5-2 Final Project Milestone Two

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5-2 Final Project Milestone Two 5-2 Final Project Milestone Two Tiffany White PSY-310 Southern New Hampshire University November 26, 2023
5-2 Final Project Milestone Two Aileen Carol Wuornos, born on February 29, 1956, in Rochester, Michigan, had a tumultuous upbringing characterized by profound psychosocial trauma within her family. Her father, a convicted child molester, died by suicide while serving prison time, and her mother abandoned her and her brother, leaving them under the care of their grandparents. This unstable environment limited Wuornos's formal education and led to subsequent life struggles. She briefly married Lewis Fell in 1976, annulling the union shortly after her arrest following a bar fight. Wuornos entered a volatile relationship with Tyria Moore in the late 1980s, marking a period when her life took a criminal turn, engaging in sex work and various criminal activities, including forgery, theft, armed robbery, and assault (Biography.com, n.d.). Wuornos gained notoriety for her involvement in the murders of seven men along Florida highways between late 1989 and 1990. Subsequently arrested in 1991, she was found guilty of multiple counts of first-degree murder and eventually sentenced to death by lethal injection in Florida on October 9, 2002. Her life was characterized by a history of trauma, abuse, and mental health challenges, significantly impacting her actions and leading up to her execution (Biography.com, n.d.; Jenkins, 2018). Biological factors likely influenced Wuornos's behavior. Genetic predispositions might have contributed to her vulnerability to mental health challenges and impacted her psychological state, potentially influencing susceptibility to mental health disorders. Trauma experienced during her early years could have affected her brain development and stress response systems, leading to altered emotional regulation and decision-making processes. The interplay between genetic factors and trauma may have disrupted hormonal balance, influencing mood regulation and behavior. While these biological factors cannot fully explain Wuornos's criminal behavior, they
5-2 Final Project Milestone Two likely interacted with traumatic experiences, influencing her mental state, emotional regulation, and life choices (Jenkins, 2018). Moreover, developmental factors stemming from Wuornos's tumultuous upbringing significantly influenced her behavior. Raised in a dysfunctional family environment characterized by neglect, abuse, and extreme behaviors, Wuornos endured traumatic experiences, disrupting her emotional development and sense of security. The lack of stability and nurturing surroundings hindered her ability to form healthy relationships and regulate emotions effectively. These factors likely influenced her involvement in criminal activities and contributed to volatile relationships, such as the intense yet turbulent relationship with Tyria Moore (Jenkins, 2018). Environmental factors played a crucial role in shaping Wuornos's behavior and life choices. Her upbringing in a profoundly dysfunctional environment, marked by instability, neglect, and abuse within her family, led to a lack of a stable and nurturing upbringing. Financial hardships led her to engage in criminal activities, including sex work, to sustain herself, while her volatile relationship with Moore exacerbated her cycle of instability and criminal behavior. The absence of positive social connections and support networks left Wuornos socially isolated, potentially fueling her vulnerability to negative influences. Her involvement in a criminal subculture further contributed to her engagement in theft, forgery, and a series of violent crimes (Jenkins, 2018). In understanding the motivation behind Wuornos's actions, a comprehensive examination of various theoretical perspectives encompassing biology, psychology, social influences, and criminal violence is necessary. Genetic predispositions, traumatic experiences, psychological distress, lack of positive social connections, and alignment with criminal violence theories likely
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5-2 Final Project Milestone Two contributed to her complex motivations. An integrative approach to these diverse theories is essential in understanding the multifaceted nature of Wuornos's behavior and actions (Jenkins, 2018).
5-2 Final Project Milestone Two References: Biography.com. (n.d.). Aileen Wuornos. Retrieved from Biography.com Jenkins, P. H. (2018). Aileen Wuornos: Psychology, theory, and criminal justice. Springer.