swatantratagamy, it's not just revenge. it's abnormally excessive self-love that leads to these kind of crimes. narcissism is about loving oneself. to some extent we ALL are narcissists. you love yourself more than anybody else! serial killers have excessive admiration for themselves. they have a grandiose sense of self-importance (e.g. exaggerates achievements and talents, expects to be recognized as superior without commensurate achievements.) these are some symptoms of extreme self-indulgence. ... Serial killers are the quiddity and quintessence of malignant narcissism. Yet, to some degree, we all are narcissists. Primary narcissism is a universal and inescapable developmental phase. Narcissistic traits are common and often culturally condoned. To this extent, serial killers are merely our reflection through a glass darkly. LooTe