Summary Of The Bad Seed
To explain characteristics of criminal behavior, scientist have study the cognitive aspects in criminology and social problems. As a result, antisocial behavior and violence link with cognitive disorders. Furthermore, these disorders also intrude on the person's social relationships and actions. It is theorized that, “cognitive distortion attempts to explain that individuals are able to block moral judgments in order to justify avoiding responsibility for own behavioral or attitudinal problems” (Mohammad et al 6). In other words, a person with cognitive distortion will believe in thoughts that are untruthful about themselves or their life. For instance, one disordered is referred to as filtering, where someone uses all negative details of a
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However, one factor cannot determine someone a criminal. Environment and genetics both play a role in transforming someone to become insane with violence. Research has shown that childhood maltreatment mixed with the MAOA gene can increase the risk of criminal behavior in medium to large amounts. On the other hand, Environment alone is a small risk to violent behavior where the MAOA shows a greater risk alone (3). While this may be true, society still believes maltreatment is the cause of criminal behavior. William March, the author of the Bad Seed, shows a scenario where genes are the problem of a little girl’s violent desires. In the book, Rhoda Penmark is an eight-year-old girl who murders a little boy to receive a medal she believes she deserves (March). Not only is Rhoda a violent killer, she possess the traits similar to real life criminals. She is aggressive, psychotic, antisocial, and as cognitive distortion. What may be surprising is Rhoda grew up in a wonderful home, with a great set of parents who loved and cared for her. However, her mother experiences a traumatic experience in her childhood where her mother kills all her family and fails to kill Mrs. Penmark. As a result, Mrs. Penmark convinces herself she carried a bad seed and her daughter is a psychopath because of her past experiences (March). Although the story is fictional it is still possible, and genes are a reason why criminals are the way they
However, one factor cannot determine someone a criminal. Environment and genetics both play a role in transforming someone to become insane with violence. Research has shown that childhood maltreatment mixed with the MAOA gene can increase the risk of criminal behavior in medium to large amounts. On the other hand, Environment alone is a small risk to violent behavior where the MAOA shows a greater risk alone (3). While this may be true, society still believes maltreatment is the cause of criminal behavior. William March, the author of the Bad Seed, shows a scenario where genes are the problem of a little girl’s violent desires. In the book, Rhoda Penmark is an eight-year-old girl who murders a little boy to receive a medal she believes she deserves (March). Not only is Rhoda a violent killer, she possess the traits similar to real life criminals. She is aggressive, psychotic, antisocial, and as cognitive distortion. What may be surprising is Rhoda grew up in a wonderful home, with a great set of parents who loved and cared for her. However, her mother experiences a traumatic experience in her childhood where her mother kills all her family and fails to kill Mrs. Penmark. As a result, Mrs. Penmark convinces herself she carried a bad seed and her daughter is a psychopath because of her past experiences (March). Although the story is fictional it is still possible, and genes are a reason why criminals are the way they