Research Paper On Ted Bundy

Ted Bundy grew up in a working-class family in Tacoma, Washington. He graduated from the University of Washington in 1972 with a degree in psychology and was accepted to law school. The Republican governor of Washington even wrote Bundy a letter of recommendation after he worked with him on a campaign. And yet, Ted Bundy was one of the most infamous serial killers of the twentieth century, responsible for the deaths of at least thirty-six women. Bundy was charismatic and astute, making him a sort of a celebrity in the seventies. His case inspired a wave of serial killer-based movies and novels (Ted Bundy Biography). People became strangely fascinated with the macabre stories of serial killers and have been trying to understand them ever since.

Most homicides are committed due to “disputes that range from family affairs, gang violence, financial difficulties, and disputes between lovers and between friends.” A regular murderer has a “vendetta” or a “specific personal thing against his victim,” while serial killers are driven by a passion for killing. The FBI defines a serial killer using several characteristics: a minimum of three to four victims with “cooling off” periods in between kills, the victim is usually a vulnerable stranger and may have symbolic meaning to the killer, murders exhibit a need to sadistically control the victim, and the kill is motivated by a psychological, not material, desire (Serial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture). The term psychopath is often used as a synonym for the term serial killer. However, to clarify, psychopathy is a personality disorder in which a person uses charisma, manipulation, intimidation, and sometimes violence to control others and get what they want. In reality, all psychopaths do not become serial killers. Instead, serial killers often have characteristics consistent with psychopathy (United

The answer is highly disputed. Many sociologists and psychologists believe looking at a killer’s childhood can explain their behavior. Childhood abuse, though not the only explanation for serial murderers, is a frequent issue in many of their backgrounds (Serial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture). Albert DeSalvo, the Boston Strangler, was sold as a slave by his alcoholic dad. Henry Lee Lucas’ prostitute mothers made him go to school dressed like a little girl. He later confessed to killing hundreds of women, but was only held accountable for three, one of which was his mother