criminology dissertation ideas serial killers

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Criminology Dissertation Ideas

Coming up with quality criminology dissertation ideas can get pretty complex, because it requires detailed and sometimes lengthy research. Professional writers from our dissertation writing service prepared everything you need to know about criminology dissertation writing, including specific criminology dissertation ideas.

You will find plenty of topics with which you will be able to ace your criminology class and impress your professors. But, before we go through our list, let’s take a closer look at what makes criminology dissertations so interesting, as well as how to approach them, regardless of which topic you are given.

How to Come Up with a Criminology Dissertation Topic?

Coming up with useful criminology dissertation ideas is more difficult than in some of the other disciplines. How so? Well, the subject matter is more sensitive, and while you might be able to get away with some speculation in a dissertation in other disciplines, there is zero room for that here. However, there are some methods that can make the entire process easier, and they include:

Brainstorming
Mapping out your ideas
Letting the arguments you have create your topic
Free writing
Check relevant sources for additional ideas

Don’t be afraid to put down just about on paper, especially if you are relying on free writing or brainstorming. Perhaps that silly thing that popped inside your head might lead you toward more useful criminology dissertation ideas and topics.

What Makes a Criminology Dissertation Interesting?

The best criminology dissertations are interesting because they cover an exciting topic in a way that hasn’t been done before. Also, criminology is extremely fascinating, because it covers complex subject matter, such as crime, from different angles. Not only does require you to include science, but also psychology and sociology in order to get inside the criminal mind. Exploring the motives and reasons behind certain crimes is always interesting, which is why so many effective criminology dissertation ideas revolve around it.

More about dissertation writing: The Ultimate Guide to Writing a Dissertation

Best Topic Ideas from Criminology Dissertation

We have set out to create a list of criminology dissertation ideas that are both practical and diverse. This means you will be able to find a topic for yourself, regardless of what sort of crime you are exploring. Also, you will find ideas for subject matter which has already occurred in real life. We have also kept in mind that you need to do research for these topics, which is why we have limited ourselves to those for which you can find plenty of information online or in your local campus library. Here is our list of best criminology dissertation topics:

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Serial Killers

Which people are most likely to become serial killers?
How do serial killers become serial killers?
Differences between serial killers and mass murderers
Comparison between real-life serial killers and their portrayal in Hollywood films
What drives women to become serial killers?
Exploring the possibility of rehabilitating serial killers
Differences between male and female serial killers
Should serial killers be let back into society after serving out their sentences?
List countries that have the highest numbers of serial killers and explore the reasons behind those numbers
Can a person’s social status lead them to become a serial killer?
What are the main motives of serial killers?
Has modern technology made it easier or harder for serial killers to remain at large?
What are specific trademarks of female serial killers?
Which factors contribute to the chances that a person will become a serial killer?
How common are serial killers outside of the US?

Feminist Criminology Dissertation Topics

Treatment of Women in the criminal justice system
Exclusion of women in the dominant crime theories
Gender diversity in the study of crime
Feminist theories in criminology
Women as victims of violent crimes
Percentage of women working in the criminal justice system
Feminist approaches to criminal research
What is feminist criminology?
Why is feminist criminology important?
Gender inequality in the law and criminal justice system

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Domestic Violence

Investigating the effects of domestic violence on young children
What are the key triggers for domestic violence?
The effectiveness of psychiatric treatment in overcoming trauma caused by domestic violence
Domestic violence: racial and ethnic factors
Comparison of different types of domestic violence
Male domestic violence in first-world countries
Female empowerment and its effect on domestic violence
Correlation between domestic violence and probability of suicide
What role does the media play in domestic violence
Who are the victims of domestic violence?
Domestic violence and the law
Forms of intimate partner violence
Popular culture and domestic violence
Domestic violence against people with disabilities
Gay and bisexual domestic violence

Youth Crime Dissertation Ideas

Juvenile delinquents and their family environment
How do violent movies, music, and video games influence youth crimes?
Are children of single parents more or less likely to become juvenile delinquents?
What are the earliest indicators of future delinquent behavior?
Do male juvenile delinquents receive longer sentences than female delinquents for committing the same crime?
What role do alcohol and drugs play in young people committing crimes?
What’s the outcome when it comes to the rehabilitation of young offenders?
Are corrections facilities the best to rehabilitate underage delinquents?
Are foster children more likely to end up committing a crime?
What are the most common crimes committed by juvenile delinquents?
Does a family history of crime make children more like to commit a crime in the future?
How does juvenile delinquency affect young people’s chance of employment and having a career?
What is the main motive behind youth crimes?
How to minimize violent and sexual crimes among the youth
Should juvenile delinquents be tried as adults if they have committed a violent crime?

Cybercrime Dissertation Topics

Discussing the impact of cybercrimes on the finance and banking industry
Should online identity theft be treated as a crime?
The most common cybercrimes in the United States
Exploring the history of hacking
The most vicious cyber attacks in history
What effects does hacking have on countries?
Challenges of cybersecurity and the prevention of cybercrimes at universities
Are cyber attacks considered terrorism?
Explaining all the phases of a DDoS attack
What are the most effective ways to protect children from cyberbullying?
What is ransomware and how do ransomware attacks happen?
Evolution and history of online scams
What are the best ways to prevent cybercrimes?
What are the main motives for cybercrimes and hacking?
What are the financial effects of cybercrime?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas about Drugs

Differences between the effects of alcohol and marijuana on human behavior
Should the media promotion of drugs be banned?
In what way does cannabis improve or impair the cognitive abilities of those consuming it?
Should marijuana be legalized and under which conditions?
Correlation between drugs, poverty, and crime in low-income households
How effective are the methods used by physicians and psychiatrists in drug rehabilitation facilities?
How does parental drug use affect the child’s tendency to use drugs?
Are there any positive effects of smoking cannabis?
Establishing the connection between substance abuse and violent crimes
What role does drug abuse play in domestic violence?
Comparing the effects of the most common drugs on human behavior
What are the most abused drugs in the United States?
Should schools introduce random drug testing in order to fight drug abuse among students?
Exploring the harmful effects drug abuse has on society in general
Does drug abuse increase the number of sexual assaults?

Dissertation Ideas on Mental Health and Crime

What role does childhood trauma play in a person’s likelihood to commit a crime?
Establishing the connection between mental illness and crime
Which mental disorders are most likely to drive a person to commit a violent crime?
How effective is mental therapy for criminals which have committed murder?
Is it possible to fake a mental illness in order to escape punishment?
Correlation between mental disorders and aggressive behavior
What are the most common mental illnesses among sexual offenders?
What sort of mental disorder do victims of sexual assault usually suffer from?
The most efficient ways of promoting mental health in a society
Which traumas can lead a person to commit a violent crime?
How does media content exacerbate a person’s mental disorder?
What are the common mental disorders among the youth?
Can community-based centers be effective in providing treatment for those suffering from mental illnesses?
How can members of the police force be trainers to recognize mental illnesses?
Can depression and anxiety drive a person to commit murder?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Prisons

Should the prisoners be allowed to vote and under which conditions?
To which extent is it possible to rehabilitate prisoners which have committed violent crimes?
Should murderers be introduced back into society after they have served the entirety of their sentence?
Correlation between crime rates and the length of prison sentences for those crimes
Which crimes are the most common inside prisons?
Should sexual offenders be separated from other prisoners?
What are the most common causes of unrest in prisons?
The most effective methods for preventing suicide in prisons
Why is it difficult for developing countries to reduce violence among prisoners?
What are the most common crimes prisoners get convicted of?
What is the longest prison sentence ever given to a murderer?
What percentage of sexual offenders end up in prison for the same crime?
How many criminals escape from US prisons every year?
Should prisoners which have committed murder receive benefits for their forced labor?
The most effective rehabilitation methods in prison

Coming up with useful criminology dissertation ideas can be a challenge, especially if you are looking to cover something that hasn’t been done before. Hopefully, our list of dissertation topics will provide you with enough quantity and quality, so that you are never short on ideas. We hope you will find it helpful and use some of the subjects listed in this article.

This article was written by Beatrix Potter Publish Date: Jul 21, 2022

Beatrix Potter

Related posts, essay referencing guide, how long does it take to write different types of assignments, marketing dissertation topic ideas, please, login.

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Home > STUDENTWORK > HONORS-THESIS > 156

Honors Thesis

A Criminological Analysis of Notorious Serial Killers in the United States

Hannah E. Booth , University of South Dakota Follow

Date of Award

Spring 5-11-2021

Document Type

Department/major.

Criminal Justice

First Advisor

Dr. Thomas Mrozla

Second Advisor

Dr. Julia Hellwege

Third Advisor

Dr. Sara Lowmaster

serial killers, serial murder, psychopathy, criminology, Ted Bundy, Dennis Rader, Aileen Wuornos, United States

Subject Categories

Criminology | Psychology | Sociology

Serial killing is a phenomenon that both fascinates and scares people. The United States has experienced several notorious serial killers that remain well-known, even years after their crimes. Serial killers are known for having many similar, but also many different traits. Ted Bundy, Dennis Rader, and Aileen Wuornos are some of America's deadliest serial killers, but each has backgrounds and traits that make them unique. This paper will provide an analysis of their psychopathic traits, and a model showing the significance of biological and environmental factors in their lives. Analyzing individual case studies for each killer will explain how their childhoods, behavior patterns, and whether they had certain disorders or traumas advance the general knowledge on serial killers from a criminological perspective. By looking at the characteristics and lifestyles of these offenders and analyzing their behavior through the Psychopath Checklist-Revised, results will illuminate if they meet the criteria of a “psychopath.” These results will help explain how both nature and nurture play a role in creating a serial killer.

Recommended Citation

Booth, Hannah E., "A Criminological Analysis of Notorious Serial Killers in the United States" (2021). Honors Thesis . 156. https://red.library.usd.edu/honors-thesis/156

Since May 13, 2021

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Article contents

Serial killing and representation.

Phillip L. Simpson Phillip L. Simpson Eastern Florida State College
https://doi.org/10.1093/acrefore/9780190264079.013.117
Published online: 27 July 2017

Serial killing is an age-old problem, though it was not popularly known by that name until the 1980s. It took the rise of mass media and the mechanisms of mass production to create the conditions for the rise of serial murder in the modern world. The mass media representation of a series of murders arguably dates back to the notoriety accorded to the so-called Jack the Ripper killings of prostitutes in London in the autumn of 1888. The Ripper murders stand at a particular nexus in the representation of true crime, where fact and legend immediately fused in popular media to create a terrifying new modern, urban mythology of a preternaturally cunning human super-predator: one who strikes from the shadows to commit ghastly murder with impunity and then retreats back into that darkness until the next atrocity. Since the days of Jack the Ripper, a ghoulish pantheon of other serial killers has captivated the public imagination through representation in media: the Zodiac Killer, David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy, John Wayne Gacy Jr., Henry Lee Lucas, Richard Ramirez, and Jeffrey Dahmer, just to name a few. However, the term “serial killer” did not enter the American popular vocabulary until the 1980s, so in another sense, the true representation of what we now know as serial killing could not begin until it had this latest, proper name. In tandem, as cultural consciousness of serial murder expanded, fictional serial killers proliferated the media landscape: Patrick Bateman, Norman Bates, Francis Dolarhyde, Lou Ford, Jame Gumb, Mickey and Mallory Knox, Leatherface, Dr. Hannibal Lecter, Dexter Morgan, Tom Ripley, and a host of others. Serial killers as they exist in the popular imagination are media constructs rooted in sociological/criminological/psychological realities. These constructs originate from collective fears or anxieties specific to a particular time and place, which also means as times and the cultural zeitgeist change, the serial killer as a character epitomizing human evil is endlessly reinvented for new audiences in popular media.

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criminology dissertation ideas serial killers

The social study of serial killers

Kevin Haggerty and Ariane Ellerbrok examine the cultural and historical context of serial killing

The study of serial killers has been dominated by an individualised focus on studying the biography of offenders and the causes of their behaviour. Popular representations of Jeffrey Dahmer, Harold Shipman, John Wayne Gacy and other notorious figures emphasise the sociopathic tendencies of the lone serial killer, presented in accounts that accentuate how assorted personality traits and risk factors ostensibly contribute to their otherwise unfathomable behaviour. While this emphasis on personal biography lends itself to much needed psychological analysis, the cumulative effect of such accounts is that serial killing can appear a-historical and a-cultural, as though such predispositions might manifest themselves in identical ways irrespective of context.

In fact, serial killing is intimately tied to its broader social and historical setting, something that is particularly apparent when such killing is considered in relation to a series of broad historical changes that have occurred over approximately the past 400–500 years, commonly associated with the rise of modernity. So, while throughout human history there have probably always been individuals who engaged in serial predation, in previous eras it was not possible for an individual to be a serial killer. Serial killing is a distinctly modern phenomenon, a product of relatively recent social and cultural conditions to which criminologists can provide fresh insight by accentuating the broad institutional frameworks, motivations, and opportunity structures within which serial killing occurs (Haggerty, 2009).

Serial killing is the rarest form of homicide, occurring when an individual has killed three or more people who were previously unknown to him or her, with a ‘cooling off’ period between each murder. This definition is accepted by both police and academic experts and therefore provides a useful frame of reference. Unfortunately, it also narrows the analysis of such crimes, as it fails to incorporate many of the familiar (although not inevitable) characteristics of serial killing. These include such things as the diverse influences of the mass media on serial killers as well as their tendency to select victims from particular walks of life. Attending to these (and other) factors can provide insight into the broader social and historical contexts that constitute the structural preconditions for such acts.

Here we briefly identify three aspects of serial killing that are often taken for granted, but that are intimately tied to the emergence of serial murder in its contemporary guise. These include the rise of a society of strangers, the development of a culture of celebrity, and cultural frameworks of denigration and marginalisation.

Society of strangers

Mass urbanisation is a distinctive characteristic of the modern era, something that has profoundly altered the nature of human relationships by virtue of generating an unprecedented degree of anonymity. In pre-modern societies individuals knew one another by name, often having intimate knowledge of their neighbour's family history, daily routines and personal predilections. Strangers were rarely encountered, and when encountered were the subject of rumour and suspicion. The average medieval citizen might have only met 100 strangers during the course of their entire life (Braudy, 1986), a number markedly low by contemporary standards, where one could confront hundreds of strangers simply on the daily commute to work.

The rise of capitalism and related processes of mass migration to urban centres resulted in individuals being immersed in a sea of strangers (Nock, 1993). This development also proved to be a key precondition for the emergence of serial murder, given that a defining attribute of serial killers is that they prey on strangers (something that distinguishes them from the vast majority of homicides, which typically involve some form of prior relationship between killer and victim). Thus dense modern urban environments represent ideal settings for the routinised impersonal encounters that operate as a hallmark of serial killing.

Mass media and the culture of celebrity

Although serial killing is statistically rare, it is nonetheless a ubiquitous cultural phenomena, one that for the vast majority of people is best understood as a media event (Gibson, 2006). Serial killers have become an inescapable point of reference in movies, television fiction, novels, true crime books and video games. This global system of mass media – again, a characteristic attribute of modernity – has made many citizens intimately familiar with the dynamics of serial killing and the lives of particularly notorious offenders.

The relationship between media and serial killing is, however, not straightforward. By widely circulating the details of specific serial killers, the mass media establishes the ‘serial killer’ as a dominant cultural category. One upshot is that, whereas in antiquity killing sequentially may have been something that someone did, today a serial killer is something someone can be. By placing the category of ‘serial killer’ into wide circulation, the media makes the specifics of such behaviour open to potential imitation, although this is not to suggest that serial killing might be the product of some straightforward ‘media effect’.

The media has also fostered a culture of celebrity. In our predominantly secular modernity the prospect of achieving celebrity has become desirable to the extent that it promises to liberate individuals from a powerless anonymity, making them known beyond the limitations of ascribed statuses such as class and family relations. For some this promise of celebrity is merely appealing, while for others it is an all-consuming passion, to the point that not securing some degree of fame can be experienced as a profound failure. Serial killers are not immune to the appeals of celebrity. As Egger (2002) has demonstrated in his analysis of seven of the most notorious American serial killers, the majority ‘seemed to enjoy their celebrity status and thrive on the attention they received’. Hence the complaint of a serial killer to local police is telling: ‘How many times do I have to kill before I get a name in the paper or some national attention?’ (Braudy, 1986).

Marginalisation

Perhaps the most terrifying aspect of serial murder is that such killings appear random. This, however, is a misleading characterisation, for while serial killers do target strangers, their victims are not haphazard (Wilson, 2007). Rather, the victims of serial killers tend to mimic the wider cultural categories of denigration characteristic of contemporary society. All societies have their own distinctive structures of symbolic denigration, whereby certain classes of people are positioned as outcasts or ‘lesser’ humans. Such individuals, often singled out by modern institutions for reprobation, censure and marginalisation, are also disproportionately the targets of serial killers, who tend to prey upon vagrants, the homeless, prostitutes, migrant workers, homosexuals, children, the elderly and hospital patients (ibid.). Gerald Stano likened the killing of his victims to ‘no different than stepping on a cockroach’ (Holmes and DeBurger, 1998). Such a statement keenly demonstrates the extent to which serial killers embrace and reproduce the wider cultural codings that have devalued, stigmatised and marginalised specific groups. Through a distorted mirror, serial killers reflect back, and act upon, modernity's distinctive valuations.

Recognising the dynamics of victim marginalisation is particularly germane to the study of serial killers, for the denigration of particular social groups is connected to specific opportunity structures for murder. Criminologists have emphasised the importance of ‘opportunity structures’ as a means of ascertaining the increased likelihood of criminal behaviour in certain contexts – noting that crime is more likely to occur when there is a combination of a possible victim accessible to predation, a motivated offender, and a lack of competent guardians. That the victims of serial killers tend to be drawn from modernity's disposable classes can also mean that these victims are outside of effective systems of guardianship, and are targeted not only because they are more accessible, but also because their deaths are less likely to generate timely investigation or legal consequences.

Modern phenomena

While serial killing is routinely presented as the unfathomable behaviour of the lone, decontextualised and sociopathic individual, here we have emphasised the unnervingly familiar modern face of serial killing. Several distinctively modern phenomena, including anonymity, a culture of celebrity enabled through the rise of mass media, and specific cultural frameworks of denigration, each provide key institutional frameworks, motivations and opportunity structures for analysing such acts. To exclusively focus on aetiology and offender biography systematically ignores this larger social context, and elides a more nuanced understanding of the hows and whys of serial killing.

Kevin Haggerty is Professor of Sociology and Criminology and Ariane Ellerbrok is a PhD student at the University of Alberta, Canada.

Braudy, L. (1986) The Frenzy of Renown: Fame and its History, New York: Oxford University Press.

Egger, S. (2002) The Killers Among Us: Examination of Serial Murder and Its Investigations , Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Gibson, D. (2006) Serial Murder and Media Circuses , Westport, CT: Praeger.

Haggerty, K. (2009) Modern serial killers. Crime Media and Culture , 5 (2), pp 168–187.

Holmes, R. and DeBurger, J. (1998), “Profiles in terror: the serial murderer”. In Contemporary Perspectives on Serial Murder , Edited by: Holmes, R. and Holes, S. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

Nock, S. (1993) The Costs of Privacy: Surveillance and Reputation in America , New York: Aldine de Gruyter.

Wilson, D. (2007) Serial Killers: Hunting Britons and Their Victims , 1960–2006 , Winchester: Waterside.

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167 Top Criminology Dissertation Ideas

Are you taking criminology in college, and it is time to work on your dissertation, but it appears challenging? Many university students get stuck even before starting, but there is no need to worry because we are here to hold your hand. The first, and we must emphasize, most crucial step, is picking the title of your dissertation. So, how do you select the right criminology dissertation topic?

The best title should be unique, interesting, and have ample resources to help you craft a paper that will impress your professor and the assessment committee. To make selecting the best easier, we have picked the hottest 167 criminology dissertation ideas for you. Keep reading to identify the preferred option and use it as it is or tweak a little to fit your preference.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Terrorism

Religious ideologies: Can they be a source of terrorism?
Analyzing the relationship between media and terrorism.
Political tensions: Are they to blame for the ever-growing number of militias on the globe?
Comparing the trends of terror in the 19 th and 20 th centuries: A literature review.
What are the leading causes and motivations of terrorism?
Analyzing literature on identity theft and social media.
What motivates women to join ISIS?
Comparing male and female serial killers: What are the main differences?
How does the US respond to terror threats?
The US efforts to combat terror after the 9/11 attack: Are they effective?
Was the US justified in killing Osama Bin Laden instead of taking him to court?
Comparing two known terror networks of your choice in different countries.
Terrorism from the viewpoint of international law.
Islamic charities: Are they the main sources of finance for terrorists?
Are recent attacks by Hamas and Israel acts of terrorism?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas about Drugs

Analyzing the relationship between people of various backgrounds and police.
What are the most effective methods of preventing drug trafficking internationally?
Analyzing the effectiveness of drug courts.
Reversible and irreversible impacts of drug abuse.
People incarcerated for drug abuse: What are the impacts on their children?
Club culture: How does it enhance drug abuse in the society?
Preventing drug abuse in society: Which is more effective between voluntary learning and mandatory examination?
Reviewing the harm done to society by drugs.
Comparing the impacts of cannabis and alcohol on a person’s behavior.
The most abused drugs and their effects on societal behavior.
Cannabis and deviant behavior among youths: What is the relationship?
Cannabis legalization: Is it a good idea? What should we expect in the coming years?
Drug use and youth arrests: A case study of Paris, France.
Comparing drug court operations in the UK and USA.
War on drugs in the US: Can it solve the problem of drug abuse and crime?
Drug testing in school.
The influence of drugs on sexual assaults.
Prostitution: A study of the main risk groups in the UK.
Drug traffic tracking strategies used in the UK.
Drug abuse in prison cells: What are the causes and effects?

Criminal Law EPQ Questions

Harassment in school and workplace: What are the main strategies adopted to address the problem in the UK?
Homicides: A review of motivations that make people kill.
Are the strategies adopted by your state enough to counter juvenile delinquency?
What is the relationship between crime in Texas and people living with mental disorders?
Domestic violence: What are the rights of victims?
How can the marginalized get access to justice? A case study of the Netherlands.
A study of the main types of robberies reported in the US in the 20 th century.
Arson investigations: How do investigators determine whether the fire was deliberate or accidental?
What is the relationship between substance abuse and poor schooling?
What causes addiction among cannabis users?
What is the effectiveness of witness programs in criminal justice? A closer look at the International Criminal Court (ICC).
Robbery: What are the main risk groups, methods of prevention, and prosecution?
What is the effectiveness of the International Criminal Court in achieving its mandate?
Should employers check an all applicants’ criminal history during recruitment?
The extradition law in the United States: Is it fair?
Maximum-security prisons: Are they justified or simply cruel?
A study of incarcerated parent’s responsibilities. How do they cope?

Masters Dissertation Ideas for Criminology

Death penalty in the justice system: Is it effective in crime prevention.
The rising rates of mass shootings in the US: What are the main causes?
Studying the impact of genocidal acts on the cohesiveness of society.
Police shootings: Comparing top three cases in the US and the UK.
Sex offenses: Which are the main risk groups, prevalence, and prevention efforts?
How corruption affects the social, political and economy of a country.
Why are most crimes in the US and UK mainly committed by the youths?
US vs. China’s criminal justice system: What are the main differences?
Are the current US laws on criminology effective?
A review of the British criminology curriculum: What needs to be improved?
Analyzing the relationship between education levels and crime levels in a country of your choice.
What is the relationship between ownership of guns and law violations?
Law enforcement and criminology: What are the differences?
Does racial abuse of international students and immigrants motivate them to join criminal gangs?
Using culture to mold responsible citizens: A case study of communities in Georgia, Europe.

Forensic Psychology Dissertation Ideas

A comprehensive analysis of competence to stand trial concept and its application in the UK.
The age of criminal culpability: A review of the effectiveness of this idea in criminal justice.
The ethics of death penalty: A review of the literature.
Studying the mind of a criminal on death row: What goes in the mind of a person on a death row hours before execution?
Should the death penalty be used on juveniles?
What are the chances that a person on death row can change into a law-abiding citizen?
How does memory impact eyewitness testimony?
Analyzing the strategies used by the justice system to evaluate the reports of eyewitnesses.
Methods used in the UK to protect eyewitnesses.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas Mental Health

What role do guardians play in crime prevention in society?
A review of criminological theory in the US justice system.
A comprehensive analysis of how persons exposed to alcohol perform in different areas of their lives.
Sexual violence use as a weapon of armed conflict: A literature review.
Drug abuse and media: Should media that promote the use of hard drugs be controlled?
How effective are the methods used in rehab to counter drug addiction?
A review of delinquent cases among immigrant teenagers in the UK.
Why do college students engage in cases of arson?
Evaluating how prejudice motivates violence.
Is it possible to remain neutral in mental criminal case trials?
Is it possible to eliminate the problem of drug abuse and related crime?
Solitary confinement for drug traffickers: What are the implications?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas UK

How does the UK government respond to terror threats?
Rehabilitation centers in the UK: What roles do they play in addressing crime?
Racial stereotyping and crime in the UK: What is the relationship?
A discourse evaluation: How has coronavirus shaped crime in the UK?
Do urban settings in the UK act as breeding grounds for criminals?
A critical review of the police force and crime in the UK.
Interrogation by police officers: How does it work?
A study of the main categories of crime in the UK.
A review of the latest innovations in experimental criminology.
Identify theft in the UK: What are the main consequences for perpetrators?
Online child predators: How effective are the UK laws in protecting children?
Is it possible to have a crime-free society?
Which crime has a greater impact on society in the UK? Comparing street crimes and white-collar crimes.
A review of the main principles applied in crime prevention in the UK justice system.

Controversial Criminology Dissertation Topics

The less explored world of male rape in the society.
Abortion: Should it be categorized as a crime?
Parental separation: How does it result in future violence?
Information sharing technology: How does it help fight the problem of terrorism?
Back lives matter campaigns: Were they marred with violence instead of search for justice?
Coronavirus has accelerated crime in the society more than any other time in the past.
Do prisons help to correct bad behavior for the incarcerated?
Facebook helps to encourage more negative behavior than promoting socialization.
Domestic violence: Who suffers more between men and women?
Human trafficking has one main role of sexual exploitation.
On domestic violence, the law is subjective on males.
The government should increase the age limit for citizens to acquire national IDs.
Social media is the main source of moral panic in society.
Music is a major contributor to crime in society.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Domestic Violence

Theoretical perspectives on domestic violence.
Applying the control balance theory in domestic violence.
Popular culture and domestic violence: Are they related?
The effects of homelessness on domestic violence: A case study of Texas.
A review of cross-cultural perspectives on domestic violence.
Comparing the rates of domestic violence in the US and India.
Trends of domestic violence in Spain.
Analyzing the main legal issues for women who are victims of domestic violence.
A review of domestic violence within the military families.
Analyzing police decision-making factors when dealing with domestic cases.
Male victims of domestic violence: Why do most of them opt to keep quiet and stick with abusive partners?
Mothers who kill: What are the motivating factors?
Postpartum depression and domestic violence: How are they related?

Interesting Criminology Dissertation Titles

Comparing the impacts of crime to those of natural disasters: A literature review.
Is the education system in the globe failing in shaping good morals?
A review of sexual aggression by women in ASIA.
Acquainting rape perpetrators on bail terms: Is it acceptable? What does the law say?
Regulating prostitution in the society: Is it enough to reduce crime?
Corruption comes from limitations.
A study of the connections between law violation and family status.
Prostitution regulation: Can it stop crime?
Use of expert testimony in domestic violence cases.
Should we ban police from carrying guns in public?
How does systemic bias impact criminal justice?
Genetics: A comprehensive review of illegal researches and associated dangers.
Assessing the effectiveness of street lighting in reducing crime.
What role do psychometric assessments play in criminal justice?
Is crime rate related to neighborhoods? A literature review.
How has counterfeiting changed with the development of new technologies?

Criminology Dissertation Ideas about Prisons

Forced labor among prisoners: Is it a good method of correction?
Why is drug violence a problem in many US jails?
A review of prison gangs in a prison of your choice.
Training correctional officers in the UK: How effective is the training in enhancing the efficiency of correctional facilities?
A review of the efforts used to address child molesters in prison.
A review of study programs offered in prisons.
Healthcare system in the UK prisons: Is it effective?
A review of police corruption in prisons: Comparing the prisons in the 19 th and 20 th centuries.
What are the main causes of high recidivism in the US?
How do women end up in prisons? A review of common causes.
Prisons through the UK history.
How well are inmates prepared for re-entry into the society after serving jail terms?
Racial profiling in the US prisons.
Aggressive behavior: How is it related to criminal tendencies?
Comparing human trafficking in the modern and classic worlds: What are the main differences?
Comparing women’s recidivism rates in the US to those of Australia.

Knife Crime Dissertation Titles

Knife crime in the US: Applying the criminology theory.
Comparing knife crimes in Europe and Asia
What are the motivating factors for knife criminals?
Knife laws in the US: Analyzing the effectiveness of the pocket knife rules & laws.
Comparing the knife rules of the United States to those of the UK.
A review of knife crimes trends in the 21 st century.

Criminology Dissertation Help by Best Writers a Click Away

Now that we have looked at the best titles, from terrorism dissertation ideas to criminology topics on drugs, have you picked the preferred option? If “yes,” you are one step in the right direction. However, the next step of writing the dissertation is longer and requires a deep understanding of criminology. You also need excellent writing skills, time, and access to all the required resources. If you do not have the combination of all the above, which happens regularly to most students, you have a way out – seeking help from the best writers online. Our custom writing service stands taller than others because we have top-notch ENL writers who stop at nothing in ensuring clients get high grades. They have a lot of experience in the discipline and can work on any topic, from criminology and psychology dissertation ideas to terrorism-related topics. Again, they are fast and can easily beat even the toughest deadline. Our service is also cheap. Do not let the criminology dissertation stress you in any way – our expert can help you complete it professionally and fast too!

Criminological Theory, Offender Profiling and the Challenge of the Serial Killer (2009)

This dissertation examines the role of criminological theory and criminal profiling in explaining and catching serial killers. It starts with defining and conceptualising serial killing and providing information about the commonalities between serial killers. Criminal profiling attempts to bring these commonalities together in order to create a profile which is used to catch these killers. The efficacy of the techniques of criminal profiling and a criminal profile, as an investigative technique, will be explored.

Criminological theory as a discipline has developed many biological, psychological and sociological explanations for crime and it is still expanding. This work explores some criminological theories linked with violent and aggressive behaviour and examine how effective these theories are with explaining the serial killing phenomenon. By using secondary data sources this dissertation concludes that serial killing is a complex form of offending behaviour, and the techniques used in attempting to explain and capture these criminals are not particularly accurate.

While criminological theories are able to explain many forms of offending behaviour they fail to delve deeper into the more extreme nature of serial murder. It also concludes that criminal profiling is an investigative tool and should not be used as the primary method of investigation. Profiling is also a questionable tool as it appears that many conclusions within a criminal profile are based on experience and educated guesswork rather than conclusive evidence. This presents a challenge as each serial killers crimes are unique, as is the serial killer. It seems that if a profile has its limited uses in hunting down serial killers they will continue to kill until the investigators become lucky or the serial killer becomes careless.

12,000 words – 45 pages in length
Excellent use of literature
Expertly written throughout
Outstanding piece of work
Ideal for law, criminology and psychology students

Introduction Overview Aims and objectives Chapter outline

Defining and Conceptualising Serial Killing Definitions of Serial Killing General characteristics of serial killers Examples of serial killers

Theoretical Approaches Biological Explanations for Criminality Psychological Explanations for Criminality Sociological Explanations for Criminality

Criminal Profiling and Serial Killer Typologies Inductive and Deductive Criminal Profiling Problem Characteristics MO versus Signature Serial Killer Typologies

Detailed Case Studies Ted Bundy Motivations Criminal Career Jeffrey Dahmer Motivations Criminal Career

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The Best Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Serial Killers

There are many interesting topics in the field of criminology, but there are few subjects that remain as popular as the phenomenon of the serial killer. When it comes to writing a dissertation, students can make their work a little more interesting by writing about a serial killer or covering aspects of this type of murderer. To get started on writing a criminology dissertation, students should consider some of the following topic ideas.

Criminology Dissertation Ideas on Serial Killers

Recent MRI studies show that psychopaths have differences in their mind when compared to normal individuals. What significance could this have on “diagnosing” a serial killer?
What is the difference between a mass murderer and a serial killer in modern culture?
What are some of the factors that contribute to the chances that a specific individual will become a serial killer?
What were some of the signatures of BTK and why does this specific serial killer retain a grotesque fascination for popular culture?
How do the serial killers portrayed in Hollywood compare to real life serial killers?
Historically, serial killers were considered an American issue. It is for this reason that several serial killers in the former Soviet Union went uncaught. What happened in this case and why did the Russians persist on believing that only Americans have serial killers?
What are some of the trademarks of female serial killers?
Do serial killer partners always have a dominant personality and a submissive personality?
How did the Son of Sam cause panic in New York City? How can the media and public policy prevent populations from panicking about the serial killers that walk among them?
What made the case of Charles Manson so unique?
Is it possible to cure a serial killer?
How is the Canadian justice system ill-designed for prosecuting and punishing serial killers in comparison with the justice system in the United States?
Many serial killers enjoy the notoriety that they receive for their crimes, and even partner with journalists to create a biography. How do journalists fuel the narcissism and attention that the serial killer craves by working with them? Are journalists essentially profiting from their crimes?
Is behavioral analysis an effective way to predict the characteristics of an individual serial killer?
Who is the person most likely to be Jack the Ripper?
How does the media portray the character of Dexter as a serial killer? Is this a way of idealizing who a serial killer is?
How has modern technology and criminology made it more difficult for serial killers to remain at large?

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213 Criminology Dissertation Ideas And Thesis Titles

Finding criminology topics is not as easy as pulling out an essay idea from any website. It requires students to go the extra mile to investigate a particular problem and derive a professional topic. Does this give you chills already? Well, our expert UK writers have prepared a list that will earn you high grades. Make sure to pick one that will impress your stingy criminology professor to the core!

Criminology Topics: What Do They Entail?

Criminology focuses on examining crime from a social perspective with a close lens at the perpetrator of the crime, their motive, effects, and prevention. As you will note in the list of writing ideas below, criminology also studies human behaviour about crime.

Since criminologists go to the extent of looking at the social roots and impacts of a crime, they also s-encompass other fields of study such as philosophy and anthropology. The combination of all these methods leads to a precise determination of the root cause of criminal behaviour. They will therefore be able to determine effective and practical ways of preventing its occurrence in the future.

For you to have a top-rated criminology paper, ensure that you:

First, understand the task at hand
Collect relevant details to furnish your paper with
Outline your criminology paper
Structure your ideas into sections
Abide by the formatting requirements of your college or university
Maintain originality throughout your paper
Reference and cite your sources well

The result of this is a brilliant criminology paper that will earn you a spot on the top of your class leaderboard. Do you want to try out our sample criminology dissertation titles? Here is your unique opportunity now!

Top-Notch Criminology Dissertation Ideas

Why are the majority of crimes committed by the youths?
Reasons why men are more prone to commit crime than women
What to improve in the British criminology curriculum
Is it possible to develop a society without crime?
How does the environment motivate one towards criminal behaviour?
Evaluate the role of music in enhancing crime
Are the current laws on criminology effective enough?
Why do college and university students engage in cases of arson?
Predisposing factors behind the activities of serial killers
The role of guardians and societal leaders in preventing crime
Possible causes of rape and other indecent sexual behaviour
Discuss the relationship between crime and punishment in the past decade
Are criminology related laws implemented to the latter?
The role of specialized police units in preventing crime
Why the internet is a harbour for vigorous criminal activity
How to detect domestic violence before it occurs
Innovative ways of dealing with social disorders in a community
Why serial crimes always present a complex puzzle to solve for investigators

Criminology Dissertation Ideas Mental Health

The role of trauma in forcing one to commit a crime
Evaluate the association between mental illness and crime
Possible mental disorders that make teenagers commit crimes
Using community-based treatment centres to help people with mental cases
A global perspective on the mental health of sexual offenders
How anxiety and depression may cause one to premeditate committing murder
Impact of detrimental mental health problems on a person’s conduct
The relationship between aggressive behaviour and mental disorders
Traumatic experiences that may trigger criminal activities
How the media impacts the mental health of a person in committing a crime
Ways of promoting a healthy mental state in a society
How phobias prevent or trigger people about crime
The role of a mental check-up in a criminal investigation
Can an illegal fake a mental disorder to evade punishment?
Importance of mental therapies for criminals charged with murder

Criminology And Psychology Dissertation Ideas

How attitudes and emotions compel people to criminal behaviour
Impact of domestic violence on a child’s aggressive behaviour
A psychological examination of people who start trouble every time
How race is a critical factor in the police’s judgment of criminal activity
The role of forensic psychology in criminal investigations
A psychological view of the gender-based violence against women
Psychological disorders as a result of divorce may lead to crime
How parenting styles affect a child’s behaviour: A case of poor parenting
Discuss criminal intent based on a psychological disorder
How drug abuse contributes to crime as a result of psychological dysfunction
How attitudes towards criminal justice shape people’s behaviours
Why most employers are reluctant to employ people with past criminal records
Discuss criminal psychology with communist states
Current trends and practices in crime related to psychology
Compare and contrast situation and premeditated child abuse

Custom Criminology Dissertation Topics

Do criminals get justice after being sentenced?
How to investigate a serial crime in a society
Techniques used in monitoring people with suspecting criminal behaviour
Evaluate the role of private detectives in solving societal crimes
How the neighbourhood topography relates to illegal activities
Best approaches to combating crimes committed by gangs
The part of the police in keeping society safe and peaceful
How the mental health of women relates to aggressive behaviour at a times
Predisposing factors behind human traffickers and children abductors
Should the government enact more laws to curb domestic violence?
The role of modern technologies in complicating criminal investigations
How schools can enhance good morals among students at a tender age
Do suspensions act as a cause for violence in the future among students?
How to deal with protests and violence in a school setting
How the use of force only serves to stir up crime

First-Class Dissertation Ideas For Criminology

Policing strategies that wage war against smuggling of goods
The role of the US-Mexican border in combating criminal activities
How marginalization leads to the discrimination of various people
An analysis of the genocides in the past decade: What caused them?
What motivates young men to join gangs and other criminal groups?
How does alcohol catalyze sexual assaults?
The relationship between crime and LGBT groups
The implication of racial profiling in causing criminal activities
A critical review of how the US government responds to mass shootings
Gun ownership policies that will make America safe
The role of corruption in facilitating illegal underground activity
How the economic state of a country can lead to crime
Discuss the relationship between oil and civic disorder
Historical factors that have necessitated crime in the 21 st century
The contribution of propaganda and Yellow Journalism to crime

Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Terrorism

Evaluate the response of the US forces towards terrorist activities
Implications of the 9/11 attack on the safety of airlines
Discuss the relationship between radicalization and terrorism
Ways in which ISIS lures young men into joining them
How technology has helped advance terrorist activities in the country
Assess the impact of terrorism on religious profiling of people
Why terrorist activities are most prevalent in urban centres
How terrorists instil fear on their victims
Has the coronavirus slowed down terrorist activities?
Exploring the role of attitude in fueling terrorist activities towards certain countries
Reasons why the media can serve as a super-spreader of fear during terrorist attacks
Ways of detecting terrorist plans before they come of age
Significant strides made in the war against terrorism in Africa
The role of intelligence services in combating terrorism
A critical analysis of the bombings on the US embassies in Kenya and Tanzania

Criminology Dissertation Ideas About Drugs

The role of drug rehabilitation centres in reducing criminal activities
A critical evaluation of heroin and cocaine users
The impact of legalizing marijuana on criminal behaviour
Is there a thin line between drug abuse and violence?
How to curb drug and substance abuse among college students
The role of the media in sensitizing society against the adverse effects of drugs
How the doping technology can help curb drug and substance abuse
How drug abuse is a stepping stone to high crime rates in developing nations
Explore the different types of crimes resulting from drug abuse
What are the possible ways of eradicating corruption caused by criminal behaviour?
Why it is difficult for drug addicts to go for guiding and counselling
Impacts of excessive drug abuse on one’s mental state
Why most gangs are associated with drug and substance abuse
Post-traumatic drug disorders that lead to criminal activities
Most commonly abused drugs by teens in the United Kingdom

The Best Criminology Dissertation Ideas UK

Government policies that are curtailing the spread of criminal behaviour
How the UK government is dealing with criminals of any kind
Are the court systems in the UK doing enough to curb crime?
Describe the application of the social learning theory in reducing crime
How a criminal investigator develops a perspective on a particular crime
How developed economies are handling corruption-related cases
The standards of correctional facilities in the United Kingdom and their effectiveness
An investigation of the legal policies against crime in Britain
Compare and contrast criminal activity in UK suburbs and those of America
A critical review of past illegal activity in Britain over the last five years
Perceptions and attitudes towards UK criminal investigators
How antisocial behaviour relates to illegal activities
Are introverts more prone to crime than extroverts?
A study of the UK media and its implication on crime
How criminal investigative exposes have led to the arrest of various criminals

Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Domestic Violence

Multiple forms of domestic violence in the 21 st century: A case of sexual and verbal abuse
Acts that lead to psychological intimidation in domestic violence
Economic impacts of domestic violence
Does the word ‘abuse’ downplay the severity of domestic violence acts?
Are domestic violence acts ‘terroristic’ in nature?
Social structures that reinforce the suppression of women
The growing cases of male abuse in the recent days
An analysis of the various aspects of domestic violence
The role of writers in speaking out against domestic violence
How to look out for warning signs in the case of domestic violence
Do victims of domestic violence find a safe place to talk without judgment?
Discuss the implications of the Domestic Abuse Bill in the UK
How to address the needs of survivors and their families
The role of society in holding perpetrators of domestic violence accountable
The role of grants and government funding in supporting anti-domestic violence movements

Criminology Dissertation Ideas About Prisons

Do prisons deny inmates their human rights?
Investigate reports of sexual abuse in prisons
Why murderers should not be in one prison facility with other offenders
Are prisons breeding grounds for criminal activity?
Compare and contrast crime in female and male prisons
The role of prison wardens in shaping the conduct of prisoners
Should all offenders be kept in one prison irrespective of their crimes?
Is denying prisoners visitations a catalyst for their aggressive behaviour?
The role of society in helping criminals change
How prison wardens contribute to crime in prisons
Should all correctional facilities be outside significant cities?
Should convicts of life sentences stay with those of shorter sentences?
An analysis of cases of convicts killed in prisons
What should determine the suitability of an officer as a prison warden?
How should inmates relate with the prison wardens?

Forensic Psychology Dissertation Ideas

Technological advances in forensic psychology and its impacts
The procedure of investigating a crime using forensic psychology
Compare and contrast the use of forensic psychology on men versus women
Different approaches to forensic psychology in criminology
Do we have enough forensic psychologists?
How does genetics affect forensic psychology?
Factors affecting eyewitness identification performance
A study on male victims of partner violence
Investigate the jury decision-making process based on forensic psychology
A study of knowledge and attitudes towards conduct disorder
How race affects psychotherapeutic performance
Examine the association between psychosis and being a migrant
Using a measurement scale to assess psychopathic personality traits
How personality functioning may predict a person’s engagement in cyberstalking
The collateral consequences of money bail

Latest Knife Crime Dissertation Titles

What happens when the police become criminals?
The impact of cybercrime on international peace and security
Unearthing the underworld of hardcore teenage crimes
How some police office rob banks and participate in serious crimes
Dealing with drug trafficking in the technological era
A comparative analysis of European law enforcement agencies
Using children as witnesses in a criminal case: Is it ethical?
Discuss the role of psychological intervention for criminals
Analyze the rise of militia uprisings
Impact of political tensions on criminal activities
How the media stereotypes young people as criminals
Social insecurity and brutality
Impact of forced labour on correcting detainees: Does it help?
Does the media exaggerate terrorism activities?
Cultural values that can shape the morals of a society

Additional Terrorism Dissertation Ideas

Is white supremacy terrorism?
How domestic terrorism has risen in the US over the past few months
The role of the UN Mission in keeping terrorists at bay
How to cut off funding for terrorist activities
How terrorism has become a threat to human existence
How to prevent young men from joining terrorist groups
Why terrorists take hostages and threaten to detonate bombs
Psychological implications of terrorism activities
Can someone who has been a terrorist fit into society again?
Discuss the breeding of local terrorism in countries
Counter-terrorism measures that work
The role of surveillance in countering terrorism activities
How terrorism creeps into conflict zones
How the rule of law can help eliminate terrorism
How to empower minors against terrorism
The role of community anti-terrorism awareness programs
How terrorists cause insubordination and waywardness

Criminal Law EPQ Questions

Proactive policing
Pretext stops and charter remedies
Working with virtual legal assistants
The part of the sedition law
Analyze the right to protest
Is life imprisonment a myth?
State’s role in regulating crimes against women
Appeal to the death sentence
Laws about custody and maintenance of minors
Are Promissory notes and Bills of Exchange the same?
What is the difference between fatal and non-fatal offences?
Are ideas protected under copyright?
What is a crime of passion?

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108 Serial Killer Essay Topics & Examples

🔝 top-10 serial killer research paper topics, 🏆 best serial killer topics & essay examples, 🎓 good serial killer research topics, ⭐ argumentative essay topics about serial killers, ❓ research questions about serial killers.

What is the nature of serial killers?
Criminal profiling of John Wayne Gacy.
Popular culture: true crime documentaries.
The mind of H.H. Holmes.
Psychological research of serial killers.
Nature vs. nurture: are serial killers born or made?
Cold cases: The Zodiac Killer.
The story of Ted Bundy.
Serial killers and forensic science.
Psychology and sociology of Jeffrey Dahmer.
Frankston Serial Killer: Background, Crimes, and Motives At the time, the police noted that Denyer was with his girlfriend. The letter claimed that Denyer knows his whereabouts, and that he was planning to break out of prison to kill him.
The Psychology of Serial Killers These are just a fraction of questions that require answers in order to have a complete understanding of the psychology of serial killers.
Richard Angelo: A Serial Killer and His Ethical Dilemma The convicted claimed he made the injections to cause crises to be able to revive patients and become a hero in front of his colleagues.
Jeffrey Dahmer: Serial Killer At the center of the legal debate was the interpretation of insanity, and how it could be utilized to absolve a criminal. George Palermo, a psychiatrist, made the conclusion that Dahmer was not insane.Dr.
Arthur Shawcross and His Serial Killer’s Behavior Although most of his victims were killed in the late 1980s, his case still evokes a lot of debate since he is considered to be one of the most demonstrative examples of prisoners who were […]
Serial Killers: Tommy Lynn Sells It is believed that in October of the same year he killed a 13-year-old girl in Missouri and moved to Texas.
Serial Killers and Their Social Construction Social construction of serial killers has become the subject of various studies, and it is recognized today that the social position, social interactions, and perceived social image may play a significant role in the process […]
Criminal Profiling of Serial Killers Ted Bundy was one of the most famous serial killers of the 20th century. These are the types of serial killers that will target gays, minorities, and prostitutes.
Edmund Kemper: The Serial Killer Kemper committed most of the murders in one year and confessed to his crimes only after he killed his mother. However, in a short time, Kemper decides to stop and report on his crimes to […]
Serial Killer Psychology: Eileen Wuornos Eileen was a woman without remorse as she was not bothered by the death of her victims. It is said that her intention was to capture the attention of the man she was dating.
Ted Bundy, an American Serial Killer He was part of the team that worked in the campaign of the Republican governor of Washington, who later rewarded him with a recommendation letter.
Ted Bundy, a Serial Killer and Psychopath The same was said about Ted Bundy, one of the most notorious serial killers in the criminal history of the United States.
J. Dahmer as a Sexually-Motivated Serial Killer The paper at hand is devoted to the investigation of the life, personality, and criminal behavior of one of the most notorious American serial killers of 1980s-1990s, Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer.
Aileen Wuornos: The Serial Killer After four years since the birth of Aileen, her mother abandoned the family, leaving the girl and her brother with their maternal grandparents, whom the girl considered her birth parents.
American Serial Killer Joseph Paul Franklin’s Crimes The reason for changing his name as because he wanted to join the Rhodesian Army and due to his criminal background, he was forced to change the name. The couple were killed and Franklin confessed […]
Aileen Wuornos: Anatomy of a Female Serial Killer Moreover, feminist scholarship has recently begun to examine serial murder as “sexual terrorism” or as a perpetuation of gynocide, the systematic crippling, raping and/or killing of women by men.
Serial Killers: Law Enforcement Response to Serial Killing The law enforcement agencies such as the FBI maintain that there are several serial killers in the United States and they are expected to increase and hit an epidemic proportion with many people losing their […]
Charles Manson: Serial Killer Profile One of the first crimes that he committed was connected to a stolen car that Manson took to have some fun and visit his relatives.
Albert Fish – the Serial Killer Fish’s mother, forced to look for another source of livelihood due to her inability to take care of her son following the death of his father, took him to Saint John’s orphanage in Washington.
The Crimes of Charles Manson, Serial Killer Even though his people did it himself, he was not involved in this, and the organization of a particular group of people is not in itself an immoral act but is prohibited in some places.
Serial Killer Profiling Dimensions In order to better understand their practices and attempt to put a stop to their actions prematurely, there was a need for proper classification and consequent analysis.
Serial Killers in Modern American Society Based on the above-stated arguments, this paper forms research for evidence from some of the serial killers in modern American society and various tactics utilized by the investigative departments to determine and differentiate between serial […]
Principles of Justice: Serial Killers and Rapers On the same note, Ernest van de Haag mentions the use of principals relating to the utilitarian perspective where the law would be lenient and work for the greater good of people as a whole […]
Serial Killer Imagery: “Where Are You Going, Where Have You Been?” by Joyce Carol Oates The present paper argues that whereas Arnold Friend is portrayed by Oates as a “superhuman” copy of Carl Schmid, the murderer, and the situation with Connie is partially sketched from the case of Alleen Rowe, […]
Serial Killers, Their Crimes, and Stereotypes The other serial killers presented in the killers list also conform to the stereotypes presented in Fox’s and Levin’s article. Most of the killers also rape, mutilate, and degrade their victims in order to feel […]
A Study on Serial Killers: “Encounter and death: The Spatial Behavior of U.S. Serial Killers” From an analysis, of the article, it is evident that the research focuses on the geographical locations that surround the killings; the location of the first meeting between the serial killers and their victims, the […]
Serial Killers: Women and Men Comparison Most of the time, crimes of men serial killers are heard regularly as they are more horrible than that of women serial killers. The physical counting of the men serial killers victims is very high […]
Serial Killer “Theodore Robert “Ted” Bundy” As much as the psychiatrists related his problems to mental disturbances, this was not a major issue that determined the outcome of the cases.
A Serial Killer: Typology and Abnormal Psychological Gratification
Luis Garavito: The World’s Worst Serial Killer
Existentialism: Serial Killer and Right Things
Charles Cullen: Healthcare Serial Killer
Israel Keyes: The Reluctant Serial Killer
Countess Elizabeth Bathory: Serial Killer
Arousal Theory and the Serial Killer Jeffery Dahmer
The Dangerous Mind of a Serial Killer
Clifford Olson: Canadian Serial Killer
The Development of Serial Killers: A Grounded
Exploring the Life and Possible Motives of Serial Killer
How Edward Theodore Gain Became a Serial Killer
Blood Loss, the Decline of the Serial Killer
Sociological Theories: Rationalization and Motivation of the Serial Killer
Serial Killer Era: So Many Murders in 1970 – 2000
Famous Serial Killer: Jack the Ripper
Defining the Factors That Contribute to Serial Killer’s Identity
Deadly Motives: The Hedonistic Drive of Serial Murder
Details of a Typical Female Serial Killer
Profiling Art and Australian Serial Killer Ivan Milat
Brilliant Serial Killer Jack the Ripper
America’s First Serial Killer
Serial Killer and Racism: African-Americans and Serial Killing in the Media
Life and Death of a Serial Killer: Are Serial Killer Born or Created?
Serial Killer: Erikson’s Theory-Based Analysis of the Behavior of Robert William Pickton
Differential Association Theory and Serial Killer
Aileen Wuornos America’s First Female Serial Killer
Mary Bell Was Britain’s Youngest Serial Killer
Criminal Shadows: Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer
America’s Sweetest Serial Killer – Sugar
Unique Characteristics of a Serial Killer
American Serial Killer: Albert Fish
Serial Killer: The Mechanism From Imagination to the Murder
Critical Theories: Crime Ted Bundy Serial Killer
The Uncatchable Serial Killer: No Motive, No Victim Profile
Serial Killers: Death and Life in America’s Wound Culture
The Life of a Serial Killer: Edmund Emil Kemper Lii
Criminal Justice: The Criminology Behind Serial Killers
Canadian Serial Killer: Robert Pickton
What Are Serial Killers?
Are Serial Killers Born Psychopaths or Pushed to That Limit?
What Causes Serial Killers to Kill?
How Do Serial Killers Get Attention?
What Makes Serial Killers Kill?
Why Are the People Interested in Serial Killers?
What Is the Nature of Serial Killers?
How Do Juveniles Become Serial Killers?
What Is in the Mind of Serial Killer?
How to Cure a Serial Killer?
What Steps Are Taken by the Country to Control Serial Killers?
Where Did the Term “Serial Killer” Come From?
What Are the Main Objectives of a Serial Killer?
Is It Possible to Diagnose a Would-Be Serial Killer?
What Are the Common Types of Serial Killers?
How Does a Serial Killer Differ From a Maniac?
What Lies Behind a Serial Killer’s Signature?
Are There Naturally Born Serial Killers?
What Makes a Serial Killer Tick?
Are There Death Penalty Alternatives for Serial Killers?
What Makes a Serial Killer Do What They Do?
Are Humans Naturally Good or Evil?
What Is the Difference Between a Mass Murderer and a Serial Killer in Modern Culture?
Is There a Tendency to Increase or Decrease in Serial Killings in the Us in the XXI Century?
Can Modern Therapies Available for Sociopathic and Psychopathic Disorder Set Serial Killers to Rights?
What Are the Effects of Childhood Abuse on Serial Killing Behavior?
How Are the Serial Killers Portrayed in Hollywood Compare to Real-Life Serial Killers?
What Are Some of the Trademarks of Female Serial Killers?
Do Serial Killer Partners Always Have a Dominant Personality and a Submissive Personality?
How Has Modern Technology and Criminology Made It More Difficult for Serial Killers to Remain at Large?
Chicago (A-D)
Chicago (N-B)

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Criminology, Sociology and Policing at Hull

Student research journal, female killers, a literature review of attitudes towards female killers and the reasons why they kill intimate family members, abstract .

Female inequality is at the centre of much debate. The powerful stance of women’s equality following many prominent campaigns is exceptional. Feminists are finally being heard on a global stage. However, one group of women has failed to benefit from this movement and is continually demonised by not only male dominated media and law but also by feminists themselves. Killer women gain little from the work these women do. This dissertation will detail the attitudes towards these women and explore the reasons why these women kill. Attitudes towards killer women are entrenched into our everyday thinking, they are othered by the media and judiciary system. They are characterised solely upon the action of killing another being. Their life before the event deemed meaningless and unimportant. With the use of literature from the criminological field this dissertation first looks at the origins of the female being and how she was first depicted, alongside how this depiction has seen limited change. Secondly focusing on the effects of domestic violence upon women, many killer women have faced large amounts of abuse from the partners they kill. These women are “simultaneously victims and agents: they are abused but they also act to protect themselves” (Schneider, 2000:120). It is imperative that these abuses are highlighted and eradicated. Finally, a brief discussion surrounding other victims of killer women. In conclusion both the attitudes towards killer women and the reasons why they kill needs continual exploration within criminology. As well as radical change in the way in which these women are treated by the judiciary to ensure these women have a fair trial. One which concentrates on killer women as individuals and not one homogenous group.

Author: Hannah-Louise Gadsby, May 2019

Dissertation BA (Hons) Criminology with Psychology

Contents Page

Acknowledgements
Introduction
Methodology
Literature Review

Attitudes towards Women

Domestic violence and females who kill their abusers, child victims, discussion and conclusion, bibliography, acknowledgements.

I would firstly like to express my deepest thankfulness to Kay Brady, her reassuring words at the start of this process pushed aside all of the worries I had. Giving me the confidence and determination to create this body of work. I cannot thank you enough for the support that you have given me and the confidence I now have in my academic ability.

This dissertation is dedicated to my wonderful family, each and every one of you has played a part in the creation of this dissertation. In order to fully thank you all I would need another 10,00 words. Without you all I would never be where I am today, you are the ones responsible for creating this powerful, opinionated, intelligent young lady.

To the next generation of my family, I hope this dissertation shows you that dreams aren’t just wishful thinking they are meant to be realised. This is one of mine now it’s time for you to go out and chase yours.

This is just the beginning watch out world I’m coming for you.

Introduction

The female killer evokes many diverging reactions. Many are rooted in anger and disgust, based on the belief system that women are incapable of carrying out such horrific acts. Other reactions take a liberal stance trying to apply reasoning to the killing of another. The female killer is not only rare but fantasised about in the media. Specific female killers are demonised by the media if they are perceived to have the ability to affect the running of society (Morrissey, 2003). Long tales are created surrounding their life before as well as the months post the incident. The sensationalised media coverage uses stock narratives including mad or bad depictions of women, placing focus on the sexual deviance of these female killers (Cruze et al, 2006) this creates a connection between the killer and the public. Bringing the horrific act of murder into their homes. Allowing them to have a front seat to the events that unfold. This in turn forms an uncommon connection between the killer and the general public. This connection is exploited as many readers take the media’s portrayal of these women as fact. Narrations link stereotypes with mythical characters or former killers as a result othering the female killer in relation to the current culture and behaviours that society accepts

(Morrissey, 2003). The public uses this narration to reaffirm their condemnation of killer women. The portrayal of the female killer is what stands years after the act has been committed and essentially what following generations use to judge her acts. The media impact seeps into everyday behaviour, re-establishing stereotypes that confine women to passive beings of which the feminist movement has tirelessly worked to remove. These women are human they have home lives, friends and family. They had a life before this event, the aftermath of which will continue to affect not only them but future female killers. The othering of these women will never change the status quo, it will never protect these women from the events that resulted in them taking another person’s life. The only way that prevention and modes of help will be created is by understanding this diverse, repressed group within society. This dissertation seeks to unravel the unfathomable nature of female killers and bring them to the forefront of criminological research to allow the process of understanding and demystification to happen.

In order to fully understand this group of offenders, research has to begin at the creation of femininity, family and stereotypes. Women as a whole are “socialised to suppress anger” (Adler, 2002:867) this is intrinsically linked to our belief system. Our belief systems stem from interactions with others impacting how we interpret personal events but also the events which we observe from afar. Communication with others allows for the dissemination of beliefs and thoughts. It happens through a number of channels the source of which is the fundamental teachings from the Bible. The foundations of society were built based upon bible teachings and stories. Those teachings have shaped the way we view individuals in society and how society as a whole should function. The impacts of these stories have been discounted and left out of discourse surrounding female killers. The very first behaviours that are linked intrinsically to Eve are of deceit and evil. Eve is extremely important as she is the very first female created by God and she is the first person to sin. This simple act predetermines the tone for the rest of women kind (Styler, 2007). In this pivotal action it renders the female being as untrustworthy and the creator of evil. The rule of law which governs society around the globe is built on foundations of religious belief systems, as well as the classification of acceptable and unacceptable behaviours. Eve’s flaws intertwine unacceptable behaviours with the female gender.

Due to the intertwined nature of specific undesirable behaviours with Eve it has resulted in a negative stereotypical view of the female form. This is undeniably still present to this day. The evolution of society has begun to attempt to fracture the seemingly undetachable inherently negative characteristics from the female being. This liberation is far from complete and still continues to silence women. Portraying any deviation from the perfect subordinate being as other and villainous. Social oppression through forms such as stereotypes, social activities and instinctual responses to situations dehumanises many women across the world but is also allows males to use this as a reason behind their controlling behaviour (Smart & Smart, 1978). They control these women under the pretence that they are fulfilling their right and duty to ensure that standards imposed upon women are being met. It’s not only controlling manipulative men that are imposing these standards. The court of law may not be physically beating these women into submission but they are restricting their agency. The legal system specifically holds a stereotypical view of the family, this belief seeps into other institutions within the country (Eaton, 1986). They impose sanctions on the basis of conformity and expose and exploit any deviation from the submissive female model. These institutions homogenise the female eradicating any sense of diversity. Including killer women who have endured many different events and have been subject to unjust scrutiny from wider society’s expectations regarding appropriate behaviour.

The difficulties surrounding understanding killer women is exasperated due to small numbers. Between the years 2013 – 2016 there were only 40 domestic homicides that were perpetrated by females (Davidge & Magnusson, 2017). Whilst this is an outright positive it causes significant barriers when analysing their actions. Some killer women are advised to have a passive demeanour and to stay relatively quiet during trial. This is significantly different to male offenders who are advised to make their presence known and to answer all questions (Heidensohn, 1985). Playing into the stereotype of the passive female seeks to impact the verdict and sentence she may receive. As a consequence of inconsistencies with sentencing, research regarding convicted female killers results in only a small proportion of female killers being able to be used for research purposes. Some women who are fortunate enough for self-defence pleas to be recognised are not recorded within the imprisoned populations. Thus, research is limited to those who fail to adhere to stereotypical patterns of behaviour or where self-defence is not believed. Liberal feminists seek for all scientific research to correctly represent women and ensure that they are not underrepresented in any research that is undertaken (Walklate, 1995). Until these criteria are met statistics and prevalence rates have limitations in providing comment on the reasons behind these women’s acts

The female killer is not only the killer of her abuser or the femme fatale , the female killer is a diverse faction within the offender population. These women range from the likes of Myra Hindley to Wanda Jean Allen, no two are the same and no two offences have the same characteristics. It is imperative that unification or classification of types of killing does not guide our understanding of these crimes. To create an overarching explanation of female killing will result in a misrepresentation of many of these women. Women who kill their own children have very different experiences and driving factors to that of a woman who killed her abuser or killed out of love of the thrill. The two overarching factors that are apparent in most female killers’ motives are emotional and psychological reasons (Mann, 1992), it has to be accepted these are more prevalent in some cases in comparison to others. To conflate each of these will result in the creation of one homogenous group with expectations that their behaviour will be similar to one another. This helps no women; it gives them little faith that society really understands what they have been through. They lose belief and faith that people are willing to listen.

This dissertation will seek to explore the attitudes towards these killer women examining if these attitudes have changed or are on the verge of changing. As well as exploring the reasons why these women resort to killing intimate family members.

The specific subset of women which this dissertation focusses its gaze up is one of small numbers, many of these females are largely out of the public realm. Therefore, there are specific limitations when exploring this group of women. The women who are sentenced for their crime reside in prison and those exonerated no longer participate within an overly public domain. Therefore, secondary data gives the opportunity to examine data that is of a much higher standard (Bryman, 2016). The two sections within this work will be fully explored using a literature review method. Firstly, in order to ascertain the publics opinions, it is important to explore the historical beginnings of our understanding of the female being. Historical contexts were explored as these are the foundations of our beliefs. Starting with bible teachings progressing all the way to present day. The literature review spanned various forms of academic work. This included journals, books and statistics that centred around the whole of female offending and the cultural attitudes towards these killer women. Secondly the reasons why women kill their intimate partners was also explored using a literature review. This focused upon a number of studies of where the conclusions were drawn from an analysis of female killers. The limitations of the research are clear, the conclusions as to why these women take the life of a loved one can only be answered by the women who have committed the offence. It is fully accepted that in order to gain accurate reasonings behind these criminal acts the females involved need to be part of the discussion. Interviews with these women could not be achieved, this is due to inaccessibility to them and the inability to gain ethical approval. Therefore, previous researchers’ interactions must be relied upon to start the process of understanding and attempting to remove any stereotypical viewpoints that these women are subject to within the criminological field. The criminological field is not exempt from exasperating rigid societal norms. An evaluation using a literature review method will produce a detailed exploration of the female killer, however it will be subject to reliance on other research that had its own agenda and objective. The agenda needs to be accepted and accounted for when drawing conclusions from each source.

Qualitative researchers have access to special cases that they can use. This could result in well chosen examples being used to prove a specific theory (Silverman,2013). Taking this into account is highly important as each researcher has an underline bias that may compromise their findings. To gain full understanding of why these women kill interviews would be exceptionally helpful. They not only would be able to express the circumstances surrounding the killings but also to give first hand information with regards to the attitudes and treatment towards them after the killing took place. The caveat is that these women will have their own interpretation of the events and attitudes are subject to large amounts of bias interpretation.

Literature Review

Literature surrounding killer women dates back to the earliest of teachings within the Bible. The story of Adam and Eve in Genesis 2:4-3:24 is the birth of the submissive female individual. She is depicted as the sinner, forever culpable for allowing evil to become part of humanity as a result of her inability to resist the forbidden fruit. As an attempt to remove this entrenched evil characteristic from the female being the second wave feminist movement created a change of approach towards the biblical characters. Rebecca Styler (2007) demonstrates this movement towards a reinterpretation of the Bible, this reinterpretation shifts the centre of the teachings around the female characters allowing an exploration of the book of Genesis from a feminist viewpoint. These writings arose around the 19 th century and were for women by women and opened the space for debate about the female role without male interference. Whilst this approach actively attacks the patriarchy’s hold upon the female being “the patriarchal images of women from Greco-Roman mythology will continue to oppress” (Bowers, 1990:217). At present these feminist reinterpretations of the Bible teachings have yet to have major impacts upon the status quo. When tackling an ingrained idea that has been accepted as truth for centuries it takes much more than rewriting history. “The Bible has become part of the air we breathe without our even being aware of it’s presence or power” (Newson,2012:2). With society oblivious to the power the Bible has over humanity, adapting its teachings will have minimal effect as the original teachings will continue to affect people’s thoughts, actions and feelings. They will refer back to the original works without consideration of the feminist reinterpretation. Males fortunate to be within the highest rank of the hierarchical patriarchal society and those that support the patriarchy have the ability to reject nuanced approaches towards modifying original teachings. This is because they are the ones with power to change laws and societal expectations of each gender. As a result, legitimisation of this feminist approach will fail to happen. For change to occur challenges towards entrenched beliefs need to be directed towards the people who hold such stereotypical values. Creating a precise depiction of females that these males understand and don’t deem as a threat to themselves will aid in bringing them onside to fight for equality. The status quo at present is still one which labels female offenders as either mad or bad. Mad in reference to a females psychological assumed unstable state and bad depicting the female offender as evil and monstrous (Morrissey, 2003).

Lombroso and Ferrero (1895) cited in Heindensohn (1985) focused their pioneering works within criminology on the biological differences between the criminal and non-criminal, for example the size of the skull and other facial features were explored. Their theory only briefly expands to female criminals, it was believed reasons why females committed less crime was due to their lack of evolution in comparison to their male counterparts so therefore had less chance of evolving with degeneration within their genes. Within the positivist movement law breakers were deemed “atavists” a throwback to an earlier degenerate generation (Walklate, 1995). As a result, the depiction of female lawbreakers as inferior and evil became intrenched as the positivist theory portrayed women’s biological development as stopping much earlier than male’s, resulting in a much closer connection to their degenerate ancestors (Walklate,1995). Specifically, females who commit murder have extensive masculine traits attached to them (Smart, 1976) producing an unwavering link between these women and masculinity. This masculine discourse is used to influence the general public as well as jurors during trials. In cases such as Rose West this discourse was used to influence the verdict and punishment that she received (Seal, 2010). The positivist ideology still has its influence to this day. Many criminal women’s actions are explained in relation to biological factors such as the menstrual cycle (Shaw, 1995). However, the biological premise of crime has significant flaws, it fails to recognise the impact society has on its inhabitants, of which women sustain a greater amount of constraint. It is impossible for criminals and the acts they commit to be looked at in isolation, our biological self interacts with the environment in which we live. “Socialisation experiences of females who are expected to conform to the wishes of males and silence their own voices” (Katz,2004:26). This victimisation throughout society against women has a causational effect on criminal behaviour. They are left with little choice when trapped within abusive relationships than to eventually fight back to protect their life. Early works focused upon the biological and sexual aspect of the female, criminologists failed to consider other factors such as social and economic issues (Heindensohn, 1985).

This was explored by Thomas (1907) who examined the effects socialisation had upon children. Children are born without an understanding of the world. Society as a whole including home and school life is a vehicle in which socialisation happens. This liberalist movement stated deviance was a social pathology where unsocialised individuals committed deviant acts, it rejected the notion that deviance took root in biology (Smart, 1976). Socialisation of the female happens in two forms, the first of which is primary socialisation, occurring in the family. With secondary socialisation happening through friends, media and education (Smart & Smart, 1978). The socialisation of women outlines the acceptable manor in which a woman should act. Biological factors have been the determinants of the different social spheres. These spheres date back to the Victorian era, the male sphere being the public and work domain and the female sphere being the private, motherly sphere (Heindensohn, 1985). Due to the natural difference between men and women restrictions as well as expectations are placed upon these women. However, the socialisation theory Thomas (1907) composed only goes so far as to explain delinquency in the female population. Bingham (1923) in Cowie et al (1968) states that this delinquency is due to failed socialisation which has resulted in unacceptable behavioural standards. Research during this time was focused upon the delinquent and sexually promiscuous woman. The juvenile system in the 20 th century focused upon the immorality of girls, they segregated girls from boys as they were worried about their promiscuity (Cheney-Lind & Pasko, 2004). Role theory expands on the issue of socialisation, stating that deviance is rooted in “differential socialization, differential illegitimate opportunity structures and differential social reaction” (Smart,1976: 66). Women become passive beings which results in less violent skills being acquired and a reduced opportunity to partake in criminal activity. However, role theory legitimises the entrapment of women within the private sphere of influence. Abused women have little to no power to escape their abusers, the women’s life becomes cemented in maternal and household domains. Treated as property socialised to feel this is the only place they belong (Thomas, 1907) leaving them powerless to the men that control them. Role theory does however encapsulate both biological differences as well as impacts societal expectation has upon criminality.

Sexuality has taken over the criminal justice system, the general public are exposed to this via the media. Female offenders are depicted by images of witches, evil temptresses or fallen women (Jewkes, 2011). This allows for the system and society to ignore the women who have faced such hardship consequently resorting to the only action which will result in freedom. This action is to kill their intimate partners. They are side-lined due to the fight against promiscuity. Generalised as monsters and evil they have no help in reclaiming their identity. To attack this portrayal of women the feminist movement make clear the issues within the criminological field. “Criminology presumes the criminal to be male but does not reflect on the impact this has on theorising crime” (Walklate, 1995:25). Both radical and liberal feminists advocate for change within the system of oppression with the intention of resurrecting the female from the depiction of evil. Worrall (1990) presents that in order for the female being to be seen as equal to that of the male, changes have to be made at the legal level. The law creates legitimacy to people’s actions. It states which acts are lawful and unlawful. By adopting a male point of view when creating law, it allows for male dominance to become invisible but ever present (Mackinnon,1989). To tackle this Morrissey (2003) emphasises the importance of the female legal discourse. They attempt to resurrect the female as a real person, one which has emotion. This push towards humanising the female being becomes a starting point of equality. Without humanisation females can never be seen as human entities and will continue to fall into the category of monstrous beings. Feminist movements are fractured and many have conflicting or radically different aims and objectives. Feminist themes surrounding criminology aim to make women visible, increase research on, by and for women, non-sexist methodologies and that research should have some form of positive impact upon the feminist movement (Heindensohn, 1985). The radical feminist movement focuses upon the oppression of females by males, which has resulted in the subordination of women. They have intrinsic distrust towards males and believe all males are intrinsically bad and all females intrinsically good (Walklate, 1995). In comparison liberal feminism explores the possibility of political change in society. Wollstonecraft (1792) in Tylor (2003) critiqued the impact of power relations on the female psyche. The male hierarchy exerts power and oppression onto women. The improvement of the political stance of women can only be possible when the sexes “have been restored to natural equality” (Taylor,2003:57). However, the feminist movement is fractured, each faction having different goals and approaches to achieve these goals. This lessens the political capital that can be achieved due to a uniformed approach. As a result, a lesser amount of change can be implemented. When movements are actively trying to gain equality or an increase in rights they are targeted as the cause of any problems relating to the possible results of allowing more freedom. Heindensohn (1985) shows that when moral panics surrounding girls and crime appear the feminist movement are blamed for this change in behaviour as they advocate for liberating these women. This stunts any progression they may make. Another issue with the feminist movement as a whole is that it is dominated by middle class women, the women on the outer edges are rarely represented (Mackinnon,1989). Whilst these women may have good intentions at heart, they are in a position of power in comparison to the groups of women they are representing such as women in abusive relationships and women who have a sever lack of political capital (Smart, 1990).

When females kill 80% of their victims are relatives or lovers (Adler,2002). These women are seen to be violating what is deemed to be normal behaviour for a woman (Schneider,2000). However, what is rarely expressed is the life they have been living behind closed doors. They are depicted without real consideration of their circumstances. Many males feel it is their right to rule over their women, using physical and emotional abuse if needed. These women become socialised to this control and fail to question it (Walker,1979). The stark reality is that society “through its definition of the women’s role, has socialised her into believing she had no choice but to be such a victim” (Walker,1979:14). Many onlookers pose the questions as to why these women stayed and endured the violence for so long which eventually resulted in killing to end their suffering. One such explanation is learned helplessness, once these women have tried to escape their abuser a number of times and failed to do so they lose faith that they have the ability to change their situation, passivity becomes the adopted response (Motz,2001). This theory should be seen as the inability to predict the outcome of a particular action (Walker,2009). These women attempt to modify their behaviour with the intention of stopping or reducing the attack they face. When this modification of behaviour does not work then they are left wondering if they have and power to change the world in which they live. However, learned helplessness implies that skills can be learnt that can stop the battering instead of ending the relationship (Walker, 2017). This implies the onus is on the woman to adopt specific skills as a result of the situation they are in.

Society fails to focus its gaze upon the condemnation of these manipulative, abusive men. The behaviour that they exhibit is unacceptable. However, this behaviour takes place within the home which restricts the woman further. The rhetoric surrounding males has to change in order to create an environment which promotes exposing this unacceptable behaviour.

Smart (1976:2) revealed the “overwhelming neglect of female criminality is directly related to the low status of female offenders as a pressing social problem”. Their numbers are significantly lower to that of males so governmental bodies as well as researchers deem it unnecessary to spend time understanding a perceived small social problem. There is a direct “link between men’s power and the ability to control the viewing point of criminology” (Naffine, 1997:67). It ensures focus is upon male criminality, creating theories in which females fail to feature in. However, this norm should be changed along with many others and this body of work will seek to throw light upon this lost group of women. To fully understand killer women the criminological field has to accept that they are a unique set of individuals and that they are substantially different to male killers. The act of killing is linked to gender, masculine males and feminine females. When the public are alerted to a female killer, they find it difficult to understand the reasons for this violence. When abuse towards the female is present it is not seen as the most significant action. The violent killing always becomes the dominant action (Motz, 2001). This dissertation will aim to highlight the importance of these women and the abuse they may have suffered. Many studies decide to look into social control or murderous women as two separate entities. This body of work will seek to bring the two concepts together in order to gain a full understanding of female intimate killers and define them as a unique subset of killers.

Prejudice towards the female being has been fixed since the beginning of time. The values placed upon these women and the power imbalance have failed to change dramatically. However female offenders can threaten the maintenance of the power relationship between man and woman (Worrall, 1990). The ability to threaten this power imbalance is the rationale behind the characterisation of the demonic female killer. Controlling attitudes towards women links back to the dominance of the Greek goddess Medusa. Medusa held the ability to turn males into stone when they looked directly at her or her serpents which replaced her hair (Bowers, 1990). This ability to physically and mentally disarm males shows ultimate power. All other female beings fail to have this omnipresent power. Medusa has this power and is instantly deemed a monster, this encapsulates the othering of the female being. Whilst Medusa was branded an evil creature lacking any form of remorse she was also depicted as a victim. Bowers (1990) explores the romantic periods depiction of Medusa, the depiction had altered to a person with victim status. They used this victim status as reasoning for the evil that she imposed upon those who looked at her. This victimisation “domesticates her and her terrible power dissipates” (Bowers,1990:224). Her agency has been removed in a comparable way to those women who commit murder and are depicted as mentally ill individuals. The depictions of males rarely use evil or victim as the narrative base. They are seen as powerful individuals who have a firm grasp over society and their own actions. The feminist bible critique focuses upon females within the Bible who carried out good acts and those who did evil were dismissed (Styler,2007). To highlight female power and dispel stereotypes it would have only been a hinderance to continue to include females who did not adhere to the innocent, motherly character. However, by females attempting to eradicate this entrenched view of women it does little to push for change. Lundgren (1998) explicitly define the Norwegian state church as a Christian denomination that legitimises violence toward women, women are depicted as descending from Satan. Thus, they must be controlled and subordination must occur as a power reduction technique.

As previously stated, those with power are the only ones that have the ability to free the oppressed female. However, these same people thrive on the power and money that they gain as a result of continued oppression. Creating a homogenous idea of the female declines women the power to fully explore who they are. Eaton (1986) explores the influence prescribed gender roles have upon sentencing criminal women. Married women have been seen to receive lesser sentences, this could have been due to the tradition of female control. It would have been seen as excessive to give custodial sentences because control of these women would already be happening in the home environment. Therefore, lengthy sentences may have seemed excessive and unnecessary.

Original teachings “seems to bless the harm and abuse with which women live and sometimes die” (Newson et al, 2012:3). Entrenched into a religion whose followers are vast these bias and horrific attitudes will continue to effect women long after this paper is written. Women “exists in the white man’s world of practical and scientific activity, but is excluded from full participation in it” (Thomas, 1907:457). The only change that can happen is from those men with power yet they continue to hold the power failing to free women from the wrath of patriarchal society. In the 1800’s women by law were the property of their husbands. Therefore, divorce and escape were inaccessible to many women. Those at the edges of society facing constant control had no means of escape without resorting to murder. Many women who were oppressed by the law took it onto their own hands and poisoned their husbands (Knelman,1998). These women much like the women of today who murder their intimate partners are then vilified by the media and sensationalised. Jewkes (2011) endeavours to explore how the media represents and distributes attitudes that other socio-political institutions hold. The media and the public are fascinated with violent female offenders because they are so rare, due to this they are seen as a novelty cases. People forget that these offenders are humans, they have lived a life before this event, the details of such events are unavailable to the public. Chesney-Lind & Pasko (2004) encapsulates the effect these events have, women who have had traumatic incidents in their lives carry the effects into adulthood. It creates vulnerable women who have the potential to be deficient an adaptability to survive when in oppressive environments.

Media outlets as well as prosecution lawyers use narratives to explain and contextualise the event. These narratives are repeatedly used, changing only slightly for each female case (Seal,2010). Each narrative that is used never portrays female crime as a rational response to social pressure in the same way that male crime is (Morrisey, 2003). This narration fails to ever depict the facts of the case. The lawyers adapt the case to fit the basic media narrations instead of forcing the media to adapt to the facts of the case. Media outlets are left unregulated to create a character who will gain the attention of its audience. The press has the ability to transform a complex case into an article accessible to all, alleviating any need for further reading or personal opinion (Naylor, 1995). As a result, societies opinion of the female killer is based solely upon what they have been exposed to via the media. This bias narrative primarily focuses upon the vilification of the female offender it removes the offender from society and labels them other “thereby avoiding the knowledge that she is produced by that society” (Morrissey, 2003). The fixation of othering the female killer aids in removing the idea that killers are normal people and can kill due to the abuse that they have previously faced and the fear of being killed themselves. 92% of the battered women that Walker et al (2009) interviewed believed that their batterer could or would kill them. Mann (1992) exposes a change in the media representation of the rationale behind the killings by females. Changing from self-defence to revenge motives after 1958. This drastic change impacts these female murders both those who have already killed and those that will kill in years to come. They now may re-evaluate the power they really have. However, the reality of the situation for these women is a sense of an absence of choice, leaving them with nothing but self-help in these abusive situations because the law offers little to no way of protecting them from the perpetrator (Peterson, 2004). These socially isolated women remain on the fringes of society, creating a barrier between themselves and support organisations.

Killer women such as Myra Hindley and Rose West dominated main stream media soon after they were exposed as killers, these killer women are still being written about and sensationalised by newspapers, films, television programmes and books. They are the examples used when describing killer women, imposing theoretical models based upon their crimes onto subsequent women who have killed. Myra Hindley is the embodiment of the attack upon the female stereotype, becoming a symbol for deviant women who commit the most horrendous crimes (Birch, 1993). Her mug shot was likened by many as similar to depictions of Medusa. Linking the female being to mythical monstrous creatures. She has her femininity removed in order to further remove her from society. These women are portrayed in the most horrific light to scare the masses (Hart, 1994). Alongside this, women who have murdered their same sex partners face even more damming media representation. Wanda Jean Allen who killed two female lovers was described as the man in the relationship due to the fact that at the time lesbian relationships were condemned. Therefore, the media felt the need to portray her as a masculine killer to align with the depiction of criminals being masculine (Seal, 2010). Depictions like this are seen as early as 1892 when Alice Mitchell killed her female lover, at the time the widespread fear of sexual deviance resulted in the media shifting the reasons behind the killing and placing emphasis on the many men she had been in correspondence with (Lindquist, 1995). It is a continual oppression of females through media which holt the ability for equality within society. False representations feed into stereotypical views and fuel hateful ideas surrounding these women.

The narrative of vilification is in some instances removed and switched to a narrative based upon the unsound mind of the female killer. The female law breaker is given an option to enter a contract that allows her life to be represented in terms of domestic, sexual and pathological dimensions to lessen her sentence (Worrall,1990). They chose this way out as they are given very few options, they are tricked into thinking that the classification of mad is much better than that of bad. However, once these women have pled a psychiatric defence it allows for a diagnosis or treatment being offered which is accepted by the courts and a psychiatric disposal is used and a prison sentence rejected (Allen, 1987). Psychological reports written for male and female offenders have different focuses. Males are given agency making a “rational decision or choice” (Walklate, 1995: 139) women on the other hand are stripped of their agency giving them the inability to have control. In many cases psychiatric disposals are much longer than a custodial sentence as well as acquiring a label which results in unwavering stigmatisation (Jewkes,2011). Agency being removed from these women dehumanises them and females in society as a whole.

The office for national statistics (2018) declared that two million adults aged 16-59 experienced domestic abuse in the past year. These startling figures only beginning to unravel the impact this form of abuse has upon society. Domestic abuse is defined by the CPS (2017:1) “as any incident of controlling, coercive or threatening behaviour, violence or abuse”. Violence towards women is a response which has been created from social agencies and beliefs regarding relationships (Dobash & Dobash, 1998a). The psychological abuse as a result of controlling behaviour results in a loss of selfesteem and a slow acceptance of the violent behaviour as punishment for something these women have done wrong (Gillespie, 1989). To contextualise this form of abuse the everyday lives of these women must be explored. Placing focus upon the ordinary and not the extra ordinary (Dobash & Dobash, 1998b). For these women their normality is continual abuse continual restrictions placed upon them by their own partner, a partner who is supposed to love them. These women are not only killers they are victims within their own right. They become to know no other way of life. They begin to lose hope of ever regaining control, until they carry out the act of killing their abuser. Ewing (1990) believes that battered women who kill seem to have endured the most horrific acts for lengthy periods of time, many are the most isolated within society. The act of killing is one that should never be diminished, however the context in which the murder of the abuser took place must be explored and its impact fully understood.

Oppressive and violent relationships are rife throughout society, each woman adopting individual techniques to cope. For some these techniques never had the potential to protect them and eventually result to executing their abuser in order to free themselves. How each woman interprets the situation and the experiences of humiliation and degrading behaviour from their partner (Motz, 2001) impacts their decisions and behaviour. When the context of the relationship is scrutinised with abuse being present it automatically results in the labelling of these women as battered women, this places stereotypical ideals onto these women. They are seen as small, passive with little to no job skills. This is simply not a true reflection of women who are battered (Walker, 1979). These women are found in all age groups, spanning every race, education level and socioeconomic group (Walker, 1979). Whilst a label its self is instrumental as it signifies that society recognises the trauma that these women have been through. It also reaffirms that the abuse they face is real and that there is a large community of women who have also experienced similar abuse. Battered woman’s syndrome attempts to explain simultaneously why women stay in these relationships but also why they killed their abuser. However, it continues the portrayal of women as victims (Cruze et al, 2006). After such extensive abuse and dehumanisation these women are in dire need of a sense of belonging and empowerment and this label fails to give them that. Killing for these women is seen as escape, finally a chance to regain control as they had previously been reduced to doubting all roles they had and were told they were inadequate (Walker, 1979).

The effects this abuse has on these women underpins the rest of their lives even in the event that they have the ability and internal strength to escape their abuser. This is also under the assumption that they are not brutally killed by their abusers. For men and women who have not been controlled by another human its exceptionally difficult to fully understand just how all-encompassing dictatorial relationships are. The psychological torture of impending violence controls even the most mundane tasks. Things such as burning dinner and wearing an inappropriate outfit can spark many serious incidents of abuse (Gillespie, 1989). The crime statistics of England and Wales (2018) states that there had been an increase of 111,500 offences of domestic abuse from the year ending march 2017. These statistics draw attention to the rising abuse rates, this is not a phenomenon that is declining with the rise of female empowerment. Cazenave (1992) defends this stance with the belief that wife beating will continue to happen for as long as there is an unequal power relationship between men and women. The dark figure of crime is vast in this area due to women’s reluctance to disclose their abuse to anybody including law enforcement due to fear of not being believed (Davidge & Magnusson, 2018). As previously stated, the female who endures these relationships are constantly questioned as to why they stayed and this becomes the focal point of all forms of help.

The outcomes for women in abusive relationships are 4-fold. The first is they remove themselves from the abusive relationship with no use from services simply walking away from a relationship they are unhappy in. Secondly, they stay and continue to face abuse, thirdly, they seek help and fourthly they resort to murder. For many of these women seeking help produces its own barriers due to the amount of spaces in refuges being reduced and community support still in its infancy, with 60% of referral’s being declined due to a short fall in resources (Davidge & Magnusson, 2018). This inability to access services to aid separation from the abusive relationship reduces the choices that these women have. It also perpetuates the reoccurring belief of entrapment. In reality some women who are in abusive relationships have the power and courage to walk away. Others feel they lack this power and autonomy, so they stay. Form this subset of women a few women turn to murder when the abuse becomes too much to handle. This cannot be defined in reality as a choice but taking the action of killing as a necessity to survive (Ewing, 1990). It is an action that these women take to ensure their basic survival. At this point many have lost sense of normality but they kill in despair and hope that they can return to a life they once had.

Learnt helplessness explores the females who stay and succumb to this violence. The theory states that actions are based upon previous responses, if the response to the action/behaviour is interpreted as successful then this behaviour is continued (Walker, 1979). However, if this behaviour yields a response which is unexpected it is assumed that there is an inability to control the responses to specific behaviour. Abuse victims hold the belief that “they cannot do anything to help themselves” (Walker, 1979:49). When controlled behaviour does not result in a positive reaction then a perception of uncontrollability is formed. The unpredictability of response leads to helpless behaviour and a lack of determination to partake in specific behaviour in order to escape the relationship. Walker (2009) shows that whilst this theory can be used to help prevent and intervene in abusive relationships it fails to explain why some women are able to escape and others are not.

Many women within these situations have become very successful in ensuring the survival of themselves and minimising the damage the batterer inflicts (Walker, 2017). The cycle of violence is a tool that can be used to explain the different stages of violence with in abusive relationships. The three phases are tension-building with minor physical and verbal abuse, explosion or acute battering and calm respite where the batterer becomes remorseful (Ewing, 1990). Walker (1979) emphasises the continual loop of behaviour, once the first phase of abuse has passed there is an “uncontrollable discharge of the tensions that have built up during phase one” (Walker, 1979:59). This second phase is the most dangerous and it is at this point that significant changes occur within the relationship.

This second phase is where the female is most vulnerable, her perception of the situation is crucial. During these periods it is reflected on by Mann (1992) that these arguments and fights are the primary environment in which killings by females occur. When in the middle of these battering attacks the mental state becomes one of be killed or kill. Once a woman has killed for freedom the control only shifts from husband to judiciary, they never escape control or oppression.

After enduring unfathomable abuse these women kill. With guns and knives being the main two weapons of choice (Mann, 1992) knives being household objects which inconsequently have connotations with the stereotypical female role. The origin of these objects being easily at hand evokes images of defensive acts of violence. When these trials finally go to court defence solicitors use either diminished responsibility or self-defence as their main defence strategy. Diminished responsibility pertains to the mental state of the defendant at the time of the offence, they place blame upon the unsound mind of the female killer, placing the burden upon them to prove they were in an abnormal state when committing murder (Morrissey, 2003). This again is a removal of agency for these women, focusing upon the perceived lack of mental capability of women. Reaffirming the belief that women are unaware and unable to control their own actions. Alongside diminished responsibility self-defence is the second defence strategy employed for killer women. Wolfgang’s findings during his field work showed that 50.6% of women in 1958 gave self defence as their motive of killing (quoted in Mann, 1992). However, the concept of self defence has been developed through cases that have had male defendants. They set clear precedents but also give a clear map of which circumstances produce each outcome (McColgan, 1993). The repercussions of this are that many women struggle to meet the requirements to have the ability to plea self-defence, for reasons relating to proximity of danger, equal force and time delay of attack (Schneider, 2000). Self-defence is only acceptable when the person using the force in this case the female was in imminent danger that could resort in their death (Ewing, 1990). For these women during abusive attacks they act in pure defence, withdrawing into themselves and disassociating from the attack. Therefore, it is not until after the attack has happened and the woman has time to reflect that they then choose to kill. During trials facts are presented in a specific manner to ensure a precise reaction from the panel of jurors. During many of these trials a women’s battering experience is underexplained, with no link being made between her action of killing and the long term abuse she endured (Nicolson, 1995). Due to this lack of association being made it is left to the judge or jury to interpret the case. McColgan (1993) details the consequence of this, jury members will form an idealised framework in regards to what is and is not deemed reasonable. As the number of female killers is limited the framework, they create is heavily bias. With the jury’s inability to know the exact relationship the couple had before the killing they are unable to make an objective decision with regards to the plea of self-defence. With prosecution lawyers continued focus upon stereotypical and appropriate female behaviour. It is left to the defence lawyers to utilise expert testimony to unravel the relationship the two parties had and also to explain that the defendant’s behaviour is reasonable within this situation (Gillespie, 1989). The resistance from the jury can occur, with the inevitability of widespread media reporting on these cases due to their uniqueness. The impacts of the media pathologizing the female killer as well as this reflection in court cements the concept of evil within the jury’s mind (Cruze et al, 2006). Jury’s should base their decision upon the evidence produced throughout the trial and limit personal opinion. However instinctual responses and the labelling of the female killer impede on the interpretation of the trial as a whole.

This chapter details the lives of many of these killer women, their domestic sphere is extensively controlled and their lives are “much like a prisoner of war who everyday faces the same sadistic enemy” (Cottle, 1994:4). It is imperative that when evaluating and prosecuting those women who do take extreme action instead of seeking professional help that there physical and emotional state be taken into account. The criminal justice system should also take a proactive stance towards reducing stigma and stereotypical views when these trials take place. This chapter also indicates that domestic violence is one component that influences killer women’s actions. Once these women reach their physical and emotional limit, they feel compelled to act. It happens that this action is not always the correct response but to some it’s the only one available.

When looking at female killers it is too simplistic to assume that even though they predominantly kill husbands and lovers that these are their only victims. Victims such as children are prevalent when investigating female killers. When females commit the act of murder people become obsessed with the child baring capacity they have (Cruze et al, 2006). The media grabs these killings and viscously prints articles surrounding these devastating killings. When women kill their own children the general public immediately want answers as to why they could have taken the life of not only a child but their own chid. In child murders a correlation between abuse by the victim towards the offender fails to exist. These children are often young and still reliant on their mother to care for them. It must be acknowledged that abuse from the children’s father or current partner has the potential to be present. Due to the child baring capacity it creates a much bigger focus surrounding the women’s mental state at the time of the event as there is an increasing inability to understand why a woman would carry out an act of murder towards a child.

The women whose victims are children accountable for an even smaller percentage of killers. Subject to similar but much more sever stigmatisation and degradation as other killer women. However, its basis is transfixed on their ability to create life, juxtaposed against the horrific details of the murders. The depiction of child killing women is based upon a fall from grace “The fallen woman has not descended. She has ascended to the place that was already marked out for her by the patriarchal unconscious” (Hart, 1994:43). Reflecting the biblical teachings surrounding the evil female being as a descendant from Eve. It creates a reality in which the males within society expected these acts to happen and they continue to wait for women to fall. Reiterating that the female no matter if she conforms to the system or rejects it in any way, she will always be the lesser sex and have no ability to change that. Succumbing to the patriarchy with every action. During the 19 th century babies and children were the most common murder victim of women, killing children from previous marriages due to fear that their new husband would not want to take on the apparent burden of children (Knelman, 1998).

Since the 19 th century the popularised depiction of murder focuses upon male killers. Due to this shift in rhetoric infanticide has become an obscure crime. Both altruistic filicide and maternal filicide suicides take the life of a child. Altruistic filicide is the killing of a child due to the parent believing that it’s in the best interest of the child for them to no longer live a life on earth. Many of these killings have links with child-centred obsessional depression (Wilczynski, 1997). The obsession with the child becomes all-encompassing and there becomes a real belief that the child would be in a better safer environment in the afterlife. Maternal filicide-suicides occur when the mother has suicidal tendencies but believes that nobody else will be able to give the care that her children needs and as a result, she kills her children as well as herself (Alder & Polk, 2001). This specific form of murder has been portrayed as the mother punishing the father of the children. This removes sympathy and a focus on the potential decline in mental health of these women and finding the cause of this. The focus is set on the father figure who has lost his family. Whilst this is devastating for that father it should not overshadow investigation into why this act was committed to begin with.

These types of killings create particular portrayals of these women as mentally ill it is “assumed in our society that one of the closes social bonds that can be forged is between the natural mother and her child” (Adler & Polk, 2001:46). When this bond has been purposefully broken, many onlookers have an inability to process and comprehend the actions of these women. Therefore, they have a stringer reliance on the media to unravel the murder. The media uses this reliance and creates a picture that not only is untrue but is sensationalised purely for their own benefit. The psychiatric vulnerability of these women is inflated, medicalising behaviour has far reaching impacts. By using pre-menstrual syndrome, it denies rationality and agency of the offender. It also reaffirms the stereotypical positive view in regards to motherhood (Wilczynski, 1997).

As this chapter indicates female killers are not limited to male victims, they unfortunately kill one of the most vulnerable groups in society. This is not only concerning but also plays into the rhetoric that the patriarchal system enforces upon society. Women who kill children are seen as unnatural, in order to regain her womanhood, she must be remorseful towards her actions (Hart, 1994). If she does not express this during trial or thereafter, she is condemned to the outskirts of society. Her name forever connected to the depiction of evil.

The aim of this research was to uncover the attitudes towards killer women and to explore the reasons behind why these women kill intimate family members. This dissertation exposed the entrenched familial values placed upon women, these values are upheld by the state and impact the treatment and feelings towards killer women. The ever-present vilification and mystification of these women continues to remove their agency and subject them to a continual cycle of submission. Discussion has been focused upon the victims of these killer women as well as the environments in which they kill.

Much of the previous research has placed its focus upon attitudes towards women in general with its aim to “reclaim women as important figures” (Styler, 2007:66) fighting for equality throughout society. This body of work takes the concept of inequality towards women and encompasses killer women into theoretical understanding. It also identifies and explores the pressures these women face that are ultimately the catalyst for their killer behaviour. Feminists whilst divided in regards to how to achieve the goal of equality, are able to unite to form advancements towards a progressive society. Whilst Feminism, within the criminological field is present many critiques such as Smart’s (1976) focus upon the lack of female specific research and the failing to create new theory based upon female experiences. The field continues to try and manipulate female offenders to fit accepted theoretical understanding of specific phenomena instead of accepting them as a unique subset of offenders and examining them in isolation as well as the impacts society has upon them.

The first finding is that societies attitudes towards women has failed to significantly change since the first bible teachings in which Eve eats the forbidden fruit after falling victim to the snake. Males within society inferred from this story that women have the capability to act with villainous intention. These males who fear the potential power killer women possess and how this power could in fact have the ability to attack the patriarchy, resulted in powerful male figures taking hold of society and fought to “design it’s norms and institutions, which become status quo” (Mackinnon, 1989:238) in order to maintain control lessening the ability for women’s empowerment. Even when women attempt to rewrite the origin of these derogatory teachings in the 19 th century with feminist reinterpretation, its simply seen as an alteration that society can accept or reject (Styler, 2007). The patriarchy still has a strong hold throughout society and its poison has spread to the far corners of the judiciary system. In a society that currently has its strongest female empowerment movement ever to be seen the startling reality still stands of oppression and abuse. Mackinnon (1989) argues that women have never known what sex equality looks like because they have never been allowed to live in a society in which it is present. The fight for this elusive equality will continue until there is an acceptance of the female being one which has power and autonomy.

The second finding surrounds the depiction of these women, killer women are not only unrepresented in criminological research but when they receive any form of representation, vast amounts of misrepresentation occur. These representations of killer women are transfixed upon fascination, disgust and repulsion. The actual women who kill are lost and erased from society (Frigon, 2006). It allows for society to create a barrier between the law-abiding citizen and the offender. A lack of compassion and understanding for these women enforces the belief that they are unwanted by society and that under no circumstances can empathy be shown towards these women. The media helps to create this consensus view and it therefore sets the parameter’s for deviance (Naylor, 1995). After the othering of these women during trials they are plagued by stereotypical rhetoric which eliminates any opportunity for their specific circumstances to be taken into account.

Finally, these killer women kill intimate partners and, in some instances, they kill children. There is the potential for these killer women to have been in some of the most controlling and abusive relationships that society has ever seen. However, they still face a barrage of questioning and a lack of belief from society, there is an “extraordinary degree of public misunderstanding exists concerning battered women who kill their assailants” (Schneider, 200: 112). The public succumbs to the narrative created by media outlets and fails to look into the reality of these women’s lives. This and the lack of emphasis on theories such as learned helplessness and battered women’s syndrome results in a lack of understanding of these women’s daily lives.

This piece of investigation has utilised current research into prejudice against women, starting from the earliest of teaching and placing the impacts of the prejudice they create toward women on those women in society who chose to kill. These killer women have been looked at in isolation but the ramifications of such early teachings and the patriarchy needs to be placed into the field of killer women. In order to gain a full understanding of the society in which she kills. Time spent on underrepresented criminal populations is essential in order to understand why and how we can stop these specific crimes from occurring.

In critique of this dissertation it fails to directly correspond with the women who this dissertation focuses upon. It is very unfortunate that the women who this dissertation seeks to empower and demystify cannot be directly contacted and used within this research. As outlined ethical restrictions impose boundaries on researchers to protect these vulnerable women. The protection of these vulnerable women is paramount. In order to fully understand the impacts typical feminine characterisations, have upon these women as well as the reasons behind the killings these women have to be contacted. In order to eliminate misunderstanding, killer women have to input into research. They themselves can work with researchers to change the way the criminological field theorises about them. It has to be questioned if women have the ability to talk on behalf of other women or just for themselves (Naffine, 1997). To assess this direct contact needs to be made with killer women. To identify if the current feminist research is accurately representing this group of women.

In short, this research has unravelled attitudes towards the female population as a whole but has also explored the way in which the media, general public and law treat killer women. It has opened up the possibility of finding the origin of the gender roles and how these continue to be interpreted throughout present day society. Stereotypes continue to oppress and deny women agency and power. Thus, impeding the amount of positive change that can happen. The feminist movement still faces deeply entrenched unequal views towards women, for change to happen all women from all walks of life need to unite and face this oppression head on. Those at the fringes of society that face domestic abuse or instability in life need to be recognised, their voices should be listened to in order to protect themselves and other women like them. In order to continue this research and help those women trapped in violent relationships it is imperative that theories such as learnt helplessness and the cycle of abuse be evaluated and expanded upon. Killer women hold invaluable information which could hold the ability to help hundreds of women to escape abusive relationships without having to resort to killing their intimate partners. Not only this but their true story needs to be told to eliminate the false rhetoric that has been created by media outlets, seeking to enlighten the general public that these are women and not evil creatures.

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Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer Free Essay Example

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A Criminological Analysis of Notorious Serial Killers in the United States
According to the H.H. Holmes Biography (2014), Holmes was a con artist and criminal. who is known today as one of the United States' first serial killers. Though the number is. uncertain, it is believed that Holmes killed anywhere between 20 and 200 people until he.
The Developmental Psychology of A Serial Killer: a Case Study a Thesis
determine the cooling off period between different serial killers (Keatley, Golightly, Shephard, Yaksic, & Reid, 2018). Recently, mapping out the geographical location of where murders occur has been the method used to track a serial killer. A common area of research has been how to detect when there is an active serial killer and how to apprehend
Factors That Influence Violence and Homicidal Ideation Among Serial
This research is primarily based on the social learning theory and supported by. the ecological systems theory to conduct a comparative analysis of selected serial killers. Many factors contribute to a serial killer's violent behavior, including physical trauma, deprivation, abuse, neglect, and socioeconomic status.
100+ Criminology Dissertation Ideas You Can Use
Best Topic Ideas from Criminology Dissertation. We have set out to create a list of criminology dissertation ideas that are both practical and diverse. This means you will be able to find a topic for yourself, regardless of what sort of crime you are exploring. Also, you will find ideas for subject matter which has already occurred in real life.
PDF An Exploration of the Police's Investigative Practices in Serial Killer
Serial Killers are a wide phenomenon (Larkin et al, 2020), striking interest in people all over the world, although these killers should not be romanticised (University Wire, 2020), as the crimes they commit are truly monstrous. The importance of this research project is to give an overview of the
Dissertation
SERIAL KILLERS: TYPOLOGIES, EXPLANATIONS AND THEORIES. DO THESE EXPLAIN THE MURDERS? Student Name: Maddianne Dawson Student ID: Module title: Criminology Project Module code: SC6P00 Research project word count: 10,536 Supervisor name: Devinder Curry Acknowledgements I would like to thank my parents for pushing me to be the best that I can be and supporting me throughout my studies at London ...
Serial killers in popular media: A content analysis of sensationalism
Online Theses and Dissertations Student Scholarship January 2019 Serial killers in popular media: A content analysis of sensationalism and support for capital punishment April Nicole Pace Eastern Kentucky University Follow this and additional works at: https://encompass.eku.edu/etd Part of the Criminology and Criminal Justice Commons
"A Criminological Analysis of Notorious Serial Killers in the United St
Serial killing is a phenomenon that both fascinates and scares people. The United States has experienced several notorious serial killers that remain well-known, even years after their crimes. Serial killers are known for having many similar, but also many different traits. Ted Bundy, Dennis Rader, and Aileen Wuornos are some of America's deadliest serial killers, but each has backgrounds and ...
Crime and Deviance: Sociological Theories of Serial ...
Request PDF | Crime and Deviance: Sociological Theories of Serial Murderers (The Highest Honors Thesis Award) | Serial murderers are unique compared to other criminals, including both their ...
Serial Killing and Representation
Summary. Serial killing is an age-old problem, though it was not popularly known by that name until the 1980s. It took the rise of mass media and the mechanisms of mass production to create the conditions for the rise of serial murder in the modern world. The mass media representation of a series of murders arguably dates back to the notoriety ...
List of Criminology Dissertation Ideas For 2022
Choosing your dissertation topic on justice is not an easy task, which is why consider checking criminal justice dissertation ideas: Prevention of crimes with the help of education and volunteering work. The management of prison overcrowding. Gang activity control and reporting systems: evidence vs official reports.
The social study of serial killers
Kevin Haggerty and Ariane Ellerbrok examine the cultural and historical context of serial killing. The study of serial killers has been dominated by an individualised focus on studying the biography of offenders and the causes of their behaviour. Popular representations of Jeffrey Dahmer, Harold Shipman, John Wayne Gacy and other notorious ...
Examining Psychosocial Characteristics of Female Serial Murderers
2018)—but the general public's fascination with serial killers has not declined in the same rates actual serial killers have. Movies, novels, and true crime series have propelled serial murderers into the spotlight. Ed Gein, with his skin suit and furniture made from human breasts, was the inspiration for classic movies like . Psycho (1960),
167 Stunning Criminology Dissertation Ideas for You
Forensic Psychology Dissertation Ideas. A comprehensive analysis of competence to stand trial concept and its application in the UK. The age of criminal culpability: A review of the effectiveness of this idea in criminal justice. The ethics of death penalty: A review of the literature. Studying the mind of a criminal on death row: What goes in ...
Criminological Theory Serial Killer Profiling
This dissertation examines the role of criminological theory and criminal profiling in explaining and catching serial killers. It starts with defining and conceptualising serial killing and providing information about the commonalities between serial killers. Criminal profiling attempts to bring these commonalities together in order to create a ...
List Of Great Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Serial Killers
The Best Criminology Dissertation Ideas On Serial Killers. There are many interesting topics in the field of criminology, but there are few subjects that remain as popular as the phenomenon of the serial killer. When it comes to writing a dissertation, students can make their work a little more interesting by writing about a serial killer or ...
PDF Serial Murder: An Exploration and Evaluation of Theories and Perspectives
The attachment theory then looks at our early life experiences, focusing upon the bond between mother and child. It argues that a break in this bond will ultimately direct the child to a life of crime and delinquency (Myers et al., 2008). The theory is epitomised by serial murderer Aileen Wuornos.
Dissertations / Theses: 'Serial killers'
Video (online) Consult the top 50 dissertations / theses for your research on the topic 'Serial killers.'. Next to every source in the list of references, there is an 'Add to bibliography' button. Press on it, and we will generate automatically the bibliographic reference to the chosen work in the citation style you need: APA, MLA, Harvard ...
PDF THE REPRESENTATIONS OF SERIAL KILLERS
term 'serial killer' instead, in part to reflect its popular cultural resonance. I have also used 'serial killer' to emphasise that the term itself leaves out the connotations of the word 'murder,' and in so doing also somewhat obscures the actual processes of the human act of murder: the planning; the suffering; the repercussions.
Criminology Dissertation Ideas Serial Killers
Criminology Dissertation Ideas Serial Killers - Free download as PDF File (.pdf), Text File (.txt) or read online for free. criminology dissertation ideas serial killers
213 Inspiring Criminology Dissertation Ideas In 2023
Criminology And Psychology Dissertation Ideas. How attitudes and emotions compel people to criminal behaviour. Impact of domestic violence on a child's aggressive behaviour. A psychological examination of people who start trouble every time. How race is a critical factor in the police's judgment of criminal activity.
108 Questions about Serial Killers and Essay Topics
Ted Bundy was one of the most famous serial killers of the 20th century. These are the types of serial killers that will target gays, minorities, and prostitutes. Serial Killer Psychology: Eileen Wuornos. Eileen was a woman without remorse as she was not bothered by the death of her victims.
Female Killers
This dissertation seeks to unravel the unfathomable nature of female killers and bring them to the forefront of criminological research to allow the process of understanding and demystification to happen. In order to fully understand this group of offenders, research has to begin at the creation of femininity, family and stereotypes.