Social Psychology
Reflection Paper – Evil Behavior/People
The subject I chose to write about for this paper is one of Wisconsin’s own “serial killers”, Ed Gein. Gein was only tried for the murder of two individuals but gained his notoriety for skinning his victims and creating articles of clothing and furniture with the pieces and parts. There were six people who disappeared in the area where Gein lived that he was not charged for however many believe was responsible for, including the mysterious death of his brother.
When referencing a topic like what makes a serial killer tick, the most common inside factors that are used reference the person’s sanity level. Another common factor to explain away the behavior relating to sanity would be the killer’s perception of life and what is reality. By stating they are insane or not living in the same reality as the general populous, it makes their fringe behavior seem not possible for the general masses.
In the case of Ed Gein, there were many situational attributions that would not cause everyone to behave the way he did but they definitely were not conducive to “normal” behavior. Growing up his father was a violent, deadbeat, alcoholic that his wife and children treated as useless. His mother was the financial provider for the family and made all child rearing decisions. When Gein was 6, his mother moved the family to a rural farm, in Plainfield, WI, where she proceeded to fill Gein’s head with her religious beliefs. These beliefs were radical in nature such that all women (except his mother) were evil workers of Satan and that society as a whole was immoral. She did not allow Gein to make friends and the only activity he was allowed off the farm for growing up was going to school.
It has been theorized that his lack of social acclimation in society topped off with his mothers verbal abuse and zealous beliefs were contributing factors to his actions. When his mother passed away, Gein’s father had...