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Running head: MODULE 6 UTF-8QSPREE2C_SERIAL AND MASS KILLER ANAL
Module 6 utf-8Qspree2C_serial and mass killer analysis final submission 12th 05 23
Phoebessays
February 12, 2026
Abstract
Module 6: Research paper Part II (Final Submission) Spree, Mass and Serial Killers Introduction There are various physical, personal and emotional factors that shape human behaviours ranging from childhood experiences, social influences and health-related experiences. However in most cases, biological risk factors that one has no control over, harsh/adverse childhood exposures and negative social influences/environments while growing plays a significant role in shaping a criminal behaviour/character. Killing is among the most dangerous criminal behaviour humans engage with in the course of their living. Unfortunately, most of these killing traits become shaped by uncontrollable childhood exposures that give the victim the urge to exercise or apply the bitterness into action. While trying to understand different type of killers, this essay will offer detailed analysis of Andrew Cunanan (spree killer), Adam Lanza (mass killer) and Jeffrey Dahmer (serial killer) to understand what shaped their killing trait and what defines the nature of their killing to justify where each killer falls. Social learning theory (spree killer), general strain theory (mass killer) and latent trait theory (serial killer) will help understand what factors shaped each of the above-mentioned killer behavior/character. Spree Killer Andrew Cunanan grew up in San Diego California and seemed to be on his way to success until his spree killing nature hampered such a bright dream. Born on August 31st 1968 to Modesto Cunanan a Navy veteran and Mary Anne Schillaci, Cunanan was the youngest of four children with an IQ of 147 at the age of three making him incredibly bright for his age. Cunanan attended high profiled private schools with kids from wealthier families thus faked up stories about his background to fit in their social circles which Soar (2000) explains as an early sigh of psychopathy or antisocial personality disorder. His parents old Cunanan that he was more special and deserving than others giving him surety of becoming rich and famous in future shaping his urge for such privileges and beating all odds to achieve them. His father abandoned the family when Cunanan was 19 years after continuous verbal abuse to the mother exposing her to chronic depression shattering their world. After the father left them, Cunanan started spending most of his time in gay club regardless of his mothers’ disapproval and the behavior deteriorated after dropping from school in 1989 moving to Castro District of San Francisco which was a centre for LGBTQ culture (Soar, 2000). Before leaving, he expressed violent behavior towards his mother which one can associate with social learning theory through observations from his father’s abusive nature towards his mother. He started murder acts in April 1997 after a failed re-union with two of his gay lovers that he killed on April 27th and May 3rd 1997. Other killings followed on may 4th, may 9th, July 15th and July 23rd defining him as a spree killer (Crime & Investigation. 2009). Cunanan escaped law enforcement hands though they employed a massive manhunt for him and committed suicide on July 23rd 1997 at his houseboat hideout using the same pistol he used to kill Madson, Versace and Reese (Soar (2000). Since Cunanan was a gay, all his victims were his male lovers that experienced cold blood deaths from Cunanan visits at their places or hangout areas. One can conclude that Cunanan experienced traumatic upbringing, obsession with being rich and famous, rejection by loved ones shaping his jealous trait ( Trail and Madison his gay lover for fake identity/lies) and hatred towards gay (after thinking they infected him with HIV) which significantly shaped his killer character (Crime & Investigation. 2009). Mass Killer Adam Lanza was a mass killer was born in Exeter New Hampshire on April 22nd 1992 to a former stockbroker and longtime gun enthusiast named Nancy. Lanza grew up exposed to gun range as the mother did not want to leave him alone thus kept him company and gave him the freedom to understand her inner gun life. Described as fidgety and deeply troubled by his classmates, Lanza was also a victim of Asperger’s syndrome which one may associate with his loner trait that the mother exposed him to by making him his only companion. However due to his frequent exposure to firearms and his introverted nature, Lanza diverted his attention on them and generated special attention towards their application as exposed by police investigations after his fateful shootings at the Elementary school. Though Lanza had not engaged in any antisocial behavior that would have defined him as a killer, at the age of 20 years on the fateful morning of Dec 14th 2012, Lanza shot his mother before heading to a nearby school (Sandy Hook Elementary) shooting 20 children aged between 5 and 10 and six adult workers (Langman, 2015). It is believed that Lanza fired between 154 rounds in less than five minutes and then turned the gun on himself fatally shooting himself in the head before responders began to arrive on scene. After the Sandy Hook Elementary shootings, police released a report citing that there were ammunition and numerous weapon at Lanza’s home as well as a number of books and articles on other mass killings though such findings do not justify why Lanza engaged in a mass killing taking innocent young lives. To this effect one can conclude that Lanza wished to express his love for gun through application on which his applications proved ill making him uncontrollably take innocent lives including his own life. Serial Killer Jeffrey Dahmer was born in Milwaukee on May 21st 1960 to Joyce Dahmer and Lionel. In a spun of thirteen years, Dahmer took 17 lives of men and boys that he sought out at gay bars, malls and bus stops most of which were Black American men. At the age of four, Dahmer endured traumatic and painful recovery following a surgery to correct a double hernia which effected a change in his boyish nature. He expressed withdrawals from family relations following the birth of his younger brother which worsened in his early teen when he became engaged, tense and largely friendless. However from young age, he expressed great interest in animal bones,...
APA 7th Edition— Title centered and bold, double-spaced throughout, 1" margins, Times New Roman 12pt. First line of each paragraph indented 0.5". Running head on first page only.
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