Douglas states that one of the most complicated in which the geography of a series of murders seemed to play a part, was that of the Zodiac killer (Profiling and Geography). Furthermore, in a study of 300 serial killers, it was found that 2.3% had turned themselves in, one way or another. However, this does not include those who might have made mistakes as a subconscious way to reveal themselves, but only those who initiated police awareness of them. There are many interpretations of their intent, and even as to their actual guilt, but it's nevertheless an error to say they never do it (the Myth).
From the evidence in this paper, it is clear that if a child is left alone, or forced to live in isolation, their minds become the object of their company, which begins the daydreams and the fantasy world (Ressler, Douglas and Burgess, 1990). Isolation tends to breed feelings of inadequacy in some way or other in all serial killers. These feelings run deeper than the normal neurotic feelings of not being good enough. Along with that, these early life attachments which are known as 'bonding', set up a map by which the child will in later life react to others.
In such cases, the children do not learn how to interact properly within their society, and at best, turn into mirror images of their isolators. A prime example of this can be seen in the case of Ed Kemper, whose mother condemned him to the basement of their home at the tender age of ten...
Confused and angry as to why he was suffering this punishment, he turned to his fantasies, which may have started out as 'normal', but with the continued isolation they quickly became his dominant world" (Evaluating a psychological profile of a serial killer).
Conclusion
After reading "This Is the Zodiac Speaking": Into the Mind of a Serial Killer by Michael D. Kelleher and David Van Nuys, it is apparent that most serial killers enjoy the fact they are being noticed for their criminal behavior because they have isolated from having human affection. Without this affection, serial killers desire and daydream on how to be noticed. They love the attention and if they were not notice, it would anger them. For example, the Zodiac sent taunting letters to the press to get the attention that he desired deep down inside. Along wit that, with seeking attention, it made him feel good to throw in their faces that the fact that no one could catch him, which made him feel he was smarter than him. The more that the press took interest in his letters, the more he felt important and that is something psychologists clamed he lacked as a child. After profiling serial killers including the Zodiac, these criminals feed off the attention they get for their criminal behavior, which fulfills their desire to be recognized for what they stand for.
