Eric Edgar Cooke Famous as The Night Caller - Case Study Example

Eric Edgar Cooke: Case Description Name Institution Abstract No two serial killers are the same the same way no two individuals are. However, generally, there are certain traits that are redundant in serial killers. The nature of serial killers has been explained from various theoretical perspectives. Generally, theories either focus on sociological or psychological aspects. Other perspectives focus on both the sociological and psychological aspects; that is, how sociological aspects during early childhood influence the psychological frame as an individual grows to adulthood. This is the perspective this paper adopts in this case description of Eric Edgar Cooke, a serial killer in the 1960s Western Australia’s city of Perth, who came to be famous as ‘The Night Caller’. In this respect, this paper explores how Cooke’s traumatic childhood (sociological aspect) may have had an impact on his psychological traits, what may have led to his criminal behaviors in his early years that evolved to deadly habits in his adulthood. Eric Edgar Cooke: Case Description Introduction Eric Edgar Cooke, famous as “The Night Caller”, was a serial killer in Western Australia’s ‘capital city’ Perth between 1959 and 1963. He was born 25 February 1931. After his arrest, he confessed to 8 murders and 14 attempted and was sentenced to death by hanging. He was executed on 26th of October, 1964 (Blackburn, 2013). Over the years, many criminologists and other interested parties (including journalists) have tried to understand why Cooke turned out as he did-and why serial killers are as they are for that matter. Blackburn (2013), for example, says that Cooke is a perfect fit of a serial killer for criminal profilers. The question, therefore, is what makes a serial killer. A number of perspectives have been adopted in trying to understand Cooke’s behavior. He was a criminal almost by nature, having been involved in several petty crimes. There are sociological explanations, the notion that the environment in which he was brought up may have contributed to what he became. For example, he was born in a dysfunctional family, his father abusive to both him and his mother and for which he visited the hospital severally for head-wound treatments. In this paper, however, the focus will be on the psychological factors that made him a serial killer. But even then, it cannot be ignored that physical environment in which he grew, the sociological aspects, may have contributed to the (his) psychological frame that made him a serial killer. This is the link that connects psychogenic motives of serial killers to their sociogenic motives (Godwin, 2000). This is the perspective that this paper adopts. Theories As already noted, this paper adopts the premise the Cooke was the product of the social environment in which he grew (particularly his family) and, most importantly, how this may have influenced his psychological wellbeing growing into adulthood. This view combines largely the elements of these two theories: Ego Theory of Erik Erikson In this theory, Erikson focuses on how an individual’s experiences and interactions at every stage (infancy, early childhood, play stage, school age stage, etc.) influence their psychological state; that is, “the biological nature of social tasks and the conflicts involved in meeting the demands of the external world are taken into consideration” (Erikson, 1980, p.11). In this regard, focus is not on how the individual avoids the conflicts he/she faces in interacting with the society, but on the significance of these conflicts and interactions on their psychosocial state. The Theory of Erich Fromm Although humans are inextricably tied to animal kingdom and the nature as a whole by their instinctual drives, they exhibit a different relatedness towards the world in the sense that as he/she becomes more aware of his/her individuality, feelings of alienation and isolation emerge. Fear of the elements may force an individual to forgo their intellectual achievements, focusing more on avoiding these (Fromm, 1950, cited in Ewen, 1993). Cooke: Case Description Childhood Like everyone else, no two serial killers are exactly the same. Still, serial killers have been found to share certain psychological states, partly as a result of the sociological factors within the environments in which they are brought up as children and live. First, most people who end up becoming serial killers have been found to have had a complex and varied childhood, characterized by some form of neglect and/or abuse, which cause trauma (Hickey, 2002). According to Arrigo and Purcell (2001), the physical and, consequently, psychological trauma in an individual’s formative years can be predisposing mechanisms that lead to homicidal behavior in adulthood. In agreement, most psychiatrist experts have observed that early childhood experiences can significantly influence the physical, but also mental health/state of the adult. The critical element in this regard is ‘attachment’ or ‘bonding’, referring to the emotional connection between infant and the parents. These are emotional ties that develop not only from the moment of birth, but also possibly during the post-natal stage. When they are disrupted, the child (growing to adulthood) may not be able to feel affection, sympathy or remorse. A study conducted by the FBI over a period of three years listed as common traits among serial killers: trauma from physical abuse; development failure as a result of trauma; as well as the failure of the parental figures to be positive role models (Arrigo & Purcell, 2001; Hickey, 2002). Along these lines, Holmes and Holmes (1998) note that serial killer develop feelings of hatred, helplessness, repressed aggression and frustration within their relationships with the significant others in their lives. Ultimately, these feelings and behaviors are manifested through the serial killer’s observable behaviors, and are mostly directed at other individuals. Of course, as Hickey (2002) points out, many people who also go through such childhoods do not end up as serial killers. But the point here is that it is a trait that cuts across most- if not all- serial killers, appearing “more frequently in the clinical histories of serial killers than they do in those of non-offenders” (Hickey, 2002, p.97). As already noted, Cooke was born in a dysfunctional family. His father was a motor spare parts salesman, while his mother was a kitchen-hand and cleaner. His alcoholic teenage father was abusive and reportedly loathed the son (Cooke) with facial deformity of a cleft lip and palate that also gave him a bad mumble in his speech. His father subjected both Cook and his mother beatings (using his fists, sticks and belts) as well general neglect, the father drinking all his earnings and his mother having to take care of him and his two sisters on her meager earnings, and ultimately emotional cruelty. Cooke was conscious of the fact that his father did not like him and he escaped through disassociation and fantasy, sought to boost his low self-esteem through self-aggrandisement, aged against the society that ostracised him and he sought revenge, power and control through violent acts starting with arson and escalating to power over life and death” (Blackburn, 2003, p.1). The young Cooke, staying away from home and wandering the streets to escape his father’s cruelty and hungry, started by stealing food. He was also bullied at school, the children taunting him for his deformity and mimicking his mumbled speech. Then he was expelled from Subiaco Primary School in the first year for stealing, and was constantly punished in the subsequent schools for his behavior. At 14, Cooke joined the Scarborough Junior Surf Lifesaving Club (SJSLC). Desperately looking to be included and admired, he stole a watch and had it engraved so it looked like an award: To Cookie from the boys of the SJSLC. When he was discovered and the club suspected him of other thefts from the lockers, they rejected him on the excuse that he had blackouts. Indeed, Cooke did suffer several blackouts and for which he had to visit the hospital. It was at this stage that he dropped out of school, becoming an adroit and cunning criminal. He became a ‘cat-burglar’. According to Blackburn (2003), his stealing funded his efforts to impress women and make friends. The significance of the early years in the later life of an individual is a recurrent theme in the study of criminology and psychology. Arson and Attempt for Salvation However, Cooke’s path to worse crime began at age 17 when he started setting to fire the houses and flats he broke into and slashed clothing and bedding after stealing food and money. According to profilers, arson is an effort to gain power and feelings of success (Blackburn, 2013). As a result of these elements in childhood experiences, most serial killers also do exhibit maladaptive behaviors at childhood, including arson, chronic bedwetting and cruelty towards animals (the configuration of these three behaviors known to criminologists as the McDonald triad) (Hickey, 2002), among other crimes, such as burglary, stealing food, among others. In relation to arson, a research that involved 1,200 juvenile arsonists showed that it is the result of the inability to cope with depression, feelings of anxiety and depression. This affects their self-esteem, and fosters anger and hatred, and fantasies of revenge. Arson, therefore, is largely said to be the result of a “disruptive interpersonal relationship patterns within the family structure” (Hickey, 2002, 102). But the police caught up with him and, examining his background, were sympathetic. They described him as “one of life’s unfortunates” (Blackburn, 2013, p.2). At jail, an intervention was attempted to rescue him from crime and early symptoms of schizophrenia. After serving three months of his three-year sentence, he was paroled (although he would be taken back to prison to remind him he was still a prisoner). Rev George Jenkins, a Methodist Minister Cooke met offered to rehabilitate him, including waiting the fold of the South Perth Methodist Church. He showed signs of progress, becoming socially involved in the church, particularly hockey. Although his parole report was excellent but his psychiatrist described him as a liar beyond help. In the end, the rehabilitation failed and he started stealing from members of the Methodist church. Dismissal from the Army One of the events that is said to have been key to Cooke’s violent behaviors in the years to come was his dismissal from the CMF. He enjoyed the army’s regimentation, and turned out to be a very good at weapons training. Reportedly, he could spend a 10-bullet magazine in 8 second without losing accuracy. But he was dismissed for his criminal past. His desperate attempts at 21 years to get back into the CMF in Melbourne also failed when his criminal past was again discovered. According to Blackburn (2013), “Exclusion from an organization or activity where [they] shine is a pointer to serial killers’ future violent behavior” (p.3). According to Blackburn (2013), rejection was always a key factor in Cooke’s evolution in violent behavior. His first act of violence in 1958 was most probably the result of his failure to win a young woman he had been following for some time. He ran down a mother cycling nearby with a car, saying in his confession that he had only wanted to hurt someone and “she was it for the night” (Blackburn, 2013, p.5). On his return to Perth, he lied that he had been in the Korean War. According to Hickey (2002), serial killers develop fantasies in their childhoods and they never outgrow them. These fantasies stem from traumatic events at childhood, which influence their perception of the world around them and the development of their sense of self. These may foster feelings of inadequacy and worthlessness, self-doubt and helplessness. It is safe to say that Cooke liked to feel important. It did not matter what he had to do feel that way. He just had to be noticed. His lies about having been in the Korean War were an extension of that hunger to make a mark. But it was a lie aimed to covering up his hurt feelings for being rejected. He may have convinced himself that he was over it, but the lies tell a different story. In fact, Blackburn (2013) notes, the damage was seemingly bad that the stability of a family- after he married Sally in 1953 and with whom he had two sons in the first two years- could not save him. He turned violent to his wife; chased women; indicated elements of sexual perversion, including voyeurism. Not all serial killers exhibit deviant sexual behavior. However, some form of deviant sexual behaviors have been found in most cases of serial killers. These are also known as paraphilias, that is, unusual sexual urges of behaviors or fantasies. Again, these are associated with traumatic childhoods (Arrigo & Purcell, 2001). Cooke followed women he liked, watching them through bedroom windows and stealing panties from clothelines. Motives Cooke committed his first murder in January 1959, when he stabbed Pnina Berkman to death in South Perth. The same years, he attacked a sleeping Jillian Brewer with a hatchet and scissors. Over a number of months he had watched her sexual activity with several men. He strangled his next victim, whom he dominated through necrophilia and abuse with bottle. This is the one area in which most serial killers are greatly varied. The motives behind killing are varied from one serial killer to another. These motivatios are categorized into two groups: psychogenic motivations and sociogenic motivations. In relation to the psychogenic motives, many authors do believe that serial killer’s motives are intrinsic in nature. The implication is that murder is the product of the serial killer’s psychological characteristics (Godwin, 2000). In other words, the serial killer’s motive for committing murder lies deep within their unconscious, so that they are driven by factors that even they themselves are unaware of and do not understand (Norris, 1989; Pistorius, 1996). More particularly, serial kills do not commit the murders for money, love or revenge. Instead, they do it for some sense of self-satisfaction. They can be seeking to satisfy their psychological or sexual cravings, and they do through murder. As already noted above, what one goes through in childhood significantly influence his/her mental state into adulthood. The individual is never really aware of these effects. For example, after stealing a car and running down a woman cycling nearby, Cooke confessed that he just wanted to hurt someone and “she was it for the night” (Blackburn, 2013, p.5). This confession does not say why he wanted to hurt someone. He simply wanted to hurt someone, anyone. It could have been anyone nearby and that woman happened to be it. In other words, Cooke was not angry at any particular person. He was just mad and feeling murderous for no known reason. Even he himself could not provide a reason for wanting to hurt anyone. There is relationship between this psychogenic motive and what Blackburn (2013) refers to as a serial killer’s disassociation from his crime. Again in his confession, Cooke claimed that the ‘power of god’ overtook him whenever he committed his murders. To Blackburn (2013), this claim “let him disassociate himself from the revenge he had wanted all his life” (p.5). However, according to Holmes and Holmes (1998), “psychogenic motivations do not develop and influence an individual in a vacuum” (p.23). Rather, they do in interaction with sociogenic motives. Sociogenic motives stem from one’s awareness that his/her social interaction is below the level he/she desires and seeks alternatives. In this regard, the individual feels powerless and helpless and these feelings turn into rage and hatred (Godwin, 2000). The underlying premise here is that criminal behaviors stems from social processes. For instance, the social processes that a person experiences in his/her childhood influence their physical and mental state at adulthood. In relation to motives, there are also the trigger stressors. These are the behaviors or actions in the immediate context that drive a serial killer to commit murder. In other words, these are the actions or behaviors that bring their deep-seated fantasies or anger to the surface. In some cases, the individual might be trying to protect his/her fantasies. Trigger stressors can be physical appearance, but also psychological and without any rational explanation (Holmes & Holmes, 1998). Cooke’s Australia Day rampage was most probably triggered by rejection. A man he had been watching with a woman in a car told him to ‘piss off’. He had a rifle at the time and felt he had the power to impose punishment. Conclusion In 2000, Micki Pistorius, a South African profiler (quoted in Blackburn, 2013, p.6) stated that “Serial killers are not monsters. They are human beings with tortured souls”. Indeed, Cooke had a tortured soul. While this paper does not focus on the sociological aspects of his childhood, it cannot be ignored how much of that childhood influence his mental state, his hungers and angers, fantasies, fears and insecurities, among others, which ultimately made him become serial killer. It was his way of feeding his ‘tortured soul’. However, many people go through the same childhoods, maybe even worse, but still do not become serial killers. Therefore, there must be something that sets the psychology of the eventual serial killer apart from that of the non-offender, something that made him respond to his childhood traumas as he did. Still, there must a reason why such childhood traumas are common in serial killers than in non-offenders. In this respect, the question is whether Cooke would have responded as he did if he had not had such a childhood. Indeed, it is hard to separate psychogenic from sociogenic motivations; the latter provides the triggers stressors for the former to come to action. The case of Coke provides satisfactory evidence of this. References Arrigo, B.A. & Purcell, C.E. (2001). Explaining Paraphilias and Lust Murder: Towards an Integrated Model. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology, 45(1), 6-31 Blackburn, E. (2013). Eric Edgar Cooke: What Makes a Serial Killer? Civil Liberties Australia Inc. A04043 Erikson, E.H. (1980). Identity and Life Cycle. New York: W.W. Norton Ewen, R.B. (1993). An Introduction to Theories of Personality, 4th Edition. Hillsdale: Lawrence Erlbaum Godwin, G.M. (2000). Hunting Serial Predators: a Multivariate Classification Approach to Profiling Violent Behavior. New York: CRC Press Hickey, E.W. (2002). Serial Murder and their Victims. Belmont: Wadsworth Holmes, R.M. & Holmes, S.T. (1998). Serial Murder. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Myers, W.C., Gooch, E. & Meloy, J.R. (2005). The Role of Psychopathy and Sexuality in a Female Serial Killer. Journal of Forensic Science, 50(3), 1-6 Norris, J. (1989). Serial Killers. New York: Checkmark Books Pistorius, M. (1996). A Psychoanalytic Approach to Serial Killers. Unpublished Doctoral Thesis University of Pretoria Pistorius, M. (2000). Catch Me a Killer. Serial Murders: a Profilers True Story. Sandton: Penguin Books Taylor, R.L. (2007). Etiology of the Psychopathic Serial Killer: an Analysis of Antisocial Personality Disorder, Pyschopathy, and Serial Killer Personality and Crime Scene Characteristics. In Rebecca, T.L. Brief Treatment and Crisis Intervention Oxford: Oxford University Press Read More

As already noted, Cooke was born in a dysfunctional family. His father was a motor spare parts salesman, while his mother was a kitchen-hand and cleaner. His alcoholic teenage father was abusive and reportedly loathed the son (Cooke) with facial deformity of a cleft lip and palate that also gave him a bad mumble in his speech. His father subjected both Cook and his mother beatings (using his fists, sticks and belts) as well general neglect, the father drinking all his earnings and his mother having to take care of him and his two sisters on her meager earnings, and ultimately emotional cruelty.

Cooke was conscious of the fact that his father did not like him and he escaped through disassociation and fantasy, sought to boost his low self-esteem through self-aggrandisement, aged against the society that ostracised him and he sought revenge, power and control through violent acts starting with arson and escalating to power over life and death” (Blackburn, 2003, p.1). The young Cooke, staying away from home and wandering the streets to escape his father’s cruelty and hungry, started by stealing food.

He was also bullied at school, the children taunting him for his deformity and mimicking his mumbled speech. Then he was expelled from Subiaco Primary School in the first year for stealing, and was constantly punished in the subsequent schools for his behavior. At 14, Cooke joined the Scarborough Junior Surf Lifesaving Club (SJSLC). Desperately looking to be included and admired, he stole a watch and had it engraved so it looked like an award: To Cookie from the boys of the SJSLC. When he was discovered and the club suspected him of other thefts from the lockers, they rejected him on the excuse that he had blackouts.

Indeed, Cooke did suffer several blackouts and for which he had to visit the hospital. It was at this stage that he dropped out of school, becoming an adroit and cunning criminal. He became a ‘cat-burglar’. According to Blackburn (2003), his stealing funded his efforts to impress women and make friends. The significance of the early years in the later life of an individual is a recurrent theme in the study of criminology and psychology. Arson and Attempt for Salvation However, Cooke’s path to worse crime began at age 17 when he started setting to fire the houses and flats he broke into and slashed clothing and bedding after stealing food and money.

According to profilers, arson is an effort to gain power and feelings of success (Blackburn, 2013). As a result of these elements in childhood experiences, most serial killers also do exhibit maladaptive behaviors at childhood, including arson, chronic bedwetting and cruelty towards animals (the configuration of these three behaviors known to criminologists as the McDonald triad) (Hickey, 2002), among other crimes, such as burglary, stealing food, among others. In relation to arson, a research that involved 1,200 juvenile arsonists showed that it is the result of the inability to cope with depression, feelings of anxiety and depression.

This affects their self-esteem, and fosters anger and hatred, and fantasies of revenge. Arson, therefore, is largely said to be the result of a “disruptive interpersonal relationship patterns within the family structure” (Hickey, 2002, 102). But the police caught up with him and, examining his background, were sympathetic. They described him as “one of life’s unfortunates” (Blackburn, 2013, p.2). At jail, an intervention was attempted to rescue him from crime and early symptoms of schizophrenia.

After serving three months of his three-year sentence, he was paroled (although he would be taken back to prison to remind him he was still a prisoner). Rev George Jenkins, a Methodist Minister Cooke met offered to rehabilitate him, including waiting the fold of the South Perth Methodist Church. He showed signs of progress, becoming socially involved in the church, particularly hockey. Although his parole report was excellent but his psychiatrist described him as a liar beyond help.

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