Nature vs. Nurture: The Origins of Serial Killer Behavior

Abstract

[Name] [Instructor Name] ENGL 102 3 April 2022 Argumentative Research Essay The origin of serial killing urge is a controversial topic that deserves better consideration and analysis before making any conclusions. Many assume that the desire to kill that proves a potential force in serial killers is hereditary, inbuilt, or uncontrollable. However, before making any sound conclusion, it is imperative to consider different views from credible sources on the topic. Nevertheless, it is essential to have an idea of the definition of a serial killer. To this effect, one can argue that a serial killer is a person who murders more than one person within a defined interval period that reflects a particular sequence. These characters kill in a manner that involves contact with the victim and thus cannot be considered an unintentional murder. At the same time, responding to whether serial killers are born or created, this essay hypothesizes that serial killers are not born killers but created through their life experiences. Using the Nature vs. Nurture theory, it is clear that serial killers are not born. Instead, they become created through their environment, thus the need to consider a serial killer's upbringing before judging their criminal life. In order to have a better understanding of the root cause of serial killing urge, it is imperative to consider a thorough literature review on the topic to ascertain whether different scholars’ arguments support, counter, or disagree with this report's hypotheses. Paying close attention to the Nature vs. Nurture theory (pg 1-12) emphasizes human behavior driven by genes vs. those created by the environment such humans dwell in throughout their lives. Based on this theory, one can acquire a behavior through gene-environmental interactions, which becomes a challenge to do away within the long run. While arguing from this theory's point of view, it is clear that no one is born with specific behavior. On the contrary, people embrace behaviors that their environments expose them to, and well-regulated commands from their genes allow for success in the newly formed trait. The theory supports this paper's hypothesis confirming that serial killing behavior is not a born-with behavior but acquired after exposure to gene-environmental driven forces that change and shape the characters' killing behavior. An interview proves among the most significant primary sources in response to any topic of study. In an interview with Diane E. Hughlett, a Ph.D. holder in clinical psychology, M[City, State]C, LPCC, and BIP (all credentials well reflected on the reference page), it remained clear that serial killers are not born killers. On the contrary, serial killers are victims of childhood trauma that expose them to embracing crime as a way of relieving their long-held torture experiences. Responding to whether serial killers are born killers, Hughlett argued that "learning on peer-reviewed research, serial killers are individuals who have suffered parental abuse and severe trauma as a child." Hughlett further added that "Behavioral Sequence Analysis has been used to map histories of serial killers from birth to conviction. So, my professional opinion based on research is that serial killers are not born killers but develop the trait as they grow from childhood into adulthood, and BSA measures this." Arguing from Hughlett's perspective, one can confirm that with better mental health check-ups and counseling, serial killers can become tamed and diverted from their embraced criminal trait. However, in response to whether serial killers get enough access to mental facilities, Hughlett confirms that only a few cases of these characters get access to mental health care which challenges control and management of the killing urge. To prove the influence that mental health problems have in defining serial killers, Carey (pg 1-10) affirms that mentally ill persons conduct most mass killings, rendering them to become serial killers in the long run. Carey believes the urge to kill is evil and rarely happens from a sober mind. On the contrary, people take for granted the extent of harm that impaired judgment attributed to the mental problem can cause in terms of criminal activity. In research on the most impactful mass killing and gun violence instances, this author confirms that over 80% of the victim are mentally ill persons who kill without any idea of the effect of their action on the affected persons. Mental problem is a powerful force that defines the victims’ potential to act unconsciously, thus the need for proper care and monitoring of such persons. In measuring the extent of trauma that serial killers endured through childhood experiences, Hughlett suggests the Adverse Childhood Experience score (ACE) with a higher score signifying higher risks of health, social and emotional issues. Hughlett concludes the interview by urging the parent and society to ensure children remain exposed to a healthy childhood and the need to take care of mentally ill persons to ensure their poor judgment does not lead them to engage in crime. Based on Hughlett's response, it is imperative to consider several notable serial killers' biographies to analyze experiences that might have exposed them to becoming criminals. H.H. Holmes (Herman Mudgett), born in 1861, is the American's first serial killer whose life experiences might have exposed him to the killing behavior, thus rendering him a serial killer in the long run. Mudgett remained unexposed to poverty during childhood which many attributed to fostering criminal acts but instead born and grew up in a wealthy family and expressed great signs of intelligence. In such a case, it is imperative to consider Cartwright's (pg 3-4) argument, which attributes personality development as a significant force in defining a criminal being. Cartwright, whose vast knowledge remains defined, confirms that many conditions to kill another, like poverty and environmental pressures, take the low lead compared to personality developed through exposure to practice forces. Mudgett's interest in medicine led him to trap animals and perform surgery on them throughout his childhood, with advances on playmates as he grew. The exposure to such surgery experiences led him to embrace killing as a simple act and thus became a serial killer during adulthood to acquire the dead people’s property. Cartwright's arguments associating personality development as a potential force defining a character remain well defined in Holmes's case. Though his childhood did not expose him to inhabitable and torturing experiences, his intelligence led him to become a daily killer of animals and graduate to killing people, starting with a childhood friend. With time, the killing practice grew bigger and bigger, shaping Holme's serial killing character, which proved a challenge to abandon later in life. In confirmation of Mudgett's generic urge to kill, Subramanian (pg 1-3) elaborates on the serial killers' genes that lead them to embrace an uncontrollable killing desire. In his article, Subramanian (pg 4) offers insights into the different types of genes present in a person's genetic makeup that influence their likelihood of committing a crime, with killing being among the most viable options. Emphasizing the Nature vs. Nurture theory, Subramanian confirms that killing, as expressed in the case mentioned above, remains attributed to the gene-environmental that the character experienced throughout their lives. In his upbringing, Mudgett saw killing from a practical point of view. The victim never thought of the treasure invested in life nor viewed life from a fundamental right perspective. On the contrary, this serial killer grew up believing in the insignificance of life as could take it away from animals with little concern from the family or the society. It did not hit his conscious after killing a childhood friend while playing. If the parents and relevant authorities had responded with stern punishment, maybe it would have saved Mudgett from becoming a serial killer in his adulthood. Unfortunately, this gentleman practiced killing effortlessly to make the surgeon urge a success, leading him to become the first serial killer in America holds. In response to the topic of the current study, Mosely's article “Are Murderers Born or Made?” confirms that childhood traumatic experiences like childhood abuse have great potential in shaping the criminal characteristics in a person (Mosely 1-5). Mosely argues that exposing a child to torture, abuse, and regrettable experiences helps shape their urge for revenge, leading them to become criminals as they grow up (Mosely 1). According to this author, all children are born with a blank mind. It is the experiences that the guardians or parents expose...