parts and sexual organs (one example being necrophilia).[21]
A disproportionate number exhibit one, two, or all three of the MacDonald triad (see below) of predictors of psychopathy:
Many are fascinated with fire setting.[6]
They are involved in sadistic activity; especially in children who have not reached sexual maturity, this activity may take the form of torturing animals.[6]
More than 60 percent wet their beds beyond the age of 12.[6] However, recent authorities[22] (see citations in the Enuresis section of the MacDonald triad article) question or deny the statistical significance of this figure.
They were frequently bullied as children.
Some were involved in petty crimes, such as theft, fraud, vandalism, dishonesty or similar offenses.
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