Editing Serial killer (section)

====Biological and sociological====
Theories for why certain people commit serial murder have been advanced. Some theorists believe the reasons are biological, suggesting serial killers are born, not made, and that their violent behavior is a result of abnormal brain activity. Holmes believes that "until a reliable sample can be obtained and tested, there is no scientific statement that can be made concerning the exact role of [[biology]] as a determining factor of a serial killer personality."{{sfn|Holmes|Holmes|2010|pp=55–56}}

The "Fractured Identity Syndrome" (FIS) is a merging of [[Charles Cooley]]'s "[[looking glass self]]" and [[Erving Goffman]]'s "virtual" and "actual social identity" theories. The FIS suggests a social event, or series of events, during one's childhood results in a fracturing of the personality of the serial killer. The term "fracture" is defined as a small breakage of the personality which is often not visible to the outside world and is only felt by the killer.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://fbilibrary.fbiacademy.edu/bibliographies/serialkillers.htm |title=Serial Killers  |publisher=[[Federal Bureau of Investigation]] |access-date=May 26, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100520203225/http://fbilibrary.fbiacademy.edu/bibliographies/serialkillers.htm |archive-date=May 20, 2010 }}</ref>

"Social Process Theory" has also been suggested as an explanation for serial murder. Social process theory states that offenders may turn to crime due to peer pressure, family and friends. Criminal behavior is a process of interaction with social institutions, in which everyone has the potential for criminal behavior. A lack of family structure and identity could also be a cause leading to serial murder traits. A child used as a scapegoat will be deprived of their capacity to feel guilt. Displaced anger could result in animal torture, as identified in the [[Macdonald triad]], and a further lack of basic identity.{{sfn|Claus|Lindberg|1999|pp=427–435}}