Running Head: SERIAL KILLER ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY

Into the Serial Killers Mind: An Annotated Bibliography Dominique C. Cain 7B Carter

Authors Note Dominique C. Cain, Tenth grade student; ALA student, Chapin High school Dominique C. Cain is in the ALA program at Chapin High school and is currently in Mrs. Carter English 2 class. Correspondences concerning this article should address Dominique C. Cain, Chapin High school, Mrs. Carters 7B class.

SERIAL KILLER ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 2

Into the Serial Killers Mind: An Annotated Bibliography

What's in the dark demon like mind of a serial killer? Is what many criminal/ forensic psychologists ask themselves. It's a question that keeps you up in the wee hours of the night, checking outside your windows with a weapon to your side - hoping that one of the devils demons don't bait you for their next victim. Psychologists often wonder why these men and women commit such mal-like crimes, and return to their daily lives as if they didn't just murder someone the other night. These random impulses that you and I can hold in, some can't. Or can they? What's the final straw? What's the last moment, word, or second of their life that sets that ticking time bomb on overload, causing them to do things that even put the boogeyman to shame. Are they born with these violent impulses or over time is it their past that affect them. Some psychologist are leaning towards the affect of their past, while some or finding that some of these serial killers brain's are missing an important piece that causes humans to tolerate or to ignore these impulses. And some psychologist are stuck in the middle, finding that many serial killers have a piece of both affecting them. These questions all put together create this annotated bibliography about serial killers and impulses, as well as why they choose certain victims over another. The selection also covers quotes from former serial killers that have either been put on death row, or either in complete confinement- these quotes from the actual killer help psychology dive deeper into the dark mind that stalks the night preying on their next victim.

SERIAL KILLER ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 3

Deputy, C. (2004). In the Mind of a Serial Killer. In the Mind of a Serial Killer. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/bb/neuro/neuro04/web2/cdeputy.html This article discussed how the mind of a serial killer is different than the "average" human brain. The differences could be small differences that are hard to detect, or as huge as a tumor. Because this theory states that it is the mind of a killer that causes him to go haywire, the selection follows the theory that people are born a specific way, causing them to differ from their peers or family members. The selection also went over specific patterns that serial killers chose, as well as their victimology aspects. For instance, the article quoted a few serial killers who chose young women with dark hair or others who chose their victims by what car they drove. All of the points this article give helped me in my research by diving deeper into the dark mind of a killer, and seeing how he/she works and what makes the killing of people suit their needs. Petherick, W. (n.d.). VICTIMOLOGY: THE STUDY OF VICTIMS IN CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS. Victimology: The Study of Victims in Criminal Investigations by Wayne Petherick Introduction Crime Library on TruTV.com. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/criminal_mind/profiling/victimology/1.html The author presents a valid reason to how and why victimology can help police and investigators find their killer. The article explains that the way a rope is tied around the victim or the way the killer covers the dead bodies in remorse, can lead to explanations to unanswered questions about a criminal - this helps in criminal profiling. The author

SERIAL KILLER ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 4

even states that because many investigators choose to think of the victim as just a victim rather than evidence, many crimes haven't been solved. This article helped me further my investigation in criminal psychology and understanding of the "dark mind" of a killer, by helping me understand victimology better, and explaining different methods of a killer better, whether in be in remorse, hate, or lust. Samenow, D. E. (2012, August 17). The Male Criminal's Choice of Women: The ultimate "male chauvinist" Psychology Today. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inside-the-criminal-mind/201208/the-malecriminals-choice-women The Psychology Today has created an online journal that explains the phenomenons that occur in the human mind. The article explains the type of women serial killers and rapist choose. It then goes on to give examples of one of the specific patterns, showing how serial killers bait their victims. This article was helpful in helping me understand the criminal victim pattern by looking at two specific areas in a broad spectrum. Samenow, D. E. (2012, May 9). The Often Fruitless Search for "a Motive" Behind a Crime. Psychology Today. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/inside-the-criminal-mind/201205/the-oftenfruitless-search-motive-behind-crime The article explains the "true motive" behind a crime by not just looking at the outside of the problem but by actually evaluating the fountain of the crime. The author explains that the actual motive behind a crime may conceal more about the criminal and victim than actually revealing anything. Just because the motive may look like greed and lust as if the killer is just as heartless as his crime, when really in his daily life he could be a

SERIAL KILLER ANNOTATED BIBLIOGRAPHY 5

lovable father of two and as compassionate as a teddy bear (metaphorically speaking). This article help in my research by helping me understand the difference between what appears to be the catalyst for a crime and truly understanding the actual criminal responsible. Scott, S. L. (n.d.). What Makes Serial Killers Tick? Monsters or Victims? Crime Library on TruTV.com. Retrieved March 4, 2013, from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/tick/victims_1.html This article discusses what all leads up to the fateful day a serial killer takes his first victim and what all causes his calm demeanor to crumble. The article uses quotes from numerous serial killers who blame various phenomenons behind their killing, such as lycanthropy, child abuse, sexual desires, and disease. The selection even goes on to discuss the much heated debate in the psychology world: "are people born criminals, or overtime do they find their cunning desire to kill", the article expresses that both sides could be right, but also wrong as well. This selection helped me in my research by discussing different phenomenons in more depth. I feel that because the article use many motives to example why someone feels the impulse to kill, it all led back to their main question 'what makes serial killers tick'; the selection was very well thought out and explained.