Kirsten DobsonEnglish 2010SheltonApril 5, 2014InfamousIntroduction“We serial killers are your children, we are your husbands, we are everywhere. And tomorrow there will be more of your dead children.” These were the terrifying words of one of America's most infamous serial killers, Ted Bundy, after confessing to coldly slaughtering thirty women. Every year Hollywood writers hunt serial killers like Bundy for their gruesome and baffling stories; in turn, these writers created a stereotype of the serial killer. They cover their faces with masks and stalk their prey under the cover of night darkness. They are unknown and sometimes even invincible outsiders. These faceless killers horrify masses of people across America. But who are the real killers, the individuals who walk around freely in broad daylight without disguises? Born bad? Are serial killers a result of nature or a victim of nurture? Many psychologists and crime analysts have set out to answer this question; Unfortunately there is no clear answer as to the exact origin. On the other hand, many specialists have different theories that could contribute to the creation of these individuals. These theories include biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. While there are many ideas about the cause, one thing is clear: most individuals do not lose their grip on reality without warning and become brutal serial killers overnight (Simons 351). These individuals are complex and mysterious to many. Through a combination of various factors, serial killers are created; they are not simply born with the hunger to kill. The Mask of Madness In Alfred Hitchcock's famous slasher film, Psycho, audiences are introduced to Norman Bates. Like many others... middle of paper... seems average. They blend easily into society. Most of these individuals are linked by commonalities from their childhood, as well as by their personality traits and behaviors. The serial killer's personality is an intricate recipe of biological, environmental, and social circumstances. Although early abuse can cause feelings of aggression and delinquency, childhood experiences alone cannot be responsible. Many people are abused as children and never become murderers. Likewise, biological problems, such as brain abnormalities, such as certain personality disorders, would not individually create a killer. Rather, a distinctive combination of psychological problems, brain impairments, and personality disorders help shape a brutal serial killer. Assassins cannot simply be born into this world, but under the right circumstances they will be created.