Rights statement: This is an Accepted Manuscript of an article published by Taylor & Francis in Psychiatry, Psychology and Law on 06/02/2020, available online: https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/13218719.2019.1695517
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Final published version
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Journal article › peer-review
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TY - JOUR
T1 - A Behaviour Sequence Analysis of Serial Killers’ Lives
T2 - From Childhood Abuse to Methods of Murder
AU - Marono, A.J.
AU - Reid, S.
AU - Yaksic, E.
AU - Keatley, D.A.
PY - 2020/3/1
Y1 - 2020/3/1
N2 - The aim of the current research was to provide a new method for mapping the developmental sequences of serial killers’ life histories. The role of early childhood abuse, leading to types of serial murder and behaviours involved in the murders, was analysed using Behaviour Sequence Analysis. A large database (n = 233) of male serial killers with known childhood abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) was analysed according to typologies and crime scene behaviours. Behaviour Sequence Analysis was used to show significant links between behaviours and events across their lifetime. Sexual, physical, and psychological abuse often led to distinct crime scene behaviours. The results provide individual accounts of abuse types and behaviours. The present research highlights the importance of childhood abuse as a risk factor for serial killers’ behaviours, and provides a novel and important advance in profiling serial killers and understanding the sequential progression of their life histories.
AB - The aim of the current research was to provide a new method for mapping the developmental sequences of serial killers’ life histories. The role of early childhood abuse, leading to types of serial murder and behaviours involved in the murders, was analysed using Behaviour Sequence Analysis. A large database (n = 233) of male serial killers with known childhood abuse (physical, sexual, or psychological) was analysed according to typologies and crime scene behaviours. Behaviour Sequence Analysis was used to show significant links between behaviours and events across their lifetime. Sexual, physical, and psychological abuse often led to distinct crime scene behaviours. The results provide individual accounts of abuse types and behaviours. The present research highlights the importance of childhood abuse as a risk factor for serial killers’ behaviours, and provides a novel and important advance in profiling serial killers and understanding the sequential progression of their life histories.
KW - behaviour sequence analysis
KW - crime
KW - homicide
KW - profiling
KW - serial killer
U2 - 10.1080/13218719.2019.1695517
DO - 10.1080/13218719.2019.1695517
M3 - Journal article
VL - 27
SP - 126
EP - 137
JO - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
JF - Psychiatry, Psychology and Law
SN - 1321-8719
IS - 1
ER -