Title: 5 Myths about Serial Killers and Why They Persist [Excerpt] - Scientific American
Headings: 5 Myths about Serial Killers and Why They Persist [Excerpt]
5 Myths about Serial Killers and Why They Persist [Excerpt]
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Content: 5 Myths about Serial Killers and Why They Persist [Excerpt] - Scientific American
Behavior & Society
5 Myths about Serial Killers and Why They Persist [Excerpt]
A criminologist contrasts the stories surrounding serial homicide with real data to help explain society’s macabre fascination with these tales
By Scott Bonn on October 24, 2014
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Ted Bundy in court, January 1980. Credit: Getty Images
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Excerpted with permission from Why We Love Serial Killers: The Curious Appeal of the World’s Most Savage Murderers, by Scott Bonn. Skyhorse Publishing. Copyright © 2014. Much of the general public’s knowledge concerning serial homicide is a product of sensationalized and stereotypical depictions of it in the news and entertainment media. Colorful story lines are written to pique the interest of audiences, not to paint an accurate picture of serial murder. By focusing on the larger-than-life media images of socially constructed “celebrity monsters,” the public becomes captivated by the stylized presentation of the criminals rather than the reality of their crimes. Media stereotypes and hyperbole create myths and great distortions in the public consciousness regarding the true dynamics and patterns of serial murder in the U.S.
The Reality of Serial Homicide in the U.S.
Serial killings account for no more than 1 percent of all murders committed in the U.S. Based on recent FBI crime statistics, there are approximately 15,000 murders annually, so that means there are no more than 150 victims of serial murder in the U.S. in any given year.