Serial Killers: Science of the Lambs

Function vs Fantasy

Serial killers often exhibit behaviors that blur the lines between functional actions and fantasy-driven motives. Ass. Prof. Wayne Petherick explains that while Hollywood often portrays these killers as executing elaborate fantasies, the reality can be more mundane. Many actions, like dismembering a body, might be practical rather than fantastical, serving to cover tracks rather than fulfill a fantasy 1.

Always consider function before you think about whether or not it has a fantasy element to it.

--- Wayne Petherick

However, studies show that some behaviors are purely fantasy-driven, such as carving patterns into victims or posing them in strange ways, highlighting the complex motivations behind these acts 2.

   

Motivations

The motivations behind serial killings are varied and often deeply disturbing. Eric Hickey notes that while many serial killers lack insight into their own motives, sexual gratification is a common theme. Some, like Larry Wayne Hall, engage in necrophilia, while others kill for financial gain or political reasons 3.

A lot of serial killing seems to be sexually motivated.

--- Wendy Zukerman

Ultimately, surveys reveal that the primary motivation is often the enjoyment derived from the act itself, whether sexual or otherwise, as exemplified by the Zodiac Killer's chilling admission of finding pleasure in killing 4.