Book contents
- Just as Deadly
- Advance Praise
- Just as Deadly
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Epigraph
- Chapter 1 Introduction: What Is a Serial Killer?
- Chapter 2 Why Are We Interested in Serial Killers?
- Chapter 3 The Lives of Female Serial Killers
- Chapter 4 Mental Health and Substance Use Among FSKs
- Chapter 5 FSK Crimes and Outcomes
- Chapter 6 FSK Motives and Profile
- Chapter 7 Comparing FSKs and MSKs: Backgrounds and Mental Illness
- Chapter 8 Comparing FSKs and MSKs: Crimes and Victims
- Chapter 9 The Behavioral Neuroscience of Serial Murder
- Chapter 10 Psychosocial Factors that Make a Serial Murderer
- Chapter 11 Evolutionary and Converging Perspectives of Serial Murder
- Chapter 12 Our Understanding of Serial Killers Evolves
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- References
- Index
Chapter 2 - Why Are We Interested in Serial Killers?
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 January 2023
- Just as Deadly
- Advance Praise
- Just as Deadly
- Copyright page
- Dedication
- Contents
- Preface
- Epigraph
- Chapter 1 Introduction: What Is a Serial Killer?
- Chapter 2 Why Are We Interested in Serial Killers?
- Chapter 3 The Lives of Female Serial Killers
- Chapter 4 Mental Health and Substance Use Among FSKs
- Chapter 5 FSK Crimes and Outcomes
- Chapter 6 FSK Motives and Profile
- Chapter 7 Comparing FSKs and MSKs: Backgrounds and Mental Illness
- Chapter 8 Comparing FSKs and MSKs: Crimes and Victims
- Chapter 9 The Behavioral Neuroscience of Serial Murder
- Chapter 10 Psychosocial Factors that Make a Serial Murderer
- Chapter 11 Evolutionary and Converging Perspectives of Serial Murder
- Chapter 12 Our Understanding of Serial Killers Evolves
- Acknowledgments
- Notes
- References
- Index
Summary
In this chapter, the author discusses interest in serial murder. She posits that interest in gruesome events such as serial killing is linked to morbid curiosity and protective vigilance and discusses her team’s research on this phenomenon. From an evolutionary psychology perspective, to survive, we are genetically preprogrammed to pay attention to that which is harmful. She discusses the lucrative murderabilia industry (i.e., murder-related artifacts for sale) and the popularity of morbid entertainment. This chapter addresses the commodification of serial murder and presents a debate about its sensitivity to the plight of victims. The cases of FSKs Dana Sue Grey and Belle Gunness are highlighted to underscore our profound interest in this disturbing phenomenon.
Keywords
- Type
- Chapter
- Information
- Just as DeadlyThe Psychology of Female Serial Killers, pp. 17 - 31Publisher: Cambridge University PressPrint publication year: 2023