One of the pivotal factors contributing to Charles Manson’s criminal behavior was his mother’s persistent abandonment during his childhood. Manson’s mother, a teenager at the time, prioritized herself at the expense of her son, causing emotional turmoil. According to the article “Why did Charles Manson order killings? NU psychologists, other experts offer a new take,” Manson’s childhood catalyzed his mental issues. His mother’s occupation as a sex worker and battle with alcoholism led to frequent neglect, inflicting significant psychological strain on Manson which laid the groundwork for his mental difficulties (Main). This demonstrates the root of Manson’s mental challenges. As shown in the source, “The Effects of Childhood Abandonment in …show more content…
This is supported by his final psychological assessment, where doctors identified Manson was suffering from “schizotypal personality disorder with underlying paranoid and narcissistic features and antisocial personality disorder” (“APA PsycNet)”. It is evident that Manson was grappling with significant mental health issues. As shown in the source, "Psychiatric Illness and Criminality," individuals with untreated mental illness may exhibit an increase in violence if adequate treatment is not provided (Ghiasi). Manson’s untreated mental health conditions likely played a role in ordering the Manson family to commit those murders. While Manson’s mental health struggles are a significant factor in his criminality, other influences could’ve impacted Manson’s engagement in criminal behavior. Another contributing factor to Charles Manson’s criminal behavior was that he and his followers were under the influence of various drugs at the time of the murders - including amphetamines and hallucinogens such as LSD. Manson’s delusional belief was that “he was Jesus” and that the murders were supposed to hasten an “apocalyptic race war” (Hughes). Clearly, this indicates how the drugs Manson was using detached him from