As I posted elsewhere in 2006, IMO, the concept of “fame terrorist” is a significant factor for some serial killers, mass murderers, and spree killers [edited]:
Generally speaking, patterns of maladaptive behavior tend to increase in frequency, intensity, and/or duration as long as they continue to be reinforced by some combination of increased pleasure/comfort or decreased pain/discomfort. Since most of the reinforcing processes/fantasies are under the control of the murderer, such patterns are very likely to continue until/unless there is some type of critical change in access to victims (e.g., incarceration, hospitalization), motivation (e.g., disease processes, disability), perceptions (e.g., cognitive dysfunction, brain trauma), or beliefs and related values (i.e., a miracle). It is very similar to the reinforcing processes that feed pedophilia. That is, fantasy-driven, progressive and pervasive, lifelong, and being more age independent than the many types of criminal conduct that tend to “age out.” Such individuals tend to be loners with few competing reinforcers, regardless of their life situation and public persona. Years of self cognitive conditioning and related acting-out, combined with the strengthening process of secrecy and the ever narrowing range of interests, and the multiple functioning nature of the reinforcing processes (i.e., deviant pleasure plus deviant pain relief, both physical and psychological), ultimately create a self-made person who has lost (i.e., destroyed) the capacity to change by intent.
In recent years some new factors have been added to the killing formula ... mobility, easy access to *advertiser censored*, the internet, and the increasing reinforcing role of the media and related “fame.” The “successful” killer is one of the most powerful members of our society, even after incarceration. I believe these and other factors have combined to facilitate the development of new types of killers, those for whom the killing is merely incidental to gain access to the media and the public, much like a terrorist. Perhaps we should call them “fame terrorists” instead of serial killers, mass murderers, or spree killers. They certainly are not simply sexual sadists, regardless of their sexual fantasies and related lifestyles.
Russell
