The Obsatment Theory Of Edward Gein

Losing a parent is presumably an unthinkable concept for those lucky to have them alive, but sometimes the title of “parent” dies long before a body is placed in the ground. Toi Derricotte author of “Beginning Dialogues” unfortunately had to experience both the death of her mother’s title of “parent”, as well as her literal death. Derricotte’s parents had divorced when she was eighteen, and her father did not seem to play much of a role in her life; she was left to be raised by her mentally abusive mother. Her mother also had a tough road to walk growing up, having to face and deal with brutal issues like racism and bulling. Persevering through those tough times may be the underlining reason behind Derricotte’s mother’s negativity and abuse towards her daughter. Perhaps she just grew a thick skin at a very young age and had never learned how to feel, accept, or administer love. Derricotte’s had said: “She told me all my life she loved me, as if she completely forgot the hundred slights, humiliations, threats, and insinuations. Of course she loved me;

Parents are supposed to shelter their children from the fraudulent outside world and keep their purity intact. Perry Smith, murderer of the Clutter family, had an upbringing that “was marked by brutality and lack of concern on the part of both parents.” Due to his childhood he “seems to have grown up without direction, and without ever having absorbed any fixed sense of moral values.” He felt no regret for murdering the family, only that he felt sorry that they were the ones “ that … had to pay for it.” While Dick considered Perry as innocent, “he had never been with a woman”, he believed Perry was a “natural born killer” who “attaches little real value to human life”. Perry’s tragic upbringing had turned him into a cold-blooded killer unaware of the beauty of innocence, which he so easily stole from the Clutter family the moment he killed them. Innocent people cannot be protected from the individual whose innocence is not present.

Homicide always will be an aspect of life, whether it is in the 16th century, 21st century or in the future. At times of extreme stress, people may turn to murder as an outlet of a greater problem they cannot fix or control. Presently, homicide has a greater value in society due to popular culture references through the media such as television, film and writing; society constantly has homicide and murder in the subconscious. In David M. Buss’ findings in The Murderer Next Door: Why the Mind is Designed to Kill,

Dave Pelzer’s book, “A Child Called It” (1995), chronicled the unforgettable accounts of one of the most severe child abuse cases in California’s history. The book is an intriguing, yet intimidating journey through the torturing childhood of the author, himself. The child, Dave Pelzer¸ was emotionally and physically tormented by his unstable mother. He was the victim of abuse in his own home, a source of ridicule at his own school, and stripped of all existence. This book left me in suspense as I waited with anticipation for the end of this little boy’s struggle to live. Throughout this paper, I will focus on the events that took place in this book and discuss my personal feelings and the effects this story had on me.

It is easy to get caught up in one’s own world when life picks up the pace and everything seems hectic; along the way decisions are made unconsciously to let go of people who were once held dear. It is easy to be torn between what appears to be important and what is trivial. Amidst the mess that is life, various things contend for one’s attention, and what really matters might not be so clear. In “The Last Rung on the Ladder” the guilt that consumes the narrator over his sister’s suicide becomes an essential part of his identity even as he tries to adjust to her loss. In “Sanctuary” Jim Hammer is in the very first stages of realizing he is guilty of his friend’s death, and the responsibility has not yet taken its toll on him. The history and experiences of one’s identity affect the way an individual reacts to guilt, if one has never understood the impact that relationships have upon past and present selves then it is difficult to fully digest the impact of his/her actions.

In the essay “Slouching Towards Bethlehem”, the author parallels the destruction of society to the weakening of traditional family practices in an effort to demonstrate how apocalypse escalates in a city. Didion begins her essay by describing notions of apocalypse in the form of “bankruptcy notices…casual killings and misplaced children and abandoned homes” (84). While these actions do not appear to target a specific group, in every case families receive the most set back. Families play an essential role in preparing future generations to become working members of society. Until the age of eighteen, a child is reliant upon their parents to supply adequate shelter, food, water, and access to education. Traditionally, parents are responsible for guiding their children by communicating certain values or morals to them. Didion emphasizes this aspect of childhood in her reflection on how parents do not teach children, and will never learn the “games that had held the society together” (84). Before a child is capable of formulating their own opinions, they look to their parents for guidance on matters they cannot fully understand. As a child advances their education, they become more aware of how to interpret their surroundings and will eventually cease to rely on the others’ opinions. Human behavior, parenting, and education expert Dr. Gail Gross discusses the importance of parental figures by noting how “our interactions with our parents form the crucible for our

The journey of life often times does not always run the intended course that one envisions. Depending on the choices made and the uncontrollable circumstances that an individual is exposed to, his or her character will reflect those instances. In the non-fiction novel “In Cold Blood,” by Truman Capote, the reader is introduced to Perry Smith and Dick Hickock who without any remorse murdered the Clutter family. Is it simply human nature to commit gruesome acts without feeling a sense of guilt? There is no definitive answer to this, but it is however clear that human beings are capable of both good and evil, and there is usually a cause to every effect. It therefore leaves one to wonder what was the driving force or motive behind Dick and Perry’s

Andre Dubus’s “Killings” is a very interesting look into the psychology that goes on after a person has been killed. The story discusses the ramifications of the original murder, the subsequent actions of “justice,” and finally what is left when it is all said and done.

The envelopment of poor relationships in one’s earlier life often directs a person towards negative actions and shape his/her personality for the worst. Eldin is a prime example of a person who struggles and allows his past actions to determine his destiny. After her husband passed away in the war, Eldin’s mother

Shot in the Heart is the shocking story of the life of Gary Gilmore which serves as a portrait of how his parents’ histories of violence, combined with the violence and fear in his everyday life contributed to the notoriety of Gary Gilmore who we know today as a cold-blooded murderer, and the only prisoner who demanded the implementation of his death sentence for his crimes. In this essay, I will discuss how Bessie Gilmore’s Mormon teachings to her sons of Mormon legends as well as his father Gary Gilmore’s regular beatings of his boys as well as his criminal and generally violent histories contributed to development of Gary Gilmore’s own criminal and personal history. When considering what makes a person do the things they do, the

On a study of this controversy of nature versus nurture, Ulysses Handy was observed. He was a normal child raised in a religious home with his single mother. He was active in boy scouts and was an honor student. Although he had a great childhood, Handy felt extremely lonely and misunderstood. He feels as though the pain he felt couldn’t compare to others, so he resulted in killing people so they could get a taste of what he feels like on a daily basis (Wallace 1). Feeling lonely as a child can lead to many problems in adulthood, and leans towards the side of nurture. Handy’s family was normal and so was he, until he started feeling lonely, which grew into his rage to hurt others so they could feel his pain. He was nurtured into becoming evil by the lack of parental attentiveness. The feelings of children can explain their actions, and when not treated right away can develop into deeper problems that cannot be fixed. Children who are nurtured evil have

The year was 1969, and in early August seven people were brutally murdered; words like “Pig,” “Healter Skelter” and “Rise” were found printed in blood at the crime scenes. Eventually it is discovered that the perpetrators of these horrific crimes are cult members living on the outskirts of society, led by a man named Charles Manson. But who is Charles Manson? Charles Manson is a monster, certainly, but as a monster he offers us a unique look into the human mind. This semester we have learned about the many different types of people who may engage in individual forms of interpersonal violence. Charles Manson however, provides us the case study of a man whose life revolved around interpersonal violence in all its manifestations. There was

Family is one of the most important institutions in society. Family influences different aspects of a person’s life, such as their religion, values, morals and behavior. Unfortunately, problems may arise when an individual’s belief system or behavior does not coincide with that of family standards. Consequently, individuals may be forced to repress their emotions or avoid acting in ways that that are not acceptable to the family. In the novel The Rain God, written by Arturo Islas, we are presented with a story about a matriarchal family that deals with various conflicts. One major internal conflict is repression. Throughout the novel the characters act in strange ways and many of the family members have internal “monsters” that represent

In this Developmental Analysis I will be referring to the Attachment Theory, which is the product of the joint work from John Bowlby and Mary Ainsworth in 1991. The Attachment Theory draws on concepts from ethology, cybernetics, information processing, developmental psychology, and psychoanalysts. (Bretherton, 2007) Bowlby revolutionized our thinking about a child’s tie to the mother and its disruption through separation, deprivation, and bereavement. During this analysis I will explore how the novel Room and the young boy, Jack, fit into the attachment theory. I will come to terms with how everything that Jack saw and physically went through during his five years in the room will play an important role in his attachment outside of the room. One of the main questions I will be answering is; how does the Attachment Theory explain jacks ability to adapt outside of the room.

Ed Gein had a history of learning problems and was mentally incompetent. Psychologists and psychiatrists who interviewed Gein asserted that he was a schizophrenic and a “sexual psychopath”. He was diagnosed as a sexual psychopath because of his Necrophiliac tendencies. Gein also had antisocial personality disorder.