What Differentiates a Mass Killer From a Serial Killer? Essay Example

What differentiates a mass killer from a serial killer? How would you approach the profile of each? Provide examples of each

Mass killers and serial killers are both involved in the vicious killing of innocent people. Both conduct killings for some period in their life. Being killers’ means they take the lives of others without their consent. Both, however, carry out their murders in different ways. Their ways of killing and consistency are the most differentiating factors between these two groups of killers (Fridel, 2021).

Mass murderers are often people who have a terrible history full of frustrations and failure. They, therefore, tend to take it out on innocent people. Mass murderers are therefore defined by one incident. This incident does not have any distinctive period between the murders. Mass murderers are therefore identified by the murder of a substantial number of people over a small geographical area in a short period. These killings are often spontaneous. The murders, therefore, do not have any distinctive time difference. Mass murders are mostly committed by individuals or organizations. As stated above, their most distinctive feature is the huge number of deaths in a small geographical location over a short period.

Serial killers on the other hand perform murders in a planned manner. Serial killers mostly perform the acts to achieve some psychological satisfaction. The most common reason for serial murders include; anger, thrill-seeking, financial gratification, and other important desires. Serial killers are often associated with murders that stand to benefit them in the end. Serial killers commit two to three murders with a very significant time difference between them. This articulates that serial killers commit murder for a reward or satisfaction (Gregoriou, 2013).

Approaching the profile of these murderers and killers requires a definitive method. Current homicide investigators use cold science and previous research findings to understand the killer’s motives and identify the perpetrator. Logical approaches often play a very big role in identifying serial killers and mass murderers. Investigators prefer approaching these profiles from an informed perspective. In this regard, they can possess some background information towards the committed crimes. These are among the essentials that are taken into consideration for investigation (Simpson & Simpson, 2011).

Serial killers and mass killers have some distinctive approaches as they mostly display some intrusions of similar characteristics aligned to manipulation as well as lack of empathy. For instance, serial killers in most cases demonstrate distinct patterns which can be easily determined by the investigators. However, the intrusion that motivates these people remains a mystery but their behavior mostly fits in distinct subtypes.

References

Barrow, L. M., Rufo, R. A., & Arambula, S. (2013). Police and profiling in the United States: Applying theory to criminal investigations. CRC press.

Donato, L. (2019). An introduction to how criminal profiling could be used as a support for computer hacking investigations. Journal of Digital Forensic Practice, 2(4), 183-195.

Fridel, E. E. (2021). A multivariate comparison of family, felony, and public mass murders in the United States. Journal of interpersonal violence, 36(3-4), 1092-1118.

Gregoriou, C. (2013). Language, ideology and identity in serial killer narratives (Vol. 2). Routledge.

Petherick, W. (2019). Criminal profiling methods. In Serial crime (pp. 67-108). Academic Press.

Simpson, P. L., & Simpson, P. (2011). Psycho paths: Tracking the serial killer through contemporary American film and fiction. SIU Press.