Extreme Killing: Understanding Serial and Mass Murder - Hardcover

Hardcover

ISBN 10: 0761988564 ISBN 13: 9780761988564

Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc, 2005

Synopsis

Extreme Killing provides a comprehensive, fascinating overview of multiple homicide, including both serial and mass murder. Adopting a unified conceptual framework for understanding these divergent forms of extreme killing, this book illustrates the many violent expressions of power, revenge, terror, greed, and loyalty using contemporary and classic case studies in multiple murder.

In Extreme Killing, renowned experts James Alan Fox and Jack Levin examine the theories of criminal behavior and apply them to a multitude of well-known and lesser-known cases from around the world. The authors draw upon research from two large data sets - one comprised of serial killers and the other of those who have committed massacres. The book presents the many commonalities among multiple murders and also focuses on the varieties of serial and mass killing. The authors address the characteristics of both killers and their victims, and, in their concluding chapter, discuss the special concerns of multiple murder victims and their survivors.

About this title

Review

"Northeastern University criminal justice professors Fox and Levin distinguish serial murder from mass murder and note five distinct motives: power, revenge, loyalty, prfit, and terorr.  [They] discuss all of this in some detail, but the main impression they leave is that it is difficult to generalize about serial killlers orm ass murderers  Recommended." (D. Harper Choice Magazine 2006-01-01)

"The authors provide a well-constructed introduction to the plethora of subjects that attribute to the multifaceted extreme types of murder...In sum, this book provides a comprehensive overview of multiple homicide and provides case examples to illustrate commonalities between types or as a means of differentiating between forms of extreme killing" -Laura Barrett, Sam Houston State University (Laura Barrett 2007-10-08)

About the Author

Jack Levin is the Irving and Betty Brudnick Professor of Sociology and Criminology at Northeastern University, where he co-directs its Center on Violence and Conflict and teaches courses in the sociology of violence and hate. He has authored or co-authored 30 books, most recently including Serial Killers and Sadistic Murderers-Up Close and Personal and The Violence of Hate. Levin has also published more than 100 articles in professional journals and books and more than 150 columns in major newspapers, such as The New York Times, The Sunday London Times, The Chicago Tribune, The Washington Post, and USA Today. In 2009, he received a major award from the American Sociological Association for the role he has played to increase the public understanding of sociology. Also in 2009, he received the Apple Award from the New England Sociological Association for his contributions to teaching. Levin has spoken to a wide variety of community, academic, and professional groups, including the White House Conference on Hate Crimes, the National Organization of Hostage Negotiators, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.

About this edition

• Publisher: Sage Publications, Inc
• Publication date: 2005
• ISBN 10: 0761988564
• ISBN 13: 9780761988564
• Binding: Hardcover
• Number of pages: 304
• Editor: Fox James Alan, Levin Dr. Jack