The curious case of Ted Bundy
Understanding Nurture: The Case of Ted Bundy & Erikson’s Theory-
Have we not all questioned at times why some individuals come out so well while others are so evil? How can two perspectives be so dissimilar from one another that one may serve as a pillar of morals and optimism whilst the other represents nothing more than an illusion of devastation?
You are undoubtedly not the only person who has ever asked yourselves such queries. The German psychotherapist Erik Erikson and his theory of identity formation are actually responsible for decades of our obsession with this dichotomy. Our interest, however, failed to take off until serial killer Ted Bundy’s story was explained in author Ann Rule’s renowned book The Stranger Beside Me, which was published in the year 1980.
In the present article, we’re going to examine the age-old Nature vs. Nurture argument in connection with identity formation using The Stranger Beside Me as a case study. We will additionally look at Erikson’s Theory and how it relates to comprehending Ted Bundy’s character. So buckle up and prepare for a journey into the deepest recesses of human nature!
Introducing Ted Bundy & The Stranger Beside Me —
Psychology has long been interested in the long-standing “nature vs. nurture” controversy, which has served as the subject of multiple research studies. Where to start when discussing the Ted Bundy case may prove to be challenging.
Ann Rule’s novel The Stranger Beside Me however, offers a helpful place to start. While serving as a volunteer on a suicide hotline, she narrates her relationship with Bundy in it.
In this case, Erik Erikson’s theory is especially useful given that it provides a framework for how external factors might affect behaviour. He contends that both nature and nurture contribute to the development of our personalities, thus while genetics play a role initially, external influences similar to parental skills or societal conventions can also have an impact.
By embracing this perspective, we can more fully appreciate the attractiveness of serial killers like Ted Bundy along with how their formative years may have shaped their decisions later in life.
Exploring Erik Erikson’s Theory of Nurture —
The nature vs. nurture debate pops up frequently while analysing the case of religious zealot and serial killer Ted Bundy. The theory of nurture developed by Erik Erikson can help to solve this puzzle.
According to Erikson’s concept, there are eight stages in life and it is believed every phase can be effectively navigated throughout to achieve an upward trajectory of identity and growth. In his opinion, in order to go through every stage, a person must tackle specific issues or catastrophes.
According to The Stranger Beside Me’s author Ann Rule, Bundy “both nature and nurture failed him.” In simple terms, psychological research argues that his initial disappointments by his surroundings contributed to his possible conditions.
Erikson’s first two stages—trust and autonomy—may have appeared tricky for Bundy to understand because of his history of not developing stable attachments with mother as a child, leaving him without an overwhelming sense of identity or integrity. The rationale stated that due to his lack of confidence in his own abilities and those of others, he was going to endure more setbacks as he moved through the next phases.
At the end of the day, there are certain aspects of the situation that are difficult to fathom or articulate, irrespective of how closely we look into Ted Bundy’s whole language. However, by examining his early childhood via Erik Erikson’s standpoint, we could discover how nurture influenced Bundy’s existence story.
Observing the Early Years & Maturity of Ted Bundy —
It goes without saying one of the key distinctions between nature and nurture is the order in which multiple influences manifest themselves. According to Ann Rule, Ted Bundy’s journey may have gone in an entirely opposite direction if somebody had stepped in during the initial stages of his life.
Let’s explore Ted Bundy’s developmental phases in light of Erik Erikson’s Theory to see how nurturing or an absence of motherly affection played an integral part.
- Infantile Stage (Oral-Sensory)
Since Ted Bundy’s mother dismissed him as a child, he had been incapable to develop attachments or feel secure in himself during this phase, making room for the development of trust. He is speculated to have craved acceptance from those around him because of his overwhelming feeling of inferiority. - Autonomy vs. Shame & Doubt (Toddler Stage)
Ted Bundy lacked comparable role models, therefore he failed to gain knowledge from them either, according to Erikson, who argues that during this phase of development children need to acquire skills such as setting targets and resolving challenges. His violent behaviour and struggles in making choices may have been significantly triggered by a lack of guidance. - Initiative vs. Guilt (Preschool Stage)
In this phase, kids require limitations to ensure that they can explore their respective capabilities; regretfully for Bundy, his private life was chaotic as his mom left him, consequently he did not possess such limitations. - Industry vs Inferiority (School Age Stage)
The dearth of ethical thinking in Ted Bundy’s relationships with others, rather than his academic shortcomings, may have resulted to his beliefs of inadequacy and worthlessness, that might have added to the decision to engage in homicide.
Effects of Neglect and Abusive Behaviours —
Recognising how neglect, abuse, and abandonment may alter an individual’s perspective on life becomes essential while talking about nurturing. In the case of Ted Bundy, the absence of his mom prompted him to feel abandoned and isolated as a child. Since negligence can result in desperation, a lack of trust, along with poor communication capabilities, it is currently noted as the main factor leading to violent behaviour.
Ann Rule quotes Bundy in The Stranger Beside Me stating that “I don’t feel sorry for myself… I mean, I don’t have a great sense of rage or anything like that… Most people will tell you that I’m oriented toward love and warmth and consideration for people. That’s why all this is so astonishing.”
According to Erik Erikson’s Theory of Identity Development, if a child’s guardians are absent or fail to be enough trustworthy at that age (much like Ted Bundy’s mother), the kid will grow up with a negative impression of who they are. Excessive aggression, especially that exhibited by Bundy, may consequently be an outcome of an underlying sense of individuality.
It is vital to acknowledge the negative impacts that abuse and neglect may bring on a person’s general wellbeing.
Understanding the Impact of Environment on Nature vs. Nurture —
Identifying the motive for Ted Bundy’s horrific crime rampage is tricky. Was his motivation a product of nature or nurture? Both assist in the formation of one’s own identities, which is consistent with Erikson’s thesis. Nevertheless, The Stranger Beside Me author Ann Rule states that “something had gone wrong [in his childhood], something in his tiny world had poisoned him.”
Principles of Erik Erikson —
Influential psychologist Erik Erikson was of the opinion that external variables have a role in how our personality traits change in time. From childhood to old age, there are eight phases in a person’s life, each with its own problem and difficulty, according to him. Erikson states that achieving every goal successfully promotes psychic progress and development in the stages of life.
Environment as a Timing Factor
It is simple to envision how Bundy’s atmosphere impacted his growth and decision-making as a child. All of Erik Erikson’s eight stages of development entail creating connections with consumers, and it seems like Bundy failed to pick up suitable principles from those around him while growing up. This could account for the anomalies in the timing procedures of his growing stage, which hindered him from blending in when he progressed into adulthood.
During his rocky undergraduate years at the University of Washington, Ted Bundy’s unwanted and out-of-character responses were among the most glaring examples of how the atmosphere had an effect on his growth. When placed in such foreign environments with no affirming ties and parental carers around, he sensed alienation and psychological ambiguity, traits that many experts believe were significantly influenced by the conditions over Bundy’s traumatic years of development.
Review of the Ted Bundy Case Using Erikson’s Theory —
The Ted Bundy case contributes itself to further study using Erikson’s theories. He had a lot of uncertainty as a child, according to his memoirs The Stranger Beside Me. This might have been taken as a crisis of self-image since he lacked the foundation of a secure family setting and/or familial orientation to establish a profound sense of identity. Additionally, his biological mother kept the identity of his dad a secret from him throughout the majority of his youth, which potentially had adverse effects on how he perceived relationships, especially with women. Furthermore, Erikson’s theory claims that without adequate recommendations or instructions on how to handle interactions with others, individuals could remain trapped in their early years with little opportunity to progress further.
It is almost certain that Ted Bundy’s insufficient focus and consistency drove him down a perilous road where he was incapable to forge lasting connections and take part in regular social gatherings. This could assist in clarifying why he reacted brutally and aggressively towards women; his depleted sense of protection and positive examples likely led him to vent his anger on women.
Conclusion —
The case of Ted Bundy is a striking representation of how nurture influences behaviour. We are able to witness how Ted Bundy’s encounters in the outside world, in addition to his family’s lack of affection and supervision, impacted his behaviour and eventually contributed to his turning into a serial killer.
Erikson’s psychosocial theory leads to the recognition of the numerous stages that work together informing the motivating factors of criminal behaviour and misconduct. Nature contributes to an opportunity for illicit conduct, however nurture ends up being exactly what drives criminals to carry out. The Ted Bundy case provides a striking lesson of the value of nurturing young people and how crucial it is in order to offer them the care, encouragement, and direction that needed to achieve their true potential.
References :
Bonn, Scott A. “Examining Serial Killer Ted Bundy.” Psychology Today, Sussex Publishers, 30 Dec. 2019, www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/wicked-deeds/201912/examining-serial-killer-ted-bundy.
Cherry, Kendra. “Understanding Erikson’s Stages of Psychosocial Development.” Verywell Mind, 3 Aug. 2022, www.verywellmind.com/erik-eriksons-stages-of-psychosocial-development-2795740.
“Psychological Theories Of Criminal Behaviour Of Ted Bundy As A Serial Killer.” Edubirdie, 04 Oct. 2021, edubirdie.com/examples/psychological-theories-of-criminal-behaviour-of-ted-bundy-as-a-serial-killer/
“Ted Bundy: How the Nature and Nurture Created a Serial Killer.” WritingBros, 03 May 2023, writingbros.com/essay-examples/inside-the-mind-of-a-serial-killer-ted-bundy
