Psycho killer
Who’s to blame?
Today’s dilemma is about David Berkowitz (aka Son of Sam) who was raised by adoptive parents (though his mother died when he was a teenager), but turned out to be an arsonist and a serial killer. Even after he found his natural mother, his psychopathic tendencies were never assuaged. He was eventually caught and sentenced to 365 years in prison. But who was to blame? His adoptive parents? His natural mother? Society?
The answer, from the information given, would seem to be Berkowitz himself. There seems to have been nothing about his upbringing that might’ve predisposed him to being a misogynist. In other words, it would seem that his inclinations were innate. He seems to have been rather needy, having been given up for adoption by his natural mother and then having lost his adoptive mother to cancer.
The discussion at the back of the book is a little more enlightening. Berkowitz claimed to have been insane as part of his defence, but in fact, his motivations were anger at his mother and an inability (I would suspect self-inflicted) to form relationships with women. I can understand why he might’ve felt rejected with a background like the one he had, but his reaction was extreme and, it’s hard not to say, irrational (though I don’t imply insanity). It probably wouldn’t have mattered what his circumstances were; he would still have been a thoroughly nasty piece of work.
The answer, from the information given, would seem to be Berkowitz himself. There seems to have been nothing about his upbringing that might’ve predisposed him to being a misogynist. In other words, it would seem that his inclinations were innate. He seems to have been rather needy, having been given up for adoption by his natural mother and then having lost his adoptive mother to cancer.
The discussion at the back of the book is a little more enlightening. Berkowitz claimed to have been insane as part of his defence, but in fact, his motivations were anger at his mother and an inability (I would suspect self-inflicted) to form relationships with women. I can understand why he might’ve felt rejected with a background like the one he had, but his reaction was extreme and, it’s hard not to say, irrational (though I don’t imply insanity). It probably wouldn’t have mattered what his circumstances were; he would still have been a thoroughly nasty piece of work.
In defence of more heinousness. Tomorrow’s dilemma takes us to court.
Comments