Serial Murder

Designed by: Alison Pope

the long history behind

Serial Murder

Lets dive into the history behind the

Psychological

Legal

Overall Trends

Common law to Modern Penal Code

First record to Current day

First known research to Modern Focuses

Key Vocabulary Words

APA American Psychological Association

The scientific study of the human mind and its functions, especially those affecting behavior in a given context

A comprehensive, influential proposal for criminal law drafted by the American Law Institute and published in 1962

legal system primarily developed through precedent rather than legislative statutes, originating in medieval England

A scientific organization in the US that represents the field of psychology

the action of planning something (especially a crime) beforehand

Title

Modern Penal Code

Premeditation

Actus Reus

Murder

Mens Rea

Psychology

Common law

"Guilty Mind"

Use this side to give more information about a topic.

"Guilty Act"

The unlawful premeditated killing of one human being by another.

Subtitle

History of Law

Modern penal code

Common law

types of murder under the modern penal code

Types of murder under common law

Murder

depraved heart

Felony

Grievous bodily harm

Intent to kill

First Degree

Third Degree

Second Degree

Defintions of murder

UNDER COMMON LAW

Depraved Heart

Intent to kill

GROWTH

Felony

Grievous bodily harm

Willfull and premeditated and the only type to require intentional malice

Actor intended to only cause grievous bodily harm, but instead killed them

Actor commits one of the specific juridictions felonies that then results in someones death.

Act done in spite of substantial and unjustifiable risk to human life such that malice aforethought can be implied.

Degrees of Murder under Model Penal Code

First Degree

Second Degree

Third Degree

"Unlawful killing of a human being, or fetus, with malice aforethought

Applied to all murders that do not qualify under the category of first-degree murder

The unlawful killing committed without premeditated intent to kill, characterized by a "depraved mind" or reckless indifference to human life, or occurring during certain non-violent felonies

So What Changed?

Modern Penal Code

Common Law

• Combined the list into one category, with very distinct language that covered all aspects of Common Law Murder, and then divided into 'degrees'

• Does not eliminate concept of felony murder, rather works under the presumption that all murder is felonous

• The main definition covers all of these concepts, and each degree narrows the concept even more

• Four distinct categories seperating the law into more detailed charges

• Distinct category for felony murder

• Each category is distinct between intent, recklessness, and purposefullness

Timeline of Forensic or Criminal Psychology

1879

1896

1892

1886

William Wundt opens first psychology lab

The field of psychology begins to expand

The American Psychological Association is founded

First Doctorate Degree in Psychology is awarded

1913

1933

1946

1969

Behavioralism is being developed

Works from psychologists are destroyed in Nazi Germany-knowledge is lost

National Mental Health Act is passed by Harry Truman

The American Psychology-Law Society is established

2026-

2001

1978

1994

The APA recognizes forensic psychology as a specialty field

American Board of Forensic Psychology and the American Academy of Forensic Psychology are established

Insanity Defense Act is passed

Now, Forensic Psychology and its studies are used in law everyday

Trends and Statistics

Victim Demographics

of victims are female

75%

Whos More Susceptible?

Offender Statisticcs

88.6%

of known serial killers were male

Trends Through the Decades

How Do These Concepts Connect?

The Legal, psychological aspects and trends of serial murder

• Understanding the differences between Common Law and the Modern Penal Code shows how the American legal system works today.
• The timeline of forensic psychology as a specified branch of psychology helps us understand when the behavior of these crimes was finally studied.
• The trends show who is most susceptible, who is more likely to commit serial murder, but also the incline and decline of serial killers around the world.

What is Law?

Law is a system of rules and regulations used to monitor and control the conduct of a community. Oftentimes, it is enforced by a controlling authority.

Who is the Father of Psychology?

Although the concept of psychology can be traced back in history hundreds of years, the seperate dicipline emerged in the late 1800s. Wilhelm Wundt was a German Psychologist who went on to create the worlds first psychology lab in 1879, therefore becoming the 'Father of Psychology'.