Serial Killers: Nature Or Nurture?

A part of him knows that Jim technically belongs to the widow, and helping free Jim would be robbing her, especially when the widow treated Huck so well. The other part of him knows that Jim is a good friend of his and he would feel bad if he turned Jim in. 2. Huck’s moral conflict reaches a climax when Huck realizes that he has a chance to turn Jim in. He doesn’t, so he feels bad about going against society, but he realizes he would feel bad if he really turned Jim in.

When they found no money, that really triggered Hickock. It was a waste of time to go in there and tie up Mr. Clutter, because there was not even any money inside of the house. Since Mr. Clutter was the only witness at the time, he went and killed Mr. Clutter. However, he did not have to kill the rest of the family, especially when everyone, didn't know anything about the robbery until Mrs. Clutter was found. “Now he’d brought him back to the bedroom.

Hickock’s family provides him with everything he needs to succeed during his childhood. “Basketball! Baseball! Football! Dick was always the star player. A pretty good student, too, with A marks in several subjects” (Capote 158). Hickock’s father says this about his son when he is highschool, illustrating that he is a star athlete and is encouraged to do well by his parents. Hickock’s grades are so good that he aspires to go to college one day, but his family does not have the necessary funds. This ambition for money is what initially drives him to go with Smith to the Clutters’ house, as he thinks Herb keeps a safe at home. Also, the tragic motorcycle accident that Hickock gets into, that disfigures his face, causes a mental transition that coupled with his divorce leads him to a life of crime. During this time Hickock’s fondness for money leads to him passing fraudulent checks and this eventually lands him in prison. It was in prison that he becomes more emotionally detached from the rest of the world. This is illustrated by Capote when Smith keeps thinking about the murder, but Hickock is content and is ready to move on. Furthermore, Hickock’s impulsiveness, stemming from his need from money, is what further motivates the murder. “But at the time I never give any thought to whether it is right or wrong. The same with stealing. It seems to be an

Huck in the later chapters sees that these accusations were used to make money and Jim is a good guy trying to doing what he had to in order to prosper. Huck ends up being

Dick Hickock had an excellent family, but they did struggle with finances. He was an outstanding athlete and a good student. Dick was “An outstanding athlete-always on the first team at school. Basketball! Baseball! Football! Dick was always the star player. A pretty good student, too, with A marks in several subjects…” (Capote 166).“I think the main reason I went there (the Clutter home) was not to rob them but to rape the girl” (Capote 278).

On March 22, 1858, he was elected as constable of Monticello Township, Kansas. A year later, he joined the Russell, Waddell, & Majors Freight Co, the company of the Pony Express. In 1860, he was seriously injured by a bear while driving a freight team from Missouri to Texas. He found the road they were taking blocked by a Cinnamon bear and its two cubs. He dismounted and approached the bear. He shot it in the head, but the bullet ricocheted from its skull. The bear attacked, crushing him with its body. Hickock slashed its throat with a knife.

After being kidnapped by Pap, Huck’s motives for escaping where his desires to get away from living with his alcoholic father, and the unwillingness to return to the civilized life he had while living

When Huck is given the chance to turn Jim in, he is testing society. He struggled to go against the principles of the community he grew up in. Finally, Huck decided society was wrong and he “was trying to make [his] mouth say [he] would do the right thing and the clean thing… but deep down in [him he] knowed it was a lie” (206). Therefore Huck decided “’All right, then, I’ll go to hell’” instead of turning Jim in (207). This is the climax where Huck outwardly goes against the standards of society. The community as a whole was incorrect to think of people as property and Huck realizes this thanks to Jim.

The question of whether or not man is predetermined at birth to lead a life of crime is a question that has been debated for decades. Are serial killers born with the lust for murder, or are their desires developed through years of abuse and torment? Many believe it is impossible for an innocent child to be born with the capability to commit a horrible act such as murder. But at the same time, how could we have corrupted society so much as to turn an innocent child into a homicidal maniac? Forensic psychologists have picked apart the minds of serial killers to find an answer as to what forces them to commit such perverse acts. Their ultimate goal is to learn how to catch a serial killer before

His whole life has been taught that “niggers” are property and are not meant to be free but In his heart he knew helping Jim was the right thing to do, no matter what anybody else says. “both Huck and Jim are depicted as characters who are capable of learning from their own mistakes, empathizing with others, and acting on the behalf of others” (Evans). As the journey down the river continues they run into two con men. These men pretend to be the Wilks brothers in order to rob this family of all of their possessions. Huck couldn’t see them do this poor family wrong. He spends some time really contemplating telling one of the girls, Mary Jane, the truth about these liars (Twain 175). He knows inside that it is the right thing to do but he doesn’t want to put himself at risk. He plans out every little detail of how he is going to tell her and how he is going to expose these men (Twain 175-178). His actions result from his sympathy for others and his conscience and show major growth as the story continues.

There are many theories as to why people become serial killers. Almost all of these concepts are associated with the Nature vs. Nurture theory. Are serial killers born with the need to kill, or is it something that they learn to long for as they grew up? Many believe that the nurture theory is the likely concept to believe; that serial killers are created from bad childhood experiences including being abused by their parents, or molested at an early age. Psychologist and sociologist have interviewed serial killers and picked apart their minds, to find out what it is that makes them feel the need to perform these heinous crimes. It is the nature theory that they are looking for when

Evidence that was gathered from books such as “Inside the Minds of Mass Murderers” and “Inside the Minds of Serial Killers,” both written by Kathertine Ramsland, provide information and evidence that killers are in fact made, not born. Some of the reasons that people believe that killers are made and not born are due to research by many psychiatrists on serial killers and mass murderers who are on death roe that have committed some of the most heinous crimes. One argument is that there is a set of factors that make people kill which are neurologic damage, abuse, and paranoid thinking (Pincus, Base Instincts). Another argument that follows the same guidelines was perceived from examining the many murders and serial killings in American

a big part in the story is abuse. Huck’s father continuously harassed Huck when they were around each other. Huck’s father also abandoned Huck.

This literature review focuses on serial killers from a psychological viewpoint while trying to answer the question, “Are serial killers born to kill or are they bred to kill?” Firstly, this review will define a serial killer and the different kinds of killers, then it will take a look at different case studies of children who fantasized about mass killing and identify similarities between the cases attempt to find a way to possibly prevent their fantasies from becoming reality. The debate of nature vs. nurture is also discussed as psychologists and researchers come to the conclusion that environmental factors play a bigger role in the developmental character of a person than genetics, but there is still no definite answer as to why some individuals grow up with the urge to murder other people and/or animals.

The events of the past can hold a great influence on the actions and behaviors of the future. From being raised in a supportive and loving home, to one that is full of neglect and abuse, each event can potentially impact the future of an individual. In the case of serial killers, there has been some debate on whether the evil ones are made or born; does it happen because of a genetic factor, environmental factor, or is it simply they addicted to the feeling of slaughtering another individual’s life? Although, the most important key in finding the truth deals with the past and shapes the outcome of the future. Upon viewing in a psychological stance, there is no clear understanding of why one aspect that most serial killers share, namely