Difference Between Mass Murderers & Serial Killers

The difference between mass murderers and serial killers are that mass murderers are generally apprehended or killed by police, commit suicide, or turn themselves in. Serial killers make huge efforts to keep themselves hidden. They may continue to kill for weeks, months, or even years before they are stopped or found. Both types of killers evoke to fear and stress in the community, but the reaction to mass murderers are more focused and limited than to serial killing. Mass killer is one suffering from a mental illness, and goes crazy or insane. Mass murderer is viewed as a deranged soul, a product of a stressful environment who is just going to "explode" now and then. A serial killer is seen as much more of a sinister and is more capable of producing fear.

Mass Murderers kill groups of people at once whereas serial killer individualizes his/her murders. The serial killer continues to hurt and murder victims, whereas mass murderers make his/her own "final statement" before they end their violence. Mass murderer has some ultimate goal to achieve and kills large numbers of people while serial killers enjoy killing specific groups of people for personal reasons. Another difference between a mass murderer and serial killer is that a mass murderer will kill large groups of people at the SAME time, while serial killers have a "cool down" period that can last weeks or months and then they kill again.

Mass murderers and serial killers are very different. But i do believe that any type of killer is crazy and has mental problems. Examples of mass murderers is the Columbine Shooting were two boys went on a rampage and killed 13 of their classmates. An example of a Serial Killer would be Ted Bundy who killed over 30 people in a period of years. Serial Killers are more aggressive in their killings where they will strangle, rape, stab, ect. their victims while mass murderers are more likely to shoot their victims. Serial killers like to watch their victims have a slow painful death, while mass murderers kill their victims quickly and move on.




Harrison, Jon. (2011). Criminal justice resources: serial or mass murder. Retrieved from http://staff.lib.msu.edu/harris23/crimjust/serial.htm


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