Robert William Pickton Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 2000 words

Robert William Pickton - Essay Example It shall present the history of Pickton’s violent behavior tracing back through his childhood experiences, life experiences and his social interaction. It shall also provide a psychological explanation as to why a crime is committed and identify the root causes of human behavior in relation to social circumstances. Pickton’s demeanor and behavior shall be studied in connection with the biological positivism theory and mainstream criminology. Keywords: criminal mind, crimes, positivist theory, human behavior, biological perspective, mainstream criminology The Path to Crime: Developmental Theories â€Å"Developmental theories seek to identify, describe and understand the developmental factors that explain the onset and continuation of a criminal career. These theories not only want to know why people enter a criminal way of life, but also whether once they do, they are able to alter the trajectory of their criminal involvement. Developmental Theories fall into two distin ct groups. Latent Trait Theory and Life-Course Theory† (Siegal, 118). The Latent Trait Theory provides that the human behavior is controlled by a master trait, present at birth, or soon after. This theory adheres that the criminal behavior remains stable and unchanging throughout a person’s lifetime. Suspected latent traits include defective intelligence, impulsive personality, and lack of attachment characteristics that may be present at birth or established early in life and remain stable over time (Siegal, 118). This theory presents that the criminality of a person is inborn and developed over time. Such individual is a born criminal. On the other hand, Larry J. Siegal (2010, 119) has reported that: â€Å"The Life-Course Theory views criminality as a dynamic process, influenced by a multitude of individual characteristics, traits and social experiences. As people travel through the life-course, they are constantly bombarded by changing perceptions and experiences. T he criminals start their journey at different times. Some are precocious, beginning their criminal careers early and persisting into adulthood whereas others stay out of trouble in their early adolescence and do not violate the law until late in their teenage years. Early-onset, criminals seem to get involved in such behaviors as truancy, cruelty to animals, lying and theft. They appear to be more violent than other people their age. The course of social and developmental changes, through which an individual passes, as he or she travels from birth, through childhood, adolescence, adulthood, and finally old age.† The life-course theory is applicable to Pickton because his criminality developed through the experiences he had in his lifetime. His traits and characteristics, and blended together with his social experience made him a hard-core criminal. Comparing him with his brother and sister who carry the same genetics, the two siblings did not transform into evil and demonic in dividuals like Robert. His lack of social interaction, isolation and living in the pig farm alone by himself created the horrible monster that he is. The American Psychiatric Association’s Diagnostic and Statistical Manual provides that Antisocial Personality Disorder or ASPD is a pervasive pattern of disregard for, violation of, the rights of others