Serial Killers Nature vs. Nurture Essay - 662 Words

Serial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture The question of whether or not man is predetermined at birth to lead a life of crime is a question that has been debated for decades. Are serial killers born with the lust for murder, or are their desires developed through years of abuse and torment? Many believe it is impossible for an innocent child to be born with the capability to commit a horrible act such as murder. But at the same time, how could we have corrupted society so much as to turn an innocent child into a homicidal maniac? Forensic psychologists have picked apart the minds of serial killers to find an answer as to what forces them to commit such perverse acts. Their ultimate goal is to learn how to catch a serial killer before†¦show more content†¦Researchers in the 1960’s pursued men with â€Å"XYY syndrome†, or a surplus male chromosome. Studies show that males with an extra chromosome are generally more aggressive, violent, and it is statistically proven that men with this extra ‘malen ess’ have a far greater tendency towards criminal activity. There is an estimated 100,000 males with this ‘alpha male disease’ in the United States alone, and a larger percent of those men are in prison, than the population at large. Richard Speck, a seaman with a murder count above nine, was diagnosed with the XYY syndrome, and sentenced to 400 years in prison. In one specific case, being a serial murderer appears to be hereditary. An 8 year-old girl murdered more than her fair share of people before graduating from elementary school. Her mother, with whom she had never met, was a convicted killer. Whether or not this is a rare coincidence, is unknown, but for an 8-year-old girl to brutally murder her peers, she would have to have been subjected to an extreme amount of corruption. A quote from well-known Scottish killer, Dennis Nilson, states exactly what his motives were for viscously killing his innocent victims. â€Å"I did it all for me,† he says, â€Å"purely selfish. I worshipped the art and act of death, over and over. It is as simple as that. Afterwards, it was all sexual confusion, symbolism, honouring the ‘fallen’. I was honouring myself. I hated the decayShow MoreRelatedSerial Killers : Nature Vs. Nurture Essay1993 Words   |  8 PagesSerial Killers: Nature vs. Nurture Crime over the years has become a very popular subject. There are countless movies, shows, books and documentaries about such events. Individuals are very entertained for one reason or another by these types of shows. There have been many discussions, debates and research studies done particularly pertaining to the question â€Å"What causes someone to become a serial killer?† Psychologists, criminologists and scientists agree that the Nature nurture debate is the mostRead MoreSerial Killers, Nature Vs. Nurture1770 Words   |  8 PagesSerial Killers, Nature vs. Nurture. Is biology-making people serial killers? One must feel sorry for those who have strange tastes, but never insult them. Their wrong is Nature s too; they are no more responsible for having come into the world with tendencies unlike ours than are we for being born bandy-legged or well-proportioned† (Woolaston 2015) Marquis de Sade held an interesting view of people. Most humans have their own moral compass, most all differ from one another. Certain aspects of theRead MoreThe Creation of a Serial Killer: Nature vs. Nurture Essay1120 Words   |  5 Pagesâ€Å"Serial killers are human black holes; they scare us because they mirror us,† spoke Shirley Lynn Scott, known author and psychologist. This stands true throughout history, as most serial killers blend in with society. Serial killing is formally defined by the FBI as â€Å"a series of three or more killings, having common characteristics such as to suggest the reasonable possibility that the crimes were committed by th e same actor or actors.† But what exactly drives someone to kill another human beingRead MoreSerial Killers1314 Words   |  6 Pagestoday is the debate over nature versus nurture. With that debate going on there are many topics that are being researched under it, like serial killers, and what drives them to do what they do. Many scientists are still researching whether or not if serial killers are driven by the way they were raised or if it is a part of their genes. This literature review will analyze what people think about the nature versus nurture debate. It will talk about the nature side and the nurture side of the debate.Read MoreChild Development: Heredity and Environment1240 Words   |  5 Pagesbetween nature versus nurture or even environment versus heredity leads to the question of: does the direct environment or the nature surrounding an adolescent directly influence acts of delinquency, later progressing further into more radical crimes such as murder or psychotic manifestation, or is it directly linked to the hereditary traits and genes passed down from that individual adolescent’s biological parents? To answer this question one must first understand the difference between nature, nurtureRead MoreSerial Killers Statistics : Serial Killer Statistics Essay818 Words   |  4 PagesNovember 23). Serial killer statistics. Retrieved July 28, 2016 fromhttp://maamodt.asp.radford.edu/Serial%20Killer%20Information%20Center/Serial%2 0Killer%20Statistics.pdf This article covers serial killers statistics. Many table reports are illustrated with the sole purpose to demonstrate accurate information about serial killers. The tables indicate the frequency (by decade) and the number of separate serial killers operating in any given year in the USA. Beasley II, J. O. (2004). Serial Murder inRead MoreSerial Killers: Are They Born Or Made?. There Are Multiple1230 Words   |  5 PagesSerial Killers: Are They Born or Made? There are multiple theories as to why or how a person can become a serial killer. A serial killer can be a person who murders at least three or more people over a long period of time (Ramsland). Are serial killers born with the need to kill or is it a result of a horrific childhood? These two concepts are associated with the nature vs. nurture theory. â€Å"People on the side of nurture are of the opinion that our environment determines who a person is and becomes†Read MoreNature Vs. Nurture Debate1427 Words   |  6 Pagesparents use authoritarian methods and punishment.† The nature Vs nurture debate has been around since 1690 created by the philosopher John Locke who believed we as humans do not have natural, inborn ideas; that our minds are a blank page, upon which experience shall write. Nurture is everything and nature is simply nothing. â€Å"Nature is what we think of as pre-wiring and is influenced by genetic inheritance and other biological factors. Nurture is generally taken as the influence of external factorsRead MoreNature Vs. Nurture Essay1612 Words   |  7 PagesNature vs. Nurture Essay Throughout many years, scientists have been debating about whether nature or nurture is the driving force that shapes a person’s cognitive abilities and personal traits. Before the ongoing debate can be explained, it is necessary to understand what nature and nurture actually are. Nature is loosely defined as the genetics one inherits and tendencies that influence development. Many things in an individual are hereditary, for instance; gender, disease, height, eye color,Read MoreLE300J Final Essay1628 Words   |  7 PagesProject LE300J Serial Killers as Heroes in Popular Culture Professor Donna Strong Park University Throughout time many have had a fascination with serial killers and with help from the media they have become celebrities within our culture. There are many books, movies, television shows, and news coverage to introduce viewers to their lives. With all the interest behind serial killers, many wonder how they come to be this violent. The question is often asked, are serial killers born or made