Well, your first observation is probably true. The law of diminishing returns will come into play. They will not get as much of a thrill that they did in the past, so the next step, is murder.
From what I have read this “game” started in 1992. In 1995 the rapper, LL Cool J, wrote a song called, “Mama Said Knock You Out.”
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vimZj8HW0Kg