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Faculty Experts

What Do We Know About Serial Murder In America?

Northeastern University’s Lipman Family Professor James Alan Fox is one of the nation’s leading scholars on the topic of serial murder. He has published widely on this topic and much of what we know about serial and mass murder is a product of Professor Fox’s research in the field. Professor Fox (with his colleague, Jack Levin) has identified and exposed the following myths about serial murder:

1. There is an epidemic of serial murder in the United States.
   While it is true that interest in serial killing has grown over the past twenty years, there is no way effectively to track or measure the prevalence of serial murder. In fact, despite the media hype, there is no evidence to support that serial killing is at “epidemic” proportions in the United States.
   
   
2. Serial killers are unusual in appearance and lifestyle.
   Although the popular media may portray them as sinister but brilliant creatures of the night, in reality these killers often appear extraordinarily ordinary. Most are white males in their 20s or 30s, with varying levels of intelligence.
   
   
3. Serial killers are all insane.
   Most serial killers relish in the thrill or dominance they achieve through their killings. Typically they seek to fulfill their elaborate and sadistic fantasies with innocent victims who conform to their imaginary script. Serial killers are considered sociopathic—a disorder of the character rather than the mind. While they may feel no remorse, they know exactly what they are doing, and could control their violent impulses; they see no reason to do so.
   
   
4. Serial killers are inspired by pornography.
   Although many serial killers have reported interest in pornography, particularly sadistic images, it isn’t clear whether the pornography inspired the violence or is simply a product of an pre-existing inclination toward sadism. At most, violent pornography appears to reinforce—rather than create—their predatory fantasies.
   
   
5. Serial killers are products of bad childhoods.
   Much of the biographical literature on serial killers’ backgrounds suggests that these individuals are victims of significant trauma during their childhood, and seek through their crimes to vent their deep-seated rage. In addition, several notable neurologists argue that serial killers may have brain abnormalities, sometimes connected to abusive treatment. In reality, it seems that a series of factors--childhood trauma and neurological dysfunction included--may cause tremendous frustration. How that frustration is resolved, however, depends on many social factors related to adolescence and adulthood.
   
   
6. Serial killers can be identified in advance.
   Unfortunately, there is no way reliable way to predict dangerousness. While hindsight often indicates some of the more common correlates of violence (childhood trauma, neurological damage, etc.), there is no definitive way to predict which individuals will become violent. While most serial killers may have suffered terribly as children at the hands of abusive adults, most victims of physical and emotional abuse do not grow up to become murderers, much less serial killers.
   
   
7. All serial killers are sexual sadists.
   Although sadistic killers often receive a great deal of media attention, they are hardly the only type of serial murderer. Included in this broad range of motivations for serial homicide are profit-seeking (e.g., a series of robbery-murders of retail stores), terrorism (e.g., a string of bombings to advance a political agenda), and the pursuit of a felling of importance (e.g., a nurse who kills patients to “play God”).
   
   
8. Serial killers select victims who somehow resemble their mothers.
   Although unresolved family conflicts may be a source of frustration for many serial killers, most choose their victims based on opportunity and accessibility. Simply, they prey on individuals who are vulnerable and easy targets. Even though many killers target a particular physical type or appearance if it suits their fantasies, rarely are they connected in any way to a maternal figure.
   
   
9. Serial killers really want to be caught.
   Most serial killers go to great lengths to avoid detection, often destroying evidence or disposing of their victims in exceptionally remote areas. They are careful and clever in planning and executing their attacks. A case of “survival of the fiercest,” those wannabes who are not sufficiently cunning do not stay at-large long enough to amass a large victim count and establish themselves as serial killers.
   
   

Dr. Fox appears regularly on national television and radio programs, including The Today Show, Dateline, 20/20, 48 Hours and Oprah, and is frequently interviewed by the national press. He has testified before the United States Congress on a dozen occasions, and has advised President Clinton, Attorney General Janet Reno, Princess Anne of Great Britain and other civic and political leaders. To learn more about this topic or other research by Dr. Fox, visit: http://www.jfox.neu.edu