The purpose of the research proposal

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Unit II Annotated Bibliography

Student's Name

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Date

Davies, N. (2022, August 24). From abused child to serial killer: Investigating nature vs nurture in methods of murder. Psychiatry Advisor. Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://www.psychiatryadvisor.com/home/topics/violence-and-aggression/from-abused-child-to-serial-killer-investigating-nature-vs-nurture-in-methods-of-murder/

Davies (2022) claims that not all mistreated children grow up to commit serial killings and that not all serial killers are molested as children. As highlighted in the article, some factors contributing to serial killer behavior include an individual's genetic makeup, trauma, surroundings, and personality. The two's relationship, however, cannot be brushed aside as mere chance. If a person has a particular version of the monoamine-oxidase-A gene and grows up in an abusive environment, they are more likely to act violently. A child prone to genetically motivated violence does not always become a criminal. However, environmental elements like harsh childhood experiences combine with DNA to mold a person. More rape/lust and money gain typologies were linked to psychological abuse. Torture was frequently used in crimes involving childhood psychological abuse. Contrarily, it was discovered that fast execution, binding the victim, and leaving the body at the crime scene were all connected with rape/lust typology and physical childhood abuse. Over the years, numerous studies have shown a connection between childhood abuse and serial murders. Beyond a few common characteristics, serial killers are distinctive individuals who are molded by their own remarkable experiences, situations, and mindsets.

Entail, W. D. A. S. K. (2021). Are Serial Killers Born or Made?. https://theiacs.org/are-serial-killers-born-or-made/?print-posts=print

According to Entail (2021), genetic and environmental factors contribute to serial killer behavior of an individual. Because their personal experiences appear to have shaped their personalities and attitudes, serial killers are unusual. The fact that serial killers frequently lead ordinary lives and conceal themselves behind their comparatively unremarkable lifestyles complicates investigations into them in another way by making it more difficult to find them. There is great interest among professionals and the general public, which justifies further research and careful examination. Undoubtedly, a person's propensity to become a serial killer may increase due to a combination of hereditary traits and life circumstances. The factors that jointly influence serial killer behavior are thus heredity, environment, trauma, and personality. It would therefore be arrogant and inaccurate to generalize the root of criminal behavior. But multiple long-term studies have shown a link between childhood abuse, psychological trauma, family problems, and serial killing. It has been emphasized in the article that not all tortured and abused children grow up to commit serial killings and that not all serial killers were the victims of abuse as children.

Hernandez, J., Highsmith, J., Madrigal, S., & Mercado, M. (2015). Nature (MAOA) and Nurture in a Criminal.  UC Merced Undergraduate Research Journal,  8(1). https://escholarship.org/uc/item/5w51b7bg

The article provides the nature and nurture perspectives of serial killer behavior. According to Hernandez et al. (2015), the same standards are used to judge all criminals because a criminal's mindset is shaped by both their genetic makeup (nature) and their upbringing and background (nurture). The field of psychology places a great deal of emphasis on understanding the mind, which allows for the expansion of the scanty body of knowledge that already exists about the mind. The majority of psychological issues revolve around the concepts of nature and nurture. The connection between genes and their environment is crucial because of this. The field of psychology places a great deal of emphasis on understanding the mind, which allows for the expansion of the scanty body of knowledge that already exists about the mind. The majority of psychological issues revolve around the concepts of nature and nurture. The connection between genes and their environment is crucial because of this. The brain's metabolism is inefficient because the MAOA gene is not active enough. Maltreatment and poor MAOA gene activity in children increase the likelihood that they will grow up to engage in aggressive and antisocial conduct. When faced with stressful situations, people with short-paired alleles of the SLCC6A4 gene exhibit greater depressive and suicidal symptoms than people with long pairs. The likelihood of displaying aggressive conduct is higher in those with environmental factors impacting the gene than in people without the gene. Neither genetics nor upbringing can explain a serial killer's motivation in their behavior on their own, but a combination of both factors may be able to.

O'Hara, K. (2021, October 23). Nature vs nurture: The making of a serial murderer. Medium. Retrieved November 23, 2022, from https://medium.com/crimebeat/nature-vs-nurture-the-making-of-a-serial-murderer-6e47c609f6df

The article provides in-depth information regarding the nature and nurture perspective of serial killers. According to O'Hara (2021), the nature perspective holds that serial killers are born with certain traits. They are thought to have been born with a lower level of empathy and a higher level of impulse control. The article bases its nature arguments against serial killers on the findings of an experiment conducted by Dr. Richard Davidson in 2000 at the University of Wisconsin. According to Davidson and his colleagues' analysis of the brain scans, there was less or no brain activity in the orbital frontal cortex and the anterior cingulated cortex. According to their findings, the amygdala either increased in activity or stayed at the same level. Davidson and his colleagues concluded that while killers can be affected by their surroundings, they are nevertheless powerless over the reactions that are a part of their DNA. The article makes the point that early psychological stress and childhood experiences might lead a youngster to seek solace in violent acts like burning down buildings and killing animals. O'Hara (2021) uses the infamous serial Jeffrey Dhamer as an excellent example of the nurture perspective. Jeffrey's early childhood experiences contributed to his becoming a serial killer. Social factors and stressful events like bullying, the death of parents or other close family members, physical, sexual, or psychological abuse of oneself or others at home, as well as other traumatic experiences, are also seen to be potential catalysts for criminal activity.