Final answer:
Behavioral patterns and geographic profiling are used to create subdivisions of serial killers. This involves mapping crimes and utilizing tools like GIS to identify a perpetrator's tendencies and predict future crimes, yet individual variances and ethical concerns complicate this process.
Step-by-step explanation:
Understanding Subdivisions of Serial Killers
Subdivisions of serial killers are based on the analysis of behavioral patterns and geographical data. Forensic experts and geographers may utilize geographic profiling to understand and predict the spatial behavior of serial offenders. This involves mapping crimes, such as arson, murder, and car theft, in order to identify modus operandi and make informed predictions about future crimes and the location of the perpetrator. Factors like distance decay, which suggests that criminals tend to commit crimes closer to their homes while avoiding immediate vicinity to reduce the risk of recognition, come into play. Tools such as GIS (Geographical Information System) play a crucial role in this analysis, aiding in finding patterns that match theories of geographic behavior. While television shows like NCIS and CSI popularize these methods, real-life applications are often more complex, with methodologies like Rossmo's Formula employed by advanced analysts. Additionally, the morality of killing, deterrent effects, and cultural perspectives play a role in the social understanding of serial killers.
Individual variances in behavior, type of crime, and the specifics of a region all contribute to the complex nature of profiling serial criminals. For example, analyzing the Hollywood Arsonist case through an assignment may provide insights into the practical application of geographic profiling. However, ethical considerations about capital punishment and its role as a potential deterrent to crime are also part of the broader discourse on understanding the behavior of serial killers.