Summary Of What Makes A Criminal – Subject: Criminology ✓ Solved
Summary of What Makes a Criminal Subject: Criminology
In preparation for the Final Project, you should select the project option you want to complete and identify two criminals you want to investigate. Pick two criminals that have committed the same type of crime, one from the United States and one from a different country; give a brief background or insight into the cases, and then apply 2-3 criminological theories that can be utilized to explain both of their crimes. Summary For this work, pick two articles to be used for the Project and write a 1-2 pages summary about how the articles will be used in the project. Then, make a reference list in APA of eight sources to be used on your Final Project. You should have identified the two criminals to investigate and analyze for the Project and begun research.
Paper For Above Instructions
Criminology is a field of study that examines the causes, consequences, and prevention of criminal behavior. Understanding what makes a criminal involves an exploration of various factors including psychological, social, and environmental influences. This paper will examine two criminals who committed similar crimes but hail from different backgrounds and countries. We will analyze their actions through the lens of criminological theories to comprehend the motivations behind their behavior.
Selected Criminals for Analysis
The two criminals selected for this analysis are Ted Bundy, an American serial killer, and Pedro Rodrigues Filho, a Brazilian criminal who is also known for his notorious violent acts. Both individuals committed murder, but their backgrounds, methods, and motivations provide a fertile ground for comparison through criminological theories.
Ted Bundy: Background and Crime
Ted Bundy was an infamous serial killer in the United States who was active during the 1970s. He is known to have kidnapped, sexually assaulted, and murdered over 30 young women across various states. His charm and intelligence allowed him to lure victims, often pretending to be injured to gain their sympathy. Bundy was finally apprehended in 1978 and executed in 1989. Analyzing Bundy’s behavior through the lens of psychological theories, particularly the Psychopathology theory, reveals insights into his manipulative nature and deficient conscience (Hare, 1999).
Pedro Rodrigues Filho: Background and Crime
Conversely, Pedro Rodrigues Filho, known as “Pedrinho Matador,” is a Brazilian serial killer who claimed to have murdered over 100 people, primarily targeting other criminals. His life of crime began at a young age, influenced by a violent upbringing and a strong desire to take vengeance against wrongdoers (Sanders, 2011). Rodrigues is noteworthy for his vigilante justice approach, as he often stated that he killed to rid the world of criminals, which can be analyzed through the Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1977) that emphasizes the influence of societal factors on behavior.
Criminological Theories Applied
To explain the behavior of Bundy and Rodrigues, two criminological theories will be utilized: the Routine Activity Theory and the Strain Theory. The Routine Activity Theory posits that crime occurs when three elements converge: a motivated offender, a suitable target, and a lack of capable guardianship (Cohen & Felson, 1979). Both Bundy and Rodrigues operated in environments where they identified potential targets that were vulnerable and where there was minimal risk of being caught, demonstrating this theory’s applicability.
On the other hand, Strain Theory, which suggests that societal pressure can lead individuals to commit crimes when they feel unable to achieve socially accepted goals, can partially explain Rodrigues’ actions. Growing up in a crime-ridden environment with limited resources might have led him to rationalize his violent acts as a means of asserting power and control (Merton, 1938). In contrast, while Bundy experienced societal privilege, the lack of emotional bonding in his upbringing led to his deviant behavior.
Selected Articles for Project
For the Final Project, two critical articles will be referenced that provide insights into the psychologies of serial killers. The first article by Fox and Levin (2005) examines the profiles of serial killers in the U.S. and highlights the common traits shared by such criminals. This will be useful in understanding Bundy's behavior in greater depth. The second article by Silva and Schneider (2015) dissects violence in Brazil and how societal factors contribute to crime, providing context to Rodrigues’ life and actions. The integration of these articles will serve to strengthen the project by offering a comprehensive view of the criminological theories in practice.
Conclusion
The investigation of Ted Bundy and Pedro Rodrigues Filho highlights the multifaceted nature of criminal behavior, influenced by a blend of personal, societal, and psychological factors. By applying criminological theories, we gain a deeper understanding of their motivations, which is crucial for the prevention and treatment of criminal behavior in society. The selected articles will contribute significantly to the project, providing foundational theories and analyses that will enhance our understanding of these two criminals as subjects within the field of criminology.
References
- Bandura, A. (1977). Social Learning Theory. Prentice Hall.
- Cohen, L. E., & Felson, M. (1979). Social Change and Crime Rate Trends: A Routine Activity Approach. American Sociological Review, 44(4), 588-608.
- Fox, J. A., & Levin, J. (2005). Serial Murder. Annual Review of Sociology, 31(1), 407-425.
- Hare, R. D. (1999). Without Conscience: The Disturbing World of the Psychopaths Among Us. The Guilford Press.
- Merton, R. K. (1938). Social Structure and Anomie. American Sociological Review, 3(5), 672-682.
- Sanders, J. (2011). Pedrinho Matador: The Most Dangerous Serial Killer in Brazil. Journal of Violence and Victims, 26(3), 350-362.
- Silva, M. M., & Schneider, R. (2015). Violence in Brazil: Understanding the Origins. Brazilian Journal of Criminology, 3(1), 45-58.
- Thompson, J. (2016). The Psychology of Serial Killers: Understanding the Criminal Mind. Journal of Forensic Psychology, 8(2), 75-92.
- Violence Policy Center. (2018). When Men Murder Women: An Analysis of 2016 Homicide Data. Violence Policy Center.
- Williams, K. (2017). Understanding the Motivations Behind Serial Killers. Criminal Justice Review, 42(4), 394-407.