Case Study - Rachel Pfitzner PDF

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CASE STUDY: RACHEL PFITZNER AND THE POSITIVSM THEORY

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In late 2007, Rachel Pfitzner murdered her two-year-old son, shaking him, and causing him to choke to death (Mallett, 2014). This essay will focus on the causation of the crime, relative to the bio-criminal and psychological positivism theory. This theory focuses on the biological and psychological characteristics of the offender, highlighting that one has no control over these aspects in their lives (White et al., 2017). In this paper, the focus of analysis and nature of offender within the positivist theory (White et al., 2017) will be discussed and used to analyse the case of Rachel Pfitzner, and the murder of her son, Dean Shillingsworth. Pfitzner was born in 1981, to a seemingly 'normal' family. However, Rachel alleges that she was abused by her Father (Mallett, 2014). Rachel experienced several violent relationships, and at twenty-one, Pfitzner moved to Tamworth and met Dean's father, Paul Shillingsworth (Mallett, 2014). Paul and Rachel began a relationship riddled with domestic violence, drugs, and alcohol (Mallett, 2014). Dean was born to Rachel and Paul in early 2005, and after both parents were convicted of crimes, Dean was taken by DOCS (Department of Community Services) to live with his Grandmother, Ann Coffey (Mallett, 2014). During this time, Rachel fought to get her son back, and, although not having legal custody of him, managed to get him back and living with her (Mallett, 2014). While Paul was imprisoned, he and Rachel broke up (Mallett, 2014). Paul was unhappy that Rachel had regained custody of Dean, and according to Pfitzner, threatened to kill her once he was released from prison (Mallett, 2014). Over several months, Rachel grew a hatred towards Dean because of the likeness to his father and began to abuse him (Mallett, 2014). She would hit him, scratch him, and starve him (Mallett, 2014). On the 11th of October 2007, Dean and Rachel visited a friend's house, and Rachel told Dean not to eat anything. After Dean accepted a cheeseburger from a friend, Rachel took him home and, in a rage, shook him until he died. She placed his body in a suitcase and dumped it in a nearby lake, watching it until it disappeared (Mallett, 2014). It is vital to keep all these facts in mind when analysing the crime. To begin analysing Pfitzner's crime using the positivist theory, the focus of analysis must be discussed. Under the positivist theory, the offender is highlighted as the focus of analysis, which in this case is Pfitzner (White et al., 2017). To understand the causation of the crime, the characteristics of Pfitzner must be analysed, including her biological and psychological issues (White et al., 2017). Rachel's behaviour is consistent with someone suffering from borderline personality disorder (BPD) (Ogden & Prokott, 2019). BPD is a psychological

disorder characterised by oversensitivity, anxiety surrounding abandonment and severe instability in mood and relationships (Ogden & Prokott, 2019). It is important to note that Rachel may have been suffering from BPD at the time of Dean's murder as it may have been a leading fact in the causation of Dean's death. Secondly, it has been hypothesised that Pfitzner may have been suffering from paranoia (Mallett, 2014). It is unclear whether the allegations of Paul threatening Rachel's life were real, or if they were a subject of her paranoia (Mallett, 2014). After analysing Pfitzner's psychological wellbeing under the positivist theory, it is apparent that she may have killed Dean in response to her paranoia, perhaps seeing her son's death as the only way to escape Paul's perceived threats. Next, according to the positivist theory, the cause of crime lies in pathology; specifically, that crime is not a matter of individual choice (White et al., 2017). Several contributing factors in this crime, according to the positivist theory, include Pfitzner's alcoholism, childhood, and mental health. Pfitzner had what one could call an "addictive personality" (Mallett, 2014), which could attribute to her alcohol dependency. According to Dixon et al. (2017), alcohol provides escapism from feelings synonymous with anxiety, depression, and humiliation. When analysing Pfitzner's alcohol use under the positivism theory, her dependency on liquor stems from her mental wellbeing, making her susceptible to sudden mood changes and outbursts. This fact also means that her alcohol dependency is out of her control, and therefore her outbursts are too. Similarly, when Pfitzner's childhood is analysed under the positivist theory, the nature of her crimes can be understood. If the allegations against her father are true, Rachel could have been suffering in several ways due to this. According to Palmer et al. (2019), childhood trauma has a substantial impact on mental wellbeing and can even lead to post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Rachel had to deal with the demons of her past, perhaps leading to significant mental illnesses. These illnesses may have included BPD, paranoia and even PTSD. According to the positivist theory, behaviour is determined, shaped by forces and factors outside of an individual’s control (White et al., 2017). This theory is correct in Pfitzner's case; her crime ultimately caused by a combination of unfortunate psychological and biological coincidences out of her control. Her trauma, mental illness and alcohol dependency affected her psychological wellbeing, in combination with her biological nature. These

factors together created a situation in which Pfitzner lost control of her emotions, and in her anger, she murdered her son. The positivism theory highlights that no individual chooses to commit a crime; instead, they are thrust into situations in which a crime is the result (White, et al., 2017). By analysing each case individually, the bio-criminal and psychological factors are highlighted, and the causation of the crime can be discovered, which, in this case, was Rachel's mental illness and troubled past.

References Dixon, L., Perkins, D. F., Hamilton-Giachritsis, C. & Craig, L. A., 2017. The Wiley Handbook of What Works in Child Maltreatment: An Evidence Based Approach to Assessment and Intervention in Child Protection. 1st ed. s.l.:John Wiley & Sons. Mallett, X., 2014. Rachel Pfitzner (2007). In: Mothers Who Murder. Sydney: Random House Australia Pty Ltd, pp. 81-119. Ogden, J. T. & Prokott, J., 2019. Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD). [Online] Available at: http://eds.b.ebscohost.com.ezproxy.newcastle.edu.au/eds/detail/detail?vid=0&sid=561067cdd4ca-4980-af07-65b9844881d8%40pdc-vsessmgr05&bdata=JnNpdGU9ZWRzLWxpdmU%3d#AN=93871812&db=ers [Accessed 23 June 2020]. Palmer, C. J., Williams, Y. & Harrington, A., 2019. Repairing the effects of childhood trauma: The long and winding road. Journal of Psychiatric and Mental Health Nursing, 27(3). White, R., Haines, F. & Asquith, N. L., 2017. Bio-criminology and Pscyhological Positivism. In: Crime & Criminology. s.l.:Oxford University Press, pp. 37-72....