Ed Gein
Biological Criminal Behavior (Ed Gein)
Michelle Hudson, Dustin May, Liz Monroe, Prudence Sandoval, Richard Watts
CJA/234
May 7, 2012
Christopher Byland
Biological Criminal Behavior (Ed Gein)
“Certain psychological problems have been known to be inheritable and if given the right circumstances, individuals with those genes could find themselves engaging in criminal activity” (Jones 2005.) In the case of Edward Gein, biological genes and the fact that his mother controlled his environment as a child did create the perfect circumstance for him to become a criminal. The evidence in modern day science explains that such criminal behavior is due to any number of mental illnesses which Gein did in fact suffer. He demonstrates textbook signs of a psychopathic individual. The following will review Edward Gein’s childhood and criminal history. Along with evidence showing Gein’s most likely genetic structure; which will explain his psychopathic tendencies, Gein’s criminal behavior is a result of a perfect circumstance and can be directly associated with this simple evaluation of his genetic makeup and his environment as a child. Edward “Ed” Theodore Gein was born on August 27, 1906 in La Crosse, Wisconsin but soon the family moved to a farm in Plainfield thus the reason he is known as the “Plainfield Ghoul”. Ed Gein is an American kidnapper and murderer that have influenced pop culture movies such as, Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs (“Bio.com”, 2012). In 1957, Gein was suspected for the disappearance of hardware store owner, Bernice Worden, because he was the last known customer to visit her place of business. When the police searched his home they discovered several human body parts, which led to the confession of killing two women; tavern owner, Mary Hogan in 1954, and Bernice in 1957. Bernice Worden’s body was found in Ed Gein’s shed and her body was apparently gutted like a deer. The heads of both Mary and Bernice were
Michelle Hudson, Dustin May, Liz Monroe, Prudence Sandoval, Richard Watts
CJA/234
May 7, 2012
Christopher Byland
Biological Criminal Behavior (Ed Gein)
“Certain psychological problems have been known to be inheritable and if given the right circumstances, individuals with those genes could find themselves engaging in criminal activity” (Jones 2005.) In the case of Edward Gein, biological genes and the fact that his mother controlled his environment as a child did create the perfect circumstance for him to become a criminal. The evidence in modern day science explains that such criminal behavior is due to any number of mental illnesses which Gein did in fact suffer. He demonstrates textbook signs of a psychopathic individual. The following will review Edward Gein’s childhood and criminal history. Along with evidence showing Gein’s most likely genetic structure; which will explain his psychopathic tendencies, Gein’s criminal behavior is a result of a perfect circumstance and can be directly associated with this simple evaluation of his genetic makeup and his environment as a child. Edward “Ed” Theodore Gein was born on August 27, 1906 in La Crosse, Wisconsin but soon the family moved to a farm in Plainfield thus the reason he is known as the “Plainfield Ghoul”. Ed Gein is an American kidnapper and murderer that have influenced pop culture movies such as, Psycho, Texas Chainsaw Massacre, and Silence of the Lambs (“Bio.com”, 2012). In 1957, Gein was suspected for the disappearance of hardware store owner, Bernice Worden, because he was the last known customer to visit her place of business. When the police searched his home they discovered several human body parts, which led to the confession of killing two women; tavern owner, Mary Hogan in 1954, and Bernice in 1957. Bernice Worden’s body was found in Ed Gein’s shed and her body was apparently gutted like a deer. The heads of both Mary and Bernice were
References: Genetic and Environmental Influences on Criminal Behavior. (2005). Jones, Caitlin M. Rochester Institute of Technology. Retrieved May 4, 2012 from http://www.personalityresearch.org/papers/jones.html Bio.com. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.biography.com/people/ed-gein-11291338 Bell, R., Bardsley, M On May 3, 2012 from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/notorious/gein /bill_1.html. Cyriax, O. (2009). Gein, Edward (1906-84). Encyclopedia of Crime, 164-165. TruTv Crime Library. (2012). Retrieved from http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/serial_killers/weird/lecter/2.html