Male And Female Serial Killers Essay

Countless people especially, criminologist have researched serial killers because they are so fascinating. Many disagree as to what the legal definition of a serial murder, which is, “[t]he unlawful killing of two or more victims by the same offender(s), in separate events. (FBI-Serial Murder 9). This definition suppresses the cool-down period unlike it used to but typically, serial killers generally take a break in between killings. Most of the research and documentation is specifically aimed around male serial killers; however, there are numerous documented cases of female serial killers. Since, there are not as many female murderers; there is little information about them. Male and female serial killers are alike in some ways; however, they differ in many, aside from their anatomical differences, like their modus operandi (m.o.), preferred victim type, and motives. Both male and female murderers obviously, have and m.o., preferred victim type, motives, and the fact that they kill people. Nevertheless, they share a several other characteristics as well. Firstly, they can pretend to be like everyone else, at least on the outside. Secondly, the killers are usually psychopaths. …show more content…
Females tend to use their gender-specific roles to “gather” their victims and get to know them. This puts them in a caregiver position making the murders likely to go undetected. Several of them have been nurses, mothers, or wives (Kaplan). The case of Jane Toppan shows just that, she was a nurse who administered morphine to her patients until they expired (Crime Museum). Males on the other hand “hunt” their victims. (Kaplan) The victims are not people that they have any type of emotional attachment to; many are people they have never met, unlike females. “Schurman-Kauflin…asserts that men choose victims who they can render helpless.” (Ferrel;Keppel;Titterington