Media Mayhem with Allison Hope Weiner
Episode 214
From BTK to the Son of Sam, WHY WE LOVE SERIAL KILLERS with Dr. Scott Bonn
“Why We Love Serial Killers,” author Dr. Scott Bonn explores John Wayne Gacy, the Son of Sam, BTK, and the fetish for murder by the media in this uncensored discussion. The psychological profiles of killers-from their occasional sexual motivations, to the reasons why women make the best serial killers-are shared in this exploration of crime and journalism on Media Mayhem, hosted by Allison Hope Weiner.
Episode Breakdown
00:01 Welcoming Dr. Scott Bonn to Media Mayhem.
00:58 “Why We Love Serial Killers”, by Scott Bonn.
06:15 Contacting a killer: BTK and Son of Sam.
11:00 “If it bleeds it leads”, the media’s exploitation of serial killers.
14:14 Myths and misconceptions in the media profile of serial killers.
20:26 Distinguishing one type of killer from another.
23:45 Controlling the urge to kill, “Factor X.”
26:06 Sanity and morality among sociopaths and psychopaths.
32:12 Selling fear and the spectrum of a killer.
34:55 Casey Anthony, Jodi Arias and Amanda Knox, sensationalizing female killers.
39:02 Thank you and goodbye.
Guest Bio
Dr. Scott Bonn (“Doc Bonn”) is Professor of Criminology, media expert and analyst, public speaker and author. He is an expert on criminal behavior and the motivations of criminals. He offers insights into various types of crime, including white-collar, state crime, bullying, domestic violence, sexual assault and serial homicide. His expert commentary frequently appears in the popular news media.
Doc Bonn is the author of “Mass Deception: Moral Panic and the U.S. War on Iraq,” a critically acclaimed book on war crime and terrorism from Rutgers University Press (2010). His latest book is on the public’s fascination with serial killers in which he offers insights into the minds of infamous predators and explains how and why serial killers are often transformed into ghoulish popular culture celebrities by the media. Titled “Why We Love Serial Killers” the book is published by Skyhorse Press and released in October, 2014.
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