Extreme Killing
Understanding Serial and Mass Murder
4th Edition
Published on 26. April 2018
Book
Paperback/Softback
368 pages
978-1-5063-4911-4 (ISBN)
Description
Extreme Killing offers a comprehensive overview of multiple homicide, including both serial and mass murder. Filled with classic and contemporary case studies, this fully updated Fourth Edition reflects a growing concern for specific types of multiple homicides-indiscriminate public massacres, terrorist attacks, hate crimes, and school shootings-as well as largely debated issues such as gun control and mental illness.
Renowned experts and authors in the field, James Alan Fox, Jack Levin, and Emma Fridel bring their years of research and experience to create distinctions between serial and mass murders, address characteristics of both killers and their victims, and recognize the special concerns around multiple murder victims and their survivors. Students will examine the latest theories of criminal behavior and apply them to mass and serial murderers from around the world, such as the mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas, the Grim Sleeper in Los Angeles, the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, the shooting of nine African Americans by a white supremacist in a Charleston church, and more.
Renowned experts and authors in the field, James Alan Fox, Jack Levin, and Emma Fridel bring their years of research and experience to create distinctions between serial and mass murders, address characteristics of both killers and their victims, and recognize the special concerns around multiple murder victims and their survivors. Students will examine the latest theories of criminal behavior and apply them to mass and serial murderers from around the world, such as the mass shooting at a country music festival in Las Vegas, the Grim Sleeper in Los Angeles, the Pulse nightclub massacre in Orlando, the shooting of nine African Americans by a white supremacist in a Charleston church, and more.
Reviews / Votes
"This is the best single volume text for the coverage of both mass murder and serial homicide at the undergraduate level and as an introductory text on the subject matter." -- Mitchel P. Roth "Fox and Levin are the best in the business at interpreting these rare, but tragic, multiple murder events. Accessibly written, yet analytically rich, Extreme Killing provides critical insight into subject matter that typically elicits a response between fear and fascination and is sensationalized and politicized in equal measure. For the cold hard facts on murder in cold blood (or otherwise), look no further." -- James A. Densley "Excellent overall-engaging cases and yet stays on making important analytic points or generalizations without getting overly bogged down by case details (although many often horrific facts related to crimes are noted in a very matter-of-fact way) The authors manage to make their points while citing grisly case details in a very professional way without appealing to any sensationalism for its own sake. They navigate this fine line and manage a balancing act between sharing case details while also keeping a theoretical and conceptual focus. Superb job and the best of the three editions by far." -- Kenneth Colburn Jr. "Extreme Killing offers a succinct and fascinating overview of historical and contemporary serial and mass murder addressing known prevalence, demographic characteristics, motives, and etiological factors associated with the perpetrators of the crimes. Additionally, the role of the victims and their families are discussed in relation to the high profile nature of these types of multiple murders especially in relation to role of the media, fascination by the public, and the seemingly motiveless nature of these types of crimes. James Allen Fox and Jack Levin use engaging case studies, illustrations, photos and commentary in their book, which no doubt students will find extremely interesting." -- William E. Thornton "The writing style of all of the chapters is excellent and will truly capture the interest and imagination of students. The book could easily be used in either an upper level undergraduate or a graduate level course (as a supplemental text). It is versatile. The photos are quite interesting and will keep the student engaged." -- Robert Worley "This is a well-written organized text on serial killing and mass murder. Content is appropriate and presented in a way that would be understandable to the average college student..." -- Shelly Grant "This text will provide your students with a comprehensive overview of serial and mass murder. This is a student-friendly text that is well-written and organized." -- Mark Winton "It is a well thought out, put together book for this type of class because it touches on all aspects of both the organized and disorganized SK as well as delving into the mind of the mass murderer." -- Bert OuderkirkMore details
Edition
4th Revised edition
Language
English
Place of publication
Thousand Oaks
United States
Target group
College/higher education
Edition type
Revised edition
Dimensions
Height: 254 mm
Width: 178 mm
Weight
687 gr
ISBN-13
978-1-5063-4911-4 (9781506349114)
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
Other editions
Previous edition
Book
06/2014
3rd Edition
SAGE Publications Inc
€78.17
Article exhausted; check for reprint
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
Preface
About the Authors
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
The Impact of Celebrating Murderers
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
Sociological Theories
Psychological Theories
Biological 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
Killing for Expediency
For Love and Loyalty
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
CHAPTER 9. The Making of a Serial Killer
Childhood Suffering
Testimony Under Hypnosis
Child Abuse and Murder
Inordinate Need for Power
Animal Cruelty and Violence Against Humans
Challenges of Predicting Serial Murder
Blaming the Family
CHAPTER 10. Nonsexual Control
Power Over Patients
Female Serial Killers
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
CHAPTER 11. Killing Cult
Killing for a Cause
The Appeal of Dangerous Cults
Suicide or Homicide?
Satanism and Serial Murder
CHAPTER 12. Catching Serial Killers
Vulnerable Victims Preferred
Catching the Serial Killer
PART III. MASS MURDER
CHAPTER 13. For Love, Money, or Revenge
Relative Obscurity
Trends in Mass Murder
Profile of Mass Murderers and Their Crimes
Characteristics of Mass Murders
Selective and Methodical
When Love Kills
Sweet Revenge
Profiting From Mass Murder
Explaining Mass Murder
Warning Signs of Mental Disturbance
Contributing Factors
CHAPTER 14. Family Annihilation
A Profile of the Family Annihilator
Impact of Unemployment
Murdering Moms
The Defiant Son
CHAPTER 15. 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 16. Well Schooled in Mass Murder
Disgruntled Students
Addressing the Risk
The Worst Laid Plans
A Global Perspective
On to College
The Role of Violent Video Games
The Copycat Effect
CHAPTER 17. Fighting City Hall
Attacking the System
Legal Battles
Filing a Grievance
Increasing Alienation
Close Call
CHAPTER 18. Hate Motivated Mass Murder
Choice of Victims
The Killer as Victim
The Growth of Defensive Hate Attacks
Mission Hate Crimes
Targets Not Included in Hate Crime Legislation
Organized Hate Crimes
Identifying Hate Crimes
CHAPTER 19. Political Terrorism as Tactic
Hate Crime or Terrorist Act?
Trends in Domestic Terrorism
Trends in Global Terrorism
Vehicular Terrorism
Lone Wolves
Reducing Terrorist Violence
CHAPTER 20. Going Berserk
Paranoid Thinking
Confused State of Mind
Long-Standing Mental Illness
Civilian Battlefields
Brain Abnormalities
Deadly Weapons
CHAPTER 21. Weapons of Mass (Murder) Destruction
Mass Shootings and Gun Legislation
School Shootings and Political Will/Won't
Expanded Background Checks
The Assault Weapon Debate
Concealed Carry
Armed Faculty and School Security
A Final Shot
PART IV. EPILOGUE
CHAPTER 22. Remembering the Victims
References
Index
About the Authors
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
The Impact of Celebrating Murderers
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
Sociological Theories
Psychological Theories
Biological 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
Killing for Expediency
For Love and Loyalty
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
CHAPTER 9. The Making of a Serial Killer
Childhood Suffering
Testimony Under Hypnosis
Child Abuse and Murder
Inordinate Need for Power
Animal Cruelty and Violence Against Humans
Challenges of Predicting Serial Murder
Blaming the Family
CHAPTER 10. Nonsexual Control
Power Over Patients
Female Serial Killers
Munchausen Syndrome by Proxy
CHAPTER 11. Killing Cult
Killing for a Cause
The Appeal of Dangerous Cults
Suicide or Homicide?
Satanism and Serial Murder
CHAPTER 12. Catching Serial Killers
Vulnerable Victims Preferred
Catching the Serial Killer
PART III. MASS MURDER
CHAPTER 13. For Love, Money, or Revenge
Relative Obscurity
Trends in Mass Murder
Profile of Mass Murderers and Their Crimes
Characteristics of Mass Murders
Selective and Methodical
When Love Kills
Sweet Revenge
Profiting From Mass Murder
Explaining Mass Murder
Warning Signs of Mental Disturbance
Contributing Factors
CHAPTER 14. Family Annihilation
A Profile of the Family Annihilator
Impact of Unemployment
Murdering Moms
The Defiant Son
CHAPTER 15. 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 16. Well Schooled in Mass Murder
Disgruntled Students
Addressing the Risk
The Worst Laid Plans
A Global Perspective
On to College
The Role of Violent Video Games
The Copycat Effect
CHAPTER 17. Fighting City Hall
Attacking the System
Legal Battles
Filing a Grievance
Increasing Alienation
Close Call
CHAPTER 18. Hate Motivated Mass Murder
Choice of Victims
The Killer as Victim
The Growth of Defensive Hate Attacks
Mission Hate Crimes
Targets Not Included in Hate Crime Legislation
Organized Hate Crimes
Identifying Hate Crimes
CHAPTER 19. Political Terrorism as Tactic
Hate Crime or Terrorist Act?
Trends in Domestic Terrorism
Trends in Global Terrorism
Vehicular Terrorism
Lone Wolves
Reducing Terrorist Violence
CHAPTER 20. Going Berserk
Paranoid Thinking
Confused State of Mind
Long-Standing Mental Illness
Civilian Battlefields
Brain Abnormalities
Deadly Weapons
CHAPTER 21. Weapons of Mass (Murder) Destruction
Mass Shootings and Gun Legislation
School Shootings and Political Will/Won't
Expanded Background Checks
The Assault Weapon Debate
Concealed Carry
Armed Faculty and School Security
A Final Shot
PART IV. EPILOGUE
CHAPTER 22. Remembering the Victims
References
Index