Serial Killer Information Center

Serial Killer I.Q.

Project Description

► Serial Killer Demographics

Serial Killer IQ

► Serial Killer Birth Order

► Serial Killer Childhood

► Serial Killer Criminal History

► Serial Killer Types

Serial Killer Timelines

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Serial killers are commonly portrayed in the media as being highly intelligent (e.g., column by Dr. Joyce Brothers in Seattlpi.com on 8-14-2007). This portrayal is perhaps due to the media focusing on serial killers such as Ted Bundy and mythical serial killers such as Hannibal Lecter (Silence of the Lambs).
 
We were able to obtain IQ information on 202 serial killers

When taken as a whole, serial killers appear to be of normal IQ
     Median = 89.0, Mean = 95.1
     Low was 57 (Simon Pirela)
     High was 165 (Theodore Kaczynski)
         - A second IQ testing put him at 155

As expected, IQ varied by the type of serial killer
     Raped victim
          Yes:                     Mean IQ =   94.2
          No:                      Mean IQ =   96.3

    
Method of killing
          Stab:                    Mean IQ =   96.0
          Multiple methods: Mean IQ =   98.0
          Strangle:               Mean IQ =   97.9
          Shoot:                  Mean IQ =   93.0
          Bludgeon:             Mean IQ =   86.3
          Bomb:                  Mean IQ = 140.3

    
Motive
          Financial Gain:      Mean IQ =   90.9
          Enjoyment:           Mean IQ = 100.4
          Anger:                  Mean IQ = 101.1

     ● Type
          Organized:            Mean IQ =   99.6
          Disorganized:        Mean IQ =   93.2
 

IQ data are complex as extreme scores are more likely to be publicized
     and there is certainly motivation to score low (especially below 70)
 
See Serial Killer Statistics for other information
 

 

Information on this page was last updated on 09/16/2012

Dr. Mike Aamodt ● Department of Psychology ● Radford University ● Radford, VA  24142-6946

(540) 831-5513 ● maamodt@radford.edu