Sign Up Now
Get instant access to over 1 million+ study documents
OR
Already registered? click here to login
By creating your account, you agree to our terms of service, privacy policy and student honor code.
The Argument for Environmental Influence
The modern fields of criminology and sociology have also established significant direct connections between the external environment and the behavior that develops in the individual (Schmalleger, 2008). Regardless of the effects of physiology and biological processes, there is undoubtedly a tremendous influence in the experiences, formative relationships, and role models to which the individual is exposed (Schmalleger, 2008). Many forms of modern crime are largely products of the influence of social circumstances and the norms that prevail in local communities (Pinizzotto, Davis, & Miller, 2007). With respect to criminally deviant individuals such as serial killers, there are specific types and patterns of formative experiences and psychological trauma that are known to be associated with those types of criminal deviance (Gerrig & Zimbardo, 2008; Innes, 2007),
The Argument for the Rational Choice Theory
The modern approach to understanding criminal deviance also recognizes the importance of elements of the classical rational choice theories, such as those of Cesare Beccaria and Jeremy Bentham (Schmalleger, 2008). In principle, rational choice suggests that most criminal deviance is the product of autonomous volitional choices made by individuals; it considers those choices to be functions of risk-benefit or pleasure-pain dynamics. Moreover, rational choice theorists consider the prevention of deviant behavior...
In theory, appropriately harsh penalties imposed for criminal choices can prevent those instances of criminal choices that do reflect rational choice volitional decisions (Schmalleger, 2008).
Conclusion
In many respects, the modern view of criminal deviance reflects a more refined approach to incorporating different avenues of analysis more than it necessarily refutes major theoretical aspects of classical theories. Modern analysis simply applies physiological, environmental, and rational choice concepts where they are most appropriate and recognizes the limits of those concepts within the overall understanding of deviant behavior. Generally, the modern approach recognizes that most aspects of human behavior are highly reflective of influences across a broad range of factors in all of those areas.
References
Gerrig, R. And Zimbardo, P. (2008). Psychology and Life. New York: Allyn & Bacon.
Innes, B. (2007). Serial Killers: The Story of History's Most Evil Murderers. London:
Quercus
Pinizzotto, a., Davis, E., and Miller, C. (2007). "Street Gang Mentality: A Mosaic of Remorseless Violence and Relentless Loyalty." FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin,
Ted Bundy: All-American Serial Killer When women began disappearing in and around Seattle, Washington in 1974, nobody suspected Theodore Robert "Ted" Bundy would be behind their disappearances. Bundy was, after all, a student at the University of Washington, a political volunteer, and a suicide hotline operator. Again, no one would suspect him of being involved in the disappearances and murders of various women around Salt Lake City, Utah when he attended
Ted Bundy was born Theodore Robert Cowell on November 24, 1946. When he was four years old, Ted's mother moved with her son to Tacoma, Washington and remarried Johnnie Culpepper Bundy. Ted did not get along with his stepfather, although he would frequently babysit for his four half siblings. Throughout his youth, Ted showed signs of poor social skills development and adaptation. As Bell points out, "Ted became increasingly uncomfortable around
Ted Bundy: America’s Most Infamous Serial Killer Abstract While Ted Bundy is neither the most prolific nor the most horrific serial killer in America, he is one of the best known of American serial killers. This essay explores the reasons for Bundy’s infamy. It will explore Bundy’s normal guy persona and how that not only helped him gain his victims’ trust, but also helped foster public fascination with Bundy. Bundy committed crimes
"There are at least four (4) different subtypes -- common, alienated, aggressive, and dyssocial. Commons are characterized mostly by their lack of conscience; the alienated by their inability to love or be loved; aggressives by a consistent sadistic streak; and dyssocials by an ability to abide by gang rules, as long as those rules are the wrong rules" (O'Connor, 2005). Bundy clearly falls into the aggressive category. Describe and explain
Ted Bundy -- Serial Killer Ted Bundy: Serial Killer Theodore Robert Bundy aka Ted Bundy, was born Theodore Robert Cowell to Louise Cowell on November 24, 1946 in Burlington, Vermont at the Elizabeth Lund Home for Unwed Mothers. After spending eight weeks in the home Louise went to her parents house to raise her son in Philadelphia. Ted Bundy, serial killer grew up believing that his mother was his sister and his
Meg Anders, who uses the alias of Elizabeth Kendall in her book entitled The Phantom Prince, provides an insider's look at Bundy's nature, the face he showed to the world and the occasional private tears he shed in her presence. Other books, such as True Crime, published by Time Warner, give an overview of the facts that have already appeared in numerous articles in the press. I do not include