Specific Criminal Typologies

Crimes against property and their motivations

Property crimes include acts such as theft, vandalism, arson and residential burglary.

Unlike violent crimes, there is usually no direct physical force used against individuals, although the invasion of privacy generates considerable psychological harm. The motivations behind these acts are multifactorial.

Severe economic deprivation and lack of legitimate opportunities push many into illegality out of sheer necessity for subsistence. However, it is not all about survival.

In adolescents, peer pressure and the desire for status within a gang can be triggers, as well as the search for strong emotions or "adrenaline".

A revealing fact is that a large portion of these crimes, such as residential burglaries, occur because of opportunity and geographic proximity; it is more likely to be victimized by an opportunistic neighbor than by a distant organized gang.

In addition, a significant fraction of these incidents are never reported, either because of distrust of the police or the perception that the damage was minor, making it difficult to get a complete picture of the problem.

Stalking and Sexual Offenses

The spectrum of sexual offenses ranges from persistent stalking to direct physical assault.

Stalking is defined by a pattern of intrusive and repetitive behavior; following, unwanted communications, surveillance; that induces fear or distress in the victim.

Often these behaviors are minimized or disguised as persistent romanticism, but they constitute a serious form of psychological violence that erodes the freedom of the affected person.

As for physical sexual violence, it is crucial to banish the myth of the unknown aggressor lurking in an alley.

The vast majority of abuse is perpetrated by people in the victim's environment: partners, ex-partners, family members or acquaintances.

Alcohol consumption plays a preponderant role as a facilitator, often used by the aggressors to reduce the victim's ability to resist.

Unfortunately, the rate of reporting remains extremely low due to stigma, fear of retaliation and evidentiary difficulty.

Psychology of the Serial Killer and Mass Shootings

The profile of the serial killer has been widely mythologized. It is technically defined as someone who commits homicides in separate events with emotional "cooling off" periods in between.

Contrary to the stereotype of the lone, dysfunctional genius, many of these criminals maintain a facade of normalcy: they have jobs, families, and are involved in the community, allowing them to operate without arousing suspicion for years.

Their motivations vary from sadistic sexual gratification to profit or ideological mission, and they often have a history of severe childhood trauma, including physical or sexual abuse. Mass shootings, on the other hand, present a different dynamic.

Often perpetrated by individuals with a history of perceived grievances, social rejection or personal failure, these acts are often a final form of revenge and extended suicide. Imitation plays a key role, where one event inspires future attackers.

It is important to note that, although mental health is a factor, the vast majority of people with mental illness do not commit these acts; access to firearms and the accumulation of life crises are determining factors in the execution of these tragedies.

Summary

Property crimes arise from diverse motivations such as economic necessity, social pressure or the search for adrenaline. They are often crimes of opportunity and geographic proximity that do not involve direct force, leaving many unreported.

Sexual violence and stalking are mostly perpetrated by close associates, not by strangers. These behaviors, often facilitated by alcohol, generate profound psychological damage, although stigma keeps reporting rates low.

Serial killers often hide their sadism behind a well-constructed facade of social and occupational normalcy. On the other hand, mass shootings reflect final acts of revenge and suicide, driven by accumulated grievances and access to guns.