Unpacking the Nature vs. Nurture Debate: Are Serial Killers Born or Made?

Abstract

Argumentative Research Essay Topic: Serial Killers; Are Serial Killers Born Killers Introduction The origin of serial killing urge is a controversial topic that deserves better consideration and analysis before making any conclusions. Many assume that the urge 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 with in 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 through text messaging 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 confirm the influence that mental health problems have in defining serial killers, Carey (Pg, 1-10)confirms that mentally ill persons conduct most the mass killing, rendering them to become serial killers in the long run. 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. Based on Hughlett'sHughlett'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 forces, 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. 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 on the different type of genes present in a person's genetic makeup that influences their likelihood to commit 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. Thus, he practiced effortlessly to make his urge a success leading him to become the first serial killer in America holds in history. 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 criminal being as they grow up (Mosely, pg 1). For instance, when...