Written by Taylor Stacy:
Introduction
Americans seem to have a strange fascination with serial killers. For decades, we as a nation have been enthralled by the idea of someone who kills for pleasure. In 1979, the trial of Ted Bundy was among the first to be televised nationally and was watched by millions of Americans. In the twenty-first century, documentaries chronicling the murders of America’s most prolific killers are some of the most watched shows on streaming services. The most recent example is “Dahmer – Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story,” the dramatic retelling of the life of Milwaukee serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer. Netflix reported that the show is their second most-watched series of all time. There are many theories surrounding why we are fascinated by serial killers. There’s also extensive research about serial killers themselves, their methods of killing, and why they wound up killers to begin with. Researchers seem to be equally interested in both kinds of data, but this article will focus on the latter kind.
Searching for Stats
Radford University and Florida Gulf Coast University have a jointly operated database that keeps track of serial killers, their years of operation, their victims, and their methods of execution. Each year, the team behind the database releases an annual report on serial killer data. They somewhat playfully refer to this data as Serial Killer Statistics.
The database tracks serial killings all the way back to 1900 and includes serial killers from over 115 countries. The U.S. leads the rest of the world in documented serial killers, with a whopping 3,613 serial killers as of 2020 (England is not-so-close second, with known 176 serial killers as of 2020). The data tracks the number of serial killers that have been active each year too, with 1986 being the peak in the U.S. Generally, murders by serial killers in the U.S. was at its highest between 1970 and 1990, which is when some of the most sensationalized killers were active (think Bundy, Dahmer, Ramirez, Gacy, and Kemper, among many more). That number, though, has steadily declined in recent years, although the wealth of content about them could fool you.
Gender(ed) Differences
To anyone who has ever studied crime (or even just listened to every episode of a true crime podcast), it is no surprise that most serial killers are male. A leading theory for this phenomenon is that men are simply more violent than women. In the world, men are arrested at almost four times the rate as women for violent crimes. Another theory regarding why there are more male serial killers rests on the recurring finding in clinical psychology that men are more likely to have paraphilias (atypical “turn-ons”) than women. This theory is especially pertinent in cases where sexual desire appears to have been a prime motive. Only 8.6% of known U.S. serial killers are female. In terms of motive, composited data shows that almost 70% of female serial killers acted for financial gain. In contrast, only 28.8% of male serial killers were motivated by financial gain. This is still the largest single motive for all serial killing, but close behind is killing for sexual pleasure, which comes in at 27.3%. For both male and female serial killers, involvement in organized crime (including gangs, mobs, etc.) was the lowest recorded reason for serial killing, comprising 6.2% of known male serial killers and 0.5% of known female serial killers.
Conclusion
Despite the current interest in studying serial killers, serial killings have drastically decreased in the last couple of decades. As the face of sensationalized crime continues to change, the serial killers of the twentieth century continue to capture the attention of millions. Social scientists continue to be right behind it all, collecting data and trying to figure out why these crimes occur–and why we love to watch.
FAQs
Historically, the United States has the most recorded serial killers. There are more than 2,000 active serial killers in the United States today. Statistically speaking, 40 percent of all murders go unsolved. Less than one percent of all murders are serial murders.
What percent of serial killers are insane? ›
About one in five are likely psychotic or delusional, according to Dr. Michael Stone, a forensic psychiatrist at Columbia University who maintains a database of 350 mass killers going back more than a century. The figure for the general public is closer to 1 percent.
How do most serial killers choose their victims? ›
"Many experts agree that serial killers have a vision in mind of their victim. This person would be thought of as their “ideal victim” based on race, gender, physical characteristics, or some other specific quality.
Who do serial killers target the most? ›
A person is less likely to be a serial killer if they are older than 40. Most serial killers, regardless of the age group, target people 30 and under. This makes sense as serial killers are known to target younger, vulnerable people.
Who is considered the worst serial killer in history? ›
7 of History's Most Notorious Serial Killers
- Jack the Ripper. We call him “Jack the Ripper,” but we don't really know who the person behind one of the older and most notorious murder sprees was. ...
- Jeffrey Dahmer. ...
- Harold Shipman. ...
- John Wayne Gacy. ...
- H.H. Holmes. ...
- Pedro Lopez. ...
- Ted Bundy.
Do serial killers have high IQ? ›
Studies have suggested that serial killers who got caught generally have an average or low-average IQ, although they are often described, and perceived, as possessing IQs in the above-average range. A sample of 202 IQs of serial killers who got caught had a median IQ of 89.
What mental illnesses do most serial killers have? ›
As a group, serial killers suffer from a variety of personality disorders, including psychopathy, anti-social personality, and others. Most, however, are not adjudicated as insane under the law. The media has created a number of fictional serial killer “geniuses”, who outsmart law enforcement at every turn.
Where do insane murderers go? ›
Patients judged by the court to be not guilty because they were insane at the time of the felony crime are committed to a state hospital for treatment for a period equal to the maximum sentence of their most serious offense.
What are the 14 traits of a serial killer? ›
An expert reveals the 12 key traits common in serial killers, and some of them might surprise you
- Smooth talking but insincere. Ted Bundy had a "perfect" mask. ...
- Egocentric and grandiose. ...
- Lack of remorse or guilt. ...
- Lack of empathy. ...
- Deceitful and manipulative. ...
- Shallow emotions. ...
- Impulsive. ...
- Poor behavior controls.
What state has the most serial killers? ›
New York is the state with the most serial killers, with a total of 18 serial killers born in the state. California comes in as the second state with the most serial killers, with 15, followed by Texas with 8, and Illinois and Ohio with 7 each.
There have been many questions raised about whether people are born serial killers or whether environmental factors are the cause. But most psychologists agree that it's often a combination of both.
What gender is more likely to be serial killers? ›
To anyone who has ever studied crime (or even just listened to every episode of a true crime podcast), it is no surprise that most serial killers are male. A leading theory for this phenomenon is that men are simply more violent than women.
Why is bedwetting linked to serial killers? ›
Bedwetting that continues after 5 years old for a number of months was thought by Macdonald to be linked to the same feelings of humiliation that could bring on the other triad behaviors of animal cruelty and fire-setting.
What is the most common occupation of serial killers? ›
Top 3 skilled serial-killer occupations:
- Aircraft machinist/assembler.
- Shoemaker/repair person.
- Automobile upholsterer.
What job tracks down serial killers? ›
The FBI uses crime scene and victim traits to determine a possible profile for a serial killer. 34 This is done by using known subjects and patterns of behavior and applying them to current cases.
What are the odds of being a serial killer? ›
Extremely low. Even back in the 70s and 80s, when serial killer activity peaked, the chances were very low. The FBI estimates there are nearly 2000 Serial killers active right now, but many of these killers are organized criminals. By definition, yes they are serial killers.
How many serial killers does the average person meet in their life? ›
It is when we think of the real-life monsters, the killers that walk among us, that we realize how truly unsettling our off-screen realities can be. It has been said that the average person can unknowingly walk past 36 murderers in their lifetime.
How many victims make a serial killer? ›
The term 'serial killings' means a series of three or more killings, not less than one of which was committed within the United States, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors.
How many serial killers does the average person run into? ›
On average, you will walk past 36 murderers in your lifetime. Hopefully the next time you do go past one, they'll say, “no not that one, too good looking.” 3… A one-inch wooden door is all that separates you from all the world's murderers.