In criminal justice, examining why individuals commit crimes would be fundamental to the current debate regarding how criminal cases should be handled or prevented. With the growing theoretical body of evidence about why people commit crimes, diverse theories have been developed through sociological inquiry. The current paper aims at profiling the life and events of Ed Gein who was a major serial killer and interpreting the character within the context of criminology theories. While most crime prevention programs center on practical responses, it is essential to appreciate the theoretical elucidation of criminology.
Description of Character
Ed Gein (1906-1984) was an American serial killer whose frightening acts inspired popular films and horror characters (Serena, 2017). Gein underwent a difficult early life; his mother always abused him, while the father was a serious alcoholic. However, despite the frequent emotional and physical abuses, Gein adored his mother – an issue that made his older brother (Henry) much concerned. Henry would occasionally confront the mother in the presence of Ed Gein (Serena, 2017). Henry later died in 1944 in mysterious conditions following a fire that emerged close to the farm of the family in Plainfield. Even though Gein reported to the authorities that his brother was missing, he was able to direct them straight to the burned body of Henry when they arrived. As Serena (2017) explains, the police discovered bruises on the head of the victim, though went ahead and ruled the case to be an accident due to lack of evidence. In addition, the demise of Gein’s mother in 1945 caused him a lot of psychological harm. Following the death of his mother, Gein fenced the areas of the house that the mother used, conserving them as a personal shrine.
Ed Gein attracted the police attention in 1957, after Bernice Worden – a hardware store operator – went missing (Serena, 2017). It was discovered that Gein was the last person to be seen with her just before she disappeared. When the police visited Gein’s farm they found the body of the woman. Bernice Worden had been seriously shot and amputated. A further examination of the home led to the discovery that Ed Gein had occasionally robbed graves and collected dead bodies, which he utilized in making masks, clothing, and household items (Serena, 2017). Also found on Gein’s property was the head of a tavern operator - Hogan Mary – who had disappeared back in 1954.
During the trial sessions, Gein admitted to killing Bernice Worden and Hogan Mary – both of whom supposedly resembled his mother – though pleaded not guilty using the insanity defense (Serena, 2017). In this light, Ed Gein was considered unfit for trial and was consequently confined in a number of psychiatric facilities. However, it was determined in 1968 that Gein had the ability to take part in his own defense, and therefore, he was once again put on trial. He was finally found guilty for killing Bernice Worden due to financial reasons. He was returned to a mental institution, where he remained until the time of his death in 1984.
How Criminal Theories Apply to Ed Gein
While numerous theories of crime have emerged, all of them do not fit in the context of serial killers. However, some criminal theories that can apply to the case of Edward Theodore Gein include social control theory and theories of psychopathy. Unlike most theories of criminology that purport to explain why individuals involve in crime, social control theory provides a validation for why individuals observe the established rules (Hart, 2013). The theory emphasizes that the processes that one undergoes during early life have the ability to shape internal constraints. Further, it regards social conformity to be the process by which individuals are socialized to observe society’s set regulations. Therefore, social control theory is concerned with how the absence of good relationships can force people to engage in delinquency.
In particular, the social control theory fits Ed Gein since his predisposition to involve in crime was largely fueled by a lack of social connections. As Hart (2013) points out, Gein had very limited real connections with people all through his life. At an early age, his mother used to punish him for making friends, while his father was an abusive drunkard. Therefore, Gein was isolated to a large extent by his mother, making him have an unnatural attachment to the mother (Hart, 2013). In line with the social control theory, odd attachments to parental figures can cause undesirable effects, including the inclination for crimes. As Gein advanced in age, the violence, coldness, and repression that he underwent in his early years became repulsively twisted in his mind (Hart, 2013). Approaching a living person was impossible and, therefore, the only option was to seek solace in the graveyards where he exhumed bodies of women. However, Gein became dangerous in 1954 when he began to target alive women.
With regard to the theories of psychopathy, they view persistent and serious delinquency and crime as an outward expression of mental illness (Moore, 2011). The antisocial personality disorder is the central focus of psychopathy theories. By linking crime with behavior, the theories of psychopathy attempt to recognize and intervene with the people at the risk of delinquent behavior (Moore, 2011). What is evident is that Ed Gein fits into the scope of psychopathy theories. Gein was diagnosed with schizophrenia and therefore found to be mentally incompetent, and unfit for trial (Serena, 2017). There is no doubt that this mental condition might have forced Gein to involve in criminal activities.
References
Hart, L. (2013). Edward Gein and Social Control Theory. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/5398622/Edward_Gein_and_Social_Control_Theory
Moore, M. (2011). Psychological theories of crime and delinquency. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(3), 226-239. Retrieved from https://is.muni.cz/el/1423/jaro2015/SPP209/um/2_Moore_2011_Psychological_Theories_of_Crime.pdf
Serena, K. (2017). The story of Ed Gein – The killer who used human body parts in strange ways. Retrieved from http://allthatsinteresting.com/Edward-gein
