AP Psychology Serial Killer Project PDF

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AP Psychology Serial Killer Project Objective: The purpose of this project is to apply what you have learned this year about psychology and to explore one of the most bizarre and intriguing phenomena in human behavior, the serial killer. In groups of no less than 3 and no more than 5, you will choose and research a serial killer from around the world and attempt to explain and analyze their behavior. Step One: Choose a serial killer from the list below. You may choose an unsolved case if you wish, but it must be approved by me. Step Two: Choose ONE of the following to complete your presentation of your research:

✓ Write a 3-page research paper that examines the three parts listed below…….the history of the cases, background and profile of the suspect/killer, and analysis of them using two of the approaches to psychology (psychoanalytical, biological, humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, cross-cultural, or biopsychosocial). You must include a reference page at the end in APA format.

✓ Complete a power point presentation with no fewer than 15 slides identifying each of the 3 parts listed below. Your ppt presentation must include a minimum of 10 illustrations throughout and a biographical/reference slide at the end (this does not count as one of your 15 slides)

✓ Create a “biography” of the serial killer…. This can be done in book format, pamphlet, flip book, etc…. but must also include all of the following information found below…. ALL 3 parts must be included in this project: PART I: Biographical Information Part I will contain general information about the killer you are researching and his/her life and upbringing, his/her crimes, and trial and sentencing. You are not required to answer all of the questions listed below – they are intended to be guidelines to aid your research. ❖ What was his/her childhood like? ❖ Did childhood behavior reflect problems? ❖ What was his/her adult life like? Did he/she finish high school/college? Did he/she marry? Have children? Was he/she a loner? ❖ Was he/she ever diagnosed with a mental disorder? Did he/she ever receive treatment? PART II: Criminal Activity Part II will contain general information about the killer’s crimes, and his/her trial and sentencing. You are not required to answer all of the questions listed below – they are intended to be guidelines to aid your research. ❖ What was the nature of the crimes? ❖ What was the time span for the crimes? How many victims? ❖ Did the killer take souvenirs and/or leave a signature? ❖ What was his/her behavior like when caught? ❖ Was he/she found capable to withstand trial? ❖ What evidence was used at the trial (forensic evidence, witnesses, etc)? What happened at

the trial? ❖ What was he/she charged with and sentenced to? ❖ Is he/she still alive? PART III: Characterizing the Serial Killer ❖ Determine which category the killer fits into and give specific examples to support your choice ▪ Organized ▪ Disorganized ❖ Identify and explain the type of serial killer and provide examples to support your choice ▪ Visionary: Visionary serial killers suffer from psychotic breaks with reality, sometimes believing they are another person or are compelled to murder by entities such as the Devil or God. The two most common subgroups are "demon mandated" and "God mandated". ▪ Mission-Orientated: Mission-oriented killers typically justify their acts as "ridding the world" of a certain type of person perceived as undesirable, such as homosexuals, prostitutes, or people of different ethnicity or religion; however, they are generally not psychotic. Some see themselves as attempting to change society, often to cure a societal ill. ▪ Hedonistic: A Hedonistic type of serial killer seeks thrills and derives pleasure from killing, seeing people as expendable means to this goal. Forensic psychologists have identified three subtypes of the hedonistic killer: "lust", "thrill" and "comfort". ▪ Power-Oriented: The main objective for a power-oriented type of serial killer is to gain and exert power over their victim. Such killers are sometimes abused as children, leaving them with feelings of powerlessness and inadequacy as adults. Many power- or control-motivated killers sexually abuse their victims, but they differ from hedonistic killers in that rape is not motivated by lust but as simply another form of dominating the victim. ❖ Analysis of them using two of the approaches to psychology (psychoanalytical, biological, humanistic, cognitive, behavioral, cross-cultural, or biopsychosocial).

Select one serial killer from the following list (or other with teacher approval) " Charles Albright Rodney Alcala Kristen Gilbert Benjamin Atkins Joe Ball David Berkowitz William Bonin Ted Bundy Richard Angelo David Carpenter Richard Chase Juan Corona

Jeffery Dahmer Nannie Doss Walter Ellis Albert Fish Kendall Francois John Wayne Gacy Janie Lou Gibbs Ed Gein H.H. Holmes Leslie Irvin Edmund Kemper Rhonda Belle Marti Ted Kaczynski Marie Noe Marybeth Tinning Wayne Williams Aileen Wuornos Henry Lee Lucas Dorothea Puente Gary Ridgway

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The majority of your research will need to be divided up and conducted at home… You will have Monday and Tuesday in class to work collectively as a group but the final project is due on Wednesday/Thursday (your block day) and if computer generated, must be emailed to me no later than 4:00pm on the due your project is due. Please send your email or share your google docs with me at [email protected]....