Has anyone read this book before? I just got it yesterday and I'm half way through it. If your into Social Science or just curious about "The twisted development of innocent children into the world's most sadistic murders" it's a pretty good read, not the best but very interesting. Check it out.

What does it say: Physical, Emotional, S&xual abuse=Bed Wetting, Small animal and fire setting?

If you are interested in serial killers, do read 'Whoever Fights Monsters' by Ressler

http://www.powells.com/biblio?isbn=9780312950446

It was a textbook that was assigned to me for my sociology class on serial killers, there is another book but I can't think of it... it was direct written from the FBI Behaviorial Unit and about it's development. Ressler talks about it a little within his book.

Those that were not disorganized killers (meaning SZ) had dominate mothers, possibly missing father, lack of parental supervision/involvement and abuse.

Signs of ABC (arson, bed-wetting and cruelity of animals were all present in them as children.)

Yes TBRich it talks about these issues in all the biographies of famous serial killers such as Jeffrey Dahmer. I must admit this is my second book of the Social Science category, I'm not in school, I'm just intrigued with the thought that someone can become a killer.

tanyaann, thank you for the reference, when I'm done with this book I will check out "Whoever Fights Monsters." I'm really interested in this subject, if you know of any other books please let me know.

Thank You :)

Tannnya, thanks for the information. I have two friends who fit the ABC and development bill, except one used to torture his tape recorder, not cats, and the other one had parental involvement by his professionally employed single mother; you know, church, vacations together, help with school work, etc. The mother is a self-made woman, she started with nothing as the child of immigrants who fled the war tribunal (Nurenberg, basically) and she now owns several buildings outright which she rents and she works for a trade union as a court negotiator in disputes. She's very good at what she does, but she hates it, because in spirit she's on the side of the employer, she knows you have to be a twit to invoke the union at work to make a case for you personally.

Should I sever my relatonship with these friends? Or should I do society a favour and sever their heads from their torsos?

My only constructive addition is that crime can give someone some thrill; and that can become addictive. Hence the series starts in "serial". Not just as in murder, but other crimes as well. Bank robbery, rape, irregular accounting principles, running for public office.

Another thing is the feeling of power, you know, playing god. The controlling personality comes out as well in torturing the victims, and by promising them freedom if they do unspeakable acts, and then not follow up on the promise.

And the third one is an added piquancy of avoiding detection. This is a game, too.

Then you come on this site and have people complain about others who play games. Well, an evening of Monopoly is nothing like serial murder.

Maybe serial killers do it just to see if they can get away with it. Then when they do it provides such a addrealine rush that they have to do it again You never have really lived untill you walked the edge of death.