Ok. For my English class we have to read a book & we have to write a pursuasive** essay. I'm reading In Cold Blood, now in our essays - we have to some how incorporate our books in it. I told my teacher "Should I write about the Death Penalty or the Psychology of the Criminal Mind?" She said that she liked them both but she found the physchology thing more interesting.
Now, I'm only on the first part of the book - So, please don't give away the ending... some moron just told me the murders die or something...
If i write about
The Physchology of Criminal Minds
What can my argument be about?
(Last year, I wrote about Cloning & that I wasn't for it) That's easy b/c it's yes or no & why!)
I tried looking for information about this topic + my book but I can't find much at all - Help me research, that would be fantastic, please!
This is 1 possible argument I can make: are they abnormal or not? But, I can't find much info. online...
HELP ME- GOD BLESS YOU ALL ... THANKS ...
2007-01-23 15:08:36 · 5 answers · asked by Twilight Is Love 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Books & Authors
Don't lose sight of the fact that the killers were human beings. It's important to understand who they were, as individuals. Can you identify turning points, events or people, in each of their lives. What was the relationship between the two, which one was dominant? How did they develop their plan, what was their intent and how did it unfold in reality? How did the men view themselves, their victims, society and life, in general. How did they rationalize or process what they'd done? Was empathy or remorse emotions, of which, they were capable.
Being able to categorize or label people, especially ones who do such evil, as "abnormal" or "bad apples" is a rationalization. It serves to ease ones mind to think that the behavior exhibited is an aberration; rather than a real possibility, of which, nearly everyone is capable. It's vital that we understand how such people develop; forewarned is forearmed.
2007-01-24 00:54:45 · answer #1 · answered by S. B. 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Check out this site when you finish the book. Read it all but make sure you read Chapter 8 "Analysis". It has some speculation/insight on the psyche of Dick and Perry as pertains to your topic (ie. The Physchology of Criminal Minds). It offers a suggestion on why the crime was actually carried out. It makes sense if you have read the book. The people who answered previous to me provide excellent insight. You will see how it all fits.
http://www.crimelibrary.com/notorious_murders/family/clutter/1.html
2007-01-30 17:20:13 · answer #2 · answered by nostromobb 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I don't know that this will help, but I was deeply effected by both the book and the movie!! The core issue for me is the humanity of both the killers and the victims. And the capricious nature of how/when they both come into contact. There is a path leading to that convergence, but it seems to be happen-stance as well as unstoppable. I know in my 26 years of working with children (21 yrs with very troubled adolescents), that so much of the out-come depends upon the up-growing of the child--what they were subjected to; what kind of role-models did they have; their peers; and their quality of adult guidance available. There are always peer leaders ready for the wild side. Other more dependent and vulnerable kids will follow them for the sake of Belonging, Power, Freedom and Fun. (These are the Basic Human Emotions that must be met continuously, as presented by Dr. Wm. Glasser.)
The killers in Capote's book are not abnormal.
I was touched also by Capote's humanity and empathy for both the killers and the victims.
2007-01-23 15:38:10 · answer #3 · answered by Martell 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I've read the book and I think is a good topic to discuss about. My opinion is that they (the killers) were normal people... but on Perry's case he had lack of love on his childhood and that influenced him a lot. Even the tragedy and that they were killers, Capote showed us the whole face of them as human beings even to start to feel some sympathy for them.
I suggest to see also de movie "capote" of 2005 and I know there is another more which was made on the 70's.
Regards...
2007-01-30 01:53:51 · answer #4 · answered by anaida 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
The criminal mind believes that they will not get caught because they are smarter than the police. They convince themselves that what they have done was the proper thing to do. They have no empathy for other people and concern themselves almost entirely with their personal wants and needs.
2007-01-23 15:21:01 · answer #5 · answered by Sophist 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋