I chose to analyze the case of Ted Bundy because when I was in high school I saw the movie Ted Bundy. At the time that I watched this movie I was already interested in going to college and majoring in psychology. I wanted to know why people do the things they do. Going into this subject I find everything about Ted Bundy’s case intriguing. Throughout the course of this class I have learned so many theories and risk factors that explain why criminals do the things they do. I feel like writing about Ted Bundy and doing research on his case could benefit my future career in psychology by gaining knowledge in the field of criminology and all types of risk factors. This could make it easier for me to spot out what kind of risk factors are found in the younger generation. I want help avoid any risk factors that may cause adolescents to turn to criminal behavior. My goal in the future is to obtain a degree in psychology because I have always had a passion to help people that cannot help themselves. I want people to realize that everything starts with our thought processing and what we think, and what we observe repeatedly, we eventually become; watching family, friends, TV, listening to music we all learn from these things, if we watch for so long it is possible that these things could become a part of our character. Our minds are so powerful that if we can start by learning how to control our thought process, we can control the way we behave. Within the scope of this essay I have chosen two theories that I believe could provide us with insight in the mind of Ted Bundy. CASE DETAILS Theodore Robert Cowell (Ted Bundy) was born Novernber 24, 1946 to Louise Cowell. Ted’s biological father was absent throughout his entire life. His mother ... ... middle of paper ... ...hat it will have some sort of influence on the way we choose to live our lives. As I described each theory and other forms of criminal risk factors, we can say that there are levels and stages that a person goes through before becoming a serial killer, because I strongly believe that no human on earth just wakes up and automatically goes on a killing spree. There are many factors that should be stated before we assume one kills just because. No one wants to kill, that is not in our nature to want to do that or to need to do it, it’s nothing like food and affection, but whatever stimulation a serial killer experiences maybe to them it is something like food. Being a criminal can occur through forms of psychological issues, social issues, and cultural issues, biological and observational. What these criminals gain out of these horrifying acts is beyond my knowledge.
Bundy himself described violent pornography as an addiction, one that led him to act out criminally merely for the “thrill” of the crime, as opposed to for any kind of instrumental gain. Katz’s article “The Seductions of Crime” describes similar motivators of criminal activity. In the article, Katz notes that John Allen chose to engage in “stickup” crimes merely for the “thrill” of it, despite the fact stickup crime was more dangerous and less rewarding than other kinds of criminal activity (Frank, 1989). Additionally, Katz notes that rational choice was not a significant element in crime, being that burglary and robbery are risky and relatively unrewarding (Frank, 1989). Despite this, Allen was jailed many times, even shot and crippled, and still committed one more robbery (Frank, 1989). Based on this information Katz makes the claim that senseless crimes can exert strong sensual attraction, though crime can make sense still from a materialistic standpoint (Frank, 1989). In the case of Ted Bundy, his crimes ostensibly were senseless and without reward, however, through violent pornography it is clear he was seduced into committing the violence he perpetrated, and that his materialistic reward, though not monetary, was merely the thrill of perpetrating his violent fantasies upon others. In this manner, the “Seductions of
A serial killer is a person who murders three or more people over a period of more than 30 days, with a "cooling off" period between each murder, and whose motivation for killing is largely based on psychological gratification. Most people do not understand what can make a person want to kill multiple people for no reason other than own satisfactional gain. In actuality serial killers have been studied for over hundreds of years, and the information that has been documented continues to grow. The research that I have gathered about serial killers focuses on their childhood development, the differences and similarities between men and female serial kills, and finally general information on how their brains operate and their motives for committing such harmful acts.
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 he commits his first crime.
The case of whether serial killers are born with the lust to kill or if they are truly victims of their environment has been a hot debated question by both psychologists and the FBI today. A serial killer is traditionally defined as one that kills 3 or more people at different times with “cooling off” periods in between kills. Both psychological abuse as a child and psychological disorders are to blame for the making of a killer. The nature vs. nurture debate is best applied to the mysterious behaviors and cases of serial killers and their upbringing and environment. Nature is the genetic and biological connections a person has, personality traits, and how genetic make-up all relates to a killer. Nurture is examining the upbringing and environment that a person is around that affects what a person becomes. In some cases however, the effects of only upbringing or only biological problems were the reasons certain serial killers committed crimes. Although there is no definitive answer to what plays the bigger role: nature or nurture, they both are contributing factors that make a serial killer. These deviants of society are afflicted with problems in either their upbringing or have psychological disorders, and are able to blend into our everyday lives with no apparent differences, yet they wreck havoc through their unremorseful killings.
Theodore Robert Bundy was born November 24th, 1946 in Burlinton, Vermont to a 21 year old mother. Ted's mom never told him much about his father except that he was in the armed forces and they had only dated a few times. Ted was left in foster care for two months while his mom and parents decided what to do with him. In 1946 an illegitimate child was extremely looked down upon by society. Once they decided to keep Ted, his grandparents told everyone he was their adopted son.
Does the name Ted Bundy ring a bell? A Handsome smart and conniving young man that’s responsible for about forty murders between 1964 through 1978. Ted (Theodore) Bundy was born November 24, 1946 in Burling, Vermont. Mother Eleanor Cowell was at the stage in her life where she was a single mother that could take care of her child. So she let her parents step in and raise young Theodore. With this happening Theodore grew up believing his birth mother was his sister and his grandparents where his parents.
Ted Bundy was an American born rapist, a necrophile, a serial killer and a kidnapper who assaulted and murdered several young women during the 1970’s. The criminal kept on denying the charges for more than ten years and later confessed to having committed the thirty homicide crimes in seven different states before his execution (Rule, 2009). Bundy’s handsome and charismatic appearance made it possible for him to easily win the confidence of young women who were always his targets. He broke into the dwellings of his victims at night and bludgeoned them as they slept. He also approached young women in public places where he impersonated an authority figure or feigned injury on his victim before empowering and assaulting them in a more secluded area where he left them dead (Rule, 2009).
Since the beginning of time, psychologists have debated the topic of nature vs. nurture to find out why people act the way they do. The nature argument states that an individual is genetically shaped into the person he will be for his entire life. The nurture argument states that an individual is raised to be the person they will be by their close friends and family. David Berkowitz, Ted Bundy and Paul Bernardo are all serial killers who were nurtured into the killer they are today. David Berkowitz born Richard David Falco, was a serial killer who killed 6 people and severely wounded 7 others from July 29, 1976 to July 31, 1977 in the state of New York.
Theodore Robert Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell on November 24, 1949.His mother, Louise Cowell was unmarried at the time, and the name of his biological father has never been determined with certainty, however Lloyd Marshall was named on his birth certificate. Louise moved into her parent’s home shortly after Ted’s birth and allowed him to be raised as her ‘brother’ for quite some time. When Ted’s mother married Johnnie Culpepper Bundy in May 1951 in Tacoma, Washington, when Theodore was four years old, Theodore took his step-father’s last name of Bundy.
Throughout history, America has been the home of serial killers, with more than 2,000 throughout history. In this country, America has encountered many different kinds of these sick people. One of the most infamous serial killers throughout American History was Theodore Robert Bundy, also known as Ted Bundy. On November 24, 1946, in Burlington, Vermont, Theodore Robert Bundy was born. When people think of serial killers, they usually see a dirty, insane looking person that would stand out from the average person. In Bundy’s case it was very different. Ted was a very smart individual who had attended 5 different colleges throughout the United States, studying law and eventually getting his degree in psychology at the University of Washington. Bundy was a very handsome and charming man, unlike most other serial killers. Looking helpless and using his good looks, Bundy was able to lure his victims and would knock them unconscious with an object such as a crowbar or a pipe, then would handcuff them inside his car. Once the victims were under his control he would then proceed in kidnapping, raping, sodomizing, and eventually killing them in very harsh ways. Throughout the 70’s, he raped and murdered young women all across the country. Bundy was said to be connected to at least 36 murders, and suspected to have committed one hundred or more.
Serial killers have many frightening facets. The most frightening thing about them is that experts still do not know what makes a human become a serial killer. Many experts believe serial killers become what they are because they have a genetic disposition or brain abnormality while other experts believe that a serial killer is created by childhood abuse; and some other experts believe that it is a combination of both brain abnormalities and abusive childhood experiences that creates a serial killer. A murderer is considered a serial killer when they “murder three or more persons in at least three separate events with a “cooling off period” between kills” (Mitchell and Aamodt 40). When defining a serial killer, their background, genes, and brain are not mentioned; perhaps one day those aspects of the serial killer can be included.
Theodore Robert Cowell was born in a Vermont home for unwed mothers on 24 November 1946, to Louise Cowell, and was raised initially by his grandparents. Teddy, as he was known, believed that his grandparents were his parents, and that his mother was his elder sister, a circumstance that was fairly common in illegitimate births at that time. When his mother married Johnnie Bundy in 1951, her son took his stepfather’s name, and was known thereafter as Ted Bundy.
Another criminology theory that may apply to help explain the criminal behavior of Ted Bundy is the Psychodynamic theory. This theory is largely based on the findings of Sigmund Freud. The underpinnings of this of the approach are that the unconscious mind affects behavior and emotion. The theory advances the argument that no behavior is without cause and that childhood experiences affect emotions and behavior as adults. Serial killers like Ted Bundy therefore are particularly affected by their unconscious mind. Bundy did not receive proper care as a young boy and the negative impact of his sense of rejection and isolation negatively impacted his adulthood with aggressive tendencies. In short, Bundy’s adult actions under this theory can be viewed as manifesting his anger over his childhood oppression in the form of brutal rapes and
Theodore Bundy was born on November 24th 1946. He was born to an unwed mother who was told that she was his sister. He was raised by his grandparents who portrayed themselves as his parents throughout his early childhood years. According to the article I read Ted’s grandfather was abusive towards Ted and his other siblings (Montaldo). Ted was shy and said to be sociably awkward, but during high school he developed into good looking guy and was liked by many.
Among the list of most notorious serial killers in the history of the United States, Ted Bundy ranks up there with the worst. Ted Bundy was white Caucasian male that was charged with the murder of at least 30 young women. His first apprehension and arrest occurred on August 16, 1975 when Bundy failed to obey simple traffic rules of a stop sign. Many described Bundy as an ordinary individual, but he was also a very attractive and intelligent criminal (Ramsland, 2012). Dr. Al Carlisle, first psychologist to evaluate Bundy after his arrest, suggests Bundy started his profession of killing while in his teenage years. Dr. Carlisle classified Bundy as a “High Factor 1 Psychopath”, which means he possessed a high intelligence level and did not display