https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d A synthesis on serial killers: nature vs. nurture: en-us 2023-04-05 20:29:15 UTC 2026-01-01 06:40:25 UTC hello@padlet.com https://padlet.net/icons/png/1f52a.png 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545437062 The Devil in a White City, by Erik Larson, tracks two storylines between 1890 and 1893 of America's first serial killer, H. H. Holmes, and the main architect in the World's Fair in Chicago, Daniel H. Burnham.  In the end, it is a story of the ineluctable conflict between good and evil, daylight and darkness, the White City, and the Devil. This book looks into the motivations of H. H. Holmes as he explores and utilizes the World Fair of 1983 to procure more victims for his plans. Holmes claimed to have killed at least 27 people, most of whom he'd lured into his “Murder Castle” the hotel he owned which was replete with secret passageways, trapdoors and soundproof torture rooms. This made me curious about how serial killers come to be: nature or nurture. As the antagonist, Holmes demonstrates the destruction that can result from the human mind. He personifies evil. Above all, he is motivated by his obsession with possessing and holding power over others. Whether this obsession and his reasonings for killing nature or nurture are still up for debate. Holmes describes himself as such, “ 'I was born with the devil in me... I could not help the fact that I was a murderer, no more than the poet can help the inspiration to sing" (109). From this, it is evident that Holmes believes that he is naturally born a serial killer and that his actions are just part of the way he was born. However, looking into the childhood of Holmes you start to see that there were many complications that could also attribute to obsessions and motivations. "Mudgett's (Holme's) parents were devout Methodists whose response to even routine misbehavior relied heavily on the rod and prayer, followed by banishment to the attic and a day with neither speech nor food" (39). As is often the case with serial murderers, the childhood of Holmes was shaped by physical abuse, difficulties in socializing with peers, and cruelty towards animals. With these two contrasting perspectives, I was very curious about what truly is the cause of serial killers, nature or nurture. This is what guided my research as I took a deeper dive into a very generalized and stigmatized part of the population.]]> 2023-04-05 20:33:48 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545437062 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545437782

This source claims that scientists found what is believed to be hard evidence, that genetics is the key role in
determining who becomes a serial killer unlike
criminologists and psychologists who argue that large
events such as abuse and abandonment create the
setting and foundation in which serial killers grow into
sadistic mass murders. Though both arguments are
strongly proved and explained through research and
statistics neither are individually the answer to why
serial killers exist. This source also looks a lot into how understanding serial killers and help society deal with them and prevent them in the future. With evidence pulled from many sources like Eric Hicky a criminologist, Sociologist Arnold Arluke, and first-hand accounts of serial killers like Jeffrey Dahmer, this source finds itself very credible and trustable.

This article shows that it isn't just nature or nurture that affects the development of a serial killer it is really both working in tandem to create these feared individuals. This would make really good supporting evidence that establishes urgency as it focuses on how it is important that debates cease so that people can really understand serial killers in order to better deal with them and avoid them as we move into the future.

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This source claims that there are various factors namely, genetics, environment, trauma, and personality traits that contribute to the making of a serial killer. Treatment for serial killers is also very varied because of the different circumstances each one has and how it affects them mentally. While generalizations tend to be harmful in treating there are some very noticeable commonalities such as a lack of empathy, pathological lying, disregarding right and wrong, a sense of superiority, impulsivity, and no remorse for wrongdoings. This source is very credible as it relies a lot on expert opinions and studies such as The Anatomy of Violence, by criminologist Dr. Adrian Raine, Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin, and 1963 psychiatrist J.M. Macdonald.

This source made me start to rethink the argument because it claims that both sides of the argument are crucial for understanding serial killers as they are both important factors and contributors. This made me realize that H. H. Holmes could really be influenced by both factors and not just one or the other as many people constantly debate. This source serves as supporting evidence but also a counter argument to may claims that are brought up.

]]> 2023-04-05 20:35:16 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545437968 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545440808

This bar graph provided by researchers shows how many serial killers come from harder backgrounds and rough upbringings. This source seems to be fairly credible as it pulls from many different studies and doesn't provide any bias within the data or make any biased claims.

This supports the nurture side of the argument as the graph claims that many serial killers are exposed to harsh living conditions that tend to aid their killing obsession through major desensitization. Trauma from a young age can majorly affect the life decisions of people in the future, which can contribute to at least part of the reasoning for mass killing by serial killers.

]]> 2023-04-05 20:39:38 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545440808 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545444849

This source, similar to a Rogerian-style essay, lays out both sides of the argument with data that support both and then claims that neither side of the argument is correct. They claim that this is a very individual circumstance that can't be generalized across all serial killers as everyone is different. They also claim that in most cases it is likely a combination of both genetic and environmental circumstances that lead to a killing obsession. This source is fairly credible as it pulls data and supporting evidence for both sides of the argument from many different sources like studies from Sasha Reid, a doctoral candidate in developmental psychology at the University of Toronto, Dr. Richard Davidson at the University of Wisconsin at Madison, and Criminologist Eric Hickey.

This source is important for understanding both sides of the argument and realizing that it doesn't just have to be one thing or the other. It can be a mix of both or neither at all. All that matters is that each case is analyzed individually as all cases will be different and can't be generalized.

]]> 2023-04-05 20:45:28 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545444849 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545448276

This source shows how many serial killers have their MAOA, which is an enzyme that breaks down the neurotransmitters of crucial chemical compounds like serotonin and dopamine, greatly increased genetically and naturally. This source claims that there are factors that are nature that attribute to serial killer and that sometimes chemically in the brain there are differences compared to "normal" portions of the population. This sources is also very credible as it pulls data from studies performed by Pietro Pietrini, a molecular neuroscientist at the University of Pisa, and Giuseppe Sartori, a cognitive neuroscientist at The University of Padova in its visual aid.

This visual source aids the argument for the nature side of the argument but doesn't completely discredit the nurture side of it. Naturally some people have their neurotransmitters destroyed by MAOA but can also have other outside factors (nurture factors) that can also attribute to serial killer tenancies.

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This video claims that reasoning for violence is an as old as-time question similar to many that are asked frequently. He talks a lot about how most people make decisions that make sense for their circumstances which are affected by both naturally occurring factors and uncontrollable factors in one's environment. As people are generally trying to make the best decision with the cards that they are dealt he finds that both are very key factors and neither one is 100% the best answer for why people commit violent actions. It is always going to be at least a little bit of both. As this video is created by a doctor I find it to be fairly credible as he has received a lot of education on topics like this and how the brain works. He is an expert in the field and that makes him fairly trustable as long as you are able to pick out any potential bias.

This adds to the claims I have made about the book that both factors are very important when analyzing a serial killer and that neither of them is the "correct" answer. This source is really important because it takes a step out of the serial killer debate and analyzes just violence in general. Taking away the extreme helps you to understand serial killers better as they are in difficult situations in which they are trying to make the best decisions they can even if they seem terrible to outlookers.

]]> 2023-04-05 21:16:26 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545463102 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545463632 2023-04-05 21:17:27 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2545463632 2406121 https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2547412997 In the end serial killers are complex individuals that really cannot be compared to all of the other ones. Both environmental and genetic factors play a big role in the making of a serial killer and neither can be ignored or ruled out. It is important to not look at it as nature vs. nurture, but rather, how nature and nurture work together to destroy the human mind and create some of the most feared individuals in society.]]> 2023-04-07 23:35:07 UTC https://padlet.com/2406121/2vuw6c46hlbmnj4d/wish/2547412997