Why are there more male serial killers than female?

Question

I know that there are many female serial killers, but why is it that the majority are male, and white and between 24 and 36 for that matter?
Is there a certian psychology behind this?

Answer 1

Yes there is.

First off, the way the male brain interperents stimuli is much different than the way the female brain interperets stimuli. When males are in the fetal stage they recieve a much higher dose of testosterone than females. Testosterone is a male hormone that increases agressive behavior and stimulates the development of the male sex organs. Females have testosterone but not nearly as much. In fact, most violent criminals tend to be young males with a higher than average amount of testosterone and a lower than average level of seratonin (which stimulates calmness, most anti-depressants stimulate production of seratonin in the brain).

Also, evolution contributes to man's agressive tendencies. In the most primitive part of a male's brain (in both humans and animals) the amygdala and the frontal cortex work to regulate agression and sexual impulses. Sex has been connected to agression, violence, and murder in many ways and has been proven to be a viable correlation in many experiments. As we all know, males are more interested in sex than women, especially adolescent males (due to their evolutionary predisposition to "spread their seed"). In fact, Canadian and U.S. sex offenders (including rapists, and serial killers) report a greater appetite for sexually explicit and violent material, when interviewed.

Another exlpanation may be in how the brain functions when damaged. The frontal lobes of the brain are the most important part when it comes to deciding what you should do based on your morals and culture in whatever situation you may find yourself in. When the frontal lobe is damaged, it takes away your inhibitions and allows you to react impulsivley to whatever situation you are in. Males are typically more likely to take risks which leaves them at greater risk for brain damage.

I got most of this information out of my psychology text book. I hope this helped answer your question!

Answer 2

The term "Serial Killer" is actually quite vague, just because two people murder on a regular basis doesn't mean they have anything else in common, especially background and motivation. Aileen Wournos killed and robbed her victims, making her essentially an unusually violent mugger as opposed to someone like John Gacy whose murders were sexually motivated. Elizabeth Bathory and Vlad Tepes killed hundreds, as did many other rulers throughout history, but while undoubtedly deranged they do not fit the same psychopathology as would the first two I mentioned. One of the answers mentioned Lizzy Borden, who was not only acquitted at trial but, even if she was guilty, killed only two people in one incident, hardly a serial action, so we have no consensus on what a serial killer is even among this small sampling. That being the case there is no way to draw general conclusions about such a diverse group of people. As to the question of something being possible, in an infinite universe anything is possible. It's possible that there has never been a serial killer at all and that all the people mentioned were magically framed by two headed wizards from Venus on flying carpets, but barring evidence to that effect it's hardly likely. Until a definition is established that makes "Serial Killer" a diagnosis and allows us distinguish them from murderers of other kinds there is no way your question can be answered.

Answer 3

Males have on average more aggression than females Could be related to the testosterone levels. Also they're, in general, less adept at communicating, forming lasting friendships and developing an ongoing support system than females. So they often lack the counterbalance to help steer them from violence and antisocial behaviors. I would guess it takes time to get the gumption to kill a human being so the serial killers must spend years practicing on insects and small animals. It must take some strength and endurance to be a successful serial killer so after age 36 as their physical powers begin to dwindle they are likely to be less active. As to why mainly white, my guess is that white males are the ones who feel most disfranchised in our new multicultural society, particular the psychopaths. They also have less viable, more fragile support systems than do males of other races.

Answer 4

Young males tend to have the most aggressive tendencies, they feel a need to prove themselves in a physical way. As the testronone subsides so do these tendencies, this does not always eliminate the problem because other things come into play. A police officer will tell you though, when making an arrest they prefer the young male over the female.

Answer 5

I believe there may be more female serial murders than we know of. But there are few profiles of female serial killers. I think the methods women choose fro muder i.e. poison also affect them ever being caught, and stereotypes of women prevent women from even being suspects.

Answer 6

I suspect something in the male DNA ( that Y chromosome) or biochemistry (testosterone) leaves them unable to respect life. I mean who else but a man would kill Amish kids because HE was a child molester ? Some of their brains lack sequential logic.

Answer 7

it's actually true of through almost all cultures i think. so it must be an evolutionary thing, us guys with our testosterone & wanting to express our dominance & women prefering not to be in the limelight ...

it must also have something to do with the state of the men's frontal lobes at that age (they're that section just above the front part of the forehead that controls our wilder fancies)

Answer 8

Men have short attention spans. Don't get what I want, KILL THEM!
Women nag until they get what they want. They are more patient. If all else fails they either throw up their hands ('cause its not worth the effort), or if they can't live without the person, THEN they kill them.
Try this. Caveman not get what he wants, he clubs them to death and takes it. Cavewoman wait until caveman dies of his own stupidity and then gets everything he had!!!!!LOL
The above is only an opinion. Seriously here is a site that might help http://alyxstarr.freeservers.com/serial.html

Answer 9

Im sure there is a psychological thing behind it. I just dont know exactly why either. Thats a good question actually.

But i think women are more careful, responsible..more of a "motherly" figure.

Answer 10

Males tend to be more aggressive than females. Males express themselves externally, females tend to internalize their feelings and problems.