Female Serial Killers and Their InfluencesWhen children are born, their parents may look at them and try to imagine what kind of adult their child will become. Some parents may be right when it comes to predicting what or who their child will become, others may be completely wrong. As a person grows and matures into an adult, there are factors that influence who they become. These influencing factors are environmental and biological. Some children raised in an unfavorable environment or born with some kind of biological defect can cause them to become deviant or sinister. A sinister person can become some sort of criminal or even go so far as to become a serial killer of some kind. When you typically think of a serial killer, you most likely imagine a white male, probably in his thirties or forties. You probably wouldn't think of a woman, especially someone who appears to be a sweet, innocent old lady. However, women can be just as deviant and sinister as men, sometimes using different methods. There are some common biological and environmental factors present in the creation of different female serial killers; some women include Aileen Wuornos, Clementine Barnabet, Nannie Doss, Belle Gunness and a couple of others. To understand the common traits of female serial killers, you need to know the meaning of what a serial killer is. According to a federal law passed in 1998 by the United States Congress, entitled: Protection of Children from Sexual Predator Act of 1998, the definition of serial homicide is “a series of three or more homicides…having such common characteristics as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by the same actor or actors” (Serious...... middle of paper...... Confusion." Psychology Today. SussexPublisher, April 15, 2013. Web. February 26, 2013) . 2014..Scott, January "Serial murders: we must explore behind the stereotypes and ask why." British Medical Journal 312.7022 (1996): 2-3 Web. 26 February 2014. "Serial Murder". . February 26, 2014.."The fate of Aileen Wuornos." Np, nd Web. March 01, 2014. "What are the different types of serial killers?". 2014..