Have you ever wondered why some people like art and music, and others like science and math? These people enjoy math or art because they get a sense of relaxation and excitement from these activities. Serial killers like to kill people in the same way and have many different motivations for killing them. A serial killer is someone who kills repeatedly. Dennis Rader's only motive for killing his victims was to gain power and control them. In order to identify serial killers before they kill repeatedly, a person must study the characteristics that make up this type of criminal. Most serial killers have been abandoned by one or both parents, are emotionally, physically, and even sexually abused by a family member, or relatives from unstable families who have criminal, psychiatric, and alcoholic histories. , or tend to hate their parents. and people in general, which leads them to suffer from antisocial personality disorder. They suffered from conflict or tortured animals at a young age and most are very interested in taking control of things. Although not all serial killers possess these characteristics, most share these characteristics in the same way that they share the psychological need to have complete control and power over people. Dennis Rader was a normal avaergae citizen until he shocked the public when he was arrested as a serial killer who caused tragedy in their town. One article stated that "either in his genes, or in his childhood, or perhaps a dark combination of the two, created a hole in this place that most of us call a soul" (Klepper). Dennis Rader was the eldest of four sons. He grew up in Wichita, Kansas. As a child, Dennis was known for killing and hanging stray cats. (article 3) People...... middle of paper...... 05, Mar 06). The suspect in 10 Kansas murders lived an extremely ordinary life. New York Times. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/433020415?accountid=10244O'Driscoll, P. (June 28, 2005). 'BTK' calmly gives gruesome details; Serial killer who stalked Wichita pleads guilty. THE UNITED STATES TODAY. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/408976968?accountid=10244Help stop kids from becoming monsters. (January 23, 2006). Daily Redlands Facts. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/379956373?accountid=10244Megan, K. and Courant, SW (March 10, 2005). THE KILLERS (AND LIARS) AMONG US; HOW CAN A SERIAL MURDER LIVE UNDETECTED AMONG “NORMAL PEOPLE”? BY BEING A SOCIOPATH – A PERSON WITHOUT CONSCIOUSNESS, WITHOUT CAPACITY TO LOVE. Hartford Courant. Retrieved from http://search.proquest.com/docview/256830354?accountid=10244