Understanding why certain people become victims of serial killers is a critical part of criminal psychology. This field of study is known as victimology, and it provides insight into the patterns, motives, and psychological connections between killers and their chosen targets.
In serial murder cases, the choice of victims is rarely random. Often, the victims represent something to the killer—either a symbol of past trauma, a fantasy, or an object of hatred or obsession.
Patterns in Victim Selection
Serial killers typically have a victim profile based on factors such as:
Gender
Age
Occupation
Vulnerability
Physical appearance
Lifestyle or behavior
For example, many serial killers target women—especially young women or sex workers—due to their perceived vulnerability and availability. Others may focus on children, the elderly, or men based on specific internal motives or past trauma.
Psychological Grudges and Symbolic Targets
In many cases, serial killers hold deep psychological grudges rooted in their past. Victims may symbolize someone from the killer's childhood or life—a neglectful mother, an abusive father, a bully, or a romantic rejection. These emotional scars drive killers to project their pain and rage onto innocent people who resemble or represent those figures.
Ted Bundy, for instance, targeted women with long brown hair parted in the middle—similar to his ex-girlfriend.
Edmund Kemper murdered female students and ultimately his mother, whom he deeply resented.
Aileen Wuornos killed men who she believed were trying to sexually exploit her, linking them to her own abuse and trauma.
In these examples, victims were not chosen randomly; they were emotional surrogates, acting as stand-ins for someone the killer could not confront directly.
Gender-Related Trauma
A recurring theme in many serial killer profiles is gender-based trauma. This may include:
Maternal rejection or abuse (common in male serial killers)
Sexual abuse during childhood
Feelings of powerlessness or humiliation, often directed toward the opposite sex
Misogyny or internalized hatred of women
Killers with this kind of trauma may develop violent fantasies where they assert control over a gender they feel wronged by. These fantasies can evolve into ritualized violence, where the act of killing becomes both symbolic and sexually gratifying.
Targeting the Vulnerable
Serial killers frequently choose victims who are easier to control or manipulate, such as:
Runaways
Sex workers
Homeless individuals
Children or teenagers
People living alone
These victims are less likely to be missed immediately or reported, and they often lack strong social support, making them easier prey. This is known as "victim availability" and is a practical consideration in addition to psychological ones.
For example:
Robert Pickton targeted sex workers from Vancouver's Downtown Eastside.
Gary Ridgway, the "Green River Killer," preyed on young sex workers because he believed the police wouldn't care about them.
Role of Fantasy and Control
For many serial killers, the act of choosing and controlling a victim is as important as the murder itself. Victim selection may be part of a long-standing fantasy built over years. The victim is often objectified—seen not as a person, but as a tool for fulfilling a violent or sexual obsession.
This is why many serial killers stalk their victims, watch them for days, and plan the crime meticulously. The victim becomes part of a narrative that exists only in the killer's mind, shaped by fantasy, delusion, and revenge.
Conclusion: Why They Choose Who They Choose
Victimology teaches us that serial killers are driven by a mix of psychological trauma, fantasies, symbolic representations, and opportunistic thinking. Their victims are often chosen because they match an internal blueprint shaped by pain, rejection, fear, or hatred.
Understanding this dynamic is essential not only for profiling and catching serial killers, but also for protecting vulnerable populations and recognizing patterns before it's too late.