why were there so many serial killers in the 70s

The surge of serial killers in the 1970s is attributed to a combination of social, technological, and environmental factors. This era, sometimes called the "Golden Age" of serial killers, was marked by less coordinated law enforcement and less advanced forensic technology, which allowed killers to evade capture for longer periods. Additionally, the social changes and upheavals of the 1960s and 1970s—including cultural shifts, the rise of drug use, hitchhiking, and anti-establishment sentiments—created conditions ripe for predators to operate. Post-World War II societal impacts also played a role, as the psychological trauma endured by war veterans might have affected their children, contributing to a generation prone to violence. Environmental factors like exposure to chemicals such as lead have also been suggested as contributors to increased violent behavior. Another important aspect was the increased social freedom and mobility of people, especially women entering the workforce, which inadvertently created more opportunities for serial offenders. Finally, the rise in media attention to "true crime" cases brought public awareness to these crimes, making the serial killer phenomenon more visible during that decade.