Wicked Deeds

Examining criminal motives and behavior

Scott A. Bonn Ph.D.

Self-Promotion by Serial Killers Leads to Their Appeal

Some serial killers actively create their own diabolical public images.

The First Mind Hunter

Criminal profiling has evolved as a mix of art and science.

Our Rising Suicide Rate Is Symptomatic of a Troubled Society

There are toxic social forces at work in the U.S. that can explain the sharply rising suicide rate.

Serial Killers Play a Role on the Public Stage

The social construction of the serial killer identity is symbolic and it helps to clarify the moral boundaries in society.

Understanding Hitmen Versus Serial Killers

Professional hitmen are employed to eliminate a troublesome or unwanted individual. Serial killers are something else.

Understanding Serial Killer Ted Bundy

Bundy was a power/control serial killer. The primary motivation of such a killer is to dominate and humiliate his victims.

Is the Joker a Psychopath?

The diabolical Joker is self-absorbed and unable to form emotional attachments with others.

Serial Murder and Functionalism

The crimes and punishment of serial killers serve a functional purpose in society.

Understanding What Drives Serial Killers

Regardless of the specific motive(s), serial killers commit their crimes because they want to and need to.

How Serial Killers “Cool Off” Between Murders

The cooling off period is important because it distinguishes the serial killer from all other types of murderers.

Facts and Fictions About Serial Killers

The reality of serial homicide has been hidden from the public because serial killers are presented inaccurately by state officials and the news media.

The Unique Motives of Female Serial Killers

Unlike male serial killers who are often driven by sexual lust, female serial killers are much more likely to kill for profit or revenge.

Suicide

Losing a Loved One to Suicide

Most of us are unprepared for the consequences and emotions that arise when we lose a loved one to suicide.

How the FBI Profiles Serial Offenders

Profilers analyze crime scene evidence and statements from victims and witnesses in order to develop a description of an unknown offender.

Why We Are Drawn To Murderers and Monsters.

Empathy enables us to identify with the monster or killer, which makes them less scary.

Crime Facts and Fictions

One of the great myths about murder is that the number of incidents is constantly on the rise in the U.S.

Inside the Mind of Serial Killer Dennis Rader, AKA BTK

Rader fancies himself a natural born predator who is no more responsible for killing than a venomous snake or a shark.

Suicide Rates, Even Among Children, Are Rising Dramatically

There are corrosive social forces currently at work in the U.S. that can explain the sharply rising suicide rate.

Serial Murder Versus Mass Murder

Serial murder and mass murder are two very different types of crime with very different motivations and goals on the part of the perpetrator.

New York state map

What Is The Serial Killer Capital of the U.S.?

The scope and magnitude of New York City make it an attractive hunting ground for a serial killer who desires public recognition for his crimes.

The Media and Police Promote Myths about Murder

Much of the public’s knowledge about homicide is a product of stylized and stereotypical depictions of such events in the news and entertainment media.

Evil Is Not a Universal Truth

The concept of evil is man-made and defined by a specific time and culture.

Understanding Pragmatic Mission Killers

Mission-oriented serial killers are pragmatic in orientation and focused on the act of killing.

Suicide: A Tragic Sign of the Times

Alienating social forces over the past decade have made suicide the new murder as frustrated and fearful Americans increasingly turn their anger onto themselves.

Suicide is a Bigger Problem than Murder

Almost entirely absent from public discussion is the fact that the steady rise in suicide has been accompanied by a steady decline in homicide in the U.S.

Serial Killer Myth: They Travel and Kill Widely

The roaming, homicidal maniac is an entertainment media stereotype rarely found in real life.

Organized Versus Disorganized Serial Predators

At the heart of criminal profiling is the idea that serial killer crime scenes can be classified as either "organized" or "disorganized" in presentation.

Why Many Serial Killers Crave Public Notoriety

Some serial killers seek out public notoriety, and actively engage in the creation of their public image by corresponding with the police and news media.

Serial Homicide for Power and Control

Power/control killers are often stone-cold psychopaths who combine a need for domination with charm, charisma, and intelligence.

The Solution to Fear-Based Violence is Faith

If fear is the root cause of all violent crime, then faith and positive action are the solution to fear-based violence.

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