The Biological And Environmental Causes Of Aileen Wuornos Carol's Crimes

Case study: Aileen Wuornos

Aileen Wuornos Carol born on the 29th of February 1956 was one of the most famous serial killers of all times. Regarded as the first female serial killer in the United States, Aileen depicts the life of thousands of other people around the world whose lives were either changed or altered by their biological, environmental and developmental factors that made them to commit unimaginable crimes. This study analyzes the life of Aileen beginning with the crimes she committed. In addition, the study will examine the biological, developmental and environmental factors that led to the crimes she committed. Theories that could be applied to her actions including factors such as psychopathy will also be analyzed together with how they may have led to her crimes. In conclusion, the court

verdict will also be critically assessed on whether the final disposition was fair or not.
The charges against the individual
After a killing spree of four men that culminated on December 1990, Aileen was finally caught on January 1991 after police had received four calls identifying her and her spouse at the moment by the name Moore, as the killers which led to her arrest, conviction and finally death.
The Biological, developmental and environmental factors that relate to her criminal behavior
The traumatizing life that Aileen went through as a child could be one of the factors that led to the crimes she committed.

She was raised by her grandmother together with her brother and evidently lacked the parental guidance as a child since her mother had abandoned her when she was only four years old (Seal, 2014). Her father on the other hand was a known child molester and psychopath who later hanged himself in prison. This is an evident genealogical aspect and coupled with the assertions mentioned above; these are some of the biological developmental and environmental factors that may have led to her indulgence in crime. Aileen also claims that she became pregnant at a tender age of 14, a pregnancy that she inconsistently blames on either her grandfather’s friend or her brother. The decision to adopt the baby could also be a resound proof that it could have altered her attitudes when growing up and it is also backed up by the fact that she chose a woman for a spouse and not a man (Frei, Graf & Dittmann, 2006). This is a factor that can be pegged on the fact that she probably grew a hatred for men after being impregnated by an individual she knew too

well.
Poverty is another factor that could have led to her indulgence in crime and it is evidenced by the fact that she chose prostitution in order to meet her needs and when the same vice failed to meet her needs together with that of her spouse, she resorted to violence and precisely to rob and kill her clients in an attempt to make ends meet.
The self-control theory as evoked by He Len and Steinberg (2006) is one theory that can be used to explain the likelihood of an individual committing a crime or not. Moral restraints that are evidenced by a lack of parental care could be one of the factors behind Aileen’s propensity to commit crime. Psychopathic characteristics are also evident in her life with the genetic aspect of inheriting it from her own father being one of the most probable.
Arrigo and Griffin (2004) highlighted the lack of empathy, criminal versatility, pathological lying and promiscuous sexual behavior as some of the factors that underline a typical psychopath and a close examination of Aileen reveals that she displayed almost all of these characteristics. During her trials, pathological lying could be noted in her confessions including the lie that she had killed the men in self-defense after they attempted to rape her. There was an apparent lack of empathy in her actions through her reckless killings and emotionless confessions. Her life as a prostitute is also enough proof of her sexual promiscuity and could also have triggered her criminal versatility.
Reaction to the court verdict
A close analysis of the study prompts me to question the verdict taken by the court on 9th October 2002 that decided to end her life through a lethal injection. This is because of the fact that it is evidently clear from the study that there were biological, social and environmental factors that triggered her actions (Rowe & Osgood, 1984). She was neglected during childhood and exposed to sexual violence at a tender age, factors that may have altered her psychological makeup making her to become more violent and consequently led to her indulgence in crime. An appropriate verdict would have been a lengthy term in jail where she could have been provided support and care to reshape her behaviors.
In conclusion, this study reveals the complexity of cases involving serial killers and how some biological, social, developmental and environmental factors are key drivers of indulgence in crime. Psychopathic characteristics are also inherent among serial killers as evidenced in Aileen’s case but despite the gravity of the heinous acts that are carried out by serial killers, many are left debating on the court verdicts with some sympathizing with the serial killers based on their biological predisposition and environmental exposure.