Aileen Wuornos killed as a result of a complex mix of perceived self-defense, survival circumstances, and personal history of abuse and exploitation. The most widely discussed factors include:

• Personal trauma and abuse: Wuornos suffered extensive sexual abuse and exploitation starting in childhood, which criminology and psychology sources often cite as shaping her view of men as dangerous and controlling. This background is frequently linked to a sense of vulnerability, fear, and a distorted need for power or control in response to past victimization. [web results reflect this framing in documentary and scholarly discussion]

• Economic and survival pressures: Wuornos worked as a sex worker to survive, which brought her into dangerous situations and frequent confrontations. Prostitution-related violence and economic desperation are commonly discussed as contextual factors in her crimes.

• Self-defense and retaliation narrative: In several cases, Wuornos and supporters have described the killings as acts of self-defense against men who attacked or threatened her. Prosecutors and some narratives acknowledge her claim of being assaulted by some victims, though interpretations vary across sources. The documentary and related reporting emphasize that her motive may have been a combination of self-preservation, anger, and retaliation for ongoing abuse.

• Complex, possibly unreliable self-narration: The Netflix documentary and subsequent coverage present Wuornos as an unreliable narrator at times, suggesting that any single motive may not capture the full story. Different interviews and court records contribute competing accounts of her motivations.

• Serial-killer labeling and public perception: The case has been interpreted through various lenses—feminist critiques, media framing, and criminal-justice perspectives—leading to ongoing debates about motive, gender, and the nature of her crimes. Some analyses argue multiple drivers (trauma, economic need, attempts at control) rather than a single cause.

Key notes:

• Wuornos confessed to killing seven men during a 12-month period (1989–1990) in Florida, claiming they attacked or threatened her, while others argue there were also elements of robbery and power dynamics involved. The documentary and press materials discuss these competing narratives and caution that Wuornos’s own story may be shaped by trauma and sensationalism.

• Her case culminated in death sentences that were carried out in 2002; later discussions and media often revisit whether motives can be neatly categorized or are best understood as a confluence of pressures and defenses.

If you’d like, I can tailor a concise summary focused on motive interpretations from a particular source (e.g., a specific documentary, court records, or scholarly analysis) or provide a timeline of the known crimes and stated motives over time.