In this paper, I plan to examine the role of social factors in the development of serial killer, Aileen Wuornos’s murderous tendencies as well as how these tendencies are explained by different theories of deviance. This will be done by looking at the abuse in Aileen’s childhood and how it influenced her to become a murderer, as well as how some theories of deviance may explain this transformation. Finally, I will explore the role of various disciplines in Aileen’s life and how theories of deviance explain their effect on it.
Aileen Wuornos:
Social Influences in the Creation of a Serial Killer
Whether it be prostitution, armed robbery or murder, there are several factors that can potentially influence people to exhibit deviant behavior. …show more content…
70). There are many possible explanations for why this maltreatment went unrecognized for so long. The social factors that increase the likelihood of child abuse tend to be those that lead to social isolation, most prominently low socioeconomic status (Thio, Calhoun, & Conyers 2013, p. 69). Unfortunately, this social isolation, which almost certainly took place amidst the dysfunction of the Wuornos family, makes it very difficult for outsiders to identify the signs of abuse and intervene. In addition to the social factors is the social constraints that discourage children from coming forward and reporting their own abuse; in the 1960s, the attitude that children should be seen and not heard was still prevalent, making it difficult for children to report and causing others to dismiss the claims when they are made. Children to this day are often not taken seriously when it comes to abuse …show more content…
While working as a prostitute to provide for Tyria, Aileen was allegedly attacked and raped by a man who refused to pay her for her services. She shot him while he was distracted, took his belongings and his car, and left. After this, she murdered several more men in the same manner, only getting caught when Tyria was found driving one of the victims’ cars (Broomfield, 1992). According to learning theory, people tend to neutralize, or justify, their deviant acts in one of a few ways: they deny their responsibility or the damage caused by their actions, they claim that the victim deserved what they got, they condemn those who condemn them, and they try to justify their actions by claiming that it was all done for the greater good (Cyr-Martel 2017. Slide 8). Aileen used several of these techniques, continuously claiming that all of her murders were committed out of self-defense as well as repeatedly blaming the “crooked cops” (Broomfield,
Aileen Wuornos:
Social Influences in the Creation of a Serial Killer
Whether it be prostitution, armed robbery or murder, there are several factors that can potentially influence people to exhibit deviant behavior. …show more content…
70). There are many possible explanations for why this maltreatment went unrecognized for so long. The social factors that increase the likelihood of child abuse tend to be those that lead to social isolation, most prominently low socioeconomic status (Thio, Calhoun, & Conyers 2013, p. 69). Unfortunately, this social isolation, which almost certainly took place amidst the dysfunction of the Wuornos family, makes it very difficult for outsiders to identify the signs of abuse and intervene. In addition to the social factors is the social constraints that discourage children from coming forward and reporting their own abuse; in the 1960s, the attitude that children should be seen and not heard was still prevalent, making it difficult for children to report and causing others to dismiss the claims when they are made. Children to this day are often not taken seriously when it comes to abuse …show more content…
While working as a prostitute to provide for Tyria, Aileen was allegedly attacked and raped by a man who refused to pay her for her services. She shot him while he was distracted, took his belongings and his car, and left. After this, she murdered several more men in the same manner, only getting caught when Tyria was found driving one of the victims’ cars (Broomfield, 1992). According to learning theory, people tend to neutralize, or justify, their deviant acts in one of a few ways: they deny their responsibility or the damage caused by their actions, they claim that the victim deserved what they got, they condemn those who condemn them, and they try to justify their actions by claiming that it was all done for the greater good (Cyr-Martel 2017. Slide 8). Aileen used several of these techniques, continuously claiming that all of her murders were committed out of self-defense as well as repeatedly blaming the “crooked cops” (Broomfield,