Socio-cultural Perspective of Criminal Behaviour

          

Beula Elizabeth Padankatti

1830231

6 CEP - B 

FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY

CIA - 1 

Socio-cultural Perspective of Criminal Behaviour 

Looking through the lens of Ted Bundy: The Criminal Mastermind 

The socio-cultural perspective of psychology deals with analysing circumstances surrounding individuals and their impacts on their behaviors or the changes that are affected specifically by their surroundings, social and cultural factors. The sociological or socio-cultural model provides a macro-level analysis of criminal violence. This model examines criminal violence in terms of socially structured inequality, and social and cultural attitudes and norms regarding anti-social behaviour and interpersonal relations. Socio-cultural perspective explores the different external societal factors and influences that may contribute towards deviance. The first step towards understanding what deviance constitutes is by defining it as any act that violates social norms and these stipulated norms are constructed by society which varies across cultures. These deviances in behaviour have different ranges in seriousness and acceptability and only norms that are seriously unacceptable are codified into law and are a punishable offence. 

While it's natural to explore and test waters on where to draw the line when it comes to deviance in behaviour, the psychology and mind of a criminal is a whole different territory. Psychologists seek to explore and answer the question: What makes one a criminal and could we be naturally predisposed towards it? By studying and analysing the lives and crimes of criminals, it can be observed that there are certain patterns and traits they share in common. To explore more on the socio-cultural perspective of criminal behavioural, we will be examining the life and crimes committed by America's most famous serial killer - Ted Bundy

Image Source: Google Images
Ted Bundy was one of the most notorious American criminals to ever live who was a serial killer, rapist, and necrophiliac who is known to have killed at least 36 women in the 1970s. He had a troubled childhood, especially battled multiple conflicts with his mother and identity issues of being an illegitimate child. Later on, in life, he sought revenge as a reaction to being distraught after an emotional break-up with his ex-girlfriend.  He graduated from the University of Washington with a degree in Psychology and was even accepted into a Law School. By the mid-1970s, Bundy was active in social and political matters and even got a letter of recommendation from the Republican governor of Washington after working on his campaign. When he was charged guilty, it was hard for the general public to accept that a man who had a seemingly normal background and was conventionally attractive was capable of committing such heinous crimes and he was executed in the electric chair in 1989. 

Over the years there has been an interesting fascination with psychopaths. It can be noted that many, if not most of the more popular fictional characters exemplify and exhibit psychopathy. With several documentaries and movies such as Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile," starring Zac Efron - Pop culture makes a sincere attempt to humanize criminals and at some shocking cases even glamourize them for the general public. Hybristophilia is a sexual attraction to people who have committed abominable crimes and there were many cases of young women falling heads over heels in love with Ted Bundy during his trials and sending flowers and letters to him in jail. Although he was charismatic and charming, which was his way to lure his victims - this shows how media whitewashed his image as the celebrity serial killer and the glorification of crimes, especially in current popular culture. 

Scrutinizing Bundy through a socio-cultural lens shows how these factors could have led him down the path of crime. It can be observed that there is a recurrent series of gender-based violence which is common throughout his crimes. Another interesting point to notice was Bundy was conventionally attractive but was not looked at as a conventional criminal - he did not appear scary and intimidating as most bad people do but seemed like your average neighborhood guy which made him more approachable to his targets. Bundy is a constant and recognizable figure that the public uses to reaffirm that dysfunctional individuals jot society or culture is a source of violence but instead profits from promoting the serial killer and feeding into the consumerist culture which further makes socio-cultural violence obscure.

 References 

MAPS, D. K. (n.d.). Dr Katie Seidler MAPS, clinical and forensic psychologist, LSC Psychology. Retrieved from https://www.psychology.org.au/what-can-culture-add-understanding-criminal-violence

 

Examining Serial Killer Ted Bundy. (2019, December 30). Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201912/examining-serial-killer-ted-bundy?amp

 

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://psychology.as.uky.edu/psychology-researcher-unravels-serial-killer-ted-bundys-mental-health

 

Diserio, A. (2020, October 22). The Bundy Effect. Retrieved from https://www.ashleighdiserio.com/blog/ashleigh-diserio-the-bundy-effect

 

Girls Who Love Ted Bundy. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.psychologytoday.com/intl/blog/shadow-boxing/201910/girls-who-love-ted-bundy?amp

 

(n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.uwo.ca/visarts/research/2010-11/bat/images/Web/6, Davis, 3-25.htm

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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