Victimology

There are links between most serial killers and their chosen victims.  Demographically, serial murderers tend to target more women than men, and kill strangers more often than family or acquaintances. This is in opposition to single-homicide offenders. They tend to kill men and women equally, while killing friends and family more often.

Serial murderers' killings are often sexually motivated. The sexual motivation supports the theory that serial murderers tend to have specific criteria and specific sexual interest that motivate their selection of certain victims.

In the US, serial killers prefer to target victims ages 18-50. The majority of victims are white.

For women serial killers, they tend to kill those who they are already intimately familiar with.  For female serial killers husbands and their children are first choice victims  Female serial killers are rare. The most common motive identified for female serial killers was material gain..

Although no two serial killers are exactly alike in method of killing or motive, there are certain profiles which have common similarities.  As summarized by Schurman, "For the serial killer, the fantasy life develops in early childhood and can consume a killer's life. The fantasy serves as an escape for the powerless."