2000 CCJ pdf think - assessment 2 PDF

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Name: Student Number: Course: 2000CCJ Psychology of Crime Assessment: Case Study- Raymond Edmund Due Date: 21/09/2020 Word Count: 2,475

Theories used within the field of criminology and psychology are significant, as they assist in describing, understanding and explaining behaviours and actions of criminals. Theories also assist with predicting recidivism and uncover factors that contribute to identifying serial offenders. One theory identified to assist in understanding criminal activity is trait theory. Throughout this essay, the trait theory will be applied to Raymond Edmunds, who is a convicted Australian murderer and serial sex offender. Firstly, the discussion of who Edmunds is will be revealed, following the definition of trait theory concept exclusively personality disorders. The discussion of the DMS-5 criteria will be present, specifically directed at Borderline Personality Disorder and Anti-social Personality disorder, which is maintained through literature as Edmunds displayed traits and characteristics of these disorders whilst also providing an explanation of his violent behaviour. Lastly, the discussion of limitations identified whilst discussing Borderline Personality Disorder and Anti-social Personality Disorder. Raymond Edmunds, nicknamed “Mr Stinky” by the media, is known as one of Australia’s prolific sexual predators who terrorised East Melbourne through the 1970s and 1980s (Daily Mail, 2019). He has been charged with 10 charges after pleading guilty to attacking women in their own homes, which Judge Pullen states to Edmunds that “It is difficult to find words to describe your horrific offending, which I have no doubt was a traumatic and frightening experience for all the victims of it” (Cooper, 2019). This added 23 years and 5 months onto his previous life sentence. Edmunds had also been penalised to a lifetime prison sentence as he was guilty of murdering 2 teenagers Garry Heywood and Abina Madill and sexually assaulting five women in their homes in 1986, which was only identified after he was found exposing himself in a car in front of a group of women (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). The police charged him with wilful and obscene exposure, and fingerprinted him, his fingerprints were transferred to the central fingerprint bureau in Sydney, where they were

matched with his previous crimes (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). Although his childhood has not had much coverage by the media, with further research it was identified that he was adopted, had few friends, was seduced at the age of 16 by a woman in her 30’s, raped and beat his wife and sexually assaulted his daughter at just three years old (Cooper, 2019). A common trend identified through his crimes was the targeting of women, and the majority of his offences were sexual assaults. In his 1986 hearing, it was stated that Edmunds had a high sex drive, a personality disorder and considered women an inferior species. People often described Edmunds as quiet and different, and women loved him, but men hated him (Cooper, 2019). So initially, what is the trait theory? According to Wortley, (2011) trait theorists’ study human behaviour by focussing on the measurements of traits, which can indicate the causes of individuals to act in certain ways. Trait theories, like all psychological theories attempt to assist in understanding criminal behaviour, but trait theory is widely used within research. Theorist also acknowledge that some defects within traits can affect an individual's personalities which are cognitive, regulation, behaviour or emotions, and in certain circumstances like Edmunds traits, he is characterised as having personality disorders (Wortley, 2011). A trait can be acknowledged as a characteristic that can be distinguished between one person and another and assists in influencing behaviours. According to Epstein (1994) for traits to be acknowledged, they must be stable for a period of time and condition, where an individual behaves from an internal reaction rather than a situational and suggest that traits typically present continuous behaviour patterns. Like mentioned before in Edmunds hearing in 1989, the court stated that he has a personality disorder. A personality disorder is a constant pattern of behaviour and inner understanding that is indifferent to expectations of an individuals culture, and can be maintained, but can lead to sorrow and impairment (Wortley, 2011). Disorders are known to be placed into three clusters based on the similarities between them, known as clusters A, B and C. Cluster A included the odd or eccentric disorders like

paranoid, schizoid and schizotypal personality disorders. Cluster B is emotional or erratic disorders like Anti-social, borderline, histrionic and narcissistic personality disorders. Lastly, cluster C disorders are characterised by the anxious or fearful disorders, which includes avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive personality disorders. The information provided specified that Edmunds was adopted and had very few friends in his upbringing, with further research, it is determined that Edmunds could be placed in clusters B, as he is emotional and erratic. Throughout his teenage years, Edmunds was introduced to a woman in the 30’s where they began a sexual relationship. This is when his fascination with sex began (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). Borderline personality disorders (BPD) are known to begin in early adulthood, which is dictated through instability in selfesteem, personal relationships and affects, which manifested his impulsivity (Chanen, 2009). Edmunds traits and behaviours can be linked to the criteria of BPD in cluster B as he is emotional and erratic. Firstly, Edmunds had unstable relationships, as he had multiple affairs whilst married to his first wife Lesley. After their separation, Edmunds initiated a relationship with his housekeeper and then-wife Colleen Knight, which he could not commit to (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). Individuals with BPD often experience instability within relationships and there is a measureless amount of literature to support the link between BPD, unstable relationships and violent behaviour (APA, 2013). A study by Raine (1993), examined the relationship between BPD and criminal activities. This also involved BPD characteristics correlated with intense anger, instability, unstable relationships and impulsivity and how it was interrelated to violent offences. To establish these results, Raine (1993) conducted a study that involved 37 prisoners, that consisted of five violent offenders, 13 murders and 19 nonviolent offenders. It was discovered that BPD had greater results in murder or violent offenders, in contrast to non-violent offenders. This also integrated unstable relationships and BPD was directly linked to higher rates of murder and violent offenders (Raine, 1993).

Like previously stated, Edmunds had sexual relations with an older person as a teenager, some would say he was groomed, which could be the initial starting point of his spiral of BPD (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). Sansone & Sansone (2009) found that individuals who had been exposed to sexual abuse and violent offending, are correlated to the likelihood of BPD. Additionally, Edmunds has previously described as sullen, insensitive, self-centred and quick-tempered (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). Eternalized anger is another factor of BPD, as it is very common for males to display their anger through partner violence (Armenti & Babcock, 2018). In the Sharpe & Encel (1997) states that Edmunds physically and sexually assaulted Leslie on numerous occasions. This is also a symptom of BPD, as (Chanen, 2009) states that individuals with BPD struggle with intense anger are known to be short-tempered. Research between individuals with BPD who display anger or violence towards others is frequent. A research conducted by Tardiff (2008), states that individuals with BPD, partake in an extensive amount of impulsive behaviours that make them vulnerable to engage in crime. Another factor linked to BPD is impulsivity, which majority of Edmunds crimes were reckless and impulsive. The murders he committed were careless and were not premeditated. Edmunds crimes were based around sexual assault and according to Tardiff (2008) states that individuals with BPD obtain greater imprudent sexual impulsivity. With the evidence provided, it is clear that Edmunds displays multiple traits and characteristics linked with BPD and can be used to explain Edmunds offending. Edmund displayed anger, impulsiveness and was sexually assaulted, which have been proven to be directly linked to individuals with BPD who have committed violent offending (Chanen, 2009).

When the police first arrested Edmunds for all his offences, he did not display any remorse, it was only when they told him he was guilty and said he would tell them all his crimes if they bring in a priest. With further research, Antisocial personality disorder (APD) can be applied to Edmunds as there are multiple traits and characteristics that he obtains that can be linked to this disorder. APD in some cases is called sociopathy but was originally used as an attempt to operationalise psychopathy (Wortley, 2011). Literature supports that an individuals behaviour can be linked to various personal characteristics they possess, as not one gene, biological, social or environmental factor has been known to cause criminality (Skilling et al., 2002). Moreover, individuals with APD have an intact intellectual capacity, but lack certain aspects of morality (National Collaborating Centre for Mental Health, 2010). Antisocial personality disorder is as a mental disorder where an individual continuously displays lack of acknowledgement from right and wrong. According to the DSM-5 individuals with this disorder are known to antagonize, manipulate, mistreat others with unsympathetic views, while displaying no guilt or remorse (Wortley, 2011). A study conducted by Fazel and Danesh (2002), of a total of 62 surveys from 12 counties, where they examined the commonness of APD between 23000 inmates. Fazel and Danesh (2002), found that 47% of inmates were males, and 21% of the inmate female population obtained APD. The initial trait and characteristic Edmund displayed for having APD is his extensive reoccurring criminal history, and all of his crimes were violent natured. Not only was Edmunds abusing his first wife, he was sexually assaulting women all over the East of Melbourne, murdered two teenagers and is a suspect of the murder of Elaine Jones in 1980 (Bucci, 2015). In the murders of the two teenagers, Edmunds raped and bludgeoned one of the victims to death, signifying the internal rage he felt towards women. A study was

conducted by Hiscoke et al (2003) and found that inmates with APD were 4.8 times more likely to re-offend, and also found that inmates were 3.7 more likely to violently re-offend. Another trait Edmunds obtains that is recognised within APD is lack of empathy and remorse he had whilst committing his violent crimes. Edmunds would break into victims’ homes and physically and sexually assault on innocent women, disregarding the fact that other house members were home (Cooper, 2019). One victim’s child stated that they were in the room next door and heard everything but did not do anything due to the fear of what would happen if they interfered (Cooper, 2019). The lack of remorse Edmunds obtained assisted him in committing his crimes, and any remorse he has ever displayed was when the police told Edmunds that they know of his crimes, he cried and requested a priest and said he will confess his crimes. Decety & Moriguch (2007) states that individuals with this disorder do not have the ability to feel other individuals’ emotional states, such as sadness and fear. In a study by Seidel et. al., (2013) was based on 30 violent offenders and 30 non-violent offenders recognising components of empathy. In this study, the initial component (motion recognition) found that violent offenders struggled recognising facial emotional expressions and had a reduced precision in identifying affective responses in displaying compassionate responses. The last trait that Edmunds displays is his upbringing. Edmunds childhood was deemed normal, as he was never exposed to sexual abuse in his earlier years and had a great relationship with both parents, but he was adopted. His family moved frequently, was bullied and lacked friends, which was continued through into adulthood (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). It was not until Edmunds was 16 years old when he experienced his first sexual encounter, where he was groomed by a woman in her thirties, which ignited his fascination with women, this occurrence generated a dislike for women and consequently began seeing women as an inferior species (Sharpe & Encel, 1997). Luntz & Widom (1994) states that sexual assault in

an individual’s upbringing increases the likelihood of an individual developing APD, while Johnson et al., (1999) states that this particular assault are 4 times more at risk of developing APD. Although trait theory has explained and assisted in understanding who Edmunds is as well as why he committed horrific crimes, there are multiple limitations determined. Like mentioned before, Edmunds obtained many traits and characteristics that fitted the BPD and APD criteria. However, he did not meet all the criteria for BPD. Edmunds did not display any stress-related paranoid or severe dissociative symptoms, but also did not express that he had chronic feelings of emptiness or abuse any substances. Edmunds also did not display any suicidal behaviour. Additionally, Edmunds did not fit several of APDs criteria as well. Whilst applying this theory, it was identified that Edmunds had no evidence of his disorder before the age of 15, as the only symptom he displayed throughout his childhood was lack of friends and he was adopted. A study by DeLisi et al., (2019) states that an individual who obtains APD has developed the disorder from genetics, traumatic experiences and peers. Due to the lack of publicity of Edmunds childhood, this is difficult to determine as his biological family remains unknown, and his childhood is somewhat undisclosed. Most information found online is about his crimes, and not Edmunds previous life in the making of becoming the prolific sexual offender and murderer. Therefore, the lack of information on his childhood is a limitation as there is a possibility Edmunds does not have APD as symptoms of this disorder is evident within an individuals first fifteen years of life (DeLisi et al., 2019). An additional limitation found within clarifying Edmunds disorders through the trait theory and how he had become the serial rapist and murderer, other theories could be applied to explain his crimes. Theories such as evolutionary theory could be applied, as Edmunds possessed a view on women that they were an inferior species. This is because the link between evolutionary theory and Edmunds crimes interconnect, as evolutionary psychology

focuses on violent offending like rape as passing on genes and asserting dominance over the weak (Wortley, 2011). Although there are uncertainties whether Edmunds did possess these two disorders but there is an overwhelming amount of evidence and literature that support that the probabilities of him possessing these disorders through his crimes committed is likely. He did obtain multiple traits and characteristics that are linked to both BPD and APD, and in the hearing in 1989, the court stated he did have a personality disorder.

To conclude, this assessment piece has outlined the trait theory and how it is directly linked to the Australian criminal Raymond Edmunds. This was achieved by identifying who Raymond Edmunds is, defining trait theory and what traits and characteristics are applied to Edmunds through the explanation of personality disorders. The information provided was supported through a vast amount of creditable literature that he did possess the disorders of BPD and APD.

References

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