Department of Psychology, University of Extremadura, 06006 Badajoz, Spain.
Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2022 Apr 28;19(9):5359. doi: 10.3390/ijerph19095359.
Serial murder is a specific type of violent crime that falls into the crime category of multicide. According to the nomenclature of the Federal Bureau of Investigation's and Academic Researchers for the Classification of Violent Crimes, most serial killers are adults. However, serial murder is also committed by young people, although to a lesser extent. Young serial killers are a topic of relevance in areas such as psychology, criminology, and the justice system. Given that the study of the variables that could be the basis of such multicide criminality is not conclusive, the need for further research is evident. The homicides perpetrated by children and young people point to a social panorama that is alarming due to their young age. This issue is prevalent enough to conduct a review. The performed review concludes the importance of psychosocial factors to better understand the process by which children and young people commit crimes as serious as serial murders. The scope of the problem of serial murders perpetrated by minors is controversial because it often depends on how the number of real cases is counted. Although official statistics indicate the low prevalence of juvenile serial killers, childhood is a period in which antisocial behaviour can have its beginning. Some authors consider that it is not uncommon for the first murder of this type to occur in adolescence. It is important to consider psychopathy as an influential factor in the various forms of serial criminal conduct committed by children and young people. The research works consulted provide evidence of the special relevance of psychopathy in the generation of serious juvenile delinquency.
连环杀人是一种特定类型的暴力犯罪，属于多人谋杀犯罪类别。根据联邦调查局和犯罪分类学术研究人员的命名法，大多数连环杀手是成年人。然而，也有年轻人犯下连环杀人罪，尽管程度较轻。青少年连环杀手是心理学、犯罪学和司法系统等领域关注的话题。鉴于对可能构成这种多人谋杀犯罪基础的变量的研究尚无定论，显然需要进一步研究。儿童和青少年犯下的杀人案表明，由于他们年龄较小，社会状况令人震惊。这个问题足够普遍，可以进行审查。所进行的审查得出结论，心理社会因素对于更好地理解儿童和青少年犯下像连环谋杀这样严重的罪行的过程至关重要。未成年人犯下连环谋杀案的问题范围存在争议，因为它往往取决于如何计算实际案件的数量。尽管官方统计数据表明青少年连环杀手的患病率较低，但童年是反社会行为可能开始的时期。一些作者认为，这种类型的第一起谋杀案发生在青春期并不罕见。考虑到精神病态是儿童和青少年犯下各种形式连环犯罪行为的一个有影响力的因素是很重要的。所咨询的研究工作提供了证据，证明精神病态在严重青少年犯罪的产生中具有特殊的重要性。
