Serial Killers Essays - Murder, Psychopathy, Crime, Serial Killer

Serial Killers ?I didn't want to hurt them, I only wanted to kill them.? This is a quote from David Berkowitz, A.K.A., the Son of Sam. David Berkowitz and all of the other serial killers tend to think in unique ways. This paper will talk to you about characteristics, motives, different phases, and the correlation between behavior and aggression. Serial killers like everyone else have certain characteristics that set them apart. To be considered a bonafied serial killer you must murder at least three to four people with a cooling off period between each murder. These killings are usually one on one and are repetitive, occurring with greater or lesser frequency over time (?Characteristics of Serial Murder?). Serial killers usually don't have a connection with the victim and they very rarely if ever have a rational motive. The serial killer likes to murder people in the same pattern, usually with a high degree of overkill. This degree of overkill sets them a part from different serial killers. Serial murderers also have different motives for their murders. One of the most obvious is that they turn to murdering for a sense of power (Forwood). For this sense of power they usually attack societies weakest members and those weaker than themselves (Forwood). This includes the homeless, impaired, and usually the young of both sexes. When they kill the homeless and impaired they are usually acting on the Missionary Motive. This is when they feel that it is their responsibility to rid society of its unwanted inhabitants. There are also Visionary killers which are usually instructed to kill by the voices that are in their head (schizophrenia). The last type of these motives is the Hedonist. They kill because it brings them the pleasure to do so. This group is separated into three sub-categories which are lust killers, thrill killers and gain killers. Lust killers kill for sexual pleasure. They are usually sexually underdeveloped and they kill for sexual gratification. Thrill killers kill people because it brings them a rush. These types of hedonists usually kill a lot more because they are addicted to this rush. Gain killers always kill people for some type of gain. This is usually money but it can also be something like a job promotion. Another point of a Serial Killer is that their mind is constantly going through one of their seven phases. The first of these phases is the Aura Phase. This is the part where the killer daydreams about death and destruction. After awhile these demented fantasies usually have the urge to be acted upon. This leads into the second stage which is the Trolling Phase. In the Trolling Phase the serial killer tries to find the perfect victim for their needs. They usually tend to look in school yards or lovers lanes or even red light districts. This might go on for hours days and sometimes even months, until the perfect victim will be found . This will begin the Wooing Phase. Serial killers usually act very debonair to get their victims to trust them. After the Wooing Stage comes the Capture Stage. This is where the killer reveals what he is. He may draw you into his car where there's no door handle for you to get out. This is disturbingly fun for them and is included in their sick sadistic game. Then comes the climax, the Murder Stage. They may just decide to kill you, but sometimes, they will decide to torture you to death, try to revive you on the brink of death to torture you more (Scott). The sixth stage is the Totem Stage. This phase is where the killer will take a memoir of you. It might include your jewelry or clothes or even a piece of your body. After this, comes the seventh and final phase which is Depression. There is great emotional let down for the killer. They may even become so depressed as to attempt suicide. But sooner or later they will start day dreaming more and this whole cycle will keep repeating itself until the killer is either caught or dies (?Characteristics of Serial Murder?). There is also some correlation between behavior and aggression in serial killers. This means that as a child, serial killers experience the same childhood difficulties. Nearly all serial killers have gone through one of the ?Terrible Triad?. The Terrible Triad includes bedwetting, sadistic abuse of animals and pyromania. Many serial killers as

Nepetalactone Cycloalkane in Catnip

Nepetalactone Cycloalkane in Catnip Catnip, Nepeta cataria, is a member of the mint or Labiatae family. This perennial herb is sometimes known as catnip, catrup, catwort, cataria, or catmint (although there are other plants that also go by these common names). Catnip is indigenous from the eastern Mediterranean region to the eastern Himalayas, but is naturalized over much of North America and is easily grown in most gardens. The generic name Nepeta is said to have been derived from the Italian town Nepete, where catnip was once cultivated. For centuries humans have grown catnip for humans, but the herb is best known for its action on cats. Nepetalactone Chemistry Nepetalactone is a terpene composed of two isoprene units, with a total of ten carbons. Its chemical structure is similar to that of the valepotriates derived from the herb valerian, which is a mild central nervous system sedative (or stimulant to some persons). Cats Domestic and many wild cats (including cougars, bobcats, lions, and lynx) respond to the nepetalactone in catnip. However, not all cats react to catnip. The behavior is inherited as an autosomal dominant gene; 10-30% of domestic cats in a population may be unresponsive to nepetalactone. Kittens will not show the behavior until they are at least 6-8 weeks old. In fact, catnip produces an avoidance response in young kittens. The catnip response usually develops by the time a kitten is 3 months old. When cats smell catnip they exhibit a range of behaviors that may include sniffing, licking and chewing the plant, head shaking, chin and cheek rubbing, head rolling, and body rubbing. This psychosexual reaction lasts for 5-15 minutes and cannot be evoked again for an hour or more after exposure. Cats that react to nepetalactone differ in their individual responses. The feline receptor for nepetalactone is the vomeronasal organ, located above the feline palate. The location of the vomeronasal organ may explain why cats do not react from eating gelatin-enclosed capsules of catnip. Nepetalactone must be inhaled for it to reach the receptors in the vomeronasal organ. In cats, the effects of nepetalactone can be moderated by several drugs acting upon the central and peripheral nervous system, and by several environmental, physiological, and psychological factors. The specific mechanism governing these behaviors has not been described. Humans Herbalists have used catnip for many centuries as a treatment for colic, headache, fever, toothache, colds, and spasms. Catnip is an excellent sleep-inducing agent (as with valerian, in certain individuals it acts as a stimulant). Both people and cats find catnip to be emetic in large doses. It exhibits antibacterial properties and may be useful as an anti-atherosclerotic agent. It is used as an adjunct in treated dysmenorrhea and is given in tincture form to aid amenorrhea. 15th century English cooks would rub catnip leaves on meats before cooking and add it to mixed green salads. Before Chinese tea became widely available, catnip tea was very popular. Cockroaches and other Insects There is scientific evidence that catnip and nepetalactone may be effective cockroach repellents. Iowa State University researchers found nepetalactone to be 100x more effective at repelling cockroaches than DEET, a common (and toxic) insect repellent. Purified nepetalactone has also been shown to kill flies. There is also evidence that nepetalactone may serve as an insect sex pheromone in Hemiptera Aphidae (aphids) and a defense substance in Orthoptera Phasmatidae (walking sticks).