Use the Richard Kuklinski case to illustrate how the biological AND sociological perspective can explain his criminal behavior(e.g. serial killing) Draw on information learned in class(including video clip) In the interview with Kuklinski, his story about his father having aggressive tendencies was a trait passed that was passed down to Kuklinski. The aggression also intensified from the abuse delivered from both his mother and his father.
The two murderers Richard and Perry both grew up in less than stellar environments. Richard came from an economically underprivileged family while Perry came from a broken home filled with abuse. These two also had drug issues; Richard seemed to be drawn to alcoholism while Perry was an aspirin addict. In this case, the genetics were not identical but the circumstances that they grew up in were similar; this revealed how much of their traits were genetic. Murderous instinct likely has not even been studied yet but, in this case, the trait would not have been found to be genetic because neither of the parents of the children were killers.
Genetics, environment, and personal experiences play a role in shaping a person's mind. Depending on the person, it could be simpler to narrow down triggers. This can help prevent aggressive behavior and or provided room for intervention to help those struggling with insanity before it turns violent. Cases such as Steven Steinberg, who stabbed his wife 26 times that ended up killing her; John Wayne Gacy, who tortured, raped, and murdered at least 30 young boys; or John Hinkley Jr. who tried to kill Ronald Reagen. If a prevention was set into place, these cases and others would have never happened.
Common characteristics that all the resources agreed in defining a psychopath is that these individuals are ones who have no emotions (including empathy or remorse), ones who engage in impulsive and antisocial acts, there is an absence of delusions and anxiety, maintains no real relationships, irresponsible (Fails to follow any life plan), level of intelligence depends on the individual, etc. The collection of moments is a show series called Dexter, the main character is serial killer who targets criminals; Dexter witnessed the murder of his mother at age three and was adopted by Harry, a police officer. Recognizing his psychopathic traits as a child, his adoptative father taught Dexter to “channel his passion for killing to murder other killers.
nurture argument comes up. I do not think the primary cause of violence is biological or genetic, and I believe the vast majority of males do not commit violent acts because they are capable of controlling their base instincts. Men are not violent beasts, or at the very least, most of them are not. As far as I know, nearly everyone gets violent and intrusive thoughts once in awhile, but most people can control them, they do not act upon those thoughts. This is what separates us from the psychopaths and murderers.
The concept of psychopathy can be summarized briefly as a “mental disorder especially when marked by egocentric and antisocial activity”. The term was first used in 1900, and throughout history went through changes and adjustments. It is further defined as a personality disorder, in the branch of an antisocial disorder. A person who has this disorder finds themselves with a lack of empathy and remorse towards others, and may act in daring and disinhibited behaviors. A common consequence to this disorder is the manifestation of serial killers.
As an evolutionary coping mechanism, psychopathy permits an alternate life history and mating strategy when the usual one is not possible because of a lack normal development due to inadequate parental care, individual genetic differences, or both (Glenn et al., 2011). Theoretically, this lack of basic human emotional connection is what allows for all of the predatory, manipulative, and egocentric behaviors we associate with psychopathy (Murphy & Stich, 2000). That is, while psychopaths cause a disproportionate amount of misery for the rest of society (in the form of exploitative behavior and non-care for their offspring), they do so at an advantage to their own reproductive success (Ellis & Bjorklund, 2012). What may seem destructive to us, then, is actually enormously beneficial to the psychopath from an evolutionary point of
The Ted Bundy case in 1978, is great way to understand the mind of someone with antisocial personality disorder. Ted Bundy was a serial killer in the late seventies, who targeted young college sorority girls. In just five short years Ted Bundy murdered over 30 women, with no remorse over what he had done. As a child, Ted Bundy displayed unusually behavior that were warning signs of antisocial personality disorder; he was shy, didn’t like to hang around other kids, stole things, and was very intelligent. Not to say every shy child has antisocial personality disorder, but in his case, he did.
According to BBC News, “There was reduced activity in the pre-frontal cortex, the area of the brain which controls emotional impulses, and over activation of the amygdala, the area which generates our emotions” (Lombroso). This is showing that in the brains of serial killers, there was less activity in the prefrontal cortex. In this part of the brain, it generates people’s emotions and controls the emotion pulses. Misa Kori says, “About 30% of men have this so-called warrior gene, but whether the gene is triggered or not depends crucially on what happens to you in childhood.” This shows that more serial killers are men and they have a warrior gene.
In 1993 scientists reported a Dutch family, there were 14 members of the family and all of them were sociopaths. They entire Dutch family had a mutation in a gene that makes an enzyme called MAOA. The enzyme’s function is to break down neurotransmitters like serotonin, norepinephrine, and dopamine. Over production of testosterone might be a factor that creates mass shooters. Normal testosterone levels are between 20%-200% of the average, and people whose testosterone levels exceed 400%, are more prone to violent behavior and over aggression.
Discuss one or more biological explanations of human behaviour intro As can be seen then, first biological explanation of aggression is a particular gene which has been associated with human’s aggressive behaviour. Gene controls production of an enzyme called Monoamine Oxidase A (MAOA). MAOA regulated the metabolism of serotonin in the brain, and low levels of serotonin are associated with impulsive and aggressive behaviour. (Cardwell & Flanagan, 2012). A study of a Dutch family in 1993 was the first to suggest the link between violence and genetic deficiency, many of its males behaved in violent and aggressive way, moreover majority of them had been involved in serious crimes, including rape and arson.
Past research has shown that high level of serotonin in a person causes aggression and impulsivity that could be seen as a characteristic common in psychopaths. One of the research that supports this theory is by Swedish researchers. Psychopathic behaviour seems to be linked to an imbalance in critical brain chemicals, reveals a study of violent and sexual offenders. The findings are based on 28 men up to the age of 45, all of whom had committed violent crimes, including murder, attempted murder, aggravated assault, arson, rape, or sexual assault of
Chromosomes contain hundreds or maybe even thousands of genes. Genes carry the information that determines your traits. (Susan Skallerup) These features or characteristics passed on to you from your parents. With Down syndrome, the extra chromosome causes delays in the way a child develops mentally and physically (S.M.Pueschell.
An inconceivable event or a dominant figure has elicited these deadly urges and murderous emotions within the individual (Innes 6). Therefore, the creation of serial killers is not only due to their genetic makeup but also due to their upbringing and traumatic experiences; serial killers are influenced by both nature and nurture. They are a product of the environment that surrounds
Generally there are two common types of mutation in gene that can be classified as gene mutation and chromosomal mutation. Genetic mutation involves the changes in the composition of the DNA molecules or gene itself resulting in the alteration in their chemical structure and composition. The modification in the chemical structure will then lead to the change in the function of the genes. When there is a gene mutation in our body cells, all these altered genes will then be passed down to the children through a process called mitotic division. The offspring will inherit all the changes when the gene is mutated in the sex cells.
