Death-Related Crime: Applying Bryant’s Conceptual Paradigm of Thanatological Crime to Serial Homicide

Abstract

The study of death within the field of sociology is expansive yet despite this research there is a lack of inquiry within the area of crime and deviance on the topic of thanatological crime. One researcher that has conducted an analysis of this topic is Bryant (2003). In his exposé on thanatological crime, Bryant (2003) developed a conceptual paradigm of death-related crime that consisted of four motivational categories and two patterns of victimization. Using data from the Radford/FGCU Serial Killer Database (Aamodt 2013), this article extends and applies the conceptual paradigm of thanatological crime to serial homicide.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Virginia Beard

VIRGINIA BEARD earned her Ph.D. at Virginia Tech. She is currently an Assistant Professor of Sociology and Criminal Justice at Longwood University. Her current research interests include violent crime, deviant behavior, death studies, and social inequality.

Shay Hunter

SHAY HUNTER is currently working toward her master’s degree in Sociology with a focus on Criminology at Longwood University. Her research interests include crime, deviance, and gender.

Laura Kern

LAURA KERN earned her bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Longwood University in May of 2013. She is currently working on her master’s degree in social work at the University of Kentucky. She aspires to use her master’s degree to obtain a position with the VA to assist veterans and their families.

Brooklynne Kiley

BROOKLYNNE KILEY is a senior at Longwood University. Her research interests include violent crime and deviant behavior.