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Rylie Gumtow

Mr. Ventura

Composition 2-1530

September 25, 2020

Issue proposal: Serial killers (Nature vs Nurture)

In today’s society we are surrounded by crime and violence, may that be, TV shows

highlighting or “piggy backing” a serial killer’s crime spree, the news, media outlets,

documentaries, and the like. Diving deeper into the mind of serial killers is the nature vs nurture

debate. In this, the nature vs nurture debate involves whether the human behavior is determined

by one’s environment or by a person genes. Nature is by which a person is influenced by genetic

influences where Nurture is generally taken as externally such as exposure and/or experience.

Serial Killers, such as Ted Bundy John Wayne Gacy and Jeffrey Dahmer are discussed and

studied to this day: and Why? To determine if they had pre-determined dispositions or was there

environment a factor. Furthering the discussion on this debatable topic: how does our society

view the minds of a serial killer (psychopath/sociopath tendencies). What have we (as a society)

done to potentially help transform these individuals (criminal justice system, counseling,

psychotherapy)? Setting the course of help and assistance, what can we do to create and foster a

positive environment-potentially- how to deal with urges and impulses, may that be from early

adolescence when the brain is so easily influenced?

When discussing whether or not serial killers derive from nature or nurture there are a lot

of other factors that play a role. A question that raises a lot of flags is whether or not the crime or

act of violence is caused by a mental illness, and can it be fixed by treatments and or
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rehabilitation? What can we do to help these individuals? For example, David Berkowitz, aka

“Son of Sam” was a serial killer in the 1970s to the 1990s. Killing six people and wounding

some, he later was sent to a correctional facility and put into rehabilitation programs. Berkowitz

soon found Christianity and became a great prisoner and showed significant changes in behavior.

Did Berkowitz transform because he was given another opportunity to succeed? These

individuals need help, some can’t control the impulse and must commit violent crimes to feel a

part of something. The controversy is, is there hope for correction and rehabilitation once

convicted? Research has indicated that change can be made if they’re willing to realize what’s

right from wrong. After these individuals are put into custody, and begin the interrogation

process, they start to unravel as to why they did what they did, and why they felt the compulsion

to do so. Part of serial killer’s reform is going through therapy, the counselors and

psychotherapist are trained to know the difference between lying and being deceitful. Other

research also indicates that having these individuals in prison for years and or the rest of their

lives will help straighten themselves out and work on their behavior and controlling the

compulsion or impulsiveness.

Contrary to what other researchers say, some believe that these serial killers are “born

with it” that they are destined to become who they are, and there can be no change or reform for

them in our society. Some believe that they are pure forms of evil and should be sentenced the

death penalty and shouldn’t have the opportunity to change themselves (eye for an eye

mentality). Even speaking with them there are believers that they are manipulators and

compulsive liars, and they are putting on an act for people to believe that they feel remorse. On

the adult serial killers that were briefly noted in the aforementioned paragraphs, researchers and

some journalists alike, believe serial killers are mass manipulators, one who thrive on their deceit
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and therefore,” have a high body count.” Furthermore, BTK killer: Dennis Rader noted that

demons within him drove him to kill (nurture). He enjoyed frightening the public and teasing the

cops, later when he was interrogated he explained how his arrest was long overdue. Once again,

reiterating the debate of: serial killers and the ability to, once reformed can build positive

relationships and learn to trust within the confides of their environment. Researchers on this side

of the controversy thoroughly believe that unless true reform or treatment comes to be: in the

words of many researchers have said they should be thrown away and should not have another

chance at life.

Looking deeper into the human psyche and exploring more about anti-social disorders,

social integration into society and reform for the most dangerous offenders makes a great topic

for research and potentially a great research topic for this semester because with all what I

already know, there is still questions that I want to find the answers too and fully learn additional

information. I have always been interested in the human brain and the main question of why

people do what they do. It’s fascinating to me what the human body is capable of doing and what

things are controllable and what some people have no control of. I have learned what I already

know from books, documentaries and TV shows, in my free time I tend to look up articles and

gain more information about serial killers and get a feel about how they grew up or what

happened to them in their early childhood that affected them. Right now, I know some general

“facts” about serial killers and or psychopaths, most serial killers derive from some sort of child

hood trauma, whether it be mental or physical abuse or a death of a family relative that greatly

impacts the still developing brain. Which potentially can lead to psychopath/ sociopath

tendencies. I also know, that because of the trauma caused as a child, makes them lack remorse

and empathy for their victims, and or human beings in general, this also causes the sense of
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excitement that they crave and for a place in this world. This is where nature vs. nurture comes

into play: environment vs. genetics. While I know a portion of this controversial topic, I do not

know it in its full entirety. However, I do agree that is it ever-changing and ever-evolving, and

therefore, sparks my interest and pushes me to further my education on this particular topic.

With all the information and knowledge that I already know, there is still some huge

research questions that I would like to be more informed about. Is there a way for there to be

more studies about killers that are sitting in prison? So we can continue further research on them.

Can we produce more programs for young children that start to show psychopath/ sociopath

tendencies? Some killers are transformable, what is stopping the ones that claim they can’t be

helped at all? Would studying the brains of the most deviant of offenders help us further gain

knowledge and more statistical data? I think researching this and or looking in the databases I

can find articles to help fill my curiosity, and continuing to keep exploring the internet for more

information and to see what others think or have the same ideas as I do.

Lastly, serial killers and the nature vs nurture debate is timely, current, relevant and

sustainable issue to begin more research. There still is ongoing research happening everyday

focusing more on the human brain and the psyche. Mainly focusing research on infamous serial

killers like John Wayne Gacy, David Berkowitz and Ted Bundy, picking apart each and every

case and their victims, using the research, teaching those learning more about them to get more

of a better understanding about them. Constant research being done of the compulsive and

impulsive tendencies that a psychopath feels, furthering in more and around how the brain

develops and works throughout childhood and adulthood, and how the brain is wired to never

feel empathy and remorse. Crime and violence is constantly occurring in our everyday lives all

around us. The nature vs. nurture debate is still the biggest that it has ever been and is relevant in
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today’s society as we look back onto the most infamous serial killers of our time and study every

little thing about them to further our education.

In summary, this issue is controversial and relevant in our world today about the human

mind and nature vs. nurture and what we can we do from here? What steps can we further take to

help support these individuals and help them with a place in our society today. Although some

people may believe that individuals that suffer from psychotic tendencies are the evilest forms of

human, In the end it comes down to the development of learning of the human brain and what we

can do as a society to help learn and grow from them. It is important to realize what kind of

information we have in front of us and how we use it to better the individuals around us. The

main idea is to show the significance that these type of individuals have in our world today and

how we can learn and take information from them. Hopefully we (society as a whole), can make

a difference about what we do about these individuals in our world and help reform them.

 Make thesis clearer, the idea is there, it just needs to be made obvious to the reader

 Along with making thesis clearer, provide solid information to back and lead to thesis

 Both stances on nature vs. nurture were addressed clearly

 The elements of the essay are there, the delivery just needs to be put together (ethos,

logos, pathos)

 Main research questions are presented in the essay

 A couple egregious errors (run-ons, dummy subjects)

 Adding supporting detail to why this topic is sustainable, timely, and relevant, will

develop appeal to the reader

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 Overall, all the elements of the essay are there, they just need to be put together and made

clear

Thank you for this feedback I will make sure to add more details and possibly even more supporting

evidence.