Serial Killing as an Imprinted and Fixed Action Pattern
Briefly

The article examines how serial killers are shaped by early experiences and imprinting, which prime them for specific victim traits and environments. It draws parallels to ethology, noting that symbolic releasers can activate fixed action patterns in humans, much like animal behavior. Neuroscientific insights reveal that high testosterone levels produce violent fantasies that are linked to evolutionary survival strategies. Additionally, the article discusses how dominance-seeking behavior has historically been rewarded, providing context for the mystique surrounding serial killers who embody these traits, ultimately connecting their compulsive actions to deep-rooted instinctual behaviors.
Serial killers fixate on specific victim traits and environments, which act as symbolic releasers triggering compulsive, ritualized behaviors tied to their early experiences.
Imprinting during formative years guides serial killers' behaviors, forming a pattern that aligns with evolutionary pressures and ancestral survival strategies.
Neuroscientific findings reveal that arousal from violence in serial killers may stem from heightened testosterone levels during critical development phases, solidifying their violent fantasies.
The attraction of some serial killers reflects a historical selection of dominant mates, intertwining evolutionary psychology with their compulsive need for control.
Read at Psychology Today
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