Personality of Ted Bundy and Serial Killings - Case Study Example

Case Study Name Institution Case Study: Ted Bundy Abstract Serial killings are one of the rare incidents which take place in the society. However, due to aggression in the society, cases of serial and mass murder are on the rise hence attracting the attention of people. Ted Bundy was one of the people who made the headlines due to his aggression, serial killings and rape. Therefore, this report reviews various literatures to describe Ted Bundy in terms of personality and offenses he committed. The case study will outline the experience of Ted Bundy from childhood to adulthood and how the experiences shaped his behavior to become serial killer. Also, the report will conduct comprehensive research on how psychological research and theory can be used to explain on serial killing. The report found out that Ted Bundy developed serial killing characteristic due to tough childhood experiences. Table of Contents Case Study: Ted Bundy 2 Abstract 2 Table of Contents 3 1.0 Introduction 4 2.0 A case description of Ted Bundy and definitions of the Offence 5 2.1 A case description of Ted Bundy 5 2.2 Definitions of terms 6 3.0 Experience of the Childhood to adulthood 8 4.0 Psychological research and theory that might explain why this person offended 11 5.0 Conclusion 13 6.0 References 13 1.0 Introduction The reason why an individual would want to kill several people remains unanswered and the discussions around precipitating and predisposing aspects continue. Literature reviews about serial and mass killing shows that they are rare incidences. A logical review concludes that despite that rarity, such cases normally have profound effect on the societies (Allely et al., 2014, p. 288). Also, the literature review hold that clear comprehension of antecedents of such incidences could assist explains the systems process of extreme violence resulting to the preventative approaches. Pedneault (n.d, p.1) posited that one of the cased which have attracted scholars, researchers and theorist in the recent past is that of serial killer, rapist and kidnapper, Ted Bundy. His behavior left many of the scholars trying to demystify the reasons of his actions using various theories. Therefore, this case study will draw from various journal articles, text books, media reports and newspaper articles to describe Ted Bundy. The paper will describe the experience of that offender from childhood to adulthood. In addition, the case study will integrate the psychological research and theory to explain why this person offended. 2.0 A case description of Ted Bundy and definitions of the Offence 2.1 A case description of Ted Bundy Born on 24th November of 1946, Ted Bundy grew up to become one of the lethal serial Killers, rapist, necrophiles and kidnappers in the 20th century (Keppel & Michaud, 2011, p. 8). Even though studies post different numbers, it is understood that Ted Bundy assaulted and killed several young girls and women in the 1970s. Keppela and Michaud (2011, p. 23) claimed that Just before Ted Bundy’s execution in 24th January of 1989, he confessed to have committed 36 homicides in 7 states in the United States from 1974 to 1978. However, some research postulate that the offender could have committed more homicides. When caught, Ted denied involvement to the three cases he was accused of and he escaped twice. When he was finally caught before his before his execution, the authorities used interviewers to get his side of the story and speculate regarding the hypothetical offender who would carry out the offences and even Bundy’s mental reasoning (Rule, 2009, p.48). Keppel and Michaud (2011, p. 69) opined that another interview was again conducted by a journalist, James Dobson who was representing the religious institutions. Rule (2009, p. 27) claimed that the interview was recorded on a video to show Bundy’s exact words, confessions, seeing and hearing. In the Process, the offender confessed of luring and killing of several girls and women. He was finally executed on an electric chair in Florida making the end of killings. Sullivan (2009, p. 12) reveal that Ted Bundy was considered both charismatic and handsome by his young girls and women. He understood this notion and uses such trait to lure and exploit young girls and women to attract them. Sullivan (2009, p. 25) claimed Ted Bundy often approached the victims in public areas, pretending to an important person in authority, feigning disability or injury taking them to secluded place to assault them. The studies also pointed out that Ted Bundy could revisit his crime scenes to carry out sexual acts with corpses until decomposition and destruction by animals his interaction impossible. He beheaded more than 12 girls and women and kept their heads in his apartment for some period and as reminder (Keppel & Michaud 2011, p. 53). Reports also claim that Ted Bundy could sometimes break into the victims within his apartment and batter them while they are sleeping. 2.2 Definitions of terms According to Criminal Code of Western Australia (2016), Ted committed various offenses including willful murder, homicide, rape, escaping from custody and endangering life of others through body harm. The behavior of Ted Bundy is also believed to have been caused by various disorders which he would experience during his growth. Even though every state within America has their own penalties and charges, most remain quite similar. The article 278 of Criminal Code of Western Australia of 1913 defines willful murder as the practice of unlawfully of killing of another person (Criminal Code of Western Australia 2016). The penalty for willful murder used to be death sentence in Western; however, the state abolished the article. If Ted Bundy would have killed willfully kill people In Western Australia, he could have received life sentence with no parole. However, some States in America still have death penalty charges. Homicide is defined as the act by which a person causes the death of another accidentally or international (Criminal Code of Western Australia 2016). Homicide can be criminal in nature depending the how it was carried out, mental state of the person who have committed the act and the degree of crime. Knight (2006, p. 1189) posited that criminologists and Psychologists normally classify three major classes of numerous homicides to include “serial”, “mass” and “spree”. However, the actions of Ted Bundy satisfied the characteristic of a serial killer. According to Mouzos & West (2007), serial killer is defined as a person who murdered 2 or many people. In Australia, serial killing is defined as the deliberate, intentional, and sexually voracious murder in nature where the victim has no provocation and interpersonal conflict with the executor (Mouzos & West, 2007). The two authors went ahead to argue that serial killing is often done for psychological and sexual gratifications. Winter et al. (2007, p. 5) argued that sex is applied by serial murderers to attain control and power over their casualty, rather than sex being used as end to itself. Researches hold that serial killing could continue for several years before the offender is caught. Serial killing is a form of homicide and a serious offense in many countries across which attracts heavy fines including death. Ted also committed several rapes to his victims over the four years of his operations. In the Criminal Code of Western Australia (2016), rape is defined as sexual penetration carried forcefully on a person without their consent. Rape is carried by people to satisfy their individual pleasure or to show their power over the victim. In Ted Bundy case, he raped his victim to show them his power. Rape attracts penalty of long years in prison of life imprisonment for the offender. Based on the behavioral definition as listed in the DSM-5, Ted Bundy can be described could have been suffering from antisocial, Obsessive–compulsive disorder, Schizotypal personality disorder and Separation anxiety disorder. Levy and Orlans (2004, p.18) defined antisocial personality disorder as a persistent and pervasive disrespect for the social norms, morals, and feeling and rights of others. People with such disorder often have no regret in exploiting people in harmful means in quest for personal pleasure or gain. Research also demonstrates that people with anti-social disorders manipulate others through façade, wit, intimidation or violence for self gain. In DSM-5, this personality is called psychopath (American Psychiatric Association, 2013). Obsessive–compulsive disorder is described as a mental disorder in which individual feel the necessity to do particular routines repetitively. Studies show that some individuals with obsessive-compulsive disorder may undergo sexual obsessions which entail intrusive feelings of intercourse and rape. 3.0 Experience of the Childhood to adulthood Ted Bundy was born as Theodore Robert Cowell to unwed mother Eleanor Louise Cowell in 24th November 1946 in Vermont, US (Keppel & Michaud, 2011, p. 45). Ted Bundy began life with mother as a secret shame child. At the period the mother was only 22 years. Later, Eleanor brought her son to strongly religious parents living in Philadelphia. Sullivan (2009, p. 79) claimed that to conceal the reality that Bundy was an illicit child, his grandmother raised him as an adopted child and was informed that to refer his mothers as his sister. Situation shows some kind of neglect from the real parent, which have triggered some of his behavior. The Real parent upbringing is very essential because the child is able to feel the real love hence positive motivation which can influence his actions in later life. Real parents normally show proper direction by punishing mistakes. However, when parents are missing, guardians sometimes do not care what a child is going through such as loneliness, emotions and aggression hence may not guide them to a good direction in life (Kocsis, 2008, p. 34). Theory of attachment (development of attachment) can also be used to explain Bundy development of aggression and serial killer characteristics. Bartol and Bartol (2011, p. 23) explains the attachment theory as a concept of development psychology which involves the significance of the attachment in reference to the personal development. The research found out that childhood development relies heavily on the capability on a child to create great relations with at least one of the parents. Researches on childhood development by Bowlby’s pointed that the strong attachment to one parent or both parents offers a child some sense of the foundation and security (Bartol & Bartol, 2011, p.27). From theory of development of attachment, it is obvious that the strong relationship was not there due absents of the parent hence Bundy developed some aggressive and antisocial personality. In fact, various literature shows that Ted Bundy demonstrate a strange interest in the gruesome activities during his childhood. Rule (2009, p. 8) postulated that Bundy had already become attracted by the knives when only 3 years. He was also bright but shy in school, hence could not interact well with peers in school. Childhood development studies show parents play a crucial role in improving the confidence of the child (Battel & Parson, 2009, p. 271). Because the factor was missing, he began developing strange characters which later turned him into a serial killer. Sullivan (2009, p. 29) contended that at the age of four, Eleanor Louise Cowell moved with Bundy to Tacoma in Washington to live with relatives. When living with relatives she attended single night and met Johnny Bundy and the two later married. Ted adopted the name “Bundy” from the step-father. Even though the step-father tried to please the step-son by including him in camping trips and other family outing, young Bundy largely stayed emotionally detached (Sullivan, 2009, p. 36). Studies shows that children normally get emotionally detached particular when they realize that the caregiver is not their real parents. The children always find it hard to adjust to parental remarriage. During the first years, children go through stress and anxiety. Winter et al. (2007, p. 13) argued that the process of moving from grandmother to relative to step-father present changes leading to stress as a child tries to cope in change of environment. Being introduced to a new father present a child with loyalty conflict, a situation which can lead to psychopathic disorder. The issues around his life such being lied to by the mother that she was her sister, changing environment and marrying step-father affected his life and he remain introverted and shy during his high school days. An interview in custody also reveals that Bundy was exposed to violence and sex images which he was strongly fascinated by. In his teenage days, Bundy could check in the library some sexual violence magazines, detective magazines and those that featured dead bodies (Sullivan, 2009, p. 36). The magazine continued to shape his personality until he reached university. In 1965, Bundy was admitted at University of Puget Sound where he spent one year and then transfered to University of Washington where he studied psychology. As part of his studies, Ted Bundy worked in suicide rescue center Seattle metropolitan. During his time at the Suicide center, he worked with criminals and violent people who are thought to have shaped his behavior too. Battel & Parson, (2009, p. 272) posited that that behavior can be shaped through operant conditioning. The concept argues that when one is exposed to stimuli, reinforce occurs. Reinforcement can be negative or positive. In Bundy’s case, negative reinforcement occurred. Sullivan (2009, p.36) claimed that during his university education, Bundy started a relationship with Stephanie Brooks who was then a fellow student. However, Stephanie Brooks ended the relationship in 1968 after learning that Bundy had gone back to his parents citing his less ambition and immaturity (Keppel & Michaud, 2011, p. 48). Separation from girlfriend affected Bundy emotionally and even grew to be anti-social thinking that nobody cared about him. It is after this incident that Bundy began a series of kidnappings, rape and killings. The depression, heartbreak and betrayals seemed to have gathered and changed him a serial killer (Kiehl & Buckholtz 2010, p.25). 4.0 Psychological research and theory that might explain why this person offended Bartol and Bartol (2011) pointed out that, over the years psychology is one of the disciplines which have been used to explain behaviors of criminals. Therefore, Ted Bundy’s behavior as serial killer, rapist, necrophile and kidnapper also did not escape psychological explanation. Psychological issues which made Ted Bundy to offend include lack of a father figure during his childhood development, personality disorders and operant condition (Whitman & Akutagawa, 2004, p. 696). The offender developed bad behavior which led to serial killing due to the fact that he did not have a father figure while growing or developing from childhood to adulthood. Martens & Palermo (2005, p. 302) argued that a father figure in a boy child shapes his behavior as he grow up looking upon him and even providing some sense of security. Despite her mother marrying a step-father, Bundy rejected since he did not have emotional attachment to him. Therefore, the only male influence in his life was those violent people in media such as magazine who is thought to impacted killer behaviors. Personality disorders can also force an offender to commit crime. Personality disorders can be caused by actions of parents or caregiver. Interruption of the attachment in critical and early years of childhood can result to the ‘affectionless psychopathy’ (Martens & Palermo, 2005, p.300). Goetz (2010, p.17) defined affectionless psychopathy as the incapability to build significant emotional relationships, and the process is often accompanied with lack of impulse control, lack of the remorse and chronic anger. During his early years, he grew up with grandparents who acted as real parents to avoid stigma. Soon they moved to Cousin’s place in Tacoma. The process of moving from one place to another starting a new life caused fear of separation and loss generating strong rage and anxiety and can lead to violent behaviour in an offender (Bartol & Bartol, 2011, p. 63). Bundy committed the offense due to his compulsive-repetitive disorder. This disorder is often caused by anxiety and exposure to various environment stimuli, making a child to do things repeatedly. Ted Bundy at the teenage period was exposed to violent and sexual magazines. Whitman and Akutagawa (2004, p. 697) argued that when a child is stressed he invokes inward comfort such as sexual fantasies and violence to satisfy personal pleasure. Compulsive-repetitive disorder makes a person to do things repeated not just for pleasure but to also perfect it. Ted Bundy repeated his assault of women to perfect his behaviour. Operant conditioning can also have also led to Ted committing the offenses. Ted Bundy was exposed to criminals who he met at suicide rescue center and as well as reading violent and sexual magazine hence negatively being reinforced to these behaviors (Battel & Parson, 2009, p. 272). As he grew up, he had acquired these behaviors knowing violence, rape and murder is normal. 5.0 Conclusion Research offers comprehensive information on serial killers. The study has found out that criminal activities does not just start when someone is old but has a root cause in one’s child development. The research has found out that parental remarriage and neglect, lack of father figure, lack of emotional attachment to step-father and rejection from best friend can greatly contribute to being a serial killer. These factors contribute to personality disorders such as psychopath, Compulsive-repetitive disorder and Separation anxiety disorder among others. The disorders can lead to violence, no remorse for actions and using people for personal pleasure as Ted Bundy did. However, it is obvious that Ted Bundy’s parent did not provide a role model characteristics for him to look up to. Therefore, this report concludes that parent must take charge of their children’s childhood development in order to prevent negative behavior that may affect them later in life. 6.0 References Allely, C.S., Minnis, H., Thompson, L., Wilson, P., & Gillberg, C. (2014). Neurodevelopmental and psychosocial risk factors in serial killers and mass murderers. Aggression and Violent Behavior 19(3), 288–301. American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Personality Disorders. American Psychiatric Publishing. Retrieved 28 August 2016http://www.dsm5.org/Documents/Personality%20Disorders%20Fact%20Sheet.pdf Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2011). Criminal Behaviour: A Psychological Approach. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson. Battel, R., & Parson, C. (2009). The social construction of a serial killer. Feminism and Psychology, 19(2), 267-280 Criminal Code of Western Australia. (2016). Criminal Code Act Compilation Act 1913. Retrieved 28 August 2016, https://www.slp.wa.gov.au/legislation/statutes.nsf/main_mrtitle_218_homepage.html Goetz, A.T. (2010). The evolutionary psychology of violence. Psicothema, 22, 15–21 Keppel, R.D., & Michaud, S. G. (2011). Terrible Secrets: Ted Bundy on Serial Murder (Enhanced E-Book ed.). Irving Texas: Authorlink Press Kiehl, K.A., & Buckholtz, J. W. (2010). Inside the Mind of a Psychopath. Scientific American Mind 22-29 Kocsis, R. N. (2008). Serial Murder and the Psychology of Violent Crimes. Humana Press, 3-293 Knight, Z.G. (2006). Some Thoughts on the Psychological Roots of the Behavior of Serial Killers as Narcissists: An Object Relations Perspective. Social Behavior and Personality 34 (10), 1189-1206 Levy, T., & Orlans, M. (2004). Attachment Disorder, Antisocial Personality and Violence. Annals of the American Psychotheraphy Association. 7(4), p. 18. Martens, W.H.J., & Palermo, G.B. (2005). Loneliness and associated violent antisocial behavior: Analysis of the case reports of Jeffrey Dahmer and Dennis Nilsen. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 49, 298–307 Mouzos, J., & West, D. (2007). An examination of serial murder in Australia. Trends and Issues in Crime and Criminal Justice, 346. Pedneault, A (n.d). Ted Bundy on the "malignant being": An analysis of the justificatory discourse of a serial killer. Simon Fraser University, 1-14 Rule, A. (2009). The Stranger beside Me. New York: Signet. Sullivan, K. M. (2009). The Bundy Murders: A Comprehensive History (Paperback ed.). Jefferson, North Carolina: McFarland and Co. Whitman, T. A., & Akutagawa, D. (2004). Riddles in serial murder: A synthesis. Aggression and violent behavior, 9(6), 693-703. Winter, D., Feixas, G., Dalton, R., & Patient, S. (2007).Construing the Construction Processes of Serial Killers and Other Violent Offenders: The Analysis of Narratives. Journal of Constructivist Psychology 20(1), 1-22. Read More