Can the violent acts of ones childhood lead to a life of violence? Or is the life of violence, such as murder, solely a trait you are born with? The theory of nature vs. nurture; does genetics determine your behaviour or is it your environment that influences your behaviour? What people see in advertisements and television shows, and the events of their past, have a massive effect on their lives they change the way they see themselves and others. So, did Edmund Kemper murder ten people because of paranoid schizophrenia? Or was it because of an abusive childhood filled with neglect and his mothers alcoholism?
Childhood
Edmund Kemper grew up in a broken home, with his older and younger sisters. At the age of ten. Edmund’s mother forced him to move…show more content… Studies show that the middle child , which Kemper was, are usually the children that receive the least amount of attention from family (4). Knowing for a fact Kemper had a bad relation ship with his mother, due to her neglecting him, sending him to his grandparents and locking him in the basement, Kemper is or was the stereotypical middle child. Having been treated horribly by his mother, would have caused Kemper to have a problem with women. Having negative feelings towards women could be the reason why he killed the 6 university women (Edwards). Growing up and using guns, Kemper could have used the guns to relieve his anger, and having that as the only stress relief he used guns in some of his murders. Edmund did not grow up in a good environment, which could have led to his hatred to women and his desire to kill them.
Conclusion
Born or made? Edmund Kemper could have been born a serial killer due to his paranoid schizophrenia, which causes violent outburst (3). Kemper could have also been a serial killer because of his past, neglect, and rejection from women. Or he could be a perfect storm of both, born and made. What do you think, born or
