Clifford Olson: A Canadian Horror. Koby Barkhouse School of Health and Human Services, Nova Scotia Community College SOCS2021: Introduction to Forensic Psychology Scott Campbell April 12, 2024 Clifford Robert Olson Jr. stands as a chilling emblem of horror in Canadian criminal history. Convicted of brutally murdering 11 children and teenagers during the early 1980s, his crimes shocked the nation and remain a haunting reminder of the darkest features of human nature. Incarcerated for fraudulent activities in 1976, Olson's descent into crime took a sinister turn when he shared a cell with fellow inmate Gary Francis Marcoux, a convicted rapist-murderer. Their unsettling alliance led to Olson adopting elements of Marcoux's methods, laying the …show more content…
They later moved to Richmond, Alberta, settling in a government-built community for servicemen post-World War II. Clifford Jr. attended Bridgeport Elementary, from a young age, Clifford Jr. exhibited attention-seeking behaviour and academic struggles, leading to frequent misbehaviour and class skipping. By age 15, he had already been jailed directly after failing Grade 8. Known for his compulsive talking and bullying tendencies, he lacked close friendships and engaged in petty crimes like selling outdated lottery tickets and tormenting animals. Which many now consider a staple piece of information in identifying psychopathic behaviour. His criminal career was marked by a pattern of defiance and disregard for the law, in addition to his troubled upbringing and a lot of antisocial behaviour. While he was known to be a loner and lacked close friendships in his personal life, Olson collaborated with others when committing certain criminal acts. Clifford Olson was said to have a lack of close relationships. He was described as a loner who struggled to form meaningful connections with others. Despite his desire for attention and his compulsive actions, Olson's behaviour often alienated those around him