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Chapter 10 - Psychosocial Factors that Make a Serial Murderer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  06 January 2023

Marissa A. Harrison
Marissa A. Harrison
Affiliation:
Pennsylvania State University
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Summary

In this chapter, the author examines clinical psychological, traumatic developmental, and sociocultural perspectives of a serial murder. This includes media dynamics and feminist perspectives. The author discusses malingering, or the faking of mental illness. The case of female serial killer (FSK) Aileen Wuornos is revisited to illustrate clinical psychological issues. The cases of male serial killers (MSKs) Ronald Dominique and Dennis Rader (BTK Strangler) highlight phenomena from the chapter.

Keywords

Clinical PsychologyTraumaticTraumagenic DevelopmentSocioculturalMediaFeministMalingeringAileen WuornosRonald DominiqueDennis RaderBTKVictims
Type
Chapter
Information
Just as Deadly
The Psychology of Female Serial Killers
 , pp. 175 - 199
Publisher: Cambridge University Press
Print publication year: 2023

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