The 5 Motivation Categories of the Criminal Mind
Criminal minds Jul. 16, 2006 12:00 AM Criminal minds Dozens of researchers have investigated mass murder, spree killings and serial killings over the years, and they have come up with several ways to understand the crimes. When it comes to motivation - why an individual committed so many killings - they have come up with five categories. Visionary: Occasionally, serial killers are motivated by hallucinations or voices in their heads. Others claim to have heard voices to establish their insanity. Ed Gein, a cannibal, supposedly wanted to preserve his mother's soul inside his body. He stripped the skin off some victims to create a "woman suit" for himself. Mission-oriented: These killers justify their actions on the basis that they are ridding society of certain people, like prostitutes. Robert Pickton of British Columbia, arrested in 2002, is charged with the murders of 27 prostitutes. Gain-motivated: These occur when a criminal such as a mob hit man moves away from a greed motivation into a psychological compulsion. Hedonistic: These murderers kill for the pleasure of it, although the aspect of enjoyment may vary. Some like the chase, others like torture, and some engage in necrophilia or cannibalism. David Berkowitz, the "Son of Sam" killer, is thought to have been motivated by excitement. Power/control: The most common motivation is to exercise power over a victim and a community. The associated sexual assaults usually are motivated by dominance, not lust. http://www.azcentral.com/news/articles/0716serialkiller0716traits.html