Written by well known experts, this supplemental text employs the general notion of power and control as a central and unifying thesis for understanding why people kill. This brief yet comprehensive and student-friendly book presents a classification of homicide theories, examining "the will to kill" from various perspectives.

Preface.

About the Authors.

1.The Law of Homicide.

Murder.

Manslaughter.

Defenses to Criminal Homicide.

Homicide Law in Practice.

2.Explaining Murder.

Murder as a Constant in Human Nature.

Individual Biological Differences.

Self-Control, Social Control, and Murder.

Strain, Frustration, and Murder.

Learning to Kill.

A Note of Caution.

3.The Killers and Their Victims.

Fascination with Murder.

Trends in Homicide.

Race Differences.

Gender Differences.

Age Differences.

Differences by Location.

4.Intimate and Family Murder.

Killing for Profit.

Obsession and Jealousy.

Power, Control, and Abuse.

Family Annihilation.

Infanticide.

Killing for Love.

5.The Coming and Going of the Young Superpredators.

An Epidemic of Youth Homicide.

Explaining the Recent Decline.

Selling Evil.

Looking Ahead.

6.Well-Schooled in Murder.

Blaming Parents.

Copycat Shootings.

Explaining School Massacres.

Responses to School Shootings.

Healthy and Safe Schools.

7.Serial Killers.

A Profile of Serial Killers.

The Murdering Mind.

"Angels of Death."

Childhood Origins.

8.Rampage.

Methodical and Selective.

Losses and Frustrations.

Profile of a Mass Murderer.

Murderous Customers and Clients.

9.Hate Homicide.

Characteristics of Hate Murders.

Types of Hate Homicide.

Hate Crimes and Domestic Terrorism.

Organized Hate Groups.

Hate Crime Laws.

10.Cult Killings.

Dangerous Cults.

The Appeal of Cults.

Charismatic Leaders and Their Followers.

Needs Filled by Cults.

Normal People in Abnormal Situations.

11.Getting Away with Murder.

The Insanity Defense.

Justice for Juveniles.

Capital Punishment.

Suggested Readings.

Appendix: A Note about Data Sources.

Index.