Case Study: Ted Bundy

2277 Words5 Pages

Theodore Robert Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell on November 24, 1949.His mother, Louise Cowell was unmarried at the time, and the name of his biological father has never been determined with certainty, however Lloyd Marshall was named on his birth certificate. Louise moved into her parent’s home shortly after Ted’s birth and allowed him to be raised as her ‘brother’ for quite some time. When Ted’s mother married Johnnie Culpepper Bundy in May 1951 in Tacoma, Washington, when Theodore was four years old, Theodore took his step-father’s last name of Bundy. Theodore Bundy lived an average life as far as is known, however his shyness and self-doubt made him a constant target for bullying in his younger years. During his high school years Ted’s popularity blossomed, but he was reluctant to date as he was more involved in extracurricular activities and work. He was never kept at one job too long however, as his employers considered him unreliable. His work was not the only place where Ted was considered unreliable. When Theodore transferred from University of Tacoma to the University of Washington he met and fell in love with Stephanie Brooks. At first in this relationship all was well, “But Stephanie was pragmatic. It was wonderful to be in love, to have a college romance, to stroll through the wooded paths of the campus hand-in-hand…but she sensed that Ted was floundering, that he had no real plans, no real prospects for the future” (Rule, 2000). Much to Ted’s dismay, Stephanie soon broke this relationship off. Some claim that this is one of the many things that helped ease Theodore Bundy over the edge into homicidal rage, and most cite a similar description of Stephanie Brooks to the majority of his later victims. For qu... ... middle of paper ... ...educes their behaviors’ social impact.” (Black, 2006). As witnessed with Theodore Bundy, imprisonment, and eventually execution was the only way to stop him from brutally killing again. Works Cited Bell, R. (2011). Ted Bundy. Retrieved September 2, 2011, from TruTV.com: http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/bundy/2.html Black, D. (2006). Treatment for Antisocial Personality Disorder. Retrieved September 3, 2011, from PsychCentral: http://psychcentral.com/lib/2006/treatment-for-antisocial-personality-disorder/ Comer, R. J. (2011). Fundamentals of Abnormal Psychology (Sixth ed.). New York, NY: Worth Publishers. Michaud, S. G., & Aynesworth, H. (2000). Ted Bundy: Conversations with a Killer. Irving, Texas: Authorlink Press. Rule, A. (2000). The Stranger Beside Me (20th Anniversary Edition ed.). New York, New York: W.W. Norton & Company.

Open Document