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Literature Review-1 - Presley
Criminal Justice Research and Writing (Liberty
University)
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Charles Manson:
Sociological and Psychological Theories of His Killings
Zachary Cushman
Liberty University
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Abstract
Murder is no doubt a problem in modern-day society as well as throughout history. Serial killers
and cult leaders have a much more significant impact on this problem, however. Not only do they
kill more people, but they can influence others to join them in the killings. Scientists and
psychologists have tried to figure out why these terrorists do what they do for the longest time.
Charles Manson is one of the most notorious criminals due to his murder of the pregnant actress
Sharon Tate. Although Manson never revealed why he “snapped” and directed the killings of
Tate and four others, many theories have been studied in order to provide potential motives. Two
of these theories include the labeling theory and the totemism and religion theory. Unfortunately,
Manson is now deceased, giving these researchers no hope to figure out why he killed those five
innocent people. Even though Manson is dead, many more murderers, cult leaders, and serial
killers have come and will continue to appear in our culture. As these theories progress and more
theories develop, they must continue to be used and studied to help society reveal these threats
quicker and more effectively. Once these theories are actively used to find warning signs and
even potentially make changes in the way people are assessed and viewed, the rate of purposeful
and malicious deaths will plummet thanks to the preemptive actions taken.
Keywords: Charles Manson, murder, theories, cult
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Charles Manson:
Sociological and Psychological Theories of His Killings
Throughout history, and even modern society, one of the most significant problems is
murder. However, the biggest contributors to this problem are serial killers and cult leaders. Not
only do they kill more people, but they can influence others to join them in the killings.
Scientists and psychologists have analyzed these terrorists for the longest time to determine why
they do what they do. Charles Manson is one of the well-known, if not the most notorious,
criminals because he murdered the pregnant actress Sharon Tate along with four others. Many
sociological and psychological theories have been studied to provide potential motives in the
absence of direct admittance from Manson of why he killed the five people. Once these theories
are actively used to find warning signs and even potentially make changes in the way people are
assessed and viewed, the rate of purposeful and malicious deaths will plummet thanks to the
preemptive actions taken.
Literature Review
Many different theories have been studied and applied to this case, including the labeling
theory and the totemism and religion theory. The labeling theory focuses on the aspect that a
criminal will adopt the label put on them; if society bashes someone and calls them a criminal,
they will eventually see themselves as that label and become locked within the role given.
Atchison and Heide’s (2011) application of this theory shows that Manson was labeled as a
delinquent when young by burning other kids’ toys, a ringleader as a teen when he led a prison
escape, and a sodomizer by a homosexual encounter in prison. Nielsen (1984) found that even
before prison, Manson committed many sexual acts within his cult and promoted them as well.
In an interview, Manson claimed, “If that’s what they think I am, and I have to bear that cross, I
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got nothin’ to lose in being all they think I am.”
Religious theories are also essential aspects to look at when analyzing the case. In
Sutton’s (2018) application of the totemism and religion theory, the Manson Family had met all
requirements to become a pseudo-religion as well as ascribing Manson as their god of sorts.
Norman (2019) found that Manson had brainwashed the members of his cult through various
methods, two being Bible readings and speeches about revolution. Niklas Luhmann describes
religion as follows, “religion is concerned with problems of meaning as problems of resolving
paradoxes.” (Weaver, 2016). Manson’s own words, as well as the members’ words, and his
portrayal in the media are all seen through a “religious distinction and paradox” lens.
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References
Atchison, A. J., & Heide, K. M. (2011). Charles Manson and the Family: The application of
sociological theories to multiple murder. International Journal of Offender Therapy and
Comparative Criminology, 55(5), 771–798. https://doi.org/10.1177/0306624X10371794
Nielsen, D. A. (1984). Charles Manson’s family of love: A case study of
anomism, puerilism and transmoral consciousness in civilizational perspective.
Sociological Analysis, 45(4), 315–337. https://doi.org/10.2307/3711297
Sutton, D. (2018). Durkheim, Totemism, and The Manson Family: Theorizing on the
relationship between religion and violence. In M. Deflem (Ed.), Homicide and violent
crime (Vol. 23, pp. 63–79). Emerald Publishing Limited. https://doi.org/10.1108/S1521-
613620180000023005
Norman, P. (2019). Reflections on the Charles Manson case. Bulletin (Law Society of South
Australia), 41(7), 26–30.
https://search.informit.org/doi/10.3316/informit.568274062249170
Weaver, W. N. (2016). Saturnalia in the theory of Niklas Luhmann: The terror program manifest
through Charles Manson’s family with reference to additional groups such as Aum
Shinrikyo and ISIS. Soziale Systeme, 21(1), 240–277. https://doi.org/10.1515/sosys-2016-
0010
Nielsen, D. A. (1984). Charles Manson’s family of love: A case study of
anomism, puerilism and transmoral consciousness in civilizational perspective.
Sociological Analysis, 45(4), 315–337. https://doi.org/10.2307/3711297
