Departing from a traditional clinical approach in terms of diagnostic categorizations of serial killers and from a conventional descriptive study in which generic aspects of serial murders such as modus operandi are described and interpreted, a qualitative approach is presented as essential to a more comprehensive understanding of serial murderers. Specifically, learning about personal constructions of meaning in the lives of serial murderers helps identify the motives underlying their repeated acts of killing. Results obtained using this approach raise concerns, however, regarding the validity of conclusions drawn from studies that rely on more traditional methods of inquiry into motives. Researchers who apply conventional methods are cautioned regarding implied meanings of their data. The author concludes that, if research questions are formulated appropriately, it will be possible to learn more about the nature and the potential of human beings. 32 references and 8 notes