Criminological Theory IN Relation TO Edmund Kemper AND HIS Criminal Behaviour THAT Contributed TO THE Crimes HE Committed PDF

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CRIMINOLOGICAL THEORY IN RELATION TO EDMUND KEMPER AND HIS CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR THAT CONTRIBUTED TO THE CRIMES HE COMMITTED....

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Criminological Theory

CRI MI NOLOGI CALTHEORYI NRELATI ON TOEDMUNDKEMPERANDHI SCRI MI NAL BEHAVI OURTHATCONTRI BUTEDTOTHE CRI MESHECOMMI TTED.

NAME:

COURSE:MSCCRI MI NOLOGY& CRI MI NALJ USTI CE

MODULE:CRI MI NOLOGI CALTHEORY

MODULECODE:

LECTURER:

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TABLEOFCONTENTS

1. Abs t r a c t

Pg3

1. Ba c kgr oundo fEdmun dKe mpe r

Pg3

1. 2. Ti me l i neo fKe mpe r ’ smur de r s

Pg45

1. 3.Tr i a l

2. Cog ni t i v et he or i e s 3. Ps y c hoa na l yt i c a lt he or y . 4. Bi ol o gi c a lThe or i e s

Pg5

Pg56 Pg7 Pg78

Thepr opo s i t i ont ha tEdmundKe mpe r f r e e l ya ndr a t i ona l l yc ho s et o c ommi tc r i me 6. Conc l us i on.

Re f e r e nc e s .

Pg89 Pg . 9

Pg10

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1. ABSTRACT

There are many theories in relation to human behaviour, from those that believe all behaviour is learned; that a human’s behaviour is a product of their environment, to theories that implore on the importance of early childhood experiences and the implications that may arise when they reach adulthood. These theories are useful in understanding the factors of what motivates criminal behaviour. Taking into account Edmund Kemper, there are three rationales that will be studied in reference to his case such as cognitive theories in relation to the rational theory, the psychoanalytic theory and cognitive theories. said this twiceThis essay will apply these theories to Ed Kemper who is also known as the ‘co-ed killer’. Relevant concepts will be defined and applied to his case and his homicidal behaviour. His imbalanced mind and personality disorder along with his upbringing will be taken into account. 1.1

BACKGROUND OF EDMUND KEMPER

Ed Kemper’s mother was an alcoholic from he was a young child and he became the crux for all his mother's failures. At the age of ten, his mother forced him to live in the basement of their home.

Once she became

aware that he had killed the family cats, at the age of fifteen and stored their body parts in the backyard, she feared that he was capable of harming her or his siblings due to his aggressive behaviour increasing with the decapitating of his sisters’ dolls. As depicted in (Rosewood, J, 2017 – The Life of the Co-Ed killer – Pg. 20-35). Ed was very close to his grandparents and visited their house a lot, however he favoured his grandfather over his grandmother as he perceived her as being just like his mothe; therefore, their relationship became strained. In August 1964, he had an argument with his grandmother and shot her dead. Kemper then killed his grandfather right after. When questioned by police he said he murdered his grandmother to get a feel for killing and he killed his grandfather because his wife was dead, as explained by (Becker, R, 2017The Brutal Butcher – Pg. 32-41). Kemper was arrested and sent to the SOCY7051 8

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California Youth Authority. Kemper underwent various tests and it was determined he suffered from paranoid schizophrenia however, he had a very high IQ. Due to this conclusion, Kemper then was sent to Atascadero state hospital which was a facility for mentally ill criminals. At the age of 21 in 1969 Kemper was released. He was involved in a motorcycle accident which left him unable to work, so with his free time, he began stock piling tools to begin fulfilling his murderous desires which is represented in the book of The Avenue of the Giants. (Dugain, M, 2012 – The Avenue of the Giants – Pg. 27-48).

1.2 TIMELINES OF KEMPER’S MURDERS

In May 1972 and 1973, Edmund Kemper had murdered eight women. Kemper prayed on women that hitchhiked picking them up and taking them to isolated areas such as the woods where he shot, suffocated, stabbed or strangled them, with reference to (Kristie, G, 2019- Charming Psychopaths - Pg. 55-81). Once he had completed the murders, he would return home with the bodies, decapitate them and engage in sexual activity with the corpses before dismembering the rest of their bodies. (Shactman, T, 1992- Whoever Fights Monsters- Pg. 62-79). During his eleven-month killing spree Kemper murdered five college females, one high school female as well as his mother and her best friend. Kemper would go in search for victims in a fit of rage after arguing with his mother which is detailed by John Douglas in his book Mindhunter. (Douglas, J, 2017 - Mindhunter, Inside the FBI Elite Unit, Pg.21-35). In 1972 May 7th, Edmund Kemper was driving around his town when he picked up two hitchhiking college women named Mary Ann Pesce and Anita Luchessa. He drove around for an hour until he reached a wooded area, it was here that he stabbed the women to death and placed their bodies in his truck and returned home. Kemper was stopped by the police for a broken taillight, but they didn’t detect the deceased bodies in the boot of his car. Edmund Kemper photographed the bodies before engaging in sexual activity with them and then dismembering the corpses and abandoning them. A female

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skull was found months later proved to be that of Mary Ann Pesce, but the rest of her remains were never found as well as any remains of Anita Luchessa, this is referenced in a book called ‘The Big Book of Serial Killers’.(Rosewood, J, 2017 – The Big Book of Serial Killers, Pg. 42-75). On September 14th, 1972, Kemper picked up a young girl who was fifteen years old, called Aiko Koo who was hitchhiking after missing her bus. He again drove to an isolated area where he strangled her to death. He repeated the same performance as he had with his previous victims placing the body in the truck and returning home home, again to engage in sexual activity, dismembermany and disposal of the body came there after. Aiko Koo’s remains were never recovered. It was a repetitive crime of that of Cindy Schall, Rosaland Thorpe and Allison Liu. (Vronsky, P, 2004 – The Method & Madness of Monsters, Pg. 31-53). In April 1973 he committed his last two murders, his mother and her best friend. He attacked his mother with a hammer once she was asleep and just like his previous murders, engaged in sexual activity and dismembered the body placing it into plastic bags. Kemper then invited his mother’s best friend to his home, where he strangled her to death and dismembered her body as depicted in The Story of a Brutal American Serial Killer. (Harrington, R, 2019- The Story of a Brutal American Serial Killer, Pg.47-80). Kemper then disposed of the body parts and drove to Santa Cruz police station to confess to all the crimes that he committed. Kemper confessed to police and encountered in great detail how he murdered the young women, proving to police he was the ‘co-ed killer’. In an interview, Kemper stated the reason he handed himself into police was because “The purpose was gone, it wasn’t serving any real emotional purpose and was a waste of time.” Asq u o t e di nTh eCr i me sofHo mi c i d e .( Ri v e r s ,K,20 1 6–T r ueCr i me sofHo mi c i d e , Pg .62 8 5)

1.3 TRIAL I n Ma y19 73 ,Edmu n d Ke mp e rwa sc h a r g e d wi t h fir s t d e gr e emu r d e ro ne i g htc o u n t s . Ke mp e r ’ sd e t a i l e da n dd i s t ur bi n ge x pl i c i tc on f e s s i o no ft h emu r d e r spu s he dh i sc o u ns e lt o d e c i det heon l yop t i ont h a tKe mp e rha dwa st op l e a db yr e a s ono fi n s a ni t y .Ke mp e ra t t e mp t e d SOCY7051 8

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t oc ommi ts u i c i d et wi c ewh e nh ewa si nc u s t o d y .( Do u g l a s ,J ,20 00–Th eCa s e st h a tHa u n t Us ,Pg .2 8 36 ) .Ho we v e r ,t het r i a lwe n ta h e a di nOc t ob e r19 7 3.Th r e ep s y c h i a t r i s t sf o un d Edmu ndKe mpe rt ob el e g a l l ys a n eb uto n ep s y c h o t i c .( Ros e wo od,J ,20 1 7–TheBi gBoo ko f S e r i a lKi l l e r s ,Pg .49 58 ) .Ed mun dKe mpe rt e s t i fie dt h a thec ommi t t e dt h emu r d e r sbe c a us e h en e e d e dt h e mf o rhi ms e l f ,muc hl i k ep o s s e s s i on s .Het r i e dt oc l a i mt ha twa sh ei ns a n eb y s t a t i n gt ha tap e r s on a l i t ypo s s e s s e dhi smi n da n de mpl o y e de mp l o r e dh i mt omur d e r .Thej u r y d e c l a r e dKe mpe rwa si nf a c tn o ti ns a nea n dhewa ss e nt e n c e dg u i l t yona l lc o u nt so fmur de r . Edmu ndKe mpe rr e q ue s t e dt h ed e a t hp e n a l t y ,h o we v e rt h e r ewa sab a no nf or c ei nCa l i f or n i a a g a i n s td e a t hpe n a l t yc o v i c t i on s ,s oher e c e i v e dl i f ef o re a c hc o un to fmu r d e r .Hewa s e nc a r s e r a t e di nt heCa l i f or n i aMe d i c a lFa c i l i t y ,Asr e p r e s e n t e di nab oo kb y( Be r r y De e ,C, 2 0 17 ,Ta l ki n gwi t hSe r i a lKi l l e r s ,Pg .4 08 1) .

TI VETHEORI ES 2 .COGNI Co g n i t i v et he o r i e sc o ns i s to fdi s t i nc t i v et hi n ki n gpa t t e r n s .( Yo c he l s o n& Sa me no w1 9 7 6)I t ’ s b e l i e v e dt h a tc r i mi n a lb e ha v i o u rh a sf o r t yc o g n i t i v ee r r or swh i c hc o n c l u d et h a tc r i mi na l sh a v e ad i ffe r e n tmi nd s e tt ono n c r i mi n a l sa ndt h ep a t t e r n soft he i rmi n d s e t sl e a dt he mt oc r i mi n a l b e ha v i o u r . ( S i nc e r e , S , 2 0 11 – Co gn i t i v e Th i n k i n g The o r y – Ex p l o r ab l e h t t p s : / / e x p l or a bl e . c o m/ c o g ni t i v e l e ar n i n g t h e o r y) .Cr i me r e l a t e dt hi n ki n ge r r or si n c l ud e f a nt a s i s i n ga b o utc r i mi na la c t swi t hn ot h ou g h to fa n yde t e r r e n tf a c t o r s ,t h i si sr e l e v a n tt o Ke mp e rb e c a u s eh ewa sa b d u c t i n gy ou n gf e ma l eh i t c hhi k e r swi t hn ode s i r et ot a k et h e mt o t h e i rr e q ue s t e dd e s t i n a t i on .Hekne wt h a th ewa sg o i n gki l lt h e mf r o mt h emo me n tt h e yg ot i n t ohi sc a r ,t hu ss ho wi n gh edi d n ’ tha v ea n ya d v e r s ef e a rf o rt her e pe r c u s s i o nst ha tmur de r wou l d br i n g .Aut oma t i ct hi n ki n ge r r o r si n c l u del a c ki n ge mpa t h ya n dt r us ta n dv i e wi n g t h e ms e l v e sa sv i c t i ms .(Becker, R, 2017- The Brutal Butcher – Pg. 21-30). Edmu ndKe mpe rwa sb r o u g htu pi nah omef u l lofh os t i l i t y ,t h e r e f o r eKe mpe rs a wh i ms e l fa s avi c t i mt h a tn e v e rr e c e i v e da n yl o v ef r o mh i smo t he r .Edmu ndKe mpe rl a c k e de mpa t h ya she wa sas e r i a lmu r d e r e r ,hewa sf u l fil l i n gh i so wnne e d s .Cr i t i c a lt h i n ki n gp a t t e r nsa r eane e df or p o we ra ndc o n t r ol .( Mc Gu i r e ,J ,2 0 04 ,Un d e r s t a nd i n gPs y c h o l o gy& Cr i me ,Pg . 15 28 )

Ke mp e rs t a t e dt h a th es i mp l ymu r d e r e dt h e s ewome nbe c a us eh ef e l then e e d e dt o oa ndt h a t h ewa n t e dt ok e e pt hewome na l mo s tl i k et h e ywe r eh i sp os s e s s i o n s ,h emu r d e r e dt h ewo me n Co r n i s h& Cl a r k e ,19 8 7–Un de r s t a n di n gCr i med i s p l ac e me nt , s i mp l yf o rh i so wnp l e a s ur e .( SOCY7051 8

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Ana pp l i c a t i o nofRat i o na lCho i c eTh e o r y )–c r i mei sap u r po s eb e h a v i o u rt ome e tt h e c r i mi na l sn e e ds ,f o re x a mp l er a p ef ors e x u a lg r a t i fic a t i on .Ed mun dKe mpe rs a wh i ms e l fa sa ‘ l o n ewo l f . ’Heh a dn or e l a t i on s hi pwi t hhi sf a mi l ys oh ewa so nhi so wn ,hewa sr e s p o ns i b l e f o rh i ms e l fa ndwa sn ote mp l o y a bl edu et oh i si n j ur yr e s u l t i n gf r o mh i smo t o r c y c l ea c c i d e n t , wh i c hi swh yh ebe g a nmur de r i n g ,be c a u s eh ewa n t e dt od os o me t h i n gj us tf o rhi ms e l f . Ke mp e rwa ss e l f i nt e r e s t e d .Ev e r ymur de rwa sf orKe mp e r ’ so wng a i na n dp l e a s u r e .Ke mpe r f e l two r t hl e s sf r o mc hi l d ho o d,f r om b e i n gf o r c e dt ol i v ei nt h eb a s e me n ta ndbe i n gi s o l a t e d f r om s o c i e t y .Hi smot h e rb l a me dh i mf o ra l lhe ro wns h o r t c o mi n g s ,whi c hl e dEd mun dt o v i e wh i ms e l fa sav i c t i m wh i c hr e s ul t e di nd a r kf a nt a s i e swh i c hl e a dt oc r i mi na lb e h a vi o u r , s u c ha ski l l i n gt hef a mi l yc a t s ,t h i ss u g g e s t sa ts uc hay ou n ga g e ,h eha dd e v e l o pe dc o g ni t i v e e r r or s .Edmun dKe mpe rs a whi ms e l fa savi c t i m upu nt i lh emu r de r e dh i sgr a n d p a r e n t s ,t h i s wa sKe mpe rp u t t i n ghi so wnne e d sfir s ta ndt hi sr e s ul t e di nal a c ko fdi s r e g a r do fd e t e r r i n g f a c t o r s .Ke mpe r ’ sc r i mi na lt h i n ki n gp a t t e r n sc a met ol i f ewhe nh eo ffe r e dt hefir s tv i c t i msa d r i v et ot h e i ru ni v e r s i t ybu te n d e du pki l l i n gt he m.Ke mpe rwa sd r i vi n gt h ec a rwhi c hg a v e h i mc on t r o la ndb yl yi n gt ot h e monwh e r et h e ywe r eg o i n g .Heo bt a i n ss e x ua lgr a t i fic a t i o nb y e n g a g i n gi ns e x u a la c t i v i t ywi t ht h ed e c e a s e d ,t h u ss h o wi n gg o a lo r i e n t a t e db e ha vi o ur .The r e a s o nEdmun dKe mp e rki l l e dh i smo t he rwhi l es h ewa sa s l e e pwa sh i swa yofs ho wi n g r e mo r s e ,h ed i dn ’ twa n tt owa t c hh e rb e gf o rh e rl i f e ,o rdi e ,h o we v e r ,h es t i l lg a v ei nt oh i s o b s e s s i onf o rp o we ra n dc on t r olwhi c hi sama j o rc r i mi na lt hi n ki n gpa t t e r n .Ke mpe rt ur ne d h i ms e l fi nt ot hep ol i c ewh i c hs h o we dt h a th edi d n ’ th a v ea n yr e g a r df ord e t e r r e ntf a c t o r s ,h e kn e whewou l db epu n i s h e df o rt h ec r i me sh ec ommi t t e db u th ed i d n ’ tc a r ea n ds t i l lc on f e s s e d t ot h ec r i me s .I nc o n c l u s i o nKe mp e rd i s pl a y se v e r yo n eo ft hec o g ni t i v et h i nki n ge r r o r s Cor ni s h& Cl ar k e ,1 98 7– ( Y oc h e l s on& S a me no w, 19 76 ,Th eCr i mi na lPe r s on al i t y )a n d( Un de r s t a nd i n gCr i med i s p l a c e me n t ,Ana pp l i c at i ono fRa t i on a lCh o i c eTh e o r y .Th i sp r o v e s t h a tKe mpe rh a sadi ffe r e n tt hi n ki n gp r o c e s st on on c r i mi na l s .

3 .PSYCHOANALYTI CALTHEORY Th ePs y c h o a n a l yt i c a lt h e o r ywa sd e v e l o pe db ySi g mun dFr e u d .Th i st h e o r ys t i l lr e ma i n s S i gmu ndFr e u d1 83 9–1 93 9 ,Ps y c h o an al y s i s ) .Th eb a s i sf o rt he c on t r o v e r s i a lt ot hi sda y .( p s y c h oa na l yt i ct h e o r yi sa nu n c o n s c i o u smi n d .Thi st h e o r ywa si nt r o du c e di n t oc r i mi n o l o gy i no r de rt oh e l pe x p l a i nc r i mi n a lb e h a vi o ura ndc on s t r u c tp ol i c yi mp l i c a t i on s .Thi sa p pr oa c h

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i se mbe d d e di nt h epr e de s t i ne da c t o rmod e lwi t h i nc r i mi na lb e ha v i o u r .( Bu r k e ,R,1 97 8 ,An I n t r od uc t i ont oCr i mi n o l o g i c alTh e o r y ) .Th ePs y c h oa na l yt i c a lt h e o r yi so f t e ni nc o mp a r i s o n wi t ht heBi ol o gi c a lt he o r ywhi c hi sf oc u s ’ont h eb i o l o g i c a ldi ffe r e n c e sbe t we e nc r i mi na l sa n d n o nc r i mi na l s ,t h e r e f o r es omeb e l i e v ec r i mi n a l sa r ebo r na n da r epr e d e s t i ne dt oc ommi t o ffe n c e s ,Whe r e a st h ep s y c h oa n a l y t i c a lt h e o r yb e l i e v e st ha ti n di v i du a l sa r eb o r na sbl a n k s l a t e sa ndi ti st h e i ts ur r ou nd i n g sa n ds o c i e t yt ha td e t e r mi n eo ne ’ sa b i l i t yt oc o mmi tc r i me s a ndd e v e l o pc r i mi na lbe ha vi o uro rno t .( Si g mun dFr e u d1 8 39–1 93 9 ,Ps y c h o an al y s i s ) .Thi s t h e o r ya p p l i e st oKe mpe rb e c a u s eh ewa sbo r ni nt oaf a mi l ywi t hamo t h e ra n ds i b l i n g st ha t f e a r e dhi ma n dos t r a c i z e dhi m,a sh eb e c a meay o un gb o y ,h es t a r t e dt ode v e l opc r i mi n a lt r a i t s s u c ha sde c a p i t a t i n ghi ss i s t e r ’ sd ol l sa n dmu r d e r i n gt h ef a mi l yc a t s ,d i s p o s i n goft h ec a r a c c a s ’ i nh i sba c k y a r d .Th i sbe ha vi o u r ,h et he np u ti n t opr a c t i c ewi t hhi sgr a nd pa r e n t s ,wh e nhe mu r d e r e dt h e mb o t ht oj u d g ewha ti tf e l tl i k e .I tc ou l dbes a i dt h a tKe mpe rde v e l o pe dh i s c r i mi na lbe h a v i ou rd uet oal a c kofc o mp a s s i onf r o m hi smo t h e r ,A q ue s t i o np o s e di si fh e wa snu r t ur e d ,c o u l dh eha v eb e c o mean o nc r i mi na l ?Edmu n dKe mp e rc o mmi t t e dc r i me sf o r h i so wns e l fg r a t i fic a t o n,h ef e l ti tg a v eh i mp ur p o s e . 4 .BI OLOGI CALTHEORI ESOFCRI ME Th i st h e o r ya t t e mp t st oe x p l a i ni nd i v i du a l s ’b e h a vi o u r swi t h i ns oc i e t a le x p e c t a t i on st h r o u g h a ne x a mi na t i ono fc h a r a c t e r i s t i c s .Th e s eb i o l o g i c a lt h e o r i e sa r ec a t e g o r i z e dwi t h i nap a r a di g m c a l l e dpo s i t i vi s m( a l s okno wna sde t e r mi n i s m) ,wh i c ha s s e r t st h a tbe ha vi o u r s ,i nc l u di n gl a wv i o l a t i n gbe h a v i ou r s ,a r ede t e r mi n e db yf a c t or sl a r g e l y be y o n dt h a ti n d i vi d u a l s ’c o n t r ol . ( Gi b s o n,M,2 00 2 Bor nt o Cr i me :Ce s a r e Lomb r o s o & Th e Or i g i ns o f Bi ol o g i c a l t h Cr i mi n o l o gy ) . Wh e npo s i t i vi s me v ol v e di nt he1 9 c e nt u r yi twa si n s t r u me nt a lf o rt h e

e xp l a n a t i ono fc r i mi na lbe ha vi o ur .I twa sb e l i e v e dt h a tap a i nf ulpu n i s hme n twou l dd e t e ra n i n d i vi d ua lf r o mc ommi t t i n gc r i me s ,a l t ho u g hc l a s s i c a lt h e o r i s t sd e no un c e dt o r t u r ea sa p u ni s h me n tbe c a u s et h e ybe l i e v e dt h a tt hep un i s hme n ts h o ul dbes ui t a b l et ot hec r i me c ommi t t e di nor d e rf ori tt ob ea ne ffe c t i v ede t e r r e nt .Pos i t i v ec r i mi no l o g yh a st h r e ema i n e l e me nt s ,t h es e a r c hf o rc a u s e sofc r i mewhe t he rt h e ya r eps y c h o l o g i c a l ,s o c i ol o g i c a lor b i o l o g i c a l .Th eu s eofs c i e n t i ficme t h od st ot e s tt h e o r i e sa g a i ns tob s e r v a t i o n sa ndr e j e c t i n g p u ni s h me n ta sa r e s p on s et oc r i me sc o mmi t t e do rd e v i a n tbe h a v i o ur bu tr e p l a c e d r e h a b i l i t a t i o n.( Gi b s o n ,M,20 02 Bo r nt o Cr i me :Ce s a r eLo mb r os o & Th eOr i g i nso f Bi ol o gi c a lCr i mi nol o gy ) .Bi o l o g i c a lPo s i t i vi s mr e j e c t sf r e ewi l la n di ns t e a dr e p l a c e si twi t h

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d e t e r mi ni s m,i tr e j e c t ss t u di e so nc r i mi na ll a wa ndr e p l a c e si twi t hs t u di e so ft h ei nd i v i du a l s . Edmu ndKe mpe rfit si n t ot heb i ol o gi c a lpo s i t i vi s mt h e o r yi nawa yb e c a u s ei fhewa ss t u di e d a sa ni n di vi d ua lr a t h e rt h a nt hec r i me shec ommi t t e d,t h e r ema yha v ebe e nac ha nc ehe c ou l d’ v eb e e nr e h a bi l i t a t e d.I fh ewa ss t u di e da si n d i vi d u a l ,h i sg e ne t i c sa ndps y c h o l o g i c a l t hi n ki n gwo ul d ’ v ebe e nt a k e ni n t oa c c o u nta swe l la shi su pb r i n gi n g ,a n di two ul d ’ v ebe e n p r o v e nt h a th edo e s n ’ tt h i nkl i k ea‘ no r ma l ’p e r s on ,t he r e f o r eme n t a lh e l pwo ul d ’ v eb e e n n e e de dr a t h e rt ha nad e t e r r e n tp un i s h me nti no r de rt of oc u so nr e ha bi l i t a t i n ghi swa y so f t hi n ki n g .( Gl u e c k , S,1 9 50 ,Un r a v e l l i n gJ uv e n i l eDe l i n q ue n c y )

Psychoanalytic theory, originally coined by Sigmund Freud in the late 1800’s, presented the first exhaustive theory of personality (Shoham, 1993). To the present day his theory remains controver...