The Will to Kill: Explaning Senseless Murder

by Fox, James Alan

• ISBN13: 9780321412867
• ISBN10: 0321412869
• Format: Paperback
• Copyright: 2006-04-01
• Publisher: Longman Pub Group

Summary

"The Will to Kill is unique in that it covers the topic from a perspective that is interesting to the casual true crime fan and yet is an invaluable resource to the serious professional who delves into the grisly world of murder."-Col. Robert K. Ressler, professional criminologist Through newscasts, current events, film and television, we are drawn irresistibly to the drama, mystery and intrigue of homicides, both real and invented. But why do people commit murder? And how is murder turned into a drama played out on the national stage? The authors of The Will to Kill answer these questions by describing the motivations at the center of a killer's mentality. Topics covered include: School shootings Intimate murders Serial killers Medical murder Rampage Hate crimes Workplace murder Terrorism Cult killings The justice system

Table of Contents

PREFACE	ix
ABOUT THE AUTHORS	xi
CHAPTER 1 The Lure and the Law of Homicide	1	(18)
Fascination with Murder	1	(3)
Homicide Law	4	(1)
Murder	5	(2)
Manslaughter	7	(4)
Defenses to Criminal Homicide	11	(5)
Homicide Law in Practice	16	(2)
ENDNOTES	18	(1)
CHAPTER 2 Explaining Murder	19	(26)
Murder as a Constant in Human Nature	19	(3)
Individual Biological Differences	22	(6)
Self-Control, Social Control, and Murder	28	(2)
Strain, Frustration, and Murder	30	(5)
Learning to Kill	35	(3)
A Note of Caution	38	(3)
ENDNOTES	41	(4)
CHAPTER 3 The Killers and Their Victims	45	(26)
Race Differences	50	(4)
Gender Differences	54	(5)
Age Differences	59	(4)
Differences by Location	63	(7)
ENDNOTES	70	(1)
CHAPTER 4 Intimate and Family Murder	71	(22)
Killing for Profit	71	(3)
Obsession and Jealousy	74	(2)
Power, Control, and Abuse	76	(7)
Family Annihilation	83	(2)
Infanticide	85	(4)
Killing for Love?	89	(2)
ENDNOTES	91	(2)
CHAPTER 5 The Coming and Going of the Young Superpredators	93	(24)
An Epidemic of Youth Homicide	93	(8)
Explaining the 1990's Decline	101	(6)
Selling Evil	107	(7)
Looking Ahead	114	(1)
ENDNOTES	115	(2)
CHAPTER 6 Well-Schooled in Murder	117	(18)
Blaming Parents	118	(1)
Copycat Shootings	119	(3)
Explaining School Massacres	122	(3)
Responses to School Shootings	125	(6)
Healthy and Safe Schools	131	(2)
ENDNOTES	133	(2)
CHAPTER 7 Serial Killers	135	(26)
A Profile of Serial Killers	138	(9)
The Murdering Mind	147	(4)
Angels of Death	151	(2)
Childhood Origins	153	(4)
Victim Selection	157	(2)
ENDNOTES	159	(2)
CHAPTER 8 Rampage	161	(18)
Methodical and Selective	161	(4)
Losses and Frustrations	165	(4)
Profile of the Workplace Avenger	169	(6)
Murderous Customers and Clients	175	(2)
ENDNOTES	177	(2)
CHAPTER 9 Hate Homicides	179	(16)
Characteristics of Hate Murders	180	(4)
Types of Hate Homicide	184	(4)
Organized Hate Groups	188	(3)
Current State of Hate Crime Laws	191	(2)
ENDNOTES	193	(2)
CHAPTER 10 Murderous Terror	195	(16)
Hate Homicide and Domestic Terrorism	195	(2)
International Terrorism	197	(1)
Homegrown Terrorism	198	(3)
Left-Wing versus Right-Wing Terrorists	201	(5)
The Impact of Murderous Terror	206	(2)
ENDNOTES	208	(3)
CHAPTER 11 Cult Killings	211	(18)
Dangerous Cults	212	(2)
The Appeal of Cults	214	(2)
Charismatic Leaders and Their Followers	216	(2)
Needs Filled by Cults	218	(4)
Normal People in Abnormal Situations	222	(2)
Suicide or Homicide?	224	(3)
ENDNOTES	227	(2)
CHAPTER 12 Catching Killers	229	(28)
Science of the Lambs	229	(6)
Clearance Rates	235	(6)
VICAP and Profiling	241	(7)
Sightings and Visions	248	(2)
Working a Homicide in the Media Spotlight	250	(5)
ENDNOTES	255	(2)
CHAPTER 13 Getting Away with Murder, or Not	257	(32)
The Insanity Defense	257	(9)
Justice for Juveniles	266	(6)
Capital Punishment	272	(11)
Epidemic Thinking and Overresponse	283	(4)
ENDNOTES	287	(2)
A NOTE ABOUT DATA SOURCES	289	(1)
ENDNOTES	290	(1)
TERMS AND CODES	291	(2)
INDEX	293