Serial Killers- nature /nurture?

[ouch!]

If serial killers are born and not made, then how come there are no recorded cases of offspring inheriting their genes and also killing people?

[andy hughes]

Who says they are 'born'? I am sure that the perceived wisdom concerning serial killers is that their behaviour is the result of negative childhood experiences, often of a sexual nature. I don't believe that anyone would suggest that a propensity towards multiple murder is a result of genetic predisposition.

[calibrax]

The so-called "standard" serial killer is a loner and usually cannot relate to or get on with women. So I'd guess that most serial killers don't have offspring. But even so, if it is genetic it would most likely be an abnormal gene, and wouldn't necessarily be passed on. Or maybe the offspring took an evolutionary leap, and became more intelligent and difficult to catch... so none have been caught yet...

[ouch!]

Andy - the scientific community have been debating this one for a while now. I guess one argument in favour of a genetic tendency is that nearly all serial killers are male, but females are brought up with just as much violence and sexual abuse.

[ouch!]

calibrax - many of the serial killers that have been caught and incarcerated do indeed have offspring - loners attract loners I guess.

[bernardo]

You have answered your own question."If serial killers are born and not made, then how come there are no recorded cases of offspring inheriting their genes and also killing people?"

That's like "if we are all ten feet tall, then how come we can stand up easily in rooms where the ceiling is only seven feet above the floor?"
Answer: we aren't; and they aren't.

[ouch!]

I was hoping for a good debate - actually there is a lot of evidence for the serial killing gene, but it seems this is a subject no-one on here has any knowledge about except me, so I would be debating with myself. Shame though!

[inferno]

ouch! - if there is a lot of evidence for this gene I'd be interested in hearing about it. There is considerable debate about the influence of genes on behaviour and we are forever hearing in the media of the discovery of genes for this and that. However it seems to be the case that there is no such mechanisam that demonstrates a simple link between a gene and complex behaviour - it is a complex relationship between genes and the environment, and there is evidence that the environment influences our genes. On this basis I doubt that serial killers are "born and not made" or that they are simply a product of their upbringing. Read the recently published Nature via Nurture by Matt Ridley - it discusses this issue and is aimed at the intelligent layperson.

[IggyB]

'Researchers from King's College in London have found that boys who have a particular version of a gene are much more likely to be troublemakers if they suffer maltreatment when young' (news.bbc.co.uk). So maybe as inferno suggests it is a balance of the two, you may well be predisposed to be violent / aggressive but it is your environment that acts as the trigger.