Introduction
In the field of Criminology, our job is to attempt to explain and understand why some people commit crimes and others do not. Using the psychological, sociological, or psychiatric approach can help to conclude as to why an individual committed a crime can do this. However, in this paper, the psychological approach will be used to illustrate why Rie Fujii starved and killed her two kids in 2001. Psychological theories of crime focus on how mental processes impact individual’s propensities for violence. In further, the association between learning, intelligence, and personality and violence behavior is studied.
The goal of this paper is to use the psychological approach to explain why Rie Fujii committed a homicide. To do this, first the paper provides a basic understanding of the Rie Fujii case by outlining the key events. Secondly, the paper will examine the social control theory and provide information as to how this theory can apply to the Fujii case. Finally, this essay will look into the addiction theory and describe how the addiction theory can also explain the Fujii case. This study will argue that both psychological theories can be used to explain why Rie Fujii killed her two kids. However,
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According to Dominique Bourget (2015), “being the primary caregiver for at least one child, unemployment/financial problems, ongoing abusive adult relationships, conflict with family members and limited social support. Social isolation has also been noted as a factor common in women who killed their children, as has a history of child abuse” (para. 20). As learned, Fujii was associated with an ongoing abusive relationship, had conflict with family members, had limited social support, and was a primary caregiver for two children. Taking that into consideration alongside her addiction, they are all common factors in women who
Control Theory focuses on the question, “why do people conform?”. This theory argues that it is easier to satisfy an individual’s needs and wants through crime, but most people still don’t commit illegal acts. The reason for this is because of the restraints placed on people that stop them from breaking the law. But obviously, some people’s restraints exist more than others’. Some people feel freer to engage on crime. There are three major things that stop people from participating in deviant criminal activities: direct control, stake in conformity, and internal control. Jeffrey Dahmer lacked all
The present paper intent to enquire into a female serial killer. It shall describe and analyze the theories behind the occurrences and sequent offer explanations. The studies of criminology theories it is important to recognize why humans decide on living a life cycle of crime. Wikipedia.org defines serial killer as, “a person who murders three or more people, usually in service of abnormal psychological gratification, with the murders taking place over more than a month and including a significant break (a “cooling off period”) between them.” Precisely of this, humans who tend to be a serial killer are prone to developmental and physical characteristics. Several of these trends could fit into a model standard of a crime. A good example of analyzing the life and crimes of Aileen Wuornos, an American female serial killer who killed
Criminology is only part of anti-social behavior which may include the causes, nature and control of such criminal behavior. Criminology focuses on criminals, while psychology is applied to understand the mind behind the criminal. Criminology deals with research into the cause, form and consequences of a crime. Psychopathology applies science useful in understanding the abnormalities in early development of the brain that contributed to the creation of the social deviant. It is necessary to include data from both fields to formulate hypothesis that state the nature of anti-social behaviors specifically relating to serious disorders such as schizophrenia. Applying the science of psychology to issues relating to violent crim...
Eysenck, H.J., & Gudjonsson, G.H. (1989). The causes and cures of criminality. Contemporary Psychology, 36, 575-577.
Serial killers are defined to “be driven by instinct and desire to kill.” In a study done in 2000, Dr, Richard Davidson says, “people with a large amount of aggression – in particular people who have committed aggressive murders or have a social disorder – have almost no brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex or the anterior cingulated cortex while activity in the amyglade continued perfectly. The orbital frontal cortex and the anterior congulated cortex control emotional impulses while the amyglade controls reactions to fear.” Davidson concludes his research claiming that although environment can and will affect a serial killer’s thoughts, it is a killer’s genetic makeup that inevitably creates murderous thoughts.
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
In conclusion, there are many factors that can affect a person’s mind on the acceptability of homicide, as well as the capability to commit homicide. Religion, culture, and socio-economic status are just a few of the factors but play a major role. They are used as either a crutch or an ideal solution, depending upon their raising. Each of these factors changes how a person can perceive themselves and what they do. Basically, a person is controlled by past experiences and cultural, religious, and socio-economic status influences. Throughout this paper, evidence supports that a person does not just go out and kill someone, something in their life has influenced them to do such an atrocious act to another person.
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.
Man charged with the rape of 31 women in New York! Ever caught the headline of a crime that occurred and wondered how a person could possibly commit such a heinous act against another person? This is the job of a criminologist. To study crimes, criminals, victims, environmental and social factors, etc. in order to come up with theories and reasons as to why people commit acts against others (Brotherton). Criminology is not a new concept, but it is an evolving one. For this reason many theories have derived from sociologist and psychologist as to why crimes are committed, who commits them, and other the factors that played a role. Take for instance the crime rape. Rape is an unwanted sexual act performed upon another individual by force, deception or while under the influence of a substance. While most rape victims are known to be women, this crime has been expanded to include rape against a man or a person of the same sex. Rape is not an easy concept to deal with, nor is dealing with a rapist. For the purpose of this paper, rape will be explained by three theories, biological, psychological and rational choice theory, all of which criminologist have deemed are fitting of the crime.
Some of the explanations of delinquency insinuates that education, politics, social factors, family issues among others are the main causes of delinquency (Rutter, 2013).Just as these were some of the factors in “There Are No Children Here”. In addition, criminal investigators formulated several theories which explain causes of delinquency. Among them are social factors which are explained through several theories which include Social Reaction Theory also referred to as Labeling theory and Power control
In today’s society, one will find that there are many different factors that go into the development of a criminal mind, and it is impossible to single out one particular cause of criminal behavior. Criminal behavior often stems from both biological and environmental factors. In many cases criminals share similar physical traits which the general population do not usually have. For example criminals have smaller brains than properly adjusted individuals. However biological reasons cannot solely be the cause of criminal behavior. Therefore, one must look to other sources as to how a criminal mind is developed. Social and environmental factors also are at fault for developing a person to the point at which they are lead to committing a criminal act. Often, someone who has committed a violent crime shows evidence of a poorly developed childhood, or the unsuitable current conditions in which the subject lives. In addition if one studies victimology which is the role that the victim plays in the crime, it is apparent that there are many different causes for criminal behavior. Through the examination of biological factors, in addition to the social and environmental factors which make up a criminal mind, one can conclude that a criminal often is born with traits common to those of criminals, it is the environment that exist around them that brings out the criminal within them to commit indecent acts of crime.
Mental illness and mental disorders have a strong relationship with those that commit violent crimes. This has lead to psychologists looking at how psychopathology is relevant to understanding and treating those convicted of violent crime. Psychopathology, for the purpose of this essay, will be defined as our understanding and knowledge of any illness or disorder within the mind that affects an individual’s cognition and behavior (Sinnamon, 2017; Stirling & Hellewell, 2002). As such, mental disorders are considered to be a part of psychopathology because a mental disorder originates within the individual rather than it being a situation reaction that is outside the individuals physical and/or mental control (Sinnamon, 2017). Therefore,
While child abuse does not always result in a serial killer, the aftermath of the neglect and abuse is unforeseeable and can have many alternate routes. The researchers were trying to answer the question of if there was a common factor that many or all serial killers shared that could have attributed to their psychological issues. From the research gathered, it would appear that child abuse is a common factor, however it is not guaranteed that all serial killers experience child abuse and not all children that experience abuse will become serial killers. Some problems posed with this research is that an extensive amount of the information obtained was from an unconnected third party, therefore the truthfulness of the information must be scrutinized. Also, some criminals may lie about their past. Some may say that they were abused to have an explanation for their heinous crimes, or some may downplay their past because they do not wish to disclose vulnerable aspects of their life. In all, the child abuse among lust serial killers could be considered to be a factor in their murderous actions. It is warned, however, to not generalize these findings to all serial killers, as the information gathered was determined off a group of lust serial
Murder, robbery, prostitution, rape; what exactly makes people partake in these crimes? The debate of Nature vs Nurture has never failed to raise questions about people’s personalities and actions. Whether a person commits a crime because of their innate character vs the way they were raised is something that people have been trying to understand for years. Due to this fact, the biosocial perspective of criminology does the best job at explaining criminal behavior because it combines the aspects of nature vs. nurture through various types of family, twin, and adoption studies and studies of the brain.
Understanding Psychology and Crime; Perspectives on Theory and Action, New York. PENNINGTON, D ( 2002) , Introducing Psychology: Approaches, Topics and Methods, London, Hodder Arnold TANNENBAUN, B, (2007),Profs link criminal behaviour to genetics [online] , Available at: http://thedp.com/index.php/article/2007/11/profs_link_criminal_behavior_to_genetics [accessed 16th October 2011]. http://www.docstoc.com/docs/41182390/Explanations-of-Criminal-behaviour