Extant literature, while plentiful on the topic of serial homicide in general, does not adequately examine the phenomena of healthcare professionals who serially murder their patients. Using a sample of 58 healthcare serial killers located within North America, South America and Europe between the years of 1970-2010, this study examines notable pre- and post-offence behaviours of healthcare serial killers. Patterns related to offender etiology, victim cultivation, crime scene behaviour and techniques of evasion were explored. The findings from this study suggest that the pre- and post-offence behaviours of healthcare serial killers can be examined from the theoretical framework of confidence men or ‘con men.’ The findings from this study also suggest that healthcare serial killings and offenders who perpetrate them continue to be elusive and warrant additional scholarly attention to reduce their likelihood of engaging in homicide undetected for extended periods of time. Policy implications are also discussed. / UOIT

Contrary to popular belief, Tartan Noir is not a synonym for Scottish noir but a mystifying marketing label for a national literature: dark, contemporary Scottish crime fiction. As it comprises an immense diversity of writing done in such mainstream sub-genres as detective, police, and serial killer fiction, as well as actual noir, I will investigate both the contrasts and the crossovers between said sub-genres. I will show that only few of the writers who are most associated with Tartan Noir write much, or any, noir, whereas most of those who do are not commonly associated with the term. With a view to remedying this, I will discuss the novels which have most influenced the reputation of Tartan Noir alongside those which have most influenced its identity. And by showing how this literature integrates the tension between several highly charged counter concepts – such as conformity and individuality, convention and innovation, sensationalism and thoughtful social, cultural, and political commentary – I hope to demystify Tartan Noir, that is, define the term and refine its use.

This paper analyzes Bret Easton Ellis’ American Psycho (1991), and more specifically, the protagonist-narrator Patrick Bateman. He is analyzed through the theoretical framework known as narratology, and more specifically, the designation of “unreliable narrator,” in order to analyze the interplay between the character and the postmodernist society of which he is a product. This paper also uses the critical approach of close reading as a method. Close reading will be used in order to analyze Bateman and his narration. This essay will argue that in American Psycho, the protagonist-narrator Bateman’s loss of control over reality is described as arising because of how postmodern society works to fit people into a mould and remove individuality. Bateman displays the excesses of the 1980s, and he conforms to the expectations of postmodern society, which emphasizes consumerism and trends but no substance. He lives in a postmodern society that highlights materialism, consumerism, and reality versus hyperreality. He tries to find his identity, away from superficiality and wealth, but fails. He takes out his frustration on people who are in a lower social class than him, and he murders and tortures his victims as a result. Bateman does not only live like someone out of a magazine, but he also copies serial killers, but: he has no real identity or even original method of murder. Bateman takes on an identity as a serial killer and imitates their crimes. He finds himself torn between the postmodern reality and the reality he creates in his mind.

No description available.

No description available.

This study sets out to explore the relationship between news media coverage on serial killers and their behavior. As a result of the lack of previous research on this topic, utilizing past research on a few historically well-known serial killers and news media reports about those serial killers, this study attempts to determine if news media has any effect on a serial killer’s behavior prior to apprehension. After a review of the history of serial murder and the past findings about serial murderers, as well as background on the history of the media coverage of crime, this study will look closely at the media coverage and behavior of Dennis Rader, the BTK Killer; David Berkowitz, Son of Sam; and John Allen Muhammad and John Lee Malvo, the D.C. Snipers. These three cases received unparalleled attention from the media and involved a unique two-way communication between the offenders and the media/police. The relatively new role of the Public Information Officer in law enforcement agencies will be briefly reviewed to examine the expansion of their role in relation to considering the impact the media has on serial murderer behavior. The subsequent findings of this research will aid in increasing knowledge of serial killer behavior in relation to news media coverage so that news media can be a potential tool used by law enforcement to better control and predict serial killer behavior and aid in their apprehension.

Syftet med studien är att skapa en djupare förståelse för hur manliga- och kvinnliga mördare porträtteras i nyhetsmedia samt de eventuella skillnader som finns i porträtteringen. Fokus ligger på att se om det finns ett tydligt mönster för hur dessa fyra mördare porträtteras i media samt skillnader mellan en manlig mördare och en kvinnlig mördare som har begått snarlika brott. Tidigare forskning har visat på att det finns skillnader i porträtteringen när det kommer till manliga förövare och kvinnliga förövare. Man har kunnat se att kvinnliga förövare smutskastas mer av media än manliga förövare. För att undersöka porträtteringen av mördare i media utgår denna studie utifrån en kvalitativ innehållsanalys. Materialet i studien består av 40 svenska nyhetsartiklar varav 10 artiklar på vardera mördaren från olika svenska tidningar. Detta material har sedan analyserats med hjälp en innehållsanalys. Resultatet från analysen visar att kvinnliga mördare porträtteras i media utefter det brott de har begått samt deras normbrytande beteende. När det kommer till de manliga mördarna så porträtteras dessa endast utefter det brott som de har begått. Slutsatsen som kan dras av studien är att det finns ett mönster hur man porträtterar manliga mördare mot hur man porträtterar kvinnliga mördare. Kvinnliga mördares beteenden och karaktär anses vara mer avvikande vid denna typ av brott än manliga mördares. Vilket gör att man kan dra likheter från tidigare forskning och därav se ett mönster i porträtteringen i media. Svenska nyhetstidningar har en tendens att beskriva kvinnliga mördare på ett komplext sätt genom att porträttera deras brott samt normbrytande beteende vilket leder till ett större fokus och mer skriverier kring kvinnliga mördare i nyhetsmedia än manliga mördare. / The aim of this study is to create a deeper understanding about how male- and female murderers are depicted in the news and to see if there is any difference in the depiction. The focus is to see if there is a pattern between four murderers, two female and two males, and how they are depicted in the media. We also want to see if there is a difference between male and female murderers who committed similar crimes. Previous research shows that there is a difference in how the depiction of male and female murderers. Female offenders are more often befouled then their male counterpart. To examine how the media depict the murderers this study originates from a qualitative content analysis. The material that we base our study on is 40 Swedish articles from different media, ten articles on each murderer from different newspapers. The results we found were that the female murderers are portrayed by media by their crime and norm-breaking behavior. The male murderers are portrayed only after their crime. The conclusion is that we can see a pattern in how media depict male and female murderers and that there is a differs in-between male and female murderers. Swedish newspapers tend to describe female murderers in a more complex way by depicting their crimes and norm braking behavior which leads to a bigger focus and more articles revolving female murderers in the news then male murderers.

Made available in DSpace on 2016-04-28T20:38:15Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Klaylian Marcela Santos Lima Monteiro.pdf: 1147567 bytes, checksum: 05c2fcd53418463043381bdc1b9cc12d (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012-06-29 / The present study aimed, in general, to investigate, under a psychoanalytic approach, the main processes that characterize the constitution of subjectivity of serial killers, linking them to the role that they play the ancient super-ego and the effects of stunning. As the first specific objective, there were submitted, from data collected in interviews, the aspects of the schizo-paranoid position and their repercussions in the manner that act serial killers, in this way, investigating the role of destructive fantasies, of defenses, besides the questions about the object-victims, passing by the theme of hate. The second specific objective was to study, from data collected in interviews, the ancient super-ego and its modes of action in those points related to sadism, to the criminal tendency, and the implications of the ancient super-ego on the psyche of the serial killers, besides the compulsion to repetition in the compulsive act of serial killers. The last of the objectives was the development of an interrelation between the data collected in the interview and the role of stunning in the psyche on the ancient superego demands. Search relevancy is justified, among other reasons, by the fact that it does not exist yet, in Brazil, psychoanalytic readings on this theme, in despite of the growing number of serial homicides and the need for improvement of clinical methods of early approach to children and adolescents who exhibit cases antisocial features. Such studies were marked out especially by kleinian and post-kleinian theoretical structure. It was noted that the psychic configuration of the serial killers, based on the model of ancient super-ego, takes them to destructive behaviors displayed in front of the victims, in particular, the ability to stunning. The data were obtained through interviews with serial killers prisoners in penitentiary units of the States of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo / O presente estudo objetivou, de modo geral, investigar, sob um enfoque psicanalítico, os principais processos que caracterizam a constituição da subjetividade dos assassinos seriais, relacionando-os ao papel que neles têm o superego arcaico e os efeitos da sideração. Como primeiro objetivo específico, foram apresentados, a partir dos dados colhidos nas entrevistas, os elementos relacionados à posição esquizo-paranóide1 e suas repercussões no agir dos assassinos em série, neste sentido, investigando o papel das fantasias destrutivas , das defesas, além das questões referentes às vítimas-objeto, passando pelo tema do ódio. O segundo objetivo específico foi estudar, a partir dos dados colhidos nas entrevistas, o superego arcaico e seus modos de atuação, naquilo que se relacionam ao sadismo, à tendência criminosa e implicações do superego arcaico no psiquismo dos assassinos em série, além da compulsão à repetição no agir compulsivo dos homicidas seriais. O último dos objetivos, foi o desenvolvimento de uma interrelação entre os dados colhidos na entrevista e o papel da sideração no psiquismo diante das demandas do superego arcaico. A relevância da pesquisa justifica-se, entre outras razões, pelo fato de ainda não existirem, no Brasil, investigações psicanalíticas sobre este tema, apesar do número crescente de homicídios seriais e da necessidade de aperfeiçoamento dos métodos clínicos de abordagem precoce a crianças e adolescentes que apresentam quadros de característica antissocial. Tais estudos foram balizados, especialmente, pelo arcabouço teórico kleiniano e pós-kleiniano. Observou-se que a configuração psíquica dos homicidas em série, embasada sob os moldes do superego arcaico, leva-os aos comportamentos destrutivos apresentados diante das vítimas, em especial, à capacidade de sideração. Os dados foram obtidos por meio de entrevistas com assassinos seriais reclusos em unidades prisionais dos Estados do Rio de Janeiro e São Paulo

Introdução: A endometriose, condição inflamatória prevalente, associa-se a alterações da reposta imune na cavidade peritoneal e no útero. Evidências sugerem participação de mediadores inflamatórios, como as células Natural Killer e T-reguladoras na patogênese desta doença. A resposta destas células pode ser controlada pela atividade de algumas quimiocinas. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a expressão gênica das quimiocinas reguladoras das células Natural Killer e T-reguladoras em endométrio tópico em lesões endometrióticas de pacientes com endometriose. Pacientes e Métodos: A expressão gênica das quimiocinas reguladoras da atividade das células Natural Killer (CXCL9, 10, 11, CXCL12, XCL1 e CX3CL1) e T reguladoras (CCL17 e CCL21) foi avaliada por meio de RTPCR no endométrio tópico e lesão endometriótica de 22 pacientes com endometriose de retossigmóide; 10 pacientes com endometriose retrocervical e no endométrio tópico de 32 mulheres sem endometriose comprovada por laparoscopia para laqueadura tubária. Resultados: Dentre as quimiocinas relacionadas às células Natural Killer, encontramos diferença estatística significativa na CX3CL1 e CXCL12, as quais foram mais expressas no foco de endometriose intestinal e retrocervical, quando comparadas ao endométrio tópico das pacientes e controles (p < 0,05). Das relacionadas às células T-reguladoras, a CCL17 foi mais expressa no endométrio tópico de pacientes com lesão em retossigmóide quando comparada aos demais grupos (p < 0,05). Conclusões: As quimiocinas CX3CL1 e CXCL12 foram mais expressas nos focos de endometriose intestinal e a CCL17 foi mais expressa no endométrio tópico de pacientes com lesão de retossigmóide. Estes resultados sugerem que as quimiocinas CX3CL1, CXCL12 e CXCL17 participam da resposta inflamatória que ocorre na endometriose pélvica / Objective: Endometriosis is a highly prevalent inflammatory condition associated with an altered immune response in the peritoneal cavity and uterus. Evidence suggests a participation of inflammatory mediators such as natural killer (NK) and T-regulatory (T-reg) cells in the pathogenesis of this disease while the response of these cells may be controlled by the activity of some chemokines. Patients and Methods: Gene expressions of the chemokines that regulate the activity of NK (CXCL9, CXCL10, CXCL11, CXCL12, XCL1 and CX3CL1) and T-reg cells (CCL17 and CCL21) were evaluated using real time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the eutopic and ectopic endometrium of 22 patients with bowel endometriosis, 10 patients with retrocervical endometriosis and 32 controls. Results: Of the chemokines associated with NK cells, the expression of CX3CL1 and CXCL12 was significantly greater in the foci of endometriosis (p < 0.05). Of those associated with T-reg cells, significant differences between groups were found in CCL17. In addition, CCL17 was expressed to a higher degree in the eutopic endometrium of the patients with rectosigmoid lesions when compared to the other groups (p < 0.05). Conclusions: Chemokines CX3CL1 and CXCL12 were more expressed in intestinal endometriosis and CCL17 expression was higher in eutopic endometrium of the patients with rectosigmoid lesions. These results suggest that those chemokines participate in the inflammatory response that occurs in pelvic endometriosis

The study analyzed a convenience sample of published accounts of death penalty cases and life without parole cases. The objective of the study was to explore factors that influence the selection of cases for coverage in books, think tank reports (e.g., Heritage Foundation), and periodicals and factors related to coverage of homicides resulting in a death penalty sentence or a life without parole sentence (often termed “America’s other death penalty”). Since this study was exploratory, hypotheses were not offered. However, prior research on the death penalty and on life without parole offered several clues. For example, since black offender/white victim homicides were more likely to result in a death penalty sentence, it was expected that such homicides would more likely to be covered. Since conservatives were more likely to favor the death penalty and liberals were likely to oppose it, it was expected that coverage would vary by how conservative or liberal the coverage source. For example, how the Heritage Foundation covered cases was expected to be different from coverage by Human Rights Watch. In summary, my study revealed opposite results of previous research studies. The results of my study are probably skewed because of the small sample size. A bigger sample size would more than likely resulted in more accurate and reliable results.