The nature of the beast

This research paper by Irma Labuschagne critically examines the practice of criminal profiling for serial killers, arguing that there is no single personality type for such offenders and that profiling often relies on unsubstantiated hunches rather than scientific certainty.

• Criminal profiling is described as a form of 'retro-classification' that functions as a strategy to narrow options and generate educated guesses rather than identifying a specific individual. The author asserts that profiling is frequently based on anecdotal information and hunches, and it rarely provides the specific identity of an offender.
• The author argues against the existence of a single serial killer profile, stating that because motives for killing vary, there are as many types of serial killers as there are motives. While most serial killers are male and possess at least average intelligence, they generally fall into two pathological categories: psychotics, who fail to perceive reality correctly, and psychopaths, who lack a conscience but maintain a grasp of reality.
• Criminologists have identified several typologies of serial killers based on motive: the 'Visionary type' (acting on divine directives), the 'Mission orientated type' (targeting specific groups), the 'Hedonistic type' (seeking pleasure/thrill), and the 'Power/control type' (seeking total control over the victim). Later additions include the 'Recognition seeker' (seeking media attention) and the 'Material gain-seeker' (killing for money).
• The author questions the boundaries of the 'serial killer' definition, suggesting that individuals who cause multiple deaths through greed (such as Chinese manufacturers adding melamine to baby food), political violence (such as Eugene de Kock during apartheid), or systemic leadership (such as Hitler or Stalin) might technically fit the definition of killing multiple victims in separate events.

APA

Labuschagne, I. (2009). The nature of the beast. Institute for Security Studies. https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2009-sacq-27/01-mar-2009-the-nature-of-the-beast-a-critical-discussion-of-profiling-irma-labuschagne

Chicago

Labuschagne, Irma. The nature of the beast. Institute for Security Studies, 2009. https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2009-sacq-27/01-mar-2009-the-nature-of-the-beast-a-critical-discussion-of-profiling-irma-labuschagne.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Labuschagne |first1=Irma |title=The nature of the beast |publisher=Institute for Security Studies |date=March 2009 |url=https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2009-sacq-27/01-mar-2009-the-nature-of-the-beast-a-critical-discussion-of-profiling-irma-labuschagne |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{labuschagne2009nature, author = {Labuschagne, Irma}, title = {{The nature of the beast}}, institution = {Institute for Security Studies}, year = {2009}, month = mar, url = {https://issafrica.org/01-mar-2009-sacq-27/01-mar-2009-the-nature-of-the-beast-a-critical-discussion-of-profiling-irma-labuschagne}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }