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Trang Vu
English III
Block 1
September 25, 2015
Criminals are Made! Not Born!

There is always an untold story behind a person. There is always a reason behind an

action. There is always a mask on ones grown face, to hide the truth away from others, and to

keep the pain deep inside their heart. People say that criminals are cruel they are born with the

tendencies to commit crimes, and there is no way for a normal human being to form that cruelty.

Criminals are cruel, but there is a reason behind their cruelty, and there is another side of them

that no one has, or at least tries to, discover. A human being can be born with a bad genetic, but

that genetic does not turn a human being into a criminal, the environment and the society do.

Scientists have researched for the natures side of criminals, and they had an unexpected

result, criminal brains are different from normal human being brains. Based on the brain scan

on anti-social people, 18% volume reduction of middle frontal gyrus and 9% volume reduction

of orbital frontal gyrus (Moskowitz). The middle frontal gyrus functions particularly to working

memory and the processing of higher information, a characteristic generally specific to cortical

matter (Cornell University). The orbital frontal gyrus functions in controlling and correcting

reward and punishment-related behavior, and thus in emotion (University of Oxford). Therefore,

anti-social people are not good at memorizing and inputting new information, and do not know

how to control and correct their behavior and emotion. Another research on psychopaths show

thinner outer layer of amygdala and an average of 18% volume reduction in this part of the

brain (Moskowitz). A human being has two amygdalae which both locate close to the

hippocampus. The amygdala functions in the processing of memory, decision-making, and

emotional reactions. Therefore, psychopaths are not good at memorizing, making decision and
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do not show much emotions. The difference between criminal brains and normal human being

brains has proven that there are some born criminals, but brain research is showing us that

neurogenesis can occur even into adulthood, said psychologist, Patricia Brennan of Emory

University in Atlanta. Since the difference of criminal brains does not fully support the natural

side of criminal behavior, scientists went deeper to research on genes, and they discovered two

genes, known as criminal genes.

The first criminal gene is MAOA which is one of two neighboring gene family members

that encode mitochondrial enzymes. Mutation of this gene is resulted in Brunner syndrome

(MAOA Monoamine Oxidase A. Brunner syndrome is characterized by lower than average IQ,

problematic impulsive behavior, sleep disorders and mood swings. Therefore, people with

MAOA are reckless, have mood disorder and low IQ. The previous research of MAOA gene has

dubbed the warrior gene because of its link to aggressive behavior (Hogenboom); individuals

with the warrior gene exhibit higher levels of behavioral aggression in response to provocation

(McDermott). MAOA gene is important for controlling the amount of dopamine and serotonin in

the brain (Hogenboom). Dopamine helps control the brain's reward and pleasure centers.

Dopamine also helps regulate movement and emotional responses, and it enables us not only to

see rewards, but to take action to move toward them (Dopamine). Individuals with low

dopamine activity may be more prone to addiction, and is also associated with sensation-seeking

people, known as risk takers. Serotonin is responsible for maintaining mood balance. When

the amount of serotonin drop low, it leads to depression (What Is Serotonin? What Does

Serotonin Do?). MAOA has been associated with other psychiatric disorders, including

antisocial behavior (MAOA Monoamine Oxidase A). MAOA gene is an aggressive trait which

cannot be prevented by diet, or medication, but it is controllable.

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The second criminal gene is CDH13 which is the member of cadherin superfamily. The

encoded protein is localized to the surface of cell membrane, anchored by GPI moiety. CDH13

protects vascular endothelial cells from apoptosis due to oxidative stress (CDH13 Cadherin

13). Endothelial cell involves in many aspects of vascular biology, such as inflammation.

Inflammation has many causes to it, including physical, biological, chemical and psychological.

Stress is one of the biological causes; alcohol is one of the chemical causes; and embarrassment

and excitement are the psychological causes (Yale University School of Medicine). Apoptosis is

the process of controlling the rate of death cells (Alberts). When cells are no longer needed, they

commit suicide by activating apoptosis. Oxidative stress is an imbalance between the production

of free radicals and the ability of the body to counteract or detoxify their harmful effects through

neutralization by antioxidants (Mandal). CDH13 is also associated with substance abuse and

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) (Hogenboom). ADHD is one of the most

common childhood disorders and can continue through adolescence and adulthood. A person

with ADHD is difficulty staying focused and paying attention, difficulty controlling behavior,

and hyperactivity (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder). MAOA and CDH13 genes have

proven that there are some criminals who were born with the criminal genes, but the lead author

of the work Jari Tilhonen of the Karolinska Institutet in Sweden had said that these genes does

not make an individual to commit a crime, but the individuals understanding of right and wrong

(Hogenboom).

Ted Bundy, the world most famous serial killer, known for his charming that no women

could deny. He was adopted by his grandparents and was told that his grandparents are his

parents and his mother is his sister (Ted Bundy Biography). His grandfather was reported to

have a violated temper and a mild taste for pornography (Crime Feed Staff). This proves that
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Bundy was motivated by pornography which he got influenced from his grandfather. There is

nothing much abnormal about his childhood, except for one fact: he was interested in macabre.

Around 3, he was fascinated with knife, and at teenage years, he liked to peer into others

windows and had the want to steal (Ted Bundy Biography). Bundy was a shy, but bright child

who did well in school, and he was also famous among his friends and teachers. When he went

to University of Washington, he fell in love with a wealthy, pretty young woman from California.

She had everything he wanted: money, class, and influence (Ted Bundy Biography). There

was no complain about him until when he dropped out of college, and started working at a

series of minimum-wage jobs. A while after he dropped out, his girlfriend broke up with him,

and this was when everything started (Ted Bundy Biography). He was devastated by their

breakup, which reason why many of his victims resembled his ex-girlfriend. After determination,

he re-enrolled and eventually graduated with a psychology degree, and even got a letter of

recommendation from the Republican governor of Washington (Ted Bundy Biography).

Bundys life has proven that criminals are influenced by many factors around them.

John Wayne Gacy, another world famous serial killer, known as The Killer Clown.

Different from Bundy, Gacy had to face an abusive childhood and conflict over his sexuality

(John Wayne Gacy Biography). Gacy had experienced problems with his father, who was an

alcoholic and often physically abused his mother and beat him and his sisters (Taylor). Gacy was

suffered from blackouts from seizures because of his fathers beatings, but this medical condition

was never diagnosed. He suffered even more difficulties in school since he was bullied in school

because of his overweight look due to a heart condition (Taylor). Too much suffers during

childhood would create a layer of ice around their hearts, which evade others from stepping in. It

was even harder when Gacy later realized he was attracted to men, and experienced great turmoil
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over his sexuality (John Wayne Gacy Biography), which reasoned why all of his victims are

male. He was well-liked at school who eager to learn, but because of the interfering of his family

problems, Gacy was dropped out and left home for Las Vegas (Taylor). He had to work and

saved his money to buy a ticket back to Chicago, and after 3 months being lonely and depressed,

Gacy finally get the money together (Taylor). After returning, Gacy enrolled a business college

and eventually graduated. Later, he became a self-made building contractor and Democratic

precinct captain in the Chicago suburbs (Taylor). He spent much of his free time hosting

elaborate street parties for his friends and neighbors, serving in community groups, and

entertaining children as Pogo the Clown (John Wayne Gacy Biography), and this was when

everything started. Gacy life has proven that family is always the biggest factor that affects an

individuals life.

Personality disorder is an enduring pattern of personal experience and behavior that

deviates noticeably from the expectations of the individuals culture, according to the definition.

Sadistic personality disorder is a personality disorder diagnosis involving sadism which involves

gaining pleasure from seeing others undergo discomfort or pain. The heart of sadists is to enjoy

hurting others to make oneself feel better (Schurman-Kauflin), which create the most terrifying

serial killers. Sadistic can also appear in normal people, not just criminals, but once they appear

in criminals, that means those criminals are the most brutal killers. The killers with sadistic

personality disorder are meticulous, emotionally flat perfectionists who go to great lengths to

commit crimes (Schurman-Kauflin). Both Ted Bundy and John Wayne Gacy were sadistic

killers; they both raped before beating the victims to death. The victims of these brutal killers are

particularly chosen, which means there are always at least one common characteristic between

the victims, which speaks up about the killers life.

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Antisocial personality disorder is a reckless disregard for social norms, impulsive

behavior, an inability to experience guilt, and a low tolerance for frustration. Antisocial is caused

by traumatic events, testosterone level and low levels of stress (Aggarwal). Almost all criminals

have antisocial personality disorder, which takes a long period of time for an individual to act

out. A child with antisocial personality disorder have parents who are often alcoholic or

externalizing, witness divorce or separation, was adopted, physical and emotional abuse, low

socioeconomic status (SES) and/or low education levels. An individual with antisocial

personality disorder is often to exploit and violate the rights of other, which reason why

criminals want to commit crime (Aggarwal). Criminals are differently formed depending on the

factors around them which have interfered their life. Another personality disorder, psychopathy,

is mostly appear in criminals, especially serial killers. An individual with psychopathy

personality disorder lacks conscience and empathy, making them manipulative, volatile and

often criminal. Dr. Hare and his colleagues measured a distinct cluster of personality traits and

socially deviant behaviors which are: interpersonal, affective, lifestyle and antisocial (Hare).

Individuals with antisocial behavior are unsecured in the society, and have wrong orientation,

which lead to negative thought and behavior. Individuals with grandiosity have big egos, which

perceive themselves as heroes. Individuals with superficial charm and glibness attract the

victim's eyes, make easier to accost the victims, and entice the victims, which make the victims

willingly fall into their trap.

Motive is the reason, the why, sometimes the darkest chapter in the darkest book in the

massive library we call the human mind (Zandt) The 6 WH questions Who, What, When,

Where, Why and How- are what investigators need to answer; once one can answer these

question, one has the criminal and solves the crime. Who is the victims, the criminals ultimate
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choice; what he did, when he did it, where he did it, and how he did it, are self-evident after the

crime. Why is the motive and also the most difficult one to find out; the why suggest the type

of person who did the crime which then take us to the person who committed the crime (Zandt).

Based on the information you got from 6 WH questions, it would be much easier to find the

criminal. Not all 6 WH questions are easy to find, especially the why since it does not clearly

show out, one has to take a look closer to the who, what and how and sometimes also the

when and where. These will give out more information on why the criminal commit the

crime. Dr. David Buss at University of Texas with a study of 5,000 individuals determined that

84% of women and 91% of men have had at least one clear fantasy about committing murder.

Dr. Buss and his team also found out that public humiliation, such as being fired from a job, was

a major motive among murderous fantasies (Zandt). Public humiliation create a deep cut through

the killers ego, in which they cannot accept the humiliations of others; and the deep cut creates a

hatred, which motives the killer. When murderers kill someone they know, their motives mostly

are emotionally fueled or perhaps driven by a hefty insurance policy or other financial gain

(Zandt). Motive is important because without an understanding of why people commit certain

crimes in the way they do, we are left to begin at square one on every investigation, something

we simply dont have the time or the resources to do (Zandt). Motives maybe not an element

that must be proved in court, but they are the reason and the why that people are most curious

about and want to know.

Based on 145 surveys, there are 71 individuals said they had at least one super bad

negative behavior and/or thought before, and 68 individuals said they do not have one. Not

surprisingly, there are 86% of 71 individuals had experienced in frustration of their family, while

there are only 69% of 68 individuals had experienced the same. Surprisingly, out of 71
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individuals, there are 94% care about their friends feelings, 93% are close to at least one family

member, 83% care about their family members feelings. While out of 68 individuals, there are

only 87% care about their friends feelings, 79% are close to at least one family member, and

74% care about their family members feelings.

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