Serial Killers And Their Motives

The human brain is a complete mystery to us. Some believe that it is so complex that even the best and the brightest within our society will never uncover its secrets. So why is it that some are born with the innate characteristics of a murder, sociopath, etc. Or even, why do some peoples' brains just at times "snap," to the point where they are capable of a horror such as murder with no motive whatsoever. Two of the United States most famous serial killers: Ted Bundy, and Jeffrey Dahmer are both prime examples. The effects of your childhood are known to have a profound effect on the rest of your life. From these two people you can see the twisted and distorted realities that these two, as children began to build within their minds.

Ted Bundy is one of the worst serial killers in history. His Antisocial personality and psychotic character made him feared across the country. After all was said and done Ted left behind a trail of bloody slayings that included the deaths of 36 young women and spanned through four states. The biggest question in many people's mind was how could someone as intelligent, highly accomplished, and praised as Bundy do such a thing?

Theodore Robert Bundy was born November 24th, 1946 in Burlington, Vermont. His mother Eleanor Louise Cowell was 22 when she had him. Ted never knew much about his father. Ted was left in foster care for two months while his mom and parents decided what to do with him. In 1946 an illegitimate child was extremely looked down upon by society. It was here that Bundy suffered his first psychological distress. Once they decided to keep Ted his grandparents told everyone he was their adopted son. Ted knew who his biological mom was, but outsiders were told that she was his sister. Ted adored his grandfather; he was the only man Ted really respected. His grandfather was also particularly fond of Ted. Ted thought he was just a great guy, but the family thought different. They would describe his grandfather as an ill-tempered tyrant. He was racist, intolerant, and a perfectionist. He expected everyone to meet his demands. His grandfather was also verbally abusive toward other family members and physically abusive toward his wife. Seeing these actions, Bundy began to physically mistreat animals, including the family pet. Could this be the reason Ted turned out how he did? The older Ted got, the more it became more difficult to hide his family's identity and his secret mother. To get away from it all, Ted and his mother moved to Washington, where shortly afterwards his mother married John Bundy. At the time Ted was four years old. John adopted him and his new parents had four children together. From the beginning Ted did well in school. His teachers complimented him on his good grades. Ted was active in Boy Scouts and attended church regularly. He also held a part-time job and made excellent grades. Ted didn't date much in high school and was described as being shy. It was around this time Ted began sneaking out of the house and peeping into windows. He became a "Peeping Tom." 1He reported as a child he had become fascinated by sexual violence. He was warned about the effects of pornography and stated it "brings out a hatred that is just too terrible to describe." He also began shoplifting for expensive items and told his mom that they were gifts. He was picked up at least twice by juvenile authorities for suspicion of auto theft and burglary, but nothing came of it. Ted participated in many respectable behaviors that helped make it so unbelievable to accept his guiltiness. He caught a purse-snatcher and was given a commendation from the police department. He also saved a drowning toddler once by diving into a lake after him. Ted also worked for a suicide prevention hotline talking others out of killing themselves. He wrote rape-prevention books and became active in politics gaining the attention of important, highly known people. Ted worked many low paying jobs to pay for college. He was a busboy at a hotel, a messenger, and clerks at various stores. He left most jobs after only a few months. Some employers said he was a good worker while others gave him less than favorable comments. It is likely that Ted killed his first victim while in his teens. Quite the childhood, isn't it? It's unbelievable that in such a short time of his life, he had to undergo so much distress.

Not all serial killers were beaten or abused as children. Jeffrey Dahmer had an apparently normal upbringing, yet grew up to be one of the most notorious sex murderers in popular culture. Jeffrey Lionel Dahmer came into the world at on the 21st of May in Milwaukee 1960. Little did his parents know at the time of his birth that there son would become one of America's most famous serial killers not only for the amount of victims that he had killed but also for dismembering