# Are Serial Murderers Human? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [December 24, 2007, 11:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161 "2007-12-24T23:12:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 4
**Author:** ![Scylla](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a5b964/32.png) [@Scylla](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scylla)\ **Post date:** [December 28, 2007, 2:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/61 "2007-12-28T02:20:56Z")
I just read this book by David M. Buss **The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill** Buss is a psychology professor at the University of Texas, Austin. The bottom line is we are chock full "of evolutionary adaptations whose functions are to commit despicable atrocities against our fellow humans-- atrocities most would label evil. The unfortunate fact is that killing has proved to be an effective solution to an array of adaptive problems in the ruthless evolutionary games of survival and reproductive competition…" Then he goes on to prove it in depressing detail through countless examples over the next several hundred pages. The main difference between us and a serial killer is that we simply haven’t acted upon and fed our natural urges. ---
**Author:** ![ralph124c](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/8797f3/32.png) [@ralph124c](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ralph124c)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/62 "2007-12-30T13:05:39Z")
[QUOTE=Scylla] I just read this book by David M. Buss **The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill** Buss is a psychology professor at the University of Texas, Austin. The bottom line is we are chock full "of evolutionary adaptations whose functions are to commit despicable atrocities against our fellow humans-- atrocities most would label evil. The unfortunate fact is that killing has proved to be an effective solution to an array of adaptive problems in the ruthless evolutionary games of survival and reproductive competition…" Then he goes on to prove it in depressing detail through countless examples over the next several hundred pages. \*\*The main difference between us and a serial killer is that we simply haven’t acted upon and fed our natural urges. [/QUOTE] \*\* I take issue with this. I have no “urge” to go out and murder people. Moreover, this isn’t addressing the key point-serial killers don’t murder to rob or rape-they see killing as an end to itself. ---
**Author:** ![Der\_Trihs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/der_trihs/32/233_2.png) [@Der\_Trihs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Der_Trihs)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/63 "2007-12-30T14:34:02Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] \*\* I take issue with this. I have no “urge” to go out and murder people. [/QUOTE] As I recall, something like 90% of men and 80% of women admit to having fantasized about killing someone. ---
**Author:** ![milkshake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@milkshake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milkshake)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 4:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/64 "2007-12-30T16:29:24Z")
[QUOTE=ralph124c] \*\* I take issue with this. I have no “urge” to go out and murder people. Moreover, this isn’t addressing the key point-serial killers don’t murder to rob or rape-they see killing as an end to itself. [/QUOTE] It does not matter - we feel the urge just the same. Try it - it is a total turn-on. It makes you feel so alive. ---
**Author:** ![milkshake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@milkshake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milkshake)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/65 "2007-12-30T22:50:13Z")
Oh I did not want to kill the debate - no fun in that ---
**Author:** ![Zabali\_Clawbane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/ecd19e/32.png) [@Zabali\_Clawbane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zabali_Clawbane)\ **Post date:** [December 30, 2007, 10:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/66 "2007-12-30T22:57:31Z")
[QUOTE=milkshake] It does not matter - we feel the urge just the same. Try it - it is a total turn-on. It makes you feel so alive. [/QUOTE] I, myself feel most alive when sitting quietly with a sweet, cool wind in my face, listening to the evening sounds of insects and birds. And when dancing and clowning with friends. Or, while going down a big dip in a rollercoaster. Also, while helping another who is in need, giving back the good energy that I have had given to me, adding to the Life Current. ---
**Author:** ![milkshake](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@milkshake](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/milkshake)\ **Post date:** [December 31, 2007, 12:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/67 "2007-12-31T00:05:55Z")
well the serial murderers don’t have real friends to dance with - so instead they have to derive their satisfaction and sense of self-worth from their projects - and from their cunning. The idea is to make a plan and then stick with it. There is always a room for improvisation but one cannot afford to be sloppy. In the end it is best to repeat yourself: to develop your own trademark routine and improve on it as the time goes on. When its well done and without hurry, the act itself is a trascendental experience - like a communion in a church where you are the prophet. ---
**Author:** ![Maastricht](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a88e57/32.png) [@Maastricht](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maastricht)\ **Post date:** [January 1, 2008, 2:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161/68 "2008-01-01T02:31:28Z")
See for yourself: my recent thread [here](http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/showthread.php?p=9320832) shows two you-tube clips. Both are short interviews with two guys.One later turned out to be an arsonist, the other a child-killer. Both clips were made _before_ the men were suspected. They are both interviewed as eye witnesses. See if _you_ can spot the evil ! [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/are-serial-murderers-human/431161.md?page=3)