Inclinations to Crime, Crime Causation - Case Study Example

Crime Causation Introduction: Prevention and control of crime, as well as response to criminal acts are based on understanding the causes of crime. Revisions in crime control policies and criminal law are influenced by changes in the significance accorded to crime causation theories (Glaser: 203). The continued use of various explanations for crime depends on what works for the purpose of reducing recidivism. When the validity and utility of theories are supported by evidence, they acquire the status of scientific principles for underscoring criminal justice policies. This paper proposes to illustrate the heinous crime of serial killing by an obsessed and compulsive homosexual killer, the well-known Jeffrey Dahmer, whose seventeen victims were all young men. There will be an attempt to explain with the help of various theoretical schools of crime causation, the gruesome lust murders which he perpetrated during a span of several years. Discussion Case Study of Jeffrey Dahmer’s Background and Criminal Activities: Jeffrey Dahmer’s life and criminal behavior in successive phases, is outlined below. Early childhood development: Jeffrey Dahmer was born in Milwaukee in 1960, and later moved with his family to Ohio at the age of six. Since both his parents were not giving him much attention, he remained unattached during his childhood, and did not start developing social or interpersonal skills. At the age of eight, in 1868, he was sexually molested by a neighbor boy in rural Bath township. This incident which went unreported at that time, along with the neglect he was subjected to, compounded by the ferocious hostility between his parents may have been instrumental in Dahmer’s downhill journey of hopelessness, helplessness and sense of inferiority (Newton: 46). Early sexual identity and fantasy development: By the age of ten, Dahmer was living in a fantasy world of his own, with a deep interest in dead insects and animals as well as their decomposing remains. He collected, skinned, decapitated, dismembered and preserved his souvenir collection in a shed; and also had an animal cemetery at the back of his family home (Newton: 46). Both parents were under-involved in his life, his mother as a psychiatric patient and his father being away most of the time, on work purposes. His brother who was younger by five years, took up whatever little attention his parents could give them (Purcell & Arrigo: 74). First victim and post-high school acts: During Dahmer’s senior year in high school, his parents divorced after continual marital discord, which increased his sense of abandonment and also influenced his alienation from reality (Purcell & Arrigo: 74). He began fantasizing about killing people, “to overcome his feelings of frustration and emptiness” (Purcell & Arrigo: 76). His peer group, teachers and neighbours considered him to be a loner, and “social isolation and sadistic images became integral to Dahmer’s adolescent development”. As a teenager, he fantasized about possessing other men, continued to struggle with his own sexual identity, and craved to have control and domination over an unconscious lover who would never leave him. Early criminal conduct: Even while still in school he had taken to drinking heavily, and indulging in substance abuse. In June 1978, soon after graduation, he took home his first victim, hitch-hiker Stephen Hicks. Dahmer crushed Hicks’ head with a barbell, strangled him to death, dismembered and buried his corpse in his backyard animal cemetery (Newton: 46). In this and all subsequent murders, he was driven by an urge of not wanting his victims to leave him. Dahmer attended college for a short duration, and then signed up for six years’ Army service. However, he was discharged after two years due to his heavy drinking. Some unexplained murders that took place in Germany during his tenure there were also later linked with Dahmer, but could not be substantiated (Newton: 47). Employment history: In 1982, Dahmer moved into the basement of his grandmother’s house in Wisconsin. He was arrested repeatedly for disorderly conduct and exposure. For about seven years he sustained his employment with the Ambrosia Chocolate Company, but was later fired because of his erratic behavior. He was arrested several times for misconduct, and released after short jail sentences. Paraphilic system of behaviors: Dahmer engaged in consensual homosexual activities at gay bars and other places.From 1982 to 1988, he would “lure his victims into his basement living quarters, drug them and sexually assault them while they were unconscious” (Purcell & Arrigo: 79). This ritualized behavior helped him to act out his fantasies. He started conceptualizing increasingly violent and deviant images, and his capacity for killing increased steadily. “The colours and textures of his victim’s entrails served to arouse him” (p.80). His preference for strangulation by ligature and fetish for preserving bones, skull and other body parts of his victims made him feel close to his victims. According to APA (p.16), paraphilia is defined as “sexual arousal to objects or situations that are not part of normative stimulation”. It is one of several complex psychosexual disorders that are manifested as deviant behavior such as sexual fantasies, feelings, or activities involving a nonhuman object or non-consenting individual. These include sadism, compulsive sexual behavior, exhibitionism, masochism, fetishism, bestiality, necrophilia, and more. In September 1988, Dahmer had to vacate his grandmother’s basement since she could no longer tolerate his odd hours and the stench caused by his souvenirs. He moved into a flat. Jeffrey Dahmer has serially murdered seventeen young men, in the course of thirteen years, most of them between 1988 and 1991. By 1988 he had started engaging in necrophilic sex with his dead victims, followed by mutilating the corpses (Purcell & Arrigo: 80). He practised cannibalism for remembering both the killing and the victim, and “to make them a part of him”. His fantasies heightened to the point of wanting sex slaves, by changing his victims into zombies. He performed lobotomies in their skull and injected acid into the unconscious victim’s head, to deaden their awareness. These attempts met with failure. By using the skulls and skeletons of his victims, his ultimate fantasy was to build a shrine of body parts, in which he wished to be embedded in, so that he would feel connected to those whom he had killed, thereby satisfying his craving for belonging. The power and control in Dahmer’s fantasies were of an unprecedented level (Purcell & Arrigo: 81). Prior to Dahmer’s final arrest in 1991, with increase in the frequency of his serial killings his small apartment could not hold all the body parts that he stored. He was also close to eviction due to non-payment of rent. In July 1991, after one potential victim escaped, Dahmer was finally apprehended for the murder and mutilation of seventeen young men (Purcell & Arrigo: 81). How Crime Causation Theories Apply to Jeffrey Dahmer’s Criminal Behavior: All the natural scientific theories of crime reflect three different aspects of crime. Classical or utilitarian theories are based on free will and reason which reflect individual choice of the offender. Positivist theories based on determinism hold the belief that criminal behavior results from factors “beyond the control of individuals”. Criminal law theories believe that “crime is whatever the law says it is”, thus shifting the focus on to the law enforcers (Samaha: 71). From Jeffrey Dahmer’s first murder in 1978 to the time of his final arrest in 1991, his criminal history portrays several paraphilic stimuli, and mild to severe behavioral deviation The transition from paraphiliac, that is: exhibitionist to erotophonophiliac, that is: serial lust murderer is a gruesome transition (Purcell & Arigo: 83). Power, domination and mutilation filled Dahmer’s paraphilic fantasy system. The relationship between paraphilia, sexual homicide and serial murder is reflected in the biographical outline of Jeffrey Dahmer presented above. Gottfredson (p.45) states that “most contemporary theories of crime causation recognise that the absence of self control is an important cause of delinquency”. It manifests from an early age and continues through the life course. Through the motivational model developed by Burgess et al (p.251) and MacCulloch et al (p.20), fantasy is observed to be an internal driving mechanism for repetitive acts of sexual violence. However, “the interaction of critical personality traits and cognitive mapping processes are integral to generating the sexual images that produce violent behavior”. This is specifically applicable to Jeffrey Dahmer’s case study. The trauma control typology as conceived by Hickey (p.68) demonstrates how psychological and/ or physical traumatic events occurring in the formative years of a person’s life can function as trigger mechanisms. In these, increasingly violent fantasies fueled by facilitators such as alcohol, pornography, drugs, produce homicidal behavior. An integrated paraphilic framework to explain Dahmer’s criminal behavior is formulated by a synthesis of the motivational model and the trauma control model. Though both models discuss some aspects of the paraphilic process, neither of them explains sadistic sexual conduct. Paraphilic activities are rooted in early childhood development. Traumatic events in early adolescence in the form of sexual or physical abuse changes individuals into offenders such as child molesters, rapists and lust murderers. Offenders used paraphilia and fantasy in their conduct which was initiated by childhood trauma, triggering their deviant behavior or serial killing. Eth & Pynoos (p.36) state that in some cases revenge fantasies may be produced as the devastating result of such adolescent traumatization. This explanation can be applied in Dahmer’s case, since he had undergone an insecure childhood along with sexual abuse at the young age of eight by a neighbor boy. Among the paraphilias associated with erotophonophilia or lust murder is necrosadism, which was practised by Dahmer, after murdering his victims. “The notion of lust indicates an urge not only to kill, but to ravage and devour the victim”(Hickey: 69). Lust murderers, as a rule, engage in serial killing. Their fantasies become increasingly violent and deadly with every murder committed. The themes that are present in these fantasies are power, domination, molestation, revenge and the degradation and humiliation of others. Arrigo & Purcell (p.29) observe that “explaining paraphilias and lust murders can only be provisional”. This most disturbing form of human behavior has to be further understood with the help of future research. Conclusion The study of crime causation and the development of relevant theories is vital for explaining criminal behavior, for the purpose of prevention and intervention of criminal activities. Relating criminal behavior to theories of crime causation help in formulating crime control policies which impact the forecasting and not only the rehabilitation, but also the lifelong confinement of offenders by correctional officials (Glaser: 205). This paper has outlined the background information and criminal behavior of the well-known serial lust murderer, Jeffrey Dahmer. Various theoretical schools of crime causation have been discussed, to explain Dahmer’s criminal behavior. Early childhood interventions to ensure a stable home life and environment, along with emotional security and close bonding with family members are some crucial factors which help in the development of self esteem and self control which are vital for normal psychological development. Works Cited APA (American Psychiatric Association). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders DSM-IV-TR, 4th Edition. Washington DC: American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Arrigo, Bruce A. & Purcell, Catherine E. “Explaining paraphilias and lust murder: toward an Integrated model”. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 45.6 (2001): 5-32. Burgess, Ann W., Hartman, Carol R., Ressler, Robert K., Douglas, John E., McCormack, Arlene. “Sexual homicide”. Journal of Interpersonal Violence, 1.3 (1986): 251-272. Eth, S., & Pynoos, R.S. “Developmental perspective on psychic trauma in childhood. In C.R. Figley (Ed.) Trauma and its wake: the study and treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder. New York: Brunner/ Mazel, 1985. Glaser, Daniel. “A review of crime-causation theory and its application”. Crime and Justice, 1979: 203-237. Gottfredson, Denise C. Schools and delinquency. United Kingdom: Cambridge University Press, 2000. Hickey, Eric W. Serial murderers and their victims (2nd Edition). California: Wadsworth, 1997. MacCulloch, M.J., Snowdon, P.R., Wood, P.J.W., & Mills, H.E. “Sadistic fantasy, sadistic Behavior, and offending. British Journal of Psychiatry, 143 (1983): 20-29. Newton, Michael. The encyclopedia of serial killers. New York: Lulu Publications, 1999. Purcell, Catherine E. & Arrigo, Bruce A. The psychology of lust murder: paraphilia, sexual killing, and serial homicide. The United States of America: Elsevier, 2006. Samaha, Joel. Criminal justice. California: Thomson Wadsworth, 2005. Read More

Early criminal conduct: Even while still in school he had taken to drinking heavily, and indulging in substance abuse. In June 1978, soon after graduation, he took home his first victim, hitch-hiker Stephen Hicks. Dahmer crushed Hicks’ head with a barbell, strangled him to death, dismembered and buried his corpse in his backyard animal cemetery (Newton: 46). In this and all subsequent murders, he was driven by an urge of not wanting his victims to leave him. Dahmer attended college for a short duration, and then signed up for six years’ Army service.

However, he was discharged after two years due to his heavy drinking. Some unexplained murders that took place in Germany during his tenure there were also later linked with Dahmer, but could not be substantiated (Newton: 47). Employment history: In 1982, Dahmer moved into the basement of his grandmother’s house in Wisconsin. He was arrested repeatedly for disorderly conduct and exposure. For about seven years he sustained his employment with the Ambrosia Chocolate Company, but was later fired because of his erratic behavior.

He was arrested several times for misconduct, and released after short jail sentences. Paraphilic system of behaviors: Dahmer engaged in consensual homosexual activities at gay bars and other places.From 1982 to 1988, he would “lure his victims into his basement living quarters, drug them and sexually assault them while they were unconscious” (Purcell & Arrigo: 79). This ritualized behavior helped him to act out his fantasies. He started conceptualizing increasingly violent and deviant images, and his capacity for killing increased steadily.

“The colours and textures of his victim’s entrails served to arouse him” (p.80). His preference for strangulation by ligature and fetish for preserving bones, skull and other body parts of his victims made him feel close to his victims. According to APA (p.16), paraphilia is defined as “sexual arousal to objects or situations that are not part of normative stimulation”. It is one of several complex psychosexual disorders that are manifested as deviant behavior such as sexual fantasies, feelings, or activities involving a nonhuman object or non-consenting individual.

These include sadism, compulsive sexual behavior, exhibitionism, masochism, fetishism, bestiality, necrophilia, and more. In September 1988, Dahmer had to vacate his grandmother’s basement since she could no longer tolerate his odd hours and the stench caused by his souvenirs. He moved into a flat. Jeffrey Dahmer has serially murdered seventeen young men, in the course of thirteen years, most of them between 1988 and 1991. By 1988 he had started engaging in necrophilic sex with his dead victims, followed by mutilating the corpses (Purcell & Arrigo: 80).

He practised cannibalism for remembering both the killing and the victim, and “to make them a part of him”. His fantasies heightened to the point of wanting sex slaves, by changing his victims into zombies. He performed lobotomies in their skull and injected acid into the unconscious victim’s head, to deaden their awareness. These attempts met with failure. By using the skulls and skeletons of his victims, his ultimate fantasy was to build a shrine of body parts, in which he wished to be embedded in, so that he would feel connected to those whom he had killed, thereby satisfying his craving for belonging.

The power and control in Dahmer’s fantasies were of an unprecedented level (Purcell & Arrigo: 81). Prior to Dahmer’s final arrest in 1991, with increase in the frequency of his serial killings his small apartment could not hold all the body parts that he stored. He was also close to eviction due to non-payment of rent. In July 1991, after one potential victim escaped, Dahmer was finally apprehended for the murder and mutilation of seventeen young men (Purcell & Arrigo: 81).

How Crime Causation Theories Apply to Jeffrey Dahmer’s Criminal Behavior: All the natural scientific theories of crime reflect three different aspects of crime.

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