John Kuroski’s citation reveals Ted Bundy’s last lawyer defining him as “the definition of heartless evil” (1). Capturing a chilling paradox that underlines the mysterious and deceitful nature of psychopathic individuals. Exploring Ted Bundy’s life from a psychological standpoint reveals a complex mix of factors shaping his actions. His childhood, though it seems normal, had its darker aspects. Influences from his family, media, and social norms affect the way he acts, his manipulation of others, and his lack of empathy. Using his charm and deceitful ways to mask deeper problems. His ability to manipulate and control people. His actions left a deep impact on society. Analyzing his life, actions, the impact he left on society, and Ted Bundy …show more content…
He was born in a home for unwed mothers and remained there for 2 months until his grandfather, Sam, wanted Ted and his mother to come up to Philadelphia to live with them. Ashamed of their daughter’s wedlock pregnancy, they raised young Ted as their own. There, Ted began believing his mother, Louise Cowell, was his sister, not his mother. Bundy confided in Ann Rule, the author of The Stranger Beside Me, confessing that he had to realize the deception himself, stating, ““May I just figured out there couldn’t be twenty years’ difference between a brother and sister, and Louise always took care of me. I just grew up knowing that she was really my mother”” (Piccotti 1). At three years old, he and his mother left Philadelphia, running away to Tacoma, Washington. Ted missed Philadelphia and didn’t care for the Seattle area. When his mother met an army hospital cook, Johnnie Bundy, and married in 1951 (Piccotti 1), making young Ted even more upset. The relationship between Ted and his stepfather was always tense. Young Ted was materialistic, wanting clothing and expensive items that his working-class father couldn't afford (Piccotti …show more content…
Bundy already knew he could manipulate people, so he could have possibly seen the media as an advantage, making him look like this charismatic, intelligent guy many people believed him to be (Terranova 16). It’s possible that Bundy was inspired by other serial killers due to the high rise of serial killers in the 1970s and 1980s (Mello-Klein). Bundy is known for his charm and intelligence, but also for his deceitful nature. He has this charismatic charm, drawing significant attention (Jenkins 1). As stated by Kaja Perina, “Liz Kendall (her pseudonym) wrote The Phantom Prince to describe her extended relationship with him. “I knew when I first looked at him.that he was a cut above the rest of the crowd. The way he moved projected confidence. He seemed to be in control of his world”” (1). With his charm came his intelligence, adding to make him seem more normal. The average serial killer's IQ is at about 94, slightly less than the average American’s score, however, Ted Bundy’s score measured at 136, making him extremely intelligent (Franceschetti