Anonymous asked this question on 4/12/2000:

*What goes through the mind of a killer before, during, and after their act? *Why do they do it? *What types of mental illnesses do they have? Do they even have any? *Why do they pick certian types of race, gender, or ages to be their victims? Why do they do it? Why can't they get help? Why is it normally serial, they keep doing it?

serial_interest gave this response on 4/15/2000:

In my opinion from my studies,theres a craving that happens after they do it once and get away with it...sometimes it's the hope of getting caught but in a way by playing games with the police. Most serial killers are intelligent people, who at some point have some sort of gap in their life that has never been filled and even they aren't sure or aware of what that is. to them , it's a rush like we get when we ski, skydive, rollercoaster ride...etc. to fulfill this urge they have to keep repeating the crime. Sometimes an ex. would be an overprotective mother syndrome...with not enough male influence in their lives. Sometimes they have certain MO's they go by because of some trauma from their past...sometimes they kill at random...but there is always a connection of some sort between the victims.. There is definetely a sort of mental block that occurs to make them do these horrible things..but as far as mental illnesses ...well, in my opinion, Drs. like to place a mental condition on ppl of this nature for society to explain the crime. As far as getting help, even when put in institutions, I think really society doesn't really want them cured for fear of it happening again. They themselves more often than not don't want to be helped ...they feel it a very natural way of life. It's hard to get inside the mind of a serial killer,,,,but this really intrigues me....Thanks for asking.