What Drives A Person To Commit Serial Murder? Are They Born Or Made?

On one side people believe that nature is the biggest contributing factor to creating a serial killer, due to much of the evidence pointing to this explanation. One psychologist made the connection that “Serial Killers come from unstable families, hence them having unstable childhoods” (De Wet), this positive correlation has been seen by many psychologists in many studies.

It has been found by various psychologists that 42% of serial killers are physically abused, 43% are sexually abused, and 74% were psychologically abused throughout their childhood.

(Schecter and Everitt). The abuse they endure likely instills the feeling of humiliation and helplessness in the child, feelings they later want to make their victims feel. All this data clearly shows that childhood trauma is very prevalent in the life of serial killers. The trauma and PTSD of their childhood could have driven them to have the sadistic compulsions causing them to kill. Or more simply they just weren’t taught that what happened to them in childhood was wrong, and it is not how they should treat others in adulthood.

Predominantly the data linked to serial killers is to do with nurture/socialization. With the main culprit being abusive and traumatic childhoods/ families. The decay of their personality begins in childhood, due to neglect and then continues into adulthood.

The other side to this argument is that Nature is the main culprit for the creation of serial killers. There are lots of research into hormones, genetics, personality disorders, and difference in brain matter in serial killers and “normal” individuals of society.

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All of us have different genetics, different characteristics, mutations, and hormone levels that affect our behavior and the way we think. Some psychologists (Sigmund Freud in particular) believe that we are born with innate stimuli that predispose us to certain instincts and behaviors. If this is true, then it could be said that serial killers had no control over their behaviors.

More research into this states that some serial killers have XYY syndrome. This syndrome causes a person to have an extra Y chromosome. The y chromosome is known to be the defining chromosome for males, so it causes a person to be more aggressive, violent, and impulsive, due to the extra testosterone (it tends to express itself during puberty- which is why it is likely to see the MacDonald Triad at around age 12.) People who have this syndrome can be more sadistic and have homicidal motivations. These kinds of physiological tendencies are important for being a serial killer. These genetic aspects may lead to behaving more impatient and sadistic (Newton).

Newton also associated brain trauma (in early childhood), maternal trauma, alcoholism, or substance abuse during pregnancy as risk factors for people to become serial killers in adulthood. One example of problems associated with the brain is low Orbital cortex function, which has also been liked with psychopathic behaviors by Dr. Jim Fallon (neuroscientist)

Another genetic explanation by Fallon is the “Warrior Gene” also known as the MAOA-gene, it is said to cause aggression and aggressive behaviors. The MAOA-gene produces the enzyme monoamine oxidase A, which controls serotonin levels in the body. Serotonin is linked to happiness mostly, so the MAOA enzyme reduces serotonin levels it is likely for people to be naturally more aggressive.

Dr. Helen Morrison found that the serial killer, Bobby Joe Long (who killed 10 women) had an extra X chromosome, which cause him to grow breasts during puberty due to increased estrogen. She believes that this caused him embarrassment and anger which caused his serial murders, in a way he blamed women because the X chromosome is associated with women predominately.

Fox and Levin conducted research, on 558 offenders, to see if the race had anything to do with serial killers they found, 86% were male, 82% were white, 15% were black, 4% were Hispanic, this concluded that white males were most likely to become serial killers.

There is however common ground between this debate where some psychologist believes that both Nature and Nurture play a role in the creation of serial killers. Mostly, psychologist believe that the hormones, brain activity, and genetics (Nature) predispose people to become serial killers, and the environment and the way they grow up (Nurture) triggers these predispositions – pushing them over the edge, so to say.

While studying Fallon found that his brain activity matched the pattern that he had stated for serial killers, and his pattern was consistent with most, if not all serial killers. This made him curious as to why he had the same brain activity as serial killers (low orbital cortex function) and he had the MAOA gene, however, he did not have any history of violence towards people or just generalized violence. This, in turn, proves that either side of the argument cannot be relied upon purely on its own, it is a mixture of the two.

Conclusion: Are Serial Killers Man-Made or Born-Bad?

Understanding what makes people commit serial murder is extremely important, if it can be understood it is likely it can be prevented, either with treatment or by catching someone before they complete a homicide. Scientists believe its biology, sociologists believe it’s the environment and experiences they have, and psychologists are now seeing the combination of the two. Although there will never truly be a correct answer as to which side is the best explanation, with different serial killers better suiting the different explanations (due to the variety in how serial killers ‘operate’), the research largely points to the nurture side of the argument, with early childhood trauma being the big reason. However, as more research is being accumulated the biological side is beginning to have a very strong argument too. The one thing we can be sure of is that if the cause of serial killers is found- the world would be a better place regardless of nature or nurture.