For the most part, a serial killer has an image of his/her "ideal" victim and targets people who fit the bill. The "perfect" target could fit the description of anything as specific as "a young female with dark brown long hair and blue eyes"or as vague as "middle-aged male."Victims of a serial killer are chosen based on their similarities in looks, lifestyles, habits, or even occupations.
The reason behind a serial killer having a certain criteria for victims could be linked to their past. Whether it be an ex-lover or someone who abused them before. For example, let's say someone with a violent past gets their heart broken by someone who is a 24 year old short female with long blond hair. Well then, to avenge themselves after being hurt, this person targets any short 20 something year old female with long blond hair.
Some serial killers spend so much time finding the right target that when they cannot find what they are looking for, they kill an easy target, just for the sake of killing. Then, they continue their hunt for the "ideal" victim that fits the mold. The serial killer gets an easy target because the constraint of their own standards dries them to violence.
Can't relate? Think of shopping. It's just like when you have the perfect jacket in mind to buy, you have the color, size, and style all planned out. You then go to the mall looking for that one jacket, after going to several stores, you can't find it. Instead, you find another jacket, affordable, cute, trendy. You think "Eh, this is okay too." and end up buying it. Realizing you are not satisfied you go back out the next day for for that perfect jacket. I know I have done that at least a couple of times, so the sense of unsatisfaction is normal. With that in mind, killing for satisfactory needs is a little on the extreme side if I do say so myself.
When serial killers go out to find their victims, they set their minds to think of each victim as nothing more than an object. They think that the victims are objects only to be used for their killing purposes.
In their minds, every victim is unworthy but only worthy of vicious abuse and ultimate destruction. Serial killers essentially "punish" their victims for thinking they are worthy of living. They conduct their fantasies that they dream up and enjoy the feel of power.
Not all serial killers have a specific "type", but for the ones that do, it is because of something that ruined their minds leaving them psychologically scarred. It leads them to kill for revenge or for the need to feel dominance.
Citation: Andreu, Nelson. "Serial Killers- A Homicide Detective's Take." Serial Killers. ExpertLaw, 8 Nov. 2014. Web. 09 May 2016.
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