Introduction
In the modern world, homicide is considered to be one of the most severe and immoral crimes. To try and prevent the losses of human lives, criminal scientists develop theories about environmental and genetic factors that propel people to become murderers. According to statistics, men are responsible for most homicides, while women tend to kill for self-defence and other material reasons (Menard & Morris, 2011). However, although the percentage of deliberate female-committed murders is low, psychopathic women have higher chances of committing a homicide, so it is reasonable to analyze such instances. A practical example of a cold-blooded female murderer can be found in Aileen Wuornos’s case. Aileen’s lack of attachment and early childhood abuse promoted psychopathic development and led to homicide.
Criminal Offender
Aileen Wuornos was born on the 29th of February in Rochester, Michigan. Upon Aileen’s birth, her mother was 16, and her father, diagnosed with schizophrenia, was in jail for raping a seven-year-old child (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004). After four years since the birth of Aileen, her mother abandoned the family, leaving the girl and her brother with their maternal grandparents, whom the girl considered her birth parents. In one of the interviews, Aileen Wuornos mentioned the sadistic tendencies of the grandfather. He would beat her with a leather strap while she was lying naked on a bed (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004). The beatings, she recalled, could be committed regularly without allowing her damaged skin to heal (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004). In addition to physical assault, she was exposed to mental pressure. During the beatings, the grandfather called her “evil, wicked, worthless” and that “she was not worthy of the air she breathed” (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004, p. 383). The grandmother did not prevent her husband’s violent behaviors and had drinking problems. Eventually, Aileen and her brother discovered the truth about their natural parents, which made the kids even more distant from their elder caregivers.
The difficult childhood profoundly affected Aileen’s life, leading to social unacceptance, prostitution, and criminal activities, including murders. She was aggressive and irresponsible during her adolescence, which resulted in her becoming pregnant at the age of 15 and failing to establish social connections (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004). Like her mother, she left the child to be adopted by her grandparents. Almost all of Aileen’s relationships were brief and filled with violence and domestic abuse (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004). To earn for a living, she became a prostitute, but still struggled with money. As a result, she was charged with multiple robberies and was once sentenced to three years of imprisonment for deadly weapon use. In her thirties, Aileen committed her first murder by killing a 51-year-old-man. Later, she would reason every murder by self-defence against raping men, but the claims seemed inconsistent with all the forensic evidence. After killing six more people, she was caught and sentenced to death.
Criminology Theory
The theoretical explanation of Aileen Wuornos’s Case is based on attachment and psychopathy theories. Attachment theory describes the connection between the development of a child’s mental models and paternal interactions with the child. The theory states that the formation of attachment in early childhood is a pivotal factor in the child’s emotional, social, and personal development (Kocsis, 2018). On the other hand, the absence of the parental bond can result in the child’s anger, despair, and mistrust, leading to the adoption of a destructive world image (Kocsis, 2018). For example, if caregivers do not satisfy all the infant’s basic needs, the child can develop a notion that people are unreliable and the child itself is inadequate. Another danger of improper attachment is its correlation with psychopathy (Kocsis, 2018). An infant lacking meaningful bonds cannot develop the mental tools necessary for understanding others’ feelings and emotions (Kocsis, 2018). Therefore, the lack of attachment can provide an individual with dangerous mental models, impairing the worldview, promoting aggressive and violent behaviors, and even psychopathy.
Criminal Offended Motivation, Deviance, and Abnormal Behaviour
Throughout her life, Aileen Wuornos showed multiple signs of psychopathy, including violence, aggression, antisocial behaviors, and substance abuse. She could not assimilate into the school environment, had poor study results, and lacked meaningful connections. All the Aileen’s relationships were unhealthy and involved mental and physical violence. The only close person for Aileen was her brother, with whom she shared the experience of being abused in their childhood (Arrigo & Griffin, 2004). The failure to understand the emotions of others, along with the deep hatred towards men, led to the murderous acts. Aileen did not show any empathy to her victims and treated them as objects that helped to achieve material and personal satisfaction.
There were two main reasons behind Aileen’s abnormal behaviors: her difficult childhood and biological heritage. During her early years, Aileen experienced neglect, resentment, and domestic abuse, which dramatically affected her mental development. As a result, she could not correctly understand other people’s emotions, implied hidden motives behind others’ actions, and became hateful and defensive. Even though the environmental factors played a pivotal role in Aileen’s development, the genetic influence could also be profound. For instance, she showed impulsive behaviors and a lack of concern for other people, the similar way her father did.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the primary causes of Aileen Wuornos’s murderous acts came from her experience of an abusive childhood and parental neglect. The irresponsible attitude of Aileen’s parents and the abusive behavior of her grandfather produced a serial killer who took the lives of seven people. This statement highlights the significance of personal and governmental responsibility to ensure appropriate childcare and mental development to prevent such tragedies.
References
Arrigo, B. A. & Griffin, A. (2004). Serial murder and the case of Aileen Wuornos: Attachment theory, psychopathy, and predatory aggression. Wiley InterScience, 1(22), 375-393.
Kocsis, R. N. (2018). Applied criminal psychology: A guide to forensic behavioral sciences. Charles C Thomas Publisher.
Menard, S. & Morris, R. G. (2011). Integrated theory and crimes of trust. J Quant Criminol, 1(28), 365-387.