Understanding Serial Killers in America: A Criminological Analysis

by | Apr 8, 2024 | criminal justice

 

Scenario

You are a lead criminal profiler assigned to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Behavioral Analysis Unit. Last week, you were selected to be a presenter at the International Homicide Investigators Conference in Washington, D.C. that will be held in two months. You will be discussing serial killers in America. At your speaking engagement, you will discuss two case studies derived from the scholarly journal article, Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders. You will provide an expert opinion as to which criminological theories most likely explain the criminal behavior and which theories apply to the offender based upon the case study. You will focus on comparing and contrasting not only the theories and application of the theories for each case, but also any behavioral, sociological, and environmental factors in each.

Directions

Using the provided scenario and resource, choose two case studies to focus on for your speaking engagement. (Note: It is important to consider the theories and their application when reading and selecting the cases to use for this project. Some theories may not be applicable to certain cases.)

For each case, do the following:

Describe the criminal behavior present in each case. Include the following in your description:
Identify the case.
Provide a brief summary of the case, focusing on the criminal behavior.
Describe how the classical school of thought has influenced criminal justice practices specific to each case. Include the following in your analysis:
How has classical theory impacted the criminal justice system in regard to the criminal behavior, laws, and policies in each case?
Analyze the criminal behavior in each case by focusing on how the positivist school of thought (biological, psychological, sociological theories) has influenced criminal justice practices. Include the following in your analysis:
Which theory in each category (biological, psychological, and sociological) is most applicable to the case?
How may this theory influence criminal justice practices in relation to the criminal behavior in the case?
Explain how critical and interactionist theories interpret social structures and influence professional practice specific to each case. Include the following in your explanation:
What are the social structures and professional practices identified in the case?
Which critical and interactionist theory is most applicable to the case?
How may critical and interactionist theories influence professional practices in the case?
Explain the similarities and differences between the two cases you chose. Include the following in your explanation:
Which theories are used to analyze each case?
How is the application of theories similar or different in the cases?
How are behavioral and environmental factors similar or different in the cases?

 

 

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


This question has been answered

God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Sample Answer

Sample Answer

 

Title: Understanding Serial Killers in America: A Criminological Analysis

Introduction

As a lead criminal profiler at the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit, I have been tasked with presenting at the International Homicide Investigators Conference in Washington, D.C. My presentation will focus on two case studies of serial killers in America, derived from the scholarly journal article, “Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders.”

Case Study 1: The Green River Killer

– Criminal Behavior: The case of the Green River Killer, Gary Ridgway, involved the murder of numerous women in the Seattle area over two decades. Ridgway’s victims were predominantly young women who were vulnerable and engaged in sex work.

– Classical School of Thought: The classical theory influenced the criminal justice system by emphasizing deterrence and punishment. In this case, the focus was on apprehending Ridgway through traditional investigative methods and building a case based on evidence.

– Positivist School of Thought: The psychological theory of psychopathy is most applicable to the Green River Killer case. Understanding Ridgway’s psychopathic tendencies can influence criminal justice practices by informing risk assessment and treatment strategies for similar offenders.

– Critical and Interactionist Theories: The social structure of marginalized communities where Ridgway’s victims resided plays a significant role in understanding the case. Critical theories highlight systemic inequalities that may contribute to victimization. Interactionist theories focus on how societal norms and values influence behaviors.

Case Study 2: The BTK Killer

– Criminal Behavior: Dennis Rader, known as the BTK Killer, terrorized Wichita, Kansas, by committing a series of brutal murders over several decades. Rader’s crimes included stalking, torturing, and killing his victims, showcasing a pattern of sadistic behavior and a desire for control.

– Classical School of Thought: The classical theory influenced the criminal justice system in the BTK Killer case by emphasizing the importance of law enforcement cooperation and public awareness campaigns to capture the offender.

– Positivist School of Thought: The psychological theory of narcissism is most applicable to the BTK Killer case. Rader exhibited narcissistic traits that fueled his need for attention and control. Understanding these traits can inform risk assessment and treatment approaches.

– Critical and Interactionist Theories: The social structure of suburban neighborhoods in Wichita and the professional practices of law enforcement agencies are critical in analyzing the BTK Killer case. Critical theories may highlight societal pressures and status symbols, while interactionist theories may focus on communication patterns within law enforcement.

Comparing and Contrasting the Cases

– Both cases involve serial killers who targeted vulnerable individuals within their communities.

– The application of classical theory emphasizes law enforcement strategies and public safety measures in both cases.

– Behavioral factors in the Green River Killer case may be more influenced by psychopathy, while narcissism plays a significant role in the BTK Killer case.

– Environmental factors such as community dynamics and law enforcement practices differ between the cases, highlighting the importance of contextual understanding in criminal investigations.

Conclusion

In conclusion, analyzing serial killers in America through various criminological theories provides valuable insights into understanding criminal behavior and informing professional practices within the criminal justice system. By examining cases like those of the Green River Killer and the BTK Killer, we can enhance our knowledge of serial offenders and improve strategies for prevention and intervention.

References:

1. Egger, S. (2002). Serial Murder in America: Case Studies of Seven Offenders. Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling, 1(1), 7-21.
2. Douglas, J., Olshaker, M. (1999). Mindhunter: Inside the FBI’s Elite Serial Crime Unit. Scribner.
3. Holmes, R., Holmes, S. (2009). Serial Murder. SAGE Publications.

 

 

 

 

This question has been answered.

Get Answer