Psychology of Criminal Behavior free essay sample

Aileen Wuornos was a prostitute who shot to death at least seven middle-aged men that she encountered along northern and central Florida highways. Between 1989 and 1990, she murdered men that solicited her for sexual favors or who responded to her offer of sex for money. Aileen Wuornos is listed as one of the nation’s few female serial killers executed by lethal injection. The primary question for researchers and psychologists concerning this case was, â€Å"Is Aillen Wournos a victim of a failed upbringing or is she truly a monster† (Seal, 2008)? It is evident when analyzing this case that the motivation and drive to commit these heinous crimes was being fueled by environmental, cognitive, and psychological factors that stemmed from her childhood. This case became an interest to many that led to the release of three books, two movies, and a production by the San Francisco Opera. Aileen Wuornos’ victims were all middle-aged, white males who paid Aileen for sexual relations, however in each of the murders she claimed that they had all tried to rape/assault her and that she killed them in self-defense (Seal, 2008). We will write a custom essay sample on Psychology of Criminal Behavior or any similar topic specifically for you Do Not WasteYour Time HIRE WRITER Only 13.90 / page Her preferred method was to shoot them and to hide their bodies in the woods. In order to consider if the nature versus nurture appeal is relevant in the case of Aileen Wuornos there needs to be a close examination of her past. In nature, one adopts the genetic traits derived trough biological parents, and nurture is what one learns through life experiences (DeLisi, 2013). There are obvious attributes that contributed to Aileen Wuornos’ behavior and criminal acts. Her childhood experiences that she had to endure through increase the probability for the development of criminal tendencies, to include the abnormal sexual behavior that she took part in. Aileen Wuornos’ behaviors seem to have been a result from her dysfunctional childhood. There is also a possibility that traits from her father who was labeled as a sociopath and child molester who hung himself in jail could be applied in the nature vs. nurture theory in regards to her actions. Like Wuornos, her father was abandoned by his mother in infancy, and then adopted by his grandmother. As an adult, he was imprisoned for ‘‘kidnapping, rape, and crimes against nature,’’ eventually committing suicide in jail. Although Wuornos, too, was abandoned by her mother, raised by grandparents, and attempted suicide several times, she was never charged with kidnapping, rape, or ‘‘crimes against nature. ’’ Before her arrest for murder, her criminal record included disorderly Aileen Wuornos, Feminism’s ‘‘First Serial Killer’’ conduct, driving under the influence, forgery, and armed robbery. Because the specific nature of their crimes is seemingly less significant than the fact that they both were caught participating in illegal acts, this connection between Wuornos and her father, a blood relative, implicitly upholds a genetic explanation for her criminal behavior. The biological origin of crime is reinforced by the continuous need to point out that Wuornos never knew him (Pearson, 2007). Learning is the function that leads to possible or permanent behaviors. Behavioral psychology associates the way one’s behavior responds from the stimuli in one’s environment. The environment attributes to affecting the behavior from how they are learned, and the motivation which either alters the perception or stays the same (DeLisi, 2013). The theories apply to the behavior of Aileen Wuornos and how she responded from her childhood throughout her adult life. Her environment was a primary foundation that influenced her responses and choices she made, and her maltreatment constructed a person who felt isolated and trapped. Aileen Wuornos was brought up in an environment full of indecency, anger, cruelty, violence, abandonment, and disappointing behaviors. It also seems as though her killings were justified in her eyes as a means to survive by getting money, cars, and personal items to pawn. This may also stem from her childhood where she had to begin prostituting as a method to survive even in her teens. In this case the analysis of Aileen’s childhood and upbringing can seem to play a role in her behavior throughout her life. A popular concept in criminology, for instance, is social support theory, which is the general idea that family relationships, friendship networks, and social institutional supports such as church groups, community activities, and employment opportunities are needed to not only prevent crime but also assist offenders in the desistance process (DeLisi, 2013). It seems that in Aileen Wuornos’s case that if she would have had better family relationships and some type of support system that there could have been a possibility that her criminal behavior may had been reduced. Using a biological theory approach to view the Wuornos case, it appears that there lies some evidence to aid the concept that Wuornos was driven to murder with a biological predisposition. Within the late 1900s, one criminologist suggested certain physical qualities he thought could be employed to identify somebody that would use criminal activity, together with a large face having a prominent sloping temple, hair loss and high checkbones (Gibson, 2002). It should be noted that these definitions of criminal atavistic stigmata are in most cases masculine in nature, which means that a logical conclusion would be that he believed any woman with prominent masculine facial characteristics is a sign of deviance and would be assumed to have biological urges towards committing criminal acts (Gibson, 2002). Aileen Wuornos did have what some would consider to be masculine physical facial features. In addition Wuornoss gay associations shows an unconventional gender alignment, which identifies that Wuornos may have had a sexual identity disorder in addition to other personality disorders. Personality disorders are typically referred to as a class of personality types which deviate from contemporary societal expectations and are characterized by relatively stable patterns of maladaptive traits and behaviors. In general, individuals diagnosed with personality disorders are classified based on the traits that tend to cause them to feel and behave in socially dysfunctional ways, and these traits are often an extreme deviation from the way an average person in a particular culture perceives, thinks, feels, and relates to others. According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), these presumably enduring patterns of behaviors, generally stable and pervasive across contexts, are often congruent with inner experiences, and are therefore subjectively perceived by the individual as appropriate or normative (Esterberg, Goulding, Walker, 2010). Antisocial behavior may also be a complicating symptom of borderline personality disorder, but may be more central in lower levels of narcissistic personality disorder; it is always a negative prognostic factor. This is particularly true for the syndrome of malignant narcissism, the most severe form of the narcissistic personality that is characterized by ego-syntonic aggression, paranoia, and antisocial traits, and for the antisocial personality disorder proper. These are important differential diagnostic considerations when the clinical picture appears to be, at first sight, a borderline personality disorder, and they need to be considered in the differential diagnosis of all patients within this spectrum of pathology who do present chronic antisocial behaviors (Clarkin, Lenzenweger, Yeomans, Levy Kernberg, 2007). Aileen Wuornos was viewed as a social outcast, filthy prostitute, and violent bisexual. Her case focused on her character and a strong stigma was formed against her, perhaps because she did not comfortably fit into society’s accepted views of femininity. Erving Goffman, in his Stigma and Social Identity, offers an explanation of the affects of a stigma, which can be readily applied to Wuornos’ case: By definition, of course, we believe the person with a stigma is not quite human. On this assumption we exercise varieties of discrimination, through which we effectively, if not unthinkingly, reduce [her] life chances. We construct a stigma-theory, an ideology to explain [her] inferiority and account for the dangers [she] represents (Weatherby, Blanche Jones, 2008). The State’s expert psychologist, Dr. Bernard, testified that Aileen Wuornos suffered from both borderline personality disorder as well as antisocial personality disorder. Although he agreed with other experts that Wuornos experienced impaired capacity and mental disturbance at the time of the crimes, he concluded the impairment was not substantial and the disturbance was not extreme. He also agreed there was evidence of nonstatutory mitigating evidence, such as Wuornos’ mental problems, alcoholism, disturbance, and genetic or environment deficits. In spite of those acknowledgments Aileen Wuornos was still deemed competent enough to stand trial, which I feel was unfair. Aileen Wuornos came to be viewed as an evil monster that needed to be executed so that she would never kill again. When this strong sense of labeling was leveled against her, Wuornos had little choice but to fit into this mold of a violent and possessed woman. Despite her outbursts and firing of her lawyers the courts remained sure that she was able to stand trial, even though her behavior was consistently erratic and demonstrated instability. Personality is developed in early infancy stage and Aileen Wuornos’ developmental years were filled with the lack of trust, lack of security, and there was no bonding relationships for her to thrive from. Throughout her life there was a void due to the absence of proper parenting, guidance, and love. All of these issues constructed a woman who was unstable. That in combination with the fact that there was a history of abuse and incest relations that Aileen had to endure traumatically affected her development and behavior. If there had been individuals that could have noticed warning signs when Aileen was younger such as teachers, counselors, or doctors there could have possibility been some type of intervention for her and could have potentially helped her become more mentally stable. Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is the concept in changing one’s way they perceive aspects, behaviors, and responses; no matter when the environment changes (Arrigo, Griffin, 2004). The method primarily centers on a person’s thought process, and is perceive that one is responsible for their behavior, emotions, and responses. In altering one’s thought process, they may possess criminal tendencies, however, can learn how to be more relaxed and at peace (Arrigo, Griffin, 2004). There is a very high probability that Wuornos suffered from many of the aspects leading to her choices of violence, and if she were given more treatment measures, she may have learned to control her behavior and thought process, by coming to acceptance of the negligent, and abandonment, for which she displayed for her entire lifespan. Aileen’s actions will possibly be never truly understood, however, it is perceived that psychopaths enter into the world with no conscience capacities (Arrigo, Griffin, 2004). It is easy to want to perceive that Aileen Wuornos was a victim herself and became a product of her childhood upbringing. However, the state of Florida’s prosecution pronounced her to be a serial killer and sentenced her to death. Aileen Wuornos was never assessed or treated for mental illness due to her demeanor and self-proclamation of her willingness to kill again if released. In 2001, Wuornos requested that the state of Florida hasten her execution. She recanted her self-defense plea, explaining, ‘‘I just flat robbed [and] killed them, and there was a lot of hatred behind everything. ’’ She maintained, ‘‘I am a serial killer. I would kill again. ’’ By rejecting self-defense and psychological injury, Wuornos, some might argue, confirms her own duplicity (Pearson, 2007). Aileen was executed in 2002 and with her she took the details of why she did what she did. The execution of Aileen Wuornos was questionable to some people. These feelings were due to the thought that she was struggling with serious mental problems and really should have been given the chance for rehabilitation. Those circumstances could have been perceived as possible ethical issues surrounding the case. Both biological and developmental theories are visible in the Wuornoss situation, making it difficult to determine which theory would be more applicable in determining her behavior. The biological approach, according to other theorists work, appears to recognize certain physical qualities present with some criminals, but doesnt explain the manifest. The developmental model is much more convincing, even though the reality might be that both models are operating in society with in every individual to certain degree. Wuornos’s actions will possibly be never truly understood, however, it is perceived that psychopaths enter into the world with no conscience capacities (Arrigo, B. , Griffin, 2004). Many want to perceive that Wuornos was a victim for her actions and not a serial killer. However, the state’s prosecution overrode and it was perceived that she would definitely kill again if released. It is evident when analyzing this case that the motivation and drive to commit these heinous crimes was being fueled by environmental, cognitive, and psychological factors that stemmed from her childhood. This case study has reiterated the benefits of identifying, assessing, and prescribing treatment if necessary to children who may seem to be â€Å"at risk† for criminal behavior. A question in the back of my mind regarding this case will always be was Aileen Wuornos’s criminal behavior’s preventable?

Essay on Mr Kevin Dube

Essay on Mr Kevin Dube Essay on Mr Kevin Dube P5 HOW ANTI-DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE IS PROMOTED ROYAL BOURNEMOUTH HOSPITAL "Will have equality and diversity embedded within the organisation". Equality and diversity is a term used to describe how there will be opportunity for all, giving every individual the chance to achieve their potential, free from prejudice and discrimination. This quote means they will try and incorporate equality and diversity more into their organisations, for example by the use of posters and advertising. Additionally, training could be set up so that the staff know more about equality and diversity and this might help them understand what is expected of them in the practice. "Will regularly seek engagement with all parts of its community including those from protected groups and will ensure that they are involved and included in decision making" this will cover all parts of the community, which is made up of different groups of people including; race, culture, religion, age, gender, homosexuals and heterosexuals, this is a way of bringing everyone together in diversity and equality. This will also mean that everyone is included and the community will feel a part of the service, making it more successful because of the different ideas coming from the community who already use the service. As a result the quality of care could be even better than it was before. "Will provide fair, accessible and good quality healthcare services for all of its patients" no one is left out everyone is then entitled to good quality health care, which is catered to the needs of the patient. This might bring in more people because there might be parts of the communities that might not feel like they can be a part of the service. (The Royal Bournemouth and Christchurch Hospitals) POOLE BOROUGH COUNCIL "Building strong, safe and inclusive communities where people from all backgrounds come together" bringing in everyone as a community Poole Borough Council promotes anti-discriminatory practice by treating everyone equally. This also means there will be a strong set of support in the practice depending on the individual needs. This will also break down barriers by not leaving people out all parts of the community will come together and work as a unit. "Enabling people to influence decisions that affect their lives and no community is hard to hear" this promotes anti-discriminatory practice by making sure no one is ignored, everyone's view counts. Instead of asking one person, by asking an entire community individually could make the projects more successful and also at the same time bring everyone together. "Being an employer of choice, promoting fair pay and equal access to employment" even as employee's no one will be turned away based on discrimination of any kind. This will bring them more applicants and people will want to work there as a result they will get a good reputation in the community. Additionally this might set an example in the community and other employers might want to follow in these footsteps. (Borough of Poole) M3 DIFFICULTIES THAT MAY ARISE WHEN IMPLEMENTING ANIT-DISCRIMINATORY PRACTICE "Will have equality and diversity embedded within the organisation" These maybe ignored in the practice, due to ignorance or failure to adjust. Staff may not be informed of the changes properly. The staff might have a difficulty adjusting to the new policies and as a result staff might not know what they are doing. "Will regularly seek engagement with all parts of its community

Motivational Reasons for Failure in School Essay Example

Motivational Reasons for Failure in School Essay Example Motivational Reasons for Failure in School Essay Motivational Reasons for Failure in School Essay In August of 2009 two boys began their school year at public schools in Southeastern Idaho. Both boys had been raised in similar settings of a two parent home, average income, and raised in a demographically rural community. These boys have had equal opportunities in the educational system of supportive parents and teachers and after school programs. Intellectually both boys have the ability to succeed in school. This tale of two Southeastern Idaho boys, and of millions of children just like them, raises the question of why some students educationally excel and others do not. If both boys in this scenario have the same opportunities, the same environmental settings, and the same level of intelligence then why will one excel and the other not? Research has shown that motivation reasons, such as fear of failure, incuriosity, and lack of ambition, can cause low classroom achievement. Have you ever been so afraid of failing at something that you decided not to try it at all? Or has fear of failure meant that, subconsciously, you undermined your own efforts to avoid the possibility of a larger failure. Many of us have probably experienced this at one time or another. The fear of failure can immobilize – it can cause us to do nothing, and therefore resist moving forward. But when we allow fear to stop our forward progress in life, we are likely to miss great opportunities along the way. According to the Reiss Motivational Profile, fear of failure in the number one reason for low achievement in school. Students that display this fear of failure often feel that failure hurts less if they don’t try to succeed. Signs that a student may have a fear of failure are a reluctance to try new things or get involved in challenging projects, procrastination, and low self-esteem or self-confidence. We have defined the emotion and identified the symptoms, now how can we help overcome. Students with fear of failure may be at their best when parents and teachers stand behind them and encourage them. Positive encouraging words and actions are observed and taken in. Students will respond if the classroom atmosphere is uplifting and rewarding. Students should be made aware that in everything they do, there’s always a chance that they will fail. Facing that chance, and embracing it, is not only courageous, but it gives them a fuller, more rewarding life. According to Steven Reiss incuriosity scored as the second motivational reason why students have low achievement is school. In the Merriam-Webster dictionary incuriosity is define as lacking a normal or usual curiosity: uninterested. Students in school seem to regulate how much thinking they do. Some need to think a lot, these students need many interests to satisfy their high need for intellect. Others aim to think very little. It is not just one or two topics they hate thinking about, they just dont like to think for any length of time. At least, that is what they say and how they behave. These school children need many practical activities to gratify their need to minimize thinking. They hate school because it makes them do something [think] they dont want to do for longer than a few minutes at a time. Teachers need a general sense of how long each individual student needs to think versus how long he/she needs to rest from thinking. Incurious pupils enjoy thinking for below-average periods of time and need long periods of rest. Teachers should break down the material into small bites and to give emphasis to the practical application of the curriculum. Lack of ambition was rated number three for motivational reason why students have low achievement in school. Lack of ambition is defined in the Merriam-Webster dictionary as absence of the desire to strive toward achievement. For students in school, it manifests as an inability to consistently take action toward goals – or even the inability to create goals in the first place! Without accepting full responsibility for the direction of their life, students will not be able to commit to a plan of action, and will ultimately remain sitting on the fence. These students find it easy to blame people and situations for their failure to move forward in life. Students can be motivated differently for a variety of reasons, from age to culture to special needs. Teachers will need to incorporate various scenarios. Some motivations might work better than another or a combination of the two is a better approach. Individual students respond differently, some may respond to tangible rewards, stickers, and praise. Motivation for others will be a sense of accomplishment, responsibility, and pride. The tale of the two junior high boys in Southeast Idaho illustrates the role that fear of failure, incuriosity, and lack of ambition plays in low achievement at school. Both boys had equal opportunities educationally and environmentally. Their internal self shaped the outcome of their achievement. Teachers can encourage and inspire our children to overcome these setbacks of fear, incuriosity, and lack of ambition. Success can be a

Compare the education between Saudi Arabia and United state Essay - 1

Compare the education between Saudi Arabia and United state - Essay Example The research will aim at bringing into focus thoseelements that the educational system in Saudi Arabia can learn from the United States of America. Saudi Arabia and the United States have been allies for a very long time. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is growing and aims to be among the top developed nations of the world. USA, on the other hand, is the most developed country. There are also some similarities and differences between the educational systems in the two countries. But when it comes to the infrastructure, syllabus, course curriculum and its teaching methods, and the quality of education USA will be found to be better than in Saudi Arabia. Thus for this research paper, the problem statement can be stated as â€Å"the educational system in Saudi Arabia is not competent enough like the educational system in USA† The paper will be discussing the importance of education in general in the initial phase to realize its significance in society. This section will discuss the importance of the educational institutions in disbursing proper education. After that two segments will briefly discuss the crux and mechanics of the education system prevailing in the two nations which help us in creating a sense of differentiation and similarity between the two systems. The differences will be then thoroughly discussed and areas will be unfurled where the essence of educational system of USA can be implemented in Saudi. Research also identified that USA is facing some crisis and that will be discussed in the subsequent section. After that a brief literature survey will be executed to gain stronger foothold over the subject matter and validating the problem statement and reaching the aim and objectives of the paper. Education has been considered as an important part in the human society since the development of the civilized world. Human societies across many ages put their interests in the quality of education. The importance of education must not be

Beowulf Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 500 words - 10

Beowulf - Essay Example Half a century after the battle with Grandel’s mother Beowulf is faced with another battle, which involves a dragon whose golden cup had been stolen; together with Wiglaf, Beowulf defeats the monster, however he later dies due to the wounds inflicted on him (Zemeckis, 2007). The movie was made during a time when the Angles and Saxons were migrating to England between the late 5th century to early 7th century. During this time, the people were obsessed with legends who could protect them from supernatural beings such as the monsters. During this period, scholars were creating stories that involved both historic events and fictious ones therefore, it was difficult to determine where they set boundaries between fiction and reality in their stories. The culture of the people during the period when the movie was made can be found from how the characters have been portrayed in the film, for instance, the inclusion of fictional characters and events such as the dragon and the fight with the dragon show that the people in this period were highly superstitious. In addition, the movie was created from a manuscript that is thought to have been passed down through oral traditions showing some of the ways that the society at that time used to preserve their history. The action of Beowulf to go and help Hroogar show that the communities at those times were closely knit, as they were ready to help each other freely. The happening s during the time when the movie was made must have influenced the director since the way he has depicted the characters shows a setting that can be associated with ancient times. Although the movie was released in 2007, the director has used graphics that portray the cast and the location as those in the period when the movie was made. In the movie the director has also used the names of characters that existed during the period when the movie was made therefore

A fundamental concept of modern architecture Essay

A fundamental concept of modern architecture - Essay Example e architecture in the modern period not only created house and public buildings that combine beauty and technical aspect of social efficiency, they also ensured the buildings were economical in all ways the architecture operating in the modern period were successfully blending technology with expressive style, history with science, beauty with practicality. These are elements that completely changed the building environment in ways that are still discernible today. This is an historical argument paper about the modern architecture. It is based on the definition architecture according to Siegfried Giedion and the development of the space, time and architecture concepts. The definition of modernist architecture is still an issue of debate between the art historians and other critiques. In Space, Time and architecture, Giedion argues that there is an apparent chaos in the state of culture that has been brought about by contradictory tendencies between the enormous technological and industrial development and peoples values. There is a need to feel the gap between the advances in the humanity in the realm of thought and realm of feelings. The emergence of the modern architecture in the early 20th century has been a matter of debates and arguments among different architecture historians and other critics. It is believed that the modern architecture and movement emerged in the late nineteenth century and was completely formed in the 1920s, just before the World War one began. Modernism has been understood differently by different authors and critics in architecture history.2modern architecture has been reflected by such publications as The international style by Hitchcock and Johnsons that was published in 1932 and 1995.Pevners works titles Pioneers of modern design of 1936 and Space time and Architecture that was published in the 1941 and 1982. The contemporary accounts of the modern movement provide a contrasting view. These more architectural historians

The class is American Art and Architecture. Topic is the american Term Paper

The class is American Art and Architecture. Topic is the american artist John Singleton Copley - Term Paper Example He was one of the most successful artists in colonial America who was widely renowned for his portrait paintings and he was believed to be the master of great pieces of American history of arts. He was one of the finest portraitists in American history. His capacity of demonstrating the fantasies of people and objects in contrast with various combinations of light and dark enabled him to be recognized for a long time by the art historians. The parents of Copley were said to be poor and uncultured and he was the stepson of the artist Peter Pelham. By the time in 1760, although being difficult circumstances in life, Copley managed to gain the position of a supreme artist. And then in 1774, he left Boston and went to London, where he familiarize his style of painting with the British painterly approach and that was the time when he diversified his focus of the paintings from portraits to history paintings which enabled him in gaining global appreciation. Many people argue that Copley was not formerly trained under any professional artist, but this is not the reality. In the difficult times of his youth, Copley had to spend 3 years with his stepfather, Peter Pelham and there he got the chance to study and learn the drawing patterns, printmaking and the art of painting portraits. Not only his stepfather, but Copley also had witnessed the artistry works two English artists, John Smibert (1688 – 1751) and Joseph Blackburn (1752 – 1777). Copley had learned a lot from the copies of various old master paintings that were drawn by Simbert. The early work of Copley was mainly influenced by by  Joseph Badger (1707/8–1765), Robert Feke (about 1708–1751), and John Greenwood (1729–1792). Not only them, but his early works also reveal that they were influenced by Simbert and Blackburn. For instance, his painting of Joseph Mann which he painted in 1754 was influenced by the early works of Feke and Greenwood. He