Extreme Killing
Understanding Serial and Mass Murder
5th Edition
Published on 16. June 2023
Book
Paperback/Softback
392 pages
978-1-0718-6259-9 (ISBN)
Description
Accessibly written, yet analytically rich, Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder, is renowned for its fascinating examination of historical and contemporary serial and mass murder. Authors and experts in the field, James Alan Fox, Jack Levin, and Emma Fridel, bring their years of research to bear in this fascinating analysis of serial, multiple, and mass murder. They examine the theories of criminal behavior and apply them to a multitude of tragic events that involve hate crimes, killings at religious services, music festivals, and school shootings.
This Fifth Edition is filled with contemporary and classic case studies and has been updated to include coverage of controversial issues such as gun control and mental illness, the role of high-powered weapons in mass shootings, and the distinction between serial and mass murder.
This Fifth Edition is filled with contemporary and classic case studies and has been updated to include coverage of controversial issues such as gun control and mental illness, the role of high-powered weapons in mass shootings, and the distinction between serial and mass murder.
More details
Edition
5th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 251 mm
Width: 174 mm
Thickness: 23 mm
Weight
738 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-0718-6259-9 (9781071862599)
Copyright in bibliographic data and cover images is held by Nielsen Book Services Limited or by the publishers or by their respective licensors: all rights reserved.
Schweitzer Classification
Persons
James Alan Fox is the Lipman Family Professor of Criminology, Law, and Public Policy at Northeastern University. He has published 18 books, dozens of journal and magazine articles, as well as hundreds of freelance columns in newspapers around the country, primarily in the areas of multiple murder, youth crime, school and campus violence, workplace violence, and capital punishment. As a member of its Board of Contributors, his opinion column appears frequently in USAToday. Fox led the investigation of Seattle's Capitol Hill mass shooting and was part of the task force investigating the serial murder of college students in Gainesville, Florida. He also served on President Clinton's advisory committee on school shootings, and a Department of Education Expert Panel on Safe, Disciplined and Drug-Free Schools. In addition, he has been retained as an expert witness/consultant in several mass shooting cases, including the recent massacres at the First Baptist Church of Sutherland Springs, Texas, and the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. Fox is one of the principals in maintaining the Associated Press/USA Today/Northeastern University Mass Killing Database. Finally, he has received several awards and honors for his work, including the Hugo Adam Bedau Award for excellence in capital punishment scholarship.
Jack Levin is the Brudnick Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at Northeastern University, where he codirects its Center on Violence and Conflict. He has authored or coauthored more than 30 books, most recently The Violence of Hate: Understanding Harmful Forms of Bias and Bigotry and The Allure of Premeditated Murder: Why Some People Plan to Kill. Levin has also published more than 250 articles and columns in professional journals, books, magazines, and newspapers, such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Dallas Morning News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Christian Science Monitor, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Levin was honored by the Massachusetts Council for Advancement and Support of Education as its "Professor of the Year" and by the American Sociological Association for his contributions to the public understanding of sociology. He has also received awards from the Eastern Sociological Society, New England Sociological Association, Association of Clinical and Applied Sociology, and Society for the Study of Social Problems. Moreover, he has spoken to a wide variety of community, academic, and professional groups, including the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, the Department of Justice, OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (a membership of 59 countries), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Emma E. Fridel is an assistant professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University. She primarily studies the intersection of lethal violence and community context, focusing specifically on homicide, homicide-suicide, gun violence, serial and mass murder, intimate partner violence, and police use of lethal force. Her work has recently been published in Criminology, Social Forces, the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Justice Quarterly, the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Homicide Studies, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and Significance Magazine.
Jack Levin is the Brudnick Professor Emeritus in the Department of Sociology at Northeastern University, where he codirects its Center on Violence and Conflict. He has authored or coauthored more than 30 books, most recently The Violence of Hate: Understanding Harmful Forms of Bias and Bigotry and The Allure of Premeditated Murder: Why Some People Plan to Kill. Levin has also published more than 250 articles and columns in professional journals, books, magazines, and newspapers, such as The New York Times, The Boston Globe, The Dallas Morning News, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Christian Science Monitor, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and USA Today. Levin was honored by the Massachusetts Council for Advancement and Support of Education as its "Professor of the Year" and by the American Sociological Association for his contributions to the public understanding of sociology. He has also received awards from the Eastern Sociological Society, New England Sociological Association, Association of Clinical and Applied Sociology, and Society for the Study of Social Problems. Moreover, he has spoken to a wide variety of community, academic, and professional groups, including the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, the Department of Justice, OSCE's Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (a membership of 59 countries), and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
Emma E. Fridel is an assistant professor in the College of Criminology and Criminal Justice at Florida State University. She primarily studies the intersection of lethal violence and community context, focusing specifically on homicide, homicide-suicide, gun violence, serial and mass murder, intimate partner violence, and police use of lethal force. Her work has recently been published in Criminology, Social Forces, the Journal of Quantitative Criminology, Justice Quarterly, the Journal of Research in Crime and Delinquency, Homicide Studies, Criminal Justice and Behavior, and Significance Magazine.
Content
Part I Multiple Murder
Chapter 1: America's Fascination with Multiple Murder
The Gein Legacy
Multiple Murder in Popular Culture
The Selling of Multiple Murder
Craving Attention
Killer Communication
Killer Groupies
Mass Media and Mass Murder
Just the Facts
Sensitize, Not Sanitize
Chapter 2: Defining Multiple Murder
Mass, Serial, and Spree
Mass Confusion
Counting Victims of Serial Murder
Typologies of Multiple Murder
Chapter 3: Theories of Multiple Homicide
Biological Theories
Sociological Theories
Psychological Theories
Part II Serial Murder
Chapter 4: An Anatomy of Serial Murder
Prevalence of Serial Murder
A Profile of the Serial Killer
Extraordinarily Ordinary
Compartmentalization
Rehumanizing the Victims
Chapter 5: With Deliberation and Purpose
When Killing Is Thrilling
On a Deadly Mission of Terror or Revenge
Making a Killing
For Love and Loyalty
Victims of Choice
Chapter 6: Partners in Murder
Insanity in the Relationship
Partners for Profit
Partnerships of Men and Women
All in the Family
Chapter 7: Killing for Company
Placing the Blame
Killing for Companionship
The Functions of Cannibalism
Desire for Total Control and Ownership
Chapter 8: Fantasyland
Keeping Souvenirs
Normal and Abnormal Fantasies
The Impact of Pornography
Sex and Violence in the Media
Chapter 9: The Making of a Serial Killer
Childhood Suffering
Testimony Under Hypnosis
Parental Rejection
Animal Cruelty
Challenges of Predicting Serial Murder
Chapter 10: Nonsexual Control
Power Over Patients
Female Serial Killers
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Chapter 11: Killing Cults
Killing for a Cause
The Appeal of Dangerous Cults
Suicide or Homicide?
Satanism and Serial Murder
Chapter 12: Catching Serial Killers
Avoiding Notice and Arrest
Catching the Serial Killer
Part III Mass Murder
Chapter 13: Mass Murder Facts
Taking Notice
Trends in Mass Killing
Increasing Severity
Characteristics of Incidents, Offenders, and Victims
Fear, Hysteria, and Overresponse
Chapter 14: For Love, Money or Revenge
When Love Kills
Sweet Revenge
Profiting From Mass Murder
Explaining Mass Murder
Domestic Violence and Mass Murder
Warning Signs of Mental Disturbance
Contributing Factors
Chapter 15: Family Annihilation
A Profile of the Family Annihilator
Impact of Unemployment
Murdering Moms
The Defiant Son
Chapter 16: Firing Back
Profile of the Workplace Avenger
Mixed Motives
Workplace Murder by Proxy
Romantic Obsession
Externalizing Responsibility
Social Isolation
Screening Out Problem Workers
Going Postal
Chapter 17: Well-Schooled in Mass Murder
Disgruntled Students
The Worst-Laid Plans
Unique Risk Factors
The Role of Violent Video Games
The Copycat Effect
On to College
Addressing the Risk
Chapter 18: Fighting City Hall
Attacking the System
Legal Battles
Filing a Grievance
Close Call
Increasing Alienation
Chapter 19: Hate-Motivated Mass Murder
A Life of Frustration
Blaming Women
Rejection and Involuntary Celibacy
The Killer as Victim
The Growth of Defensive Hate Attacks
Multiple Murder to Eliminate Multiple Threats
Replacement Theory and Violence
Minority Against Majority-Retaliatory Hate
Hate Crime Laws
Targets Not Included in Hate Crime Legislation
Prevention and Response
Chapter 20: Terror as Tactic
Hate Crime or Terrorist Attack?
Trends in Terrorism
Terror From Both Extremes
Global Terrorism
Vehicular Terrorism
Combating Terrorism
Chapter 21: Going Berserk
Paranoid Thinking
Confused State of Mind
Long-Standing Mental Illness
Civilian Battlefields
Brain Abnormalities
Warning Signs of Disturbance
Can they be Stopped?
Chapter 22: Weapons of Mass (Murder) Destruction
Mass Shootings and Gun Legislation
Universal Background Checks
Bans on Assault Weapons and Large-Capacity Magazines
Concealed Carry
Red Flag Laws
Lessons from Abroad
A Final Shot
Part IV Aftermath
Chapter 23: Coping with Tragedy
Surviving Victims
Placing Blame
Conspiracy Theories
Litigating Responsibility
Chapter 24: Postscript
Chapter 1: America's Fascination with Multiple Murder
The Gein Legacy
Multiple Murder in Popular Culture
The Selling of Multiple Murder
Craving Attention
Killer Communication
Killer Groupies
Mass Media and Mass Murder
Just the Facts
Sensitize, Not Sanitize
Chapter 2: Defining Multiple Murder
Mass, Serial, and Spree
Mass Confusion
Counting Victims of Serial Murder
Typologies of Multiple Murder
Chapter 3: Theories of Multiple Homicide
Biological Theories
Sociological Theories
Psychological Theories
Part II Serial Murder
Chapter 4: An Anatomy of Serial Murder
Prevalence of Serial Murder
A Profile of the Serial Killer
Extraordinarily Ordinary
Compartmentalization
Rehumanizing the Victims
Chapter 5: With Deliberation and Purpose
When Killing Is Thrilling
On a Deadly Mission of Terror or Revenge
Making a Killing
For Love and Loyalty
Victims of Choice
Chapter 6: Partners in Murder
Insanity in the Relationship
Partners for Profit
Partnerships of Men and Women
All in the Family
Chapter 7: Killing for Company
Placing the Blame
Killing for Companionship
The Functions of Cannibalism
Desire for Total Control and Ownership
Chapter 8: Fantasyland
Keeping Souvenirs
Normal and Abnormal Fantasies
The Impact of Pornography
Sex and Violence in the Media
Chapter 9: The Making of a Serial Killer
Childhood Suffering
Testimony Under Hypnosis
Parental Rejection
Animal Cruelty
Challenges of Predicting Serial Murder
Chapter 10: Nonsexual Control
Power Over Patients
Female Serial Killers
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
Chapter 11: Killing Cults
Killing for a Cause
The Appeal of Dangerous Cults
Suicide or Homicide?
Satanism and Serial Murder
Chapter 12: Catching Serial Killers
Avoiding Notice and Arrest
Catching the Serial Killer
Part III Mass Murder
Chapter 13: Mass Murder Facts
Taking Notice
Trends in Mass Killing
Increasing Severity
Characteristics of Incidents, Offenders, and Victims
Fear, Hysteria, and Overresponse
Chapter 14: For Love, Money or Revenge
When Love Kills
Sweet Revenge
Profiting From Mass Murder
Explaining Mass Murder
Domestic Violence and Mass Murder
Warning Signs of Mental Disturbance
Contributing Factors
Chapter 15: Family Annihilation
A Profile of the Family Annihilator
Impact of Unemployment
Murdering Moms
The Defiant Son
Chapter 16: Firing Back
Profile of the Workplace Avenger
Mixed Motives
Workplace Murder by Proxy
Romantic Obsession
Externalizing Responsibility
Social Isolation
Screening Out Problem Workers
Going Postal
Chapter 17: Well-Schooled in Mass Murder
Disgruntled Students
The Worst-Laid Plans
Unique Risk Factors
The Role of Violent Video Games
The Copycat Effect
On to College
Addressing the Risk
Chapter 18: Fighting City Hall
Attacking the System
Legal Battles
Filing a Grievance
Close Call
Increasing Alienation
Chapter 19: Hate-Motivated Mass Murder
A Life of Frustration
Blaming Women
Rejection and Involuntary Celibacy
The Killer as Victim
The Growth of Defensive Hate Attacks
Multiple Murder to Eliminate Multiple Threats
Replacement Theory and Violence
Minority Against Majority-Retaliatory Hate
Hate Crime Laws
Targets Not Included in Hate Crime Legislation
Prevention and Response
Chapter 20: Terror as Tactic
Hate Crime or Terrorist Attack?
Trends in Terrorism
Terror From Both Extremes
Global Terrorism
Vehicular Terrorism
Combating Terrorism
Chapter 21: Going Berserk
Paranoid Thinking
Confused State of Mind
Long-Standing Mental Illness
Civilian Battlefields
Brain Abnormalities
Warning Signs of Disturbance
Can they be Stopped?
Chapter 22: Weapons of Mass (Murder) Destruction
Mass Shootings and Gun Legislation
Universal Background Checks
Bans on Assault Weapons and Large-Capacity Magazines
Concealed Carry
Red Flag Laws
Lessons from Abroad
A Final Shot
Part IV Aftermath
Chapter 23: Coping with Tragedy
Surviving Victims
Placing Blame
Conspiracy Theories
Litigating Responsibility
Chapter 24: Postscript