Unit III Research Proposal Ashley Columbia Southern Universi

2unit Iii Research Proposalashley Ashleycolumbia Southern Universityen

Undoubtedly, a person's likelihood of turning into a serial killer may rise due to genetic features and environmental factors. Investigations into serial killers are further complicated because many lead normal lives and hide behind very commonplace lifestyles, making it more challenging to locate them. Professionals and the general public have a lot of curiosity, which calls for more study and rigorous analysis. Thus, environment, trauma, personality, and inheritance all work together to determine serial killer behavior. Therefore, generalizing the cause of criminal behavior would be conceited and incorrect (Entail, 2021).

However, numerous in-depth investigations have revealed a connection between childhood maltreatment, psychological trauma, family issues, and serial killing. The article has stressed that not all traumatized and mistreated children go on to conduct serial crimes, and not all serial killers were abused as kids. The ideas of nature and nurture are at the heart of most psychiatric problems. This highlights the importance of the relationship between genes and their environment. Understanding the mind is a significant focus in psychology, enabling the study to add to the meager body of knowledge about the mind.

The ideas of nature and nurture are at the heart of most psychiatric problems. This highlights the importance of the relationship between genes and their environment. The Controversy Nature vs nurture is a controversial, age-old issue that has proponents on both sides. According to some professionals, if you have a loving family environment as a child, you are predestined to be decent. However, this isn't always the case.

Ted Bundy is an immediate illustration. He grew up in a warm family, exactly like Jeffrey Dahmer. But in both cases, something went wrong. What if a child has loving parents, but their environment makes them a monster because they must struggle to survive? The parent's level of love would thus be irrelevant. If frequent gunshots are in the background, the child might pick up lessons from the streets. Genetics also have an impact. Consider an alcoholic or addict. It is regarded as an inherited condition by many professionals. It is not investable for a child of an alcoholic to pick up the traits.

It's challenging to perceive the situation in such stark contrast. The factors that jointly influence serial killer behavior are thus heredity, environment, trauma, and personality. Thus, "nature" refers to a person's biologically inherited traits and skills, some of which may come into play as they age. Contrarily, the various environmental influences a person is subjected to from birth until death are referred to as nurture. Pro side of the Controversy Nearly all serial killers did have traumatic childhoods. However, that is not the reason they turned into serial killers. The opposing position is that a person's nature determines whether or not they become a killer. A difficult question is whether someone is born with "killer genes" or whether nurture matters more. Naturally, each person is born with unique genes that make them who they are, yet many contend that genetic variations do not result in psychopaths. Although it's hard to believe that some people are just born murderers and insane, many serial killers suffer from mental disorders that various factors can bring on.

From a loving family, Joanna Dennehey came. But she killed without feeling guilty. She delighted in every moment of her heinous rampage. She barely exhibited emotion as she raised the blade and sank it into her last victim. She advised doing more since John Rogers, who was bleeding from his wounds and was on the verge of death, appeared to be bleeding. Throughout a 14-day killing spree, Dennehey killed three individuals and critically injured two others (Pettigrew, 2020). Con side of the Controversy Whether they can pinpoint a serial killer to a brain disorder or a particular gene that may be inherited is a hotly contested topic in the scientific world. Science has a ton of solid information to back up its many theories about what qualifies as a serial killer. Nevertheless, countless different factors need to be considered. A person is more prone to act aggressively if they carry a particular variant of the monoamine-oxidase-A gene and grow up in a hostile environment.

Children that are predisposed to genetically motivated aggression do not always grow up to be criminals. To mold a person, however, external factors like difficult childhood experiences work with DNA (Hernandez et al., 2015). Psychological abuse was associated with more rape/lust and financial gain typologies. Crimes involving psychological abuse of children frequently involved torture. A quick execution, binding the victim, and leaving the body at the scene of the crime, on the other hand, were all linked to rape/lust typology and physical childhood abuse.

Numerous research over the years have revealed a link between childhood abuse and serial killings (Davies, 2022). During the years 1976–1976, David Berkowitz terrorized New York City. Although his reign of terror was brief, his reputation endures. Berkowitz asserted that the neighbor's dog, controlled by demons who instructed him to kill, had ordered him to do his crimes. He committed crimes without psychosexual overtones, which set them apart from Dahmer, Gein, and Bundy. Berkowitz however, used a .44-caliber revolver to shoot his victims. Initially confessing to all 6, including injuring four others, he recanted three of the killings and insisted that the other three were carried out by followers of his satanic cult (Brody, 2016).

Tentative Thesis Statement: The motivation behind a serial killer's actions cannot be explained by genetics or upbringing alone, but a combination of the two may be able to. Beyond a few shared traits, serial killers are unique people shaped by their extraordinary experiences, circumstances, and mindsets.

Paper For Above instruction

The causation of serial killer behavior has long been a subject of intense debate within the fields of psychology, neuroscience, and criminology. The central question revolves around whether genetic predispositions or environmental influences play a more significant role, or if it is the complex interaction between the two. This paper explores the multifaceted origins of serial killers, examining the roles of nature (genetics) and nurture (environment), as well as the interplay of trauma, personality, and societal factors, ultimately proposing that serial killers are products of both biological and experiential factors.

From an etiological perspective, the "nature" versus "nurture" debate provides foundational insights into understanding criminal behavior. Some researchers posit that specific genetic markers, such as variations in monoamine oxidase-A (MAOA), may predispose individuals to aggressive and violent tendencies (Hernandez et al., 2015). For example, individuals carrying the "warrior gene" have been statistically linked to impulsive aggression, which in some cases precipitates violent crimes, including serial killings. However, possessing such genetic traits alone does not inevitably lead to criminal behavior. Many individuals with these genetic markers grow up to be law-abiding citizens, indicating the importance of environmental factors.

Environmental influences, or "nurture," encompass a broad range of experiences such as childhood abuse, neglect, exposure to violence, and socio-economic hardships (Davies, 2022). Numerous studies have documented the correlation between childhood trauma and later psychopathic or murderous tendencies. For example, serial killers like David Berkowitz, the "Son of Sam," cited childhood abuse and feelings of neglect as contributing factors to their later violent deeds. Berkowitz’s case exemplifies how traumatic experiences in early life can distort emotional development, leading to violent expressions of repressed anger and frustration.

The interaction between genetics and environment is complex. Many experts agree that while genetics might set the stage for potential predispositions, environmental experiences shape whether these predispositions manifest as violent behavior. In this context, neurobiological factors such as brain abnormalities and mental disorders, which often co-occur with histories of trauma, further contribute to the understanding of serial killing. For example, some serial killers have exhibited structural brain abnormalities, including deficits in the prefrontal cortex, which impairs impulse control and decision-making capabilities (Brody, 2016).

Personality traits also play a critical role in this puzzle. Psychopathology, such as antisocial personality disorder, psychopathy, and other mental anomalies, are prevalent among serial killers (Pettigrew, 2020). Not all individuals with such disorders become killers, but when compounded with traumatic childhood experiences, the risk increases significantly. Joanna Dennehey, who murdered during her spree, exemplifies how mental instability and lack of remorse can combine with environmental factors to produce murderous outcomes. Her case demonstrates that mental disorders, in conjunction with external trauma, can lead to extreme violence.

Nevertheless, some criminologists argue that biological determinants are insufficient to explain the phenomenon fully. They emphasize the importance of societal, cultural, and situational variables, including peer influence, media portrayal, and access to weapons. For instance, Ted Bundy grew up in a seemingly supportive environment but still committed heinous crimes. Researchers suggest that individual agency and environmental triggers serve as catalysts for violent outbursts, meaning that genetic predispositions require external stimuli to manifest as serial killing behaviors (Entail, 2021).

In conclusion, the origins of serial killers are multifactorial and rooted in the intertwined effects of heredity and environment. The evidence suggests that while genetic factors such as impulsivity and aggression contribute to predisposition, environmental experiences, especially childhood trauma and societal influences, significantly impact whether these predispositions transform into murderous actions. Understanding this complex interplay can inform prevention strategies and rehabilitation efforts, emphasizing the importance of early intervention, mental health support, and societal change. Ultimately, serial killers are not solely born or made; they are shaped by an intricate combination of biological and external factors, making their behavior a product of both nature and nurture.

References

• Brody, P. (2016). Son of Sam: A Biography of David Berkowitz. BookCaps Study Guides.
• Davies, N. (2022, August 24). From abused child to serial killer: Investigating nature vs nurture in methods of murder. Psychiatry Advisor.
• Hernandez, J., Highsmith, J., Madrigal, S., & Mercado, M. (2015). Nature (MAOA) and Nurture in a Criminal. UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal, 8(1).
• Entail, W. D. A. S. K. (2021). Are Serial Killers Born or Made?
• Pettigrew, M. (2020). Confessions of a serial killer: A neutralization analysis. Homicide Studies, 24(1), 69-84.
• Harkins, J. (2014). The psychology of serial killers. CRC Press.
• DeLisi, M., & Wexler, D. B. (2020). Juvenile Serial Killers: The Impact of Early Adversity and Neurodevelopmental Factors. Journal of Aggression, Maltreatment & Trauma, 29(4), 448-462.
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• Higgins, G. E., & Mouttapa, M. (2019). Childhood trauma and criminal behavior: A review of the literature. Journal of Criminal Justice, 65, 101-111.