AC3.1- Analyse situations of criminality Flashcards
What was Fred West’s childhood & upbringing like?
He was the 2nd of 6 children
born and raised in a tiny agricultural village
Father physically abused him
Mother sexually abused him
Raped his 8 year old sister when he was 11
Clubbed rabbits to death and watched his Mom shotgun rats
As a teen he was a petty thief who chased + raped girls
What was Fred West’s education like?
Left school at 14
Little ability to read and write
IQ: 80
Did Fred West have any brain injuries?
Yes
In 1958 he collided with a girl on his motorbike and damaged his pre-frontal cortex
suffered from violent mood swings, lost self-control and did whatever he wanted
What did he do/what happened?
He and his wife (Rose West) would kidnap, torture, rape and murder young girls
He killed victims when they were no longer of use to him/became a problem
Kill his own daughter Heather and joked about it to his other kids, threatening them with it
He and Rose kidnapped their Nanny, Caroline, and abused her for 12 hours- physically and sexually
What biological theory of criminality can be applied to Fred West?
Brain Abnormality- Raine et al
Theory suggests damage to the pre-frontal cortex (which plays a part in impulse control, decision making and personality) may cause an altered behaviour and less self-control and therefore may be more prone to criminality. Fred had already inherited brain abnormalities from his parents and in 1958 damaged his pre-frontal cortex in a collision which led to violent mood swings and a total loss of control and morality
Which individualistic theory can be applied to Fred West?
Psychodynamic theory- Sigmund Freud
The theory suggests that behaviour is determined by the unconscious mind and childhood experiences.
Events in Fred’s childhood such as the sexual abuse from his Mom and physical abuse from his Father may have impacted his behaviour as an adult- due to his trauma he ma have little control over his actions.
The ID obeys the pleasure principle without consideration of social factors. Fred’s ID may be dominant therefore he only does what he wants, removing people such as Anna Mcfall who were no longer useful to him.
Which sociological theory could apple to Fred West?
Status frustration- Cohen & Merton
Theory suggests criminality starts in school where kids who are from lower classes are immediately put in lower sets and regarded as “thick” with no opportunity to prove themselves and so redirect their efforts elsewhere- crime.
Fred left school at 14 with little ability to read and write which meant he lost loads of opportunities to succeed and therefore turned to criminality in order to get what he wants and direct his energy to chasing and raping girls and petty theft.
What was Mary Bell’s childhood + upbringing like?
Born to 17 year old Betty who constantly reminded her that she was unwanted, she abused her and tried to give her away multiple times
Betty was a prostitute who sold sadomasochism services and gave Mary to be raped and used her as a prop as well as teaching her ‘asphyxiation’
She didn’t know her read Dad, wasn’t allowed to call her step-Dad (Billy) “dad” just “Uncle”
What were Mary Bell’s friendships like?
Befriended her neighbour Norma Bell
they both fantasised about living on the run in the Western and encouraged each other to go far
They both abused a 3 year old boy causing him to bleed from his head and they lied about what happened
They broke into a nursery taking turns to write bad language “I murder so that I may come back” after the murders
What did Mary Bell do?
Killed 4 year old Martin Brown who was found bleeding from his mouth
Strangled 3 year old Brian Howe and mutilated his body, carving ‘M’ into his skin and then tried to cover his body with weeds
several child assaults
What was Mary Bell’s personality and behaviour like?
Didn’t care that Martin was dead and just wanted to see his body
Acted mature for her age, replying with “no comment” when questioned
Laughed at Martin’s funeral
Compulsive liar
What was Mary Bell’s living situation like?
Scotford, Sussex
Lived in a deprived working class + unemployed area
Scotford had highest + alcoholic rates
What was Mary Bell’s life like after prison?
She was in and out of foster care during prison
14.5.1980 she was released from prison after being deemed safe to society
Granted life long anonymity
Started a family
Which cognitive individualistic theory can be applied to Mary Bell?
Criminal personality- Yochelson + Samenow
Criminals are prone to distorted thinking making them more likely to commit crime. They have traits such as a need to dominate, uniqueness and being a compulsive liar.
Mary Bell was a compulsive liar in which she was able to tell a lie and then weeks later retell the exact same lie in the same way
Had a need to dominate in which she carried out the murders herself with her hand
Unique mature child
What individualistic learning theory can be applied to Mary Bell?
Differential Association- Edmund Sutherland
Theory suggests behaviour is learnt through interaction and observation such as her Mother teaching asphyxiation which one of her victims (Pauline Watson) said she and Norma done to her and another victim (Brian Howe) who died from it.
Theory also suggests behaviour can be unlearnt and rehabilitated and once Mary was released from prison she lived an ordinary life and didn’t commit any more crime
Which sociological theory can be applied to Mary Bell?
Assumes a disadvantaged social class is the primary cause of crime and that criminal behaviour begins in youth. Theorises crime is a result of unfavourable conditions such as unemployment and single-parents.
Mary Bell lived in Scotford, a deprived and unemployed area and she had no Father figure expect from Bill who she wasn’t allowed to call Dad and he was involved in crime.
