Envy and Jealousy: An Evolutionarily Informed Typology of Global Mass Murder

Abstract This study uses latent class analysis to examine a global sample of mass murderers, identifying two distinct offender categories analyzed through an evolutionary lens. “Envy type” offenders were typically younger, characterized by a lack of reproductive success and signs of future reproductive challenges, often stemming from chronic rejection and ostracism. In contrast, “Jealous type” offenders were generally older, employed, frequently married, yet in the process of losing these social ties, often following a relationship breakdown. Male reproductive success is strongly linked to status, itself keyed to implications of formidability. This factor was associated with both types of offenders, who had both suffered status-based setbacks. We hypothesized that younger offenders would more often leave behind legacy tokens, and these would display an envious resentment at the world while also acting as an advertisement to a receptive female audience (hybristophiles). Our findings support this hypothesis: younger offenders were more likely to leave behind writings marked by narcissism, grandiosity, envy, and a desire for fame. In contrast, the writings of jealous type offenders focused on bureaucratic issues and blamed female partners, with little evidence of fame-seeking. The study concludes by discussing its limitations and future research directions, highlighting the value of further analyzing the writings left behind by mass murderers to gain deeper insights into their motivations and psychological profiles.