Running Head: Criminology: Criminology (Name of Student) (Name of Institution) (Date)
Running Head: Criminology: Criminology (Name of Student) (Name of Institution) (Date)
Running Head: Criminology: Criminology (Name of Student) (Name of Institution) (Date)
Criminology
[Name of Student]
[Name of Institution]
[Date]
Criminology 2
Introduction
The chosen case study is currently of a most well-known serial killers ever experienced in
British crime history is Fred West. However, from his birth to death, as well as all of his actions
throughout his time on earth, this essay will comprehensively talk about the case of Fred West.
For the preparation of the formative assessment, this was the case used, which was held in March
2019. After looking at a number of cases, the group derived to a result to highlight regarding
Fred West's case and further analyse the rationale in-detail, that what might have caused Fred to
commit such a dreadful act, and whether it was a matter of choice or a matter of genes. As well
as, the rationale for choosing Fred’s case is that it enlightens several aspects and theories of
relating to a couple of Criminological theories i.e. Positivist theory and Classical theory. The
demonstration of both theories will be presented, and after that, it is analysed, which one is more
Discussion
Case Description
Frederick West (29th September 1941 - 1st January 1995) born into a deprived family of
farm workers in Herefordshire to Daisy Hannah Hill and Walter Stephen West. Out of the eight
children, he was the second. From an early age, his father trained his brutality, as in police
record's, West depicted, according to his father, on various occasions "Do whatever you want,
but don't ever caught doing it" (Morris, 2007). Another statement was that Fred, from the age of
12, began to sexually abuse by his mother. West presented an interest in carpentry and artwork,
but didn't do extremely well academically (Morris, 2007). He started to work as a farm laborer
Criminology 3
when he was 15 and suffered a severe motorcycle accident, two years succeeding, in 1958, which
resulted in a broken arm and leg and fractured skull. Due to the fractured skull, a part of his skull
was replaced by the metal plate. As reported by his family, he became prone to sudden fits of
range (Morris, 2007). According to some experts, this might have resulted in his impulse control.
Another injury, later in his life, after being fell off after a fire escape, certainly had caused him
with enduring brain injury, according to the medical professionals (Morris, 2007). As a result, his
different types of insignificant crimes, he became known to police which had massively
devalued. His family well-disowned him after that when he was detained for raping a 13-year-
old girl. (Morris, 2007). On November 1962, West married to Catherine Costello and together
they moved to Glasgow. West worked as an ice cream van driver, during this period in Glasgow
Following his safety, resulting from vehicular homicide incident, West with his family and
transported into the "Lakeside caravan park" in "Bishop's Cleeve, Gloucestershire" along with
Costello's friend Anne McFall. Costello and McNeill (children's caretaker) moved to Scotland in
1966, to escape from West's sadistic sexual demands. Whereas Costello's friend McFall, who had
become obsessed with Fred, and his two kids. His first wife frequently visited her children each
month. However, McFall disappeared in August 1967, as she was never stated missing and her
remnants were founded in June 1994. Accordingly, West married to "Rosemary Letts", despite
October 1970, Heather Anne. For the theft West committed on 4th December 1970, he was jailed
and lasted down to his release on 24th June 1971 (Morris, 2007).
Criminology 4
Positivist Theory
the 19th century. By three main elements, the positivist criminology is distinguished i.e.
the investigation for the crime cause, either sociological, biological, or physiological;
the second is the use of scientific approaches to assess against the observations of the
world; the third is treatment centered on the medical (restoration) model and the denial
reason is presented by the past policy ramifications; whereas, the results that assist a
genetic impact cannot be neglected. One of the primary domains of focus in research has
been adoption studies that link to genetic impact and criminal behavior. As the theory is
might pass on these genes to their children, as a result, it would have a bigger risk in
mounting similar antisocial tendencies in spite of societal causes (Brennan and Williams,
2003, p.309). For the better understanding of the disorder, it is quite probable that
psychopaths are born with biological disposition, liberated of any inherited factors
(Bartol and Bartol, 2014). In the light of Eysenckein (1996), a nervous system of
psychopaths interfere with relations and fast conditioning between punishment and
contravention. As a result, psychopaths feel no guilt in their actions and fail to expect
punishment.
Criminology 5
unconditionally, premature and hedonist (Frick and Morris, 2004, p.54). They are also
concern in between traumatic events (Viding and Plomin, 2005, p.592). Hypothetically,
due to the reason psychopaths have a hypo arouse regular nervous system, they do not
adequately go through the distress of anxiety related to prohibited behavior. Thus, they
are not simply restrained or conditioned (Hare and Schalling, 1978). These psychopaths
often tend to make an estimated preference in their welfare based on the interests of the
action (i.e. financial increase), outweighing costs (e.g. concern and exposure). As it was
discussed above that two major incidents happened with Fred i.e. motorcycle accident
and within the collapse, he exploded his skull and lost awareness. However, it was
observed that this brain damage had caused loss of emotions for Fred and had made him
several empirical studies between both i.e. violent and non-violent criminal action and
brain injury (Freedman and Hemenway, 2000, p.1757). The individuals imprisoned of
transgression crimes or non-violent offense are among 50% of the pervasiveness of brain
sample (Sarapata, 1998, p.821). Hence, the damage to the front lobes of the brain has
resulted in the relation between brain injury and crime. The loss of control over limbic
and sub-cortical systems concerned in primitive impulse has been linked with Frontal
Moreover, Fred West father was his role model (Sounes and Fred, 1995). West
himself stated that his father had intimate relations with his daughters, as enclosed in his
conviction that: "I made you, so I am allowed to enclose you". Thus, "Hirschi’s (1969)"
family, academy, and an associated model is mainly the significant causes and rests the
"Justice Department’s model" for taking into consideration the allowance application
(Hirschi and Stark, 1969, p.202). Families, as such, are appealing to believe as direct
causes of crime and they are key agents of socialization (Agnew, 2001, p.319).
The Lombroso’s theory of classicism enforced the idea, that individuals are
autonomous and they have the capability to make choice regarding different behavior
(White et al., 2008). Hence, individuals must also disclose the consequence of their
choices, if they are free to prefer their individual actions (Walter et al., 2005). Hence,
this was pretty much the same case as Fred West in which he made his own choices and
turned out to be brutal for the welfare of people and against the society. For his own
means and personal interests, he humiliated, threatened, and hurt many people by
incompetent, or ineffective parenting (Rebellon, 2002, p.103), but studies (for e.g.
Patterson, 1982) suggest that the relation to the expansion of sociopathic personality
order is also related to irregular restraint. The best interpreter of all has been termed as
(Agnew, 2001, p.319). Gottfredson and Hirschi’s (1990) Low Self-Control theory (LSC)
attempt to describe what is right and what is wrong in the domain of criminology
Criminology 7
(Grasmick and Arneklev, 1993, p.5). However, individualistic informal opinions are
made by LSC theory i.e. each act of criminal behavior is resulted by exceptional
characteristics (Jackson and Kemp, 2005, p.395). In addition, qualities that are partly
present in Fred's personality are three of them, as possessed by the individuals: low self-
p.5). LSC comprises of the factors solitarily impacting the calculation of the
consequences of one's actions and developments in the first six or eight years of life
(Grasmick and Arneklev, 1993, p.5). The adventurousness, substantial force, short
intellect, and high action intensity is included in the second set of traits. Fred’s early
years has been illustrated, and stated that he was only concerned in physical work and not
a promising student and always in trouble (Wansell and Love, 1996). Whereas, the
inability to delay satisfaction, impulsivity and insensitivity are included in the third set of
Since guilt lacking is a trait related to psychopaths and guilt is painful (Dadds and
Salmon, 2003, p.69). In LSC theory, this modified sensualism is persistent with control theories
in common, which suppose that motivation is without any problems and pleasures are constant
(Jackson and Kemp, 2005, p.395). However, consequences that are associated with the
individuals' lack of guilt, the authors are alarmed, and not the emotional deficiency from a failure
to establish relationships The lack of guilt is a serious concern and many authors have alarmed
this emotional deficiency, resulting a failure to establish relationships (Jackson and Kemp, 2005,
p.395). According to them, the pain of guilt is devalued by the individuals in particular, and this
is something which is inherited from parents, as in the case of Fred, from his father. Therefore,
Criminology 8
"Fred West" could be identified as a killer and a brutal rapist (Jackson and Kemp, 2005, p.395).
The sadistic rapists instigate the physiological and physical pain sexually, as they go to the
extreme anger-excitation (Douglas and Ressler, 2013). The extreme force is used by these
offenders such as using different means of things, bondage, torture, sexual damage, and, in
severe circumstances, of murder. The careful planning and preventing against discovery is
demanded by the attacks of sadistic rapists. As, this was particularly evident in Fred's offense
action because various victims have never been found (Sounes and Fred, 1995). However, in
multiple paraphilia, these brutal criminals are likely to hold (Arrigo and Purcell, 2001, p.6).
These rapists are likely to be involved in sadistic fantasies. A significant role is played by these
Conclusion
The overall scenario of Fred West's case concludes that it is more consistent into
Lombroso's Classical theory as to why Fred west committed those brutal murders. There is an
evident proof of low intelligence levels, as studies have presented that Fred West has inclined to
distort. As the societal factors are not taken into consideration, the criticism persists to rise his
poverty and upbringing. To commit such crime, it might not be his choice as Baccaria claims;
References
Agnew, R., 2001. Building on the foundation of general strain theory: Specifying the
types of strain most likely to lead to crime and delinquency. Journal of research in
crime and delinquency, 38(4), pp.319-361.
Arrigo, B.A. and Purcell, C.E., 2001. Explaining paraphilias and lust murder: Toward
an integrated model. International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative
Criminology, 45(1), pp.6-31.
Brennan, P.A., Hall, J., Bor, W., Najman, J.M. and Williams, G., 2003. Integrating
biological and social processes in relation to early-onset persistent aggression in boys
and girls. Developmental psychology, 39(2), p.309.
Center, D.B., Jackson, N. and Kemp, D., 2005. A test of Eysenck’s antisocial behavior
hypothesis employing 11–15-year-old students dichotomous for PEN and
L. Personality and Individual Differences, 38(2), pp.395-402.
Dadds, M.R., and Salmon, K., 2003. Punishment insensitivity and parenting:
Temperament and learning as interacting risks for antisocial behavior. Clinical child
and family psychology review, 6(2), pp.69-86.
Douglas, J.E., Burgess, A.W., Burgess, A.G. and Ressler, R.K., 2013. Crime
classification manual: A standard system for investigating and classifying violent crime.
John Wiley & Sons.
Freedman, D. and Hemenway, D., 2000. Precursors of lethal violence: a death row
sample. Social science & medicine, 50(12), pp.1757-1770.
Frick, P.J. and Morris, A.S., 2004. Temperament and developmental pathways to
conduct problems. Journal of clinical child and adolescent psychology, 33(1), pp.54-68.
Gorman-Smith, D., Tolan, P.H., Loeber, R. and Henry, D.B., 1998. Relation of family
problems to patterns of delinquent involvement among urban youth. Journal of
abnormal child psychology, 26(5), pp.319-333.
Criminology 11
Grasmick, H.G., Tittle, C.R., Bursik Jr, R.J. and Arneklev, B.J., 1993. Testing the core
empirical implications of Gottfredson and Hirschi's general theory of crime. Journal of
research in crime and delinquency, 30(1), pp.5-29.
Viding, E., Blair, R.J.R., Moffitt, T.E. and Plomin, R., 2005. Strong genetic risk for
psychopathic syndrome in children. Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry, 46,
pp.592-597.
Wansell, G. and Love, A.E., 1996. The Life of Frederick West. London: Headline.
Wansell, G., 1996. An evil love: the life of Frederick West. Headline.
Weiler, B.L. and Widom, C.S., 1996. Psychopathy and violent behaviour in abused and
neglected young adults. Criminal behaviour and mental health, 6(3), pp.253-271.