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Essay / Research Paper Abstract
This 6 page paper examines Seltzer's book entitled Serial Killers. Seltzer's view is sound but it focuses on culture whereas the literature is dominant in other areas. This book review examines serial killing almost from a philosophical perspective, while keeping sociological and psychological implications in mind. Bibliography lists 10 sources.
Page Count:
6 pages (~225 words per page)
File: RT13_SA721sk.rtf
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Unformatted sample text from the term paper:
genre today, there had even been serial killer cards sold not too long ago. This mass marketing of killing outraged victims families as have "made for TV" movies about the
cases that see people glued to their television sets. What might account for this phenomenon? Why are people enthralled with serial killers? Seltzer does attempt to explain. The author refers
to something called "machine culture" which emanates from a 1890 novel, but is something that has increasing relevance; Seltzer writes that in this novel "intimacy is inseparable from the shock
of contact with the public in ceaseless motion, with faceless crowds of strangers..." (Seltzer 1998: 31). Seltzers approach is thoughtful at the very least, and extremely important at best. Seltzer
(1998) takes a unique approach to explaining serial killing. He blames society, something that has been done less and less in recent times. In fact, most theorists either blame the
individual actor, or blame biology. Gone are the criminal theories of the past decades where society was to blame for all social ills. There are in fact many authors who
see criminals as fully responsible for their actions. Samenow (2004) seems to believe that the criminals are wholly responsible for their behavior and that society, or the perpetrators parents, should
not be blamed for any horrific acts. The offender is the only one that someone should blame. The author notes that the criminals are often cognizant of their acts and
do plan ahead; Samenow (2004: 2) writes: "Their crimes require logic and self-control." Historically, and as pointed out by Hirschi & Rudisill (1976 as cited in Laub 2004) three
disciplines have dominated thought in criminology and these are biology, sociology and psychology. Dominance in one discipline or another would take precedence during different eras and Hirschi and Rudisill note
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