Application of the Serious Leisure Perspective to Intrinsically Motivated Serial Homicide

ABSTRACT

This article briefly introduces the multidisciplinary field of leisure sciences before exploring how leisure theory, particularly the Serious Leisure Perspective, can provide important insights into better understanding some forms of serial homicide. It is well known that many serial homicide offenders kill for the pleasure and enjoyment that such behavior provides them. Such expressive cases can be understood as deviant casual, serious, or project-based leisure experience, which helps account for how particular offenders plan, structure, and experience their crimes. Examples of specific serial homicide cases that appear to function primarily as casual, serious, or project-based leisure are presented and discussed.

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Notes on contributors

D J Williams

DJ WILLIAMS is the Director of Research at the Center for Positive Sexuality in Los Angeles and an Associate Professor of Sociology, Social Work, and Criminology at Idaho State University. His expertise focuses on intersections between criminology, sexology, and leisure science. Dr. Williams received a B.S. (1992) from Weber State University; M.S. (1998) and M.S.W. degrees from the University of Utah; and completed a Ph.D. and postdoctoral research fellowship from the University of Alberta, Canada. Over his career, Dr. Williams has conducted forensic assessments on over 1,000 offenders. His research is published in numerous academic books and journals, and he is a current member of the Homicide Research Working Group and the Atypical Homicide Research Working Group.

Jolene Vincent

JOLENE VINCENT is a Doctoral Candidate and the Assistant Director and Senior Data Analyst of the Crime Lab in the Department of Sociology at the University of Central Florida. As a sociological criminologist, Jolene’s research focuses on lethal and nonlethal violence, deviant behavior, and human trafficking. Jolene’s research appears in a refereed book Human Trafficking: A Systemwide Public Safety and Community Approach. Her memberships include the Homicide Research Working Group, the Atypical Homicide Research Working Group, the American Society of Criminology, and the Southern Sociological Society. Jolene plans to use her Ph.D. to further her knowledge in sociology and criminology with a career that will allow her to continue teaching and doing research following her expected summer 2018 graduation.