Ted Bundy
Psychologists have tried to understand the mind of criminals for as long as time. The mind of a criminal is a very difficult thing to comprehend because each criminal is different. Their minds think in different ways, they have different motives and they all have different backgrounds. No two cases are the same. Often times psychologist also have a challenging time figuring out why a person committed a crime, such as murder, is because the criminal will not be able to help them comprehend why they did the things they did. In the wrongdoers mind it seems completely rational but to a sane person it does not. One serial killer that many psychologists have found fascinating, is Theodore Bundy. Psychologist have studied the motives
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he had for murdering over 30 women for years now. They analyze his life before he became a killer and also all of the possible reasons he did. Ted Bundy’s case was not like the average murderer, and that is what made him one of the most notorious serial killers in America. Theodore Bundy was born in a home for unwed mothers.
Shortly after, his mother moved back in with her parents, pretending that Teddy was her brother and that his grandparents were his parents. Theodore lived believing this was true for quite a bit of his childhood. No one knows for sure when exactly he discovered the truth about his biological mother because he gave contradicting stories about it later on. His mother, Eleanor Cowell, moved with Teddy to Tacoma WA. And married a man with the name of Johnnie Bundy. Bundy would be the name that Ted would go by for the rest of his life. Ted’s classmates throughout middle school and junior high school spoke highly of him. They claimed he was smart and fairly popular. He also didn’t ever display any anger or violence, but sometime in high school that all changed. He became less interested in getting good grades and became more introverted. In college Theodore dated a girl for some time and became very attached to her. A while after she graduated, she lost interest and ended the relationship. Ted then dropped out of Stanford and enrolled in the University of Washington. He graduated there as an honor roll student, and during his time at UW he became interested in politics. After that he went to the University Of Utah Law School, and that is when all of his murdering …show more content…
began. Theodore Bundy was a serial killer.
He killed women in several different states. The number of victims he had is still unknown to day but some believe it ranges from 30 to 100 women. Also, no one knows exactly why he began his killing. Psychologists have a few leads and theories of what may have set him off. They believe maybe it was because of the way he was raised and the environment he grew up in. Another, reason he could have become such a prominent murderer in the US is because of his broken relationship he had with a girl in college. The most possible motive he had may have been his obsession for
pornography. Ted Bundy was given birth to by his mother who had no husband at the time. His father was not involved in his childhood or even after he became a young man. “From birth Bundy was already in a category in which the FBI survey found 43 percent of sexual and serial killers: he had only one parent.” (Ted Bundy’s Childhood) Also due to the absence of his father “Bundy biographers assert that Ted’s cousin relentlessly teased him as a teenager, calling him a bastard and cruelly showing him his birth certificate. Bundy was reportedly devastated and full of resentment towards his mother.” (Crime Feed) Besides this possible answer to why Bundy murdered women, Teddy grew up believing that his grandparents were his mother and father. His grandparents were ashamed of him being illegitimate, so they hid his true identity from him and the outside world. He also was told that his biological mother was his sister, and many psychologist think that that could be the reason he started killing women. Some say “He was betrayed by his mother when he found out she was his mother not his sister.” (Psychological Analysis) Teddy and his mother had a strange relationship, and some even say that they recall him referring to his mother as both mom and sister. Having that king of a strain on a connection with a mother, could drive someone to not trust women or even want to seek revenge on women. Not only could the revenge he set out for be caused by his mother, but maybe his girlfriend too. Many people believe that Ted Bundy may have been vindictive towards women, because of the breakup he went through with his girlfriend in college. Theodore met a girl named Stephanie in the spring of 1966. They began to date, and Teddy quickly became in love with her. Their relationship started to fade though, as Stephanie was graduating. She was reported to have told Ted that he was “childish and too immature”. Soon after her graduation she ended the relationship and moved to San Francisco. This breakup soon changed Teddy. “Ted’s brother recalls that before the breakup with Stephanie, Ted was always in charge of his emotions. He had never seen his brother so upset and moody.” (Ted Bundy’s Childhood) this devastation to his heart could have led him to killing women. It is reported said that Bundy’s victims resembled his ex-girlfriend, Stephanie. She was a beautiful girl who parted her long, dark hair down the middle, just like many of the women Ted had killed. The most evident reason Theodore Bundy had assaulted and killed so many women was his obsession with pornography. Ted admitted that this was the reason for his actions in an interview before his execution. Bundy had said that he grew up in a “wonderful home, with two dedicated and loving parents, as one of 5 brothers and sisters.” Also he told of their regular attendance at church and of how his parents did not drink or smoke. He didn’t want anyone to blame his actions on his family. Bundy had supposedly discovered some “dirty magazines” when he was a young teenager. As he got older he began getting into more violent pornography, slowly becoming addicted and needing more. Ted stated during his interview, “Once you become addicted to it, and I look at this as a kind of addiction, you look for more potent, more explicit, more graphic kinds of material.” As the addiction grew on, he wasn’t getting the same satisfaction out of the videos and pictures he had seen. The material could only go so far. This desire drove Bundy into craving the real thing, hoping it would be more gratifying. Once Teddy had gone through with murdering someone, and fulfilling his desires, he couldn’t stop. Ted Bundy was not like most common murderers. He was intelligent, allegedly grew up in a constructive environment, and aspired to do big things. Ted was evaluated by a doctor after he was arrested
Ted's family knew there was something wrong with him ever since he was a baby. His mother said that he had strange lapses as a child where he would go silent and still. As he got older the "shut-downs" (as they became known as by his family,) started to be accompanied with rage. He never fit in with anybody his own age. For instance, when Ted was 10 years old, his father tried taking him to a boyscout meeting but Ted would not have anything to do with the other children, so his father gave up. The only thing Ted liked doing was reading and playing his trombone. Ted proved to be very smart and at the young age of 15 years, was given a scholarship to study Greek tragedy for the summer at the University of Chicago. Ted went to Harvard and graduated with a degree in Mathematics, when he was 20 years old. Ted was then offered a tenured-track job at the University of California and taught there until his abrupt resignation in 1969. His family knew nothing of his resignation until he showed up at his parents house to move in. Ted stayed with his parents for two years and during that time he had many low paying jobs, the first being a gardener at the local mall. In 1971, Ted's parents woke up to find Ted gone and only a note thanking them for letting him stay with them. The note was so short and to the point that his father thought that it he was going to commit suicide.
He was intelligent, articulate and handsome. During a gruesome killing spree, Ted Bundy slaughtered more than thirty five women within the span of five years, becoming one of the most notorious serial killers in American history. He grew up believing that his grandparents were his parents and his unwed mother to be his older sister. He was not very good at building relationships and had a lot of conflict with his stepfather and enjoyed the terms of violence and sex as a child. Ted shoplifted during his teenage years and enjoyed being above the law. He was generally very shy and gained a lot of popularity and self esteem in high school because of his good looks. It was there that he met his high school girlfriend Stephanie Brooks with whom he become obsessed, but the relationship did not last very long as she did not feel the same way for him so she broke up with him. Depressed by the break up, Ted dropped out of college and returned home with his family where he found out the truth about his biological mother. This left Ted in a state of confusion about his identity and he felt betrayed by the women in his life. He went back to high school where he and Stephanie got back together but right after she agreed to marry him, he broke up with her to seek revenge. After this charade his killing spree began, luring young women with lies, abducting, raping, physically abusing and killing them.
Theodore Bundy was born on November 24th 1946. He was born to an unwed mother who was told that she was his sister. He was raised by his grandparents who portrayed themselves as his parents throughout his early childhood years. According to the article I read Ted’s grandfather was abusive towards Ted and his other siblings (Montaldo). Ted was shy and said to be sociably awkward, but during high school he developed into good looking guy and was liked by many.
Introduction: On the spectrum of criminal activity, serial killers are rather rare. Rarer still is a serial killer like Ted Bundy. Bundy confessed to killing 28 women in the 1970s in ghastly fashion and some believe he may have killed far more. It is hard to imagine what could cause any person to cross the mental boundary into such macabre behavior as Bundy perpetrated. Nevertheless, it is important to try to understand that behavior because only though such an understanding would society be able to identify and deter mass murderers in order to save lives.
Theodore "Ted" Bundy’s mother, Eleanor Cowell was twenty-two years old and unmarried when she had her son Theodore. Bundy was raised as the adopted son of his grandparents and was told that his mother was his sister. Eleanor moved with Ted to Tacoma, Washington, a few years later. Bundy showed an unusual interest in the macabre at an early age. Around the age of 3, he became fascinated by knives. Bundy was a shy, but bright child who did well in school, but did not get along with his peers. As a teenager, Bundy began to steal from other people and businesses.
Ted Bundy was an American born rapist, a necrophile; a serial killer and a kidnapper who assaulted and murdered several young women during the 1970’s. The criminal kept on denying the charges for more than ten years and later confessed of having committed the thirty homicide crimes in seven different states before his execution (Rule, 2009). Bundy’s handsome and charismatic appearance made it possible for him to easily win the confidence of young women who were always his targets. He broke into the dwellings of his victims at night and bludgeoned them as they slept. He also approached young women in public places where he impersonated as an authority figure or feigned injury on his victim before empowering and assaulting at a more secluded area where he left them dead (Rule, 2009).
A serial killer is a person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a "cooling off" period between each murder, and whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification. Most people do not understand what can make a person want to kill multiple people for no reason other than their own satisfaction gain. In actuality, serial killers have been studied for over hundreds of years, and the information that has been documented continues to grow. The research that I have gathered about serial killers focuses on their childhood development, the differences and similarities between male and female serial killers, and finally general information on how their brains operate and their motives for committing such harmful acts. There have been many theories over the years about how a person becomes a serial killer, and how having an unstable childhood affects a person.
Ted Bundy was a snake of a man. He breathes with a hiss and licks his non-existent lips almost in the way of a reptile predator. Bundy used his last interview prior to execution as an opportunity to make excuses. He seized one last chance to be the center of attention and be in the spotlight. Frankly, watching the cunning Ted Bundy speak is enough to turn the stomach of anyone familiar with his crimes. This is especially true when one has some knowledge of body language and the tactics used by psychopaths.
Theodore Bundy was a serial killer, rapist, burglar, and necrophile who assaulted and murdered numerous young women and girls
Ted was a bright but shy child. He was antisocial as a kid but excelled as a student. It's said that around age three Bundy became fascinated with knives. He graduated high school and then attended the University of Puget Sound but then transferred to the University
Ted first name was Theodore Robert Cowell. Ted Bundy was born November 24, 1946 in Burlington, Vermont. He was a shame on his mother as a baby. Eleanor Cowell was a single 22 year old when she had Ted. So she had him in a home for unwed mothers. Eleanor’s parent were very religious and did not approve of her being a single mother. His grandparents would tell people that Ted was their adopted son. Ted grew up for years not knowing that Eleanor was his real mother. Few years later Eleanor move out of her parents in philly and moved to Tacoma, Washington. After they moved his mother married John Bundy. They had four kids of their own. Ted was never close with his stepfather. He would call him John instead of dad. Toward the age of three Ted became fascinated with knives. One day he put the kitchen knives around his aunt when she was sleeping. She woke to see knive and Ted bundy standing at the foot of her bed.
Based on appearance alone, a person would probably never be able to pinpoint whether or not person is a serial killer. It is almost mind blowing how well serial killers blend with normal members of society. Serial killers have been known to be around as early as the 1800s. Throughout history, a lot has been learned about serial killers. There have been many studies on the background of serial killers, their motivation, and the popularity serial killers have gained.
Criminal psychology, the study of the wills, thoughts, and intentions of criminals, had surfaced decades ago. For years this form of psychology has helped understand the actions of some of the most renowned criminals. While using multiple components such as science, criminal justice, and psychology, forensic psychology searches for the answers to the ,any incurable mental illness in criminals around the world. Criminal psychology, although founded years ago, was accepted in the criminal justice world until not that long ago. Throughout history, more and more branches of this specific type of psychology were founded. With work of many intensive and brilliant psychologist, criminal psychology has become more inclusive and accepted in society.
No one knows who one of the world’s most notorious serial killer is. The Zodiac was a serial killer that terrorized all of California and has claimed to have taken the lives of many innocent civilians through the letters he sent. While his identity remains unsolved to this day, there are many theories as to who it is. Although plenty of people believe the identity of the Zodiac Killer was Arthur Leigh Allen, others are convinced it is a few lesser-known suspects.