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Criminal profiling nature vs nurture
Essays on the psychology of serial killers
Essays on the psychology of serial killers
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I. The case of whether serial killers are born with the lust to kill or if they are truly victims of their environment has been a hot debated question by both psychologists and the FBI today. A serial killer is traditionally defined as one that kills 3 or more people at different times with “cooling off” periods in between kills. Both psychological abuse as a child and psychological disorders are to blame for the making of a killer. The nature vs. nurture debate is best applied to the mysterious behaviors and cases of serial killers and their upbringing and environment. Nature is the genetic and biological connections a person has, personality traits, and how genetic make-up all relates to a killer. Nurture is examining the upbringing and environment that a person is around that affects what a person becomes. In some cases however, the effects of only upbringing or only biological problems were the reasons certain serial killers committed crimes. Although there is no definitive answer to what plays the bigger role: nature or nurture, they both are contributing factors that make a serial killer. These deviants of society are afflicted with problems in either their upbringing or have psychological disorders, and are able to blend into our everyday lives with no apparent differences, yet they wreck havoc through their unremorseful killings. II. Common psychological disturbances in the stages of making a serial killer are seen in childhood and are usually based upon mental and psychological abuse endured by a child. a. Nurture: Carl Panzram- He began his life of crime at age twelve and was a killer and rapist that had no remorse. i. “He hated everyone, including himself. ‘I was so full of hate that there was no room in me f... ... middle of paper ... ...2014. . "David Berkowitz." NNDB tracking the entire world. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. . "DAVID BERKOWITZ (SON OF SAM)." Crime and Investigation Network. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. . Gado, Mark. "Carl Panzram: Too Evil To Live, Part I." Crime Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. . Jenkins, John Philip. "Andrei Chikatilo." Encyclopedia Britannica. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. . Ramsland, Katherine. "The Devil's Trail." Crime Library. N.p., n.d. Web. 25 Feb. 2014. .
The psychological abuse that the four suspects were exposed to made them make a wrong confession. In addition, being in an environment where the interrogation room is tight and dark increased the suspect’s anxiety. Moreover, the Frontline documentary stated that the suspects were held in custody for long hours with Robert Ford who used threatening language in order to make them confess. Not only that the suspects made a false confession, but they also told Ford different stories on how they murdered the victim. The coercive interrogatories, led Joe Dick to accept the label Ford put on him and the others. Although Ford was supposed to act just, he acted upon his self interest. Thus, he denied all facts because of fear of embarrassment of being wrong. However, after serving many years in prison, the four suspects were released to face stigmatization and labeling from the society. Indeed, this case proved that there is a malfunction in the justice system and that there’s a need for an immediate
One well-known serial killer is Gary Ridgway. Ridgway was born in February of 1949 in Salt Lake City, Utah. His early life can be viewed as an indicator to his la...
Are serial killers born or made? The phenomenon of serial murder has always received a considerable amount attention from both the media and the public, despite the high level of interest, very little known about the serial killers and few theoretical explanations have been of interest by academia (Lee & Choi,2014). Jeffrey Dahmer also known as Milwaukee Monster was an American serial killer and sexual offender through the years of 1978-1991. His victims were usually drugged, raped, strangled and dismembered, his murders also include necrophilia and cannibalism (Purcell and Arrigo, 2006). As a child it was reported that Dahmer displayed an interest in dead animals as well as with their
Gary Watson shares the true story of the serial killer Robert Harris in his essay “Responsibility and the Limits of Evil”. This inclusive narrative shares of a man who was once a very sensible young boy who found himself on the south tier of Death Row in San Quentin Prison. Through this story, the reader learns first about Robert Harris’s crime and then about his upbringing. Both of which are stories that one could consider hard to read and even consider to be a true story. Those who knew Robert Harris claimed that he was a man that did not care about life. He did not care about himself nor anyone else. Each inmate and deputy, from the prision, who was questioned about
Studies show that traits of a serial killer can be seen in a person at a very young age. Most warning signs go unnoticed which is why the growth of the killer continues. A thing such as animal cruelty is one of many clues inside the growth of a serial killers mind “They often start out their careers by maiming, harming, and torturing small animals.” “In extreme cases, they have been known to spend hours inflicting a slow death on animals...this is a form of control that allows them the power to crave” (Kocsis,2008) . Many future serial killers also show a major interest in setting fires. Even though it is common for most young children to show a slight interest in fire, those with serial killing in their future are somewhat pyromaniacs. Psychologist say serial killers have a fetish with fire that is equivalent with an arsonist “Arson is psychologically attractive because it involves manipulating power and control, something that serial killing also offers” (Myers, 2006, p.904) they can even start out as arsonist before they develop fully into their careers of serial killing. Many of the characteristics given above can be easily seen in a child but are ignored either because the guardian does not care or because they believe the child will “grow out of” whatever phase they are going through. The fact of the matter is that these are psychological problems that will not just fade away with age. The cause of most of these behaviors in most children is due to impulse control and the reward center in the brain. When a child does things such as set fire to things or torture helpless creatures it boost the reward system in the brain causing them excitement , pleasure and the want to continue this behavior because they feel enjoyment from...
To begin, it is often said that all serial killers are born with the aggressive or violent gene but that’s not necessarily true. Nature versus Nurture has always been a huge argument in the psychology community. Nature is described as the genetic code of a person. For example, it is often argued that genetics is the cause of obesity or high blood pressure. Nurture is the complete opposite. Nurture is where the environment determines who a person is and what they will become. An example would be that poor eating can cause obesity and limited coping skills can lead to high blood pressure. Almost everyone knows the story of Jeffrey Dahmer. He is often seen as this monster who got a kick out of eating the remains of his victim. You see, Jeffrey wasn 't always this way. Jeffrey Dahmer was born May 21st, 1960 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Jeffrey Dahmer lived what you could consider a “normal” life up until his family began to move around from state to state causing him to
Krafft-Ebing (1886) found that the serial killer had been through cruelty of animal; enjoy the torture and the pain of their victim during his or her childhood period. Moreover, the mothers of these serial killers were most of time working or doing other things and usually the father were absent. These children experience rejection and lack of attention, therefore, this child grows up having low self-esteem. Research show that adults that gone through abuse and violent behavior during their childhood were three times more likely to become violent as adult more than the non abused adults (Dutton & Hart, 1992).
There have been many theories over the years about how a person becomes a serial killer, and how does having an unstable childhood effect a person. It has been proven by psychologist and stated by serial killers that their childhood is one of the many problems they faced that led them to become a serial killer. The childhood of a typical young boy would consist of loving parents, a stable home and having friends. As for serial killers this is not typical at all. During the childhood of a serial killer it is not uncommon that he or she was abused, raped, or even attempted suicide along with many other harmful acts that a child should not be faced with. There have been many studies on the childhood of serial killers, and how they grew up compared to other young children. Some of the traits most male serial killers have as a child would include killing animals, auto-erotic activities, physical head injuries, and even bed wetting.
Hitler, Stalin, and Mussolini are three of the world’s most detested dictators responsible for countless deaths. They all show signs of self-destructive behavior, paranoia, and narcissism. It is arguable that these acts of evil are innate, but it can also be argued that they are the product of a corrupt society. Ted Bundy, Adam Lanza, and Charles Manson are responsible for more than a handful of the most horrific murders in American history. These killers are all diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD); this causes people to be callous, possess a superficial charm, and they tend to have an inclination towards aggressive acts. While it is obvious that something went wrong in their genetic makeup, it is society that pushed them past their limits. In A Tale of Two Cities, written by Charles Dickens, there are two notable villains. One is an aristocrat referred to as the Younger Marquis St. Evrémonde, and the other is one of the leading revolutionaries introduced as Madame Defarge. These cruel personas are pushed to an extreme that is hard to come back from whether it ...
Experts argue that no one is predestined for a life of crime. They believe that influences such as repeated abuse, extreme neglect, poverty, media violence, and easy access to guns play the major role in molding children into criminals. The father of serial killer Jeffrey Dahmer wonders, "If potential for evil is in the blood that some of us pass on to our children" (Seifert 23). In the quiet New York town of Savona, Eric Smith, age thirteen, intercepted four-year-old Derrick Robie on his way to a park recreation program and offered to show him a shortcut. Hesitatingly, Derrick set off with Eric.
The nurturing of individuals plays a role in the making of killers, as 94% of serial killers had experienced some form of abuse as children and 42% have suffered severe physical abuse (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2010). A child abuse is a determining factor, in which supports the idea that serial killers and psychopath, are influenced significantly by nurture (Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 2011). In most cases social, cultural and physiological determinants all play a role in influencing serial killers to grow into a mass murderer. It is important that physiological and social determinants can be identified, so they could be altered for the purpose of preventing the number of crime.
As nature can not be changed, nurture can be changed. Nurture is the only effective instrument that humans can manipulate. Nurture is also able to create problems that nature has never reached, it is able to greatly influence how the individual will turn out with the varying conditions. On the other hand nature varies very little in the genome at a time. In the book Nature Via Nurture by Matt Ridley, a famous british scientific journalist, Ridley says that although nature plays a role nurture plays a huge role in determining the actions of an individual. On the website “http://www.personal.psu.edu/” the website of the State Pennsylvania, the psychology department has argued that many of the serial killers are known to have abusive history with their parents and a roughed up childhood. With these many sources, it was clear to conclude that nurture is one of the more prominent factors in shaping a serial killer. Therefore, nurture is the major influence and the main factor when it comes to shaping up a possible serial killer, when raised under the best conditions, any possible serial killers will never be able to become a serial
Did you know a study by Heather Mitchell and Michael G.Aamodt at Radford University states that there are various types of childhood abuse such as physical,sexual,psychological,and neglect? These different types of abuse occur at a higher percentage within serial killers than the general population.Many professionals ranging from FBI agents to psychologist believe that all serial killers have been abused as children.Although ,other professionals such as a sociologist argue that childhood abuse does not contribute 100% to the forming of the serial killer.
So what makes a serial killer? Levin points out that contrary to popular belief, serial killers don't just 'snap'; or 'go crazy'; (Douglas, p. 137). Many of the serial killers have been the victims of childhood abuse. Jack Levin stated 'Research shows many serial killers suffered abuse, incest or neglect as children and develop poor self images'; (Douglas, p. 137). Serial killers often have a childhood marked by the absence of any nurturing relationship. 'They often come from families where the parents were absent or ineffective, where authority was not defined, and where they could engage in destructive behavior undeterred-violent play, cruelty to animals, and incidents of arson being some of the childhood behavior patterns noted among many serial killers'; (Clark, p. 206).
Moreover, Cesare Lombroso, an Italian criminologist rejected that crime was a characteristic of human nature; instead he believed that criminality is inherit. From this conviction, he developed a theory of deviance that a person’s bodily constitution reveals whether an individual is born criminal or not. Crucially, “these born criminals are a throwback to an earlier stage of human evolution with the physical makeup, mental capabilities, and instincts of primitive man” (Ashley Crossman, A.C., 2014, Biological Explanations Of Deviant Behavior).