Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives- Paperback

by Robert K. Ressler, John Edward Douglas, Ann Wolbert Burgess, et al.

Book Overview

Who are the men committing the rising number of serial homicides in the U.S. -- and why do they kill? The increase in these violent crimes over the past decade has created an urgent need for more and better information about these men: their crime scene patterns, violent acts, and above all, their motivations for committing these shocking and repetitive murders. This authoritative book represents the data, findings, and implications of a long-term...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0028740637
• ISBN13: 9780028740638
• Release Date: June 1995
• Publisher: Free Press
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.9" x 8.9"

Customer Reviews

Sent the wrong edition.

They incorrectly are advertising this book as paperback but sent me the hardcover. Extremely annoying.

A Landmark Research Book

The pioneering research work of Robert Ressler, Ann Burgess and John Douglass is presented in startling statistical detail. Thirty-six sexual murderers were interviewed: the data about their motivations, drives, and fantasies was catalogued and indexed in insightful graphic detail. Perhaps the psychological, predatory horror that lurks in the minds of serial killers will never be fully understood, but Douglass, Burgess, and Ressler's work offers some stunning insights into the mind-set of some of today's most horrific sexual killers. With nearly 16,000 homicides in the U.S. each year, the highest of any country in the industrialized world, there is no doubt we are in the midst of an alarming social epidemic. If any biological pathogen killed as many Americans each year, we would be under a state of national emergency. The rise in the number of so-called "lust murders" is particularly disturbing. To understand and apprehend the criminal, we must first understand both the crime and the victim- something criminologists refer to as "victimology." Child abuse, anti-social behavioral indicators, psychological triggers, and paraphilia obsessions: this book delves into the dark impulses that drive so many of these horrific homicides. This book is an essential tool for the homicide investigator and criminal profiler. The disturbing nature of some of the numerous homicide cases, indexed in this book, should be a wake-up call to all of us. Something dark, sinister and cancerous is eating away at the fabric of our society- disturbing the equilibrium of its life-force. This book quantifies sexual homicide with scholarly clarity. "Sexual Homicide: Patterns and Motives" is a landmark investigative tool in the field of criminology.

Useful--even for a non-law enforcement reader

This book is a well-organized collection of information. I have no background in law enforcement, criminal justice or even psychology. Yet, I understood it well. Anyone interested in taking the time to understand in some depth how these criminals think and act would learn a great deal. It really illustrates the development of criminal profiling techniques. The book is broken into sections, each of which is broken into chapters. It is written by a group of people, including: Robert Ressler (FBI), John Douglas (FBI), Anne Burgess (nurse/researcher), a medical examiner.

Mind-set & Fantasies in Sexual Murder

"Sexual Homicide - Patterns and Motives by Ressler, Burgess & Douglas is a 234-page text which sets forth group characteristics of sexual murderers and consequential societal responses elicited in/by affected families, victims, legal system, law enforcement, & forensic investigators.Core of the text is based on interrogation of 36 incarcerated sexual killers of 1 or more of 118 victims & critical analysis of these victims by interviews with familes, associates, etc. Study revealed killers were male, 92% white: 80% killed 2 or more victims (82% female) with 73% 15-28 years in age.Attention is given to assess child/adolescent formative events, societal perceptions & pressures which may be motivational to sexual killers who exhibit aberrant thought patterns, deviant behavior, and aggression linked to sexual expressivity.The study discusses FBI Behavioral Science Unit profiling of murderous acts: organized, disorganized or (mixed). And, distinguishes sexual homicide from motivated murders (felony, argumentative, etc.). Discussed is sexual and aggressive motivations in rape and subcategorizes compensatory (fantasy), exploitive/impulsive, displaced (anger/rage) and sadistic fantasies of rapists.Crime scene and criminal profiling is reviewed noting this "is at the cutting edge of modern law enforcement" and "There is no place for speculation in forensic science." Chapters are devoted to police artist composite drawing and victim's family response to trauma (excellent).Discussion is given of VICAP & establishment of NCAVC in 1984 as a joint project of DOJ & FBI to create Behavioral Sciences Services & 4 programs to analyse, identify and track violent crime & killers. It concludes with VICAP Crime Analysis Report (186 questions).The book is well-organized, factual, and written with illuminative descriptions of the aberrant mind-set and fantasies of sexual murderers including chapter 14 on what to do if you should become a potential victim. The authors are recognized experts and have done admirable service to this work.

great overview of sexual homicide

I've read a lot of John Douglas and Robert Kessler, and while I appreciate the expertise of both men, I believe Douglas is right when he says (in a different book) that the vast majority of criminals are made, not born. Kessler disagrees with him and thinks such criminals are born evil. (These differing attitudes are not represented in this book, but are from other books by Douglas). But in the black-or-white outlook on life that children often have in their most formative years, it is better to be the person with the power and control, than the helpless person with no power or control. Which is, of course, what sex crimes (including sexual homicide) are about: power and control. This book offers insight into the twisted rationalizations and motivations of sexual predators. It also offers insight into what may have made them into the sociopaths that they are -- their often horribly abusive and neglectful upbringing. The descriptions of some of the crimes, used to illustrate the profiles, are pretty gruesome. But, if you are looking for a good, if somewhat dry, overview of the differing "profiles" of sexual killers, this is the book to read. Might come in handy for authors who want to write about crime or criminals; and true-crime enthusiasts will also find it interesting and absorbing.

A "must-read" on the behavior & psychology of serial killers

This book is a valuable resource for mystery authors or anyone else who is interested in the subject of serial murder. Written by three experts in the field, the book covers the behaviors that occur before, during and after the murder, as well as insight into the techniques used to profile and capture serial killers. Crime scene analysis, forensic pathology, and interviewing techniques are also discussed.