Defining Violence: Classifying Acts of Multiple Murder

Introduction — Spree, Serial and Mass Murder

There is a lack of consistency in the way terms such as Spree Killer, Serial Killer and Mass Murderer are applied and definitions vary between academics and law enforcement agencies and between different Countries. Attempts to clearly define particular categories of multiple murders have been fraught with difficulties.

Small definitional discrepancies are not unexpected and do not undermine the other valuable insights which can be gained from applying a process of classification; it is the understanding of the broader shared characteristics of different types of multiple murderers which is of value and interest.

What do Spree Killers, Serial Killers and Mass Murderers all have in common and what separates them from one another?

Practically speaking, they have all taken more than one life, but after that commonality the differences start appearing. These differences between the three categories largely relate to questions of victim count, duration and location, though there are also significant different psychological motivating drives underpinning the actions.