
The psychology of a serial killer: Mental disorders, history, family and more
Fox News
Many who are categorized as serial killers exhibit similar traits, like a history of trauma and a need for control. As a group, they have been diagnosed with different mental health disorders.
Serial killers are defined as people who have murdered at least three people, with a period of time in between, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). The FBI also notes that with these crimes, there is usually an indication that the killer felt dominance over their victim. Ashlyn Messier is a writer for Fox News Digital.
The unidentified Jack the Ripper is often considered the first modern serial killer. Jeffrey Dahmer and Ted Bundy are others that have become the subject of many true-crime podcasts and conversations, books and movies.