This week’s lesson covered multiple approaches/theories to explain the behavior of criminals. One theory stated that criminal behavior could be partially accredited to genetics, psychophysiology, neurological functioning, and biochemistry (Gruman, Schneider, & Coutts, 2017). This biological approach can be a route of examination to uncover the question, why? One intense criminal whose actions can be accredited to the biological theory of criminal behavior is Charles Whitman.
In 1966 Charles Whitman went on a killing rampage, he first murdered his wife, mother, then climbed the University of Texas at Austin’s, clock tower where he committed a mass murder spree (Darby, Horn, Cushman, & Fox, 2018). While this mas killing was a shock to all, an even more shocking discovery was found when a tumor was located in the prefrontal cortex (Ferguson, 2010). Each region of the brain has different roles, and the amygdala is highly connected to our emotions, especially fear, and processing emotions. It believed that this tumor applied pressure on certain brain regions (amygdala) potentially contributing to these violent acts. (Ferguson, 2010) According to the biological theory of criminal behavior, it is a wonder that Whitman, a student and an ex-Marine, suddenly committed such a heinous act.
The question remains, is this tumor on the region of the brain known as the amygdala the cause of Whitman’s spree. It is very well possible that this tumor made changes in his brain function making him angrier and more irrational then otherwise before. Although, it still can be hard to pinpoint if this was the true cause.
Looking at other cases, it leads to believe that biological aspects of health attribute to a pattern of criminal behavior. For instance, Ted Bundy mass serial killer claimed that pornography molded him into a killer, Andrea Yates who drowned her children was found not guilty for reasons of insanity, professional wrestler Chris Benoit, strangles his wife and son to death, then committed suicide, was presumed to have had “roid rage” which was never confirmed, but after an autopsy it was clear Benoit had serious brain damage (Ferguson, 2010). While it is not every criminal that you can pinpoint a biological explanation, there does seem to be quite the apparent trend.
All in all, many believe that violence is a learned behavior, but the truth is that it is very well possible that biological defects can greatly affect the way we behave. So, although the murders of 1966 perpetrated by Charles Whitman was a huge loss, it also opened the eyes to the possible effects of biological implications on criminal behavior.
Works Cited
Darby, R. R., Horn, A., Cushman, F., & Fox, M. D. (2018). Lesion network localization of criminal behavior. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5776958/
Ferguson, C. J. (2010). Violent crime: Clinical and social implications. Los Angeles: SAGE.
Gruman, J. A., Schneider, F. W., & Coutts, L. M. (2017). Applied Social Psychology: Understanding and addressing social and practical problems. Los Angeles: SAGE.