The Will To Kill (eBook)

About the Authors
Preface
CHAPTER 1: The Lure and the Law of Homicide
Fascination with Murder
Selling Evil
Homicide Law
Murder
First-Degree Murder
Second-Degree Murder
Manslaughter
Defenses to Criminal Homicide
Justifiable Homicides by Police and Citizens
Excuses for Homicide and Diminished Capacity
Homicide Law in Practice
CHAPTER 2: The Killers and Their Victims
Race Differences
Gender Differences
Age Differences
Differences by Location
The Role of Firearms
Changing Patterns in Homicide
Chicken Little and the Ferguson Defect
Breaking the Mold
CHAPTER 3: Explaining the Will to Kill
The Devil Made Me do it
Back to the Classics
Using Science to Explain Violence
Early Biological Explanations of Criminal Behavior
Modern Biosocial Theory and Neurocriminology
The Human Brain
This Is Your Brain on Drugs
Genetics
Killer Instincts?
The Future of Biological Explanations of Homicidal Behavior
Psychological Explanations
Psychosis
Sociopaths, Psychopaths, and Personality Disorders
Freud and Psychoanalysis
Evolutionary Psychology
Personality Traits
Paraphilias
IQ and Crime
The Social Sources of Murder
Social Disorganization
Strain, Frustration, and Murder
Cultural Deviance
Learning to Kill
Self-Control, Social Control, and Murder
Labeling Theory
Integrated Theories
A Word of Caution About Cause
CHAPTER 4: Intimate and Family Murder
Killing for Profit and Practicality
Obsession and Jealousy
Power, Control, and Abuse
Family Annihilation
Murder for Love
Murder-Suicide
Parricide
Filicide
Infanticide
Motherhood by Proxy
Prevention and Response
CHAPTER 5: The Young and the Ruthless
An “Epidemic” of Youth Homicide
Explaining the 1990s Decline
Principles of Prevention
Dial M for Media
Juveniles in the Adult System
Looking Ahead
CHAPTER 6: Well-Schooled in Murder
The Risk of School Homicide
Copycat Shootings
Adult School Shooters
Explaining School Massacres
Blaming Parents
Fear Factor
Threatening Words and Warning Signs
Responses to School Shootings
Overprotection
Healthy and Safe Schools
On to College
CHAPTER 7: Serial Killers
The Many Forms of Serial Killing
Deceiving Appearances
Prevalence and Trends
Characteristics of Serial Killers
Victims of Serial Murder
Killing Together
Beyond U.S. Borders
The Murdering Mind
Explanations for Serial Murder
Biological Factors
Childhood Factors
CHAPTER 8: Medical Murder and Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Counting Medical Murders
Healthcare Murders Globally
Motives and Types of Medical Murderers
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Administrative Facilitators and Failures
Prevention and Intervention
Looking Ahead
CHAPTER 9: Rampage
Mass Murder
Methodical and Selective
The Role of Firearms
Indiscriminate Massacres
Targeting a Category of Victims
Getting Even Through Murder
Losses and Frustrations
Profile of the Workplace Avenger
Preventing Murders by Disgruntled Employees and Customers
CHAPTER 10: Hate Homicides
Characteristics of Hate Homicide
Types of Hate Homicide
Thrill Hate Crimes
Defensive Hate Crimes
Retaliatory Hate Crimes
Mission Hate Crimes
Organized Hate Groups
The Role of the Military
Current State of Hate Crime Laws
CHAPTER 11: Murderous Terror
Hate Homicide and Domestic Terrorism
International Terrorism
The Rise of the Islamic State (ISIS)
Terrorism in Europe
Homegrown Terrorism
American Muslims and Domestic Terrorism
Left-Wing vs. Right-Wing Terrorists
Single-Issue Terrorism
The Impact of Murderous Terror
Reducing Murderous Terrorism
CHAPTER 12: Cult Killings
Dangerous Cults
The Appeal of Cults
Charismatic Leaders and Their Followers
Needs Fulfilled by Cults
Normal People in Abnormal Situations
Suicide or Homicide?
CHAPTER 13: Catching Killers
Science of the Lambs
Forensic Applications of DNA
Technological Advances
Forensic Error
Clearance Rates
Investigating Challenging Homicide Cases
ViCAP
NamUs
Behavioral Profiling
Geographic Profiling
Sightings and Visions
Working a Homicide in the Media Spotlight
CHAPTER 14: Getting Away with Murder, or Not
The Insanity Defense
The Insanity Defense in Practice
Revelations Under Hypnosis
Capital Punishment
The Deterrence Debate
Race and the Death Penalty
Other Issues Surrounding the Death Penalty
Juvenile Injustice
Epilogue: Epidemic Thinking and Overresponse
Index