IndexIntroductionRecommendationsRecommendationsIntroductionIn the making of a serial killer, case studies reveal that many serial killers share a common pattern of being physically abused by a parent during childhood. Therefore, it is important to examine and build on existing research to understand why some people commit multiple homicidal crimes. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay Physical abuse will be defined as “causing or allowing non-accidental physical injury to a child” (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005, p. 41). And a serial killer will be defined, in accordance with FBI standards, as “including three or more murders that involve a fantasy component and are separated by a period of emotional cooling” (Miller, 2014, p.11). John Wayne Gacy was an American serial killer who killed 34 young men between 1972 and 1978 (Sullivan & Maiken, 2000, p. 369), based on his "aggressive psychosexual fantasies towards young men", (Knight, 2007, page 27), thus satisfying the FBI definition. Because John Wayne Gacy suffered "physical abuse from his father during his childhood" (Sullivan & Maiken, 2000, p. 256), this briefing note will be used as a case study to examine the evidence of physical abuse during childhood as a trigger for serial murders in later life. Recommendations While serial killers fascinate and continue to dominate the pop culture landscape, research into the factors that contribute to multiple homicidal behavior has been limited at best. However, recent research has found that “certain factors in a serial killer's childhood can influence future criminal behavior” (Keatley, Shephard, Golighty, Yaksic, Reid, 2018, p. 3), with behavioral scientists finding that a Significant portion of serial killers suffered physical abuse from a parent during childhood. One study stated that “over 40% of serial killers were beaten and abused during childhood” (Ressler & Shachtman, 1992, p.55). Another study concluded that of “88 of the most psychopathic offenders, 93% had suffered physical abuse.” in childhood” (Borja & Ostrosky, 2013, p. 930). Therefore, while organizations such as the police and child protective services exist to intervene in violent families, unfortunately “many cases of child abuse go undocumented” (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005, p.44) because the authorities “are only able to investigate and substantiate reports they have received” (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005, p.44). John Wayne Gacy is an example of a serial killer who suffered physical abuse during childhood. From a young age he suffered severe physical abuse inflicted by his father, which included being "regularly whipped with a leather belt" (Cahill, 1986, p. 18), as well as "numerous incidents of physical abuse that occurred without provocation." (Cahill, 1986, p. 33). While not all people who experience physical abuse in childhood become serial killers later in life, another study found that among a sample of 25 lust-oriented serial killers, a sizable percentage of "36% had suffered physical abuse during childhood" (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005, p.44). This led the study researchers to conclude that those who had suffered physical abuse in childhood were “six times more likely to commit serial murder in adulthood” (Mitchell & Aamodt, 2005, p.44). Aamodt, 2005, p.44). These findings were linked and justified in another study that demonstrated a strong correlation between “parental physical abuse and extremely violent psychopathy that can potentially lead to homicide.45).