Multicides: Comparing the Etiological Profiles of Serial and Mass Murder Offenders

• In Event: Profiles & Correlates of Mass Shootings

Abstract

This study investigates the demographic profiles, personality traits, and psychosocial factors associated with serial killers and mass murderers, with the aim of identifying commonalities and distinguishing characteristics between these two categories of multiple homicide offenders. The study determines why certain individuals engage in serial killings—committing multiple, separate homicides over time—while others perpetrate mass killings in a single event. By examining the underlying etiological factors that shape these distinct yet overlapping forms of extreme violence, the findings offer insight into offender typologies and contribute to a broader understanding of warning signs and risk indicators. This research has implications for early intervention strategies, criminal profiling, and future theoretical developments in the study of multicides.

Author

• Caitlin Long, George Mason University