Ted bundy

A large number of problems in our society come from the fact that the way people perceive those two things- being suave, decisive, confident; and being a remorseless predator often overlap on our values system. 1/5 CEO’s is a psychopath or has strong psychopathic tendencies- or let’s look at the classic “they only date jerks..” scenario-

Sometimes a person really IS dating a total jerk, a selfish or self centered or manipulative user, and they later break up related to these facts or discover in hindsight. Sometimes they are NOT a jerk and an outside observer just sees them that way. In both cases it’s perception. The overlap between the two is hard to distinguish often. Drive, ambition, focus, confidence, assertiveness, etc. leaders and manipulators both know how to get people to do what they want, both know how to see and seize opportunity, both tend to be goal oriented people. The techniques and tools they use vary but both know how to use what they have available to them to full advantage. So like dates or politicians two intelligent people can look at the same person and ones sees a strong and able leader who will do right by them, and others see a con job, an manipulator, a predator.

The sitting president is a perfect example of such a person who depending on who you ask is either a brilliant and strong leader or a conman. Not EVERY serial killer is going to be a good looking suave mastermind- but some are. Con men vary from pressed suit young and GQ looking smooth talkers of boardroom and ballroom to toothless shriveled creeps- they tend to play different crowds as you’re more likely to meet the former at a fancy party than a carnival and vice versa- but each knows their “audience” and plays to their strength wether that’s being “the nicest person..” a “hard case,” or just plain using their looks. Few of any real people will come close to Hannibal Lecter, created for the screen as an amalgam of real people and fictional traits for maximum effect, just as “American psycho” isn’t a documentary but does show certain traits and mindsets of a certain archetype.

But from killings to lesser crimes preying on people by using looks is a classic graft if one has the looks and ability to do so. Hannibal Lecter however does create a serial killer “anti hero” which is why I do think it’s important to show more realistic portrayals of the “attractive” killer- because in real life they don’t usually work that way and aren’t folk heroes or anti heroes but disturbed humans. Like most things we may be able to spot the killer by the tropes and clues inna movie with ease but those same methods don’t translate directly to real life. Knowing how real people prey on each other is one of the best ways to avoid becoming prey.

I feel like saying "most" serial killers are charismatic is not entirely correct. Some of them are, and many of them do display traits of sociopath and/or psychopathy.
'
But many also never really learn the rules of social interaction. They're often abused, and may try to fake human decency but still fail. A good deal of serial killers will rather take part in crimes or victims of opportunity, a vulnerable group (children) or someone easy to lure or miss (prostitutes, or even gay men for example).

“Charisma” is a tricky concept. We tend to picture it as being this state of “cool” that naturally attracts people in a positive way- but charisma is just a compelling attractiveness. I don’t know if most- but many serial killers have fans and documentaries and many people are compelled to know more about them and how they think and act. So that I think qualifies as an unconventional but not universal charisma. It is perhaps misleading though to say “most serial killers are charismatic...” since it implies most use guile and charm to get victims when in fact many simply do just lurk until they see a person they want as a victim and then ambush them with force or otherwise subdue them.

Tbh I'd argue that that's more a morbid fascination with what serial killers represent than the charisma of the individual killers themselves.
'
But indeed. Many of the worst serial killers actually display a complete social ineptitude. It doesn't help (them at least) that many of them also believe themselves to be much more intelligent than the people around them.
'
Iirc, the toolbox killers tried repeatedly to lure girls to them (and failed), and eventually resorted to stalking them and grabbing them by force
'
Bundy didn't even use his personality to attract a good deal of his victims. Certainly not the ones after he escaped prison

Very true- but you bring up another nuance- the difference between being charismatic and using that charisma. For instance- I could say “Many SOF operators are charismatic...” which would be true- but the majority of people they kill they do not use their charisma as a tool for, relying on other means primarily. As for a lack of social ability- one can lack or not practice social ability and be quite charismatic- eccentric but charismatic. We could of course also say that stars like the Kardashians are more watched out of morbid curiosity or other reasons- but that ability to get people’s attention is still a type of charisma- even if we are used to thinking of charisma more in a positive sense- an ability to attract or compel others is still charisma.