Serial Killer: Difference between revisions

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Which [[Cop Show]] has one ''not'' appeared in?
 
A '''Serial Killer''' is defined as someone who commits multiple murders, out of some kind of mental or sexual compulsion, in separate incidents with at least a few days in between killings. This is their "cooling off" period, when they temporarily lose the compulsion to kill, and distinguishes them from Spree Killers, who kill in much more regular intervals of weeks or days, if they don't simply go on a murderous rampage that usually ends only when someone captures or kills them. The minimum death toll to be classified as a serial killer is 3-5 people, providing they were killed in separate incidents over a period of more than 30 days. If numerous people are killed in a ''single'' incident (e.g. someone murders an entire family in their home), that is mass murder, though mass murderers can and do become serial killers if they act multiple times.
 
Now, in [[Real Life]], the ''legal'' definition of a "serial killer" (by the FBI's definition) is someone who has committed three or more murders over an extended period of time, but for all other means of definition, it's never that simple. Serial killers are usually divided into 4 categories, and fictional killers tend to fall into one or more of these categories as well, if not by design, then by their nature.
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* '''Sexual Sadists''' are lust killers who torture their victims before killing them; the torture is usually more important than the actual murder. The torture may be psychological and can last for a matter of seconds or minutes, or it can last for hours or days, depending on the offender.
* '''[[The Sociopath|Antisocial]]''' killers are those suffering from [[Hollywood Personality Disorders|Antisocial Personality Disorder]]; impulsive, impatient sociopaths with deep-seated rage who pathologically violate social norms and values, such as repeatedly committing serious and petty crimes, and always social deviants. Serial murder is usually just one of many crimes they regularly commit, and they often do so in the course of other crimes, such as robbery, rape, and various forms of [[Manipulative Bastard|manipulation]].
* '''Supernatural''' killers are what happens when a normal, flesh and blood killer for any of the above types dies. Or rather, ''[[The Undead|doesn't]]''. He may discover [[Evil Makes You Monstrous]], get turned into a [[Our Vampires Are Different|vampire]] or [[Our Werewolves Are Different|werewolf]], or linger on as a [[Our Ghosts Are Different|ghost.]] This usually makes them (perhaps literal) nightmares as they [[ThePromethean Punishment|suffer]] from a [[Horror Hunger]], gain superpowers, and are nigh unkillable.
 
Serial killers can further be divided into '''Organized''' and '''Disorganized'''. The former plan their crimes carefully and often well in advance, and are thus always premeditated. They may even hold a stable job and have a good education, and appear [[Evilly Affable|perfectly normal in every way]]. Such people are very likely to be [[The Chessmaster]]. The latter are much more impulsive and careless; their crimes may or may not be premeditated, and they are recklessly executed when they are, without due care for witnesses or leaving evidence. These tend to be poorly educated and not in steady employment.