Charles Manson was born Charles Milles Maddox on November 12, 1934, in Cincinnati, Ohio, to Kathleen Maddox, a 16-year-old girl who was both an alcoholic and prostitute. Kathleen later married William Manson, but the marriage ended quickly and Charles was placed in a boy’s school. Despite running back to his mother, she didn't want anything to do with him. Charles was soon living on the streets and getting by through petty crime. I plan to discuss Manson’s background and answer the question “Why did Mason become a criminal?”
Manson an American criminal and musician who led what became known as the Manson Family, a quasi-commune that arose in the California desert, in the late-1960s. In 1971 he was found guilty of conspiracy to commit the murders of seven people, actress Sharon Tate and four other people at Tate's home, and the next day, a married couple, Leno and Rosemary LaBianca, all carried out by members of the group at his instruction. He was convicted of the murders through the joint-responsibility rule, which makes each member of a conspiracy guilty of crimes his fellow conspirators commit in furtherance of the conspiracy's objective.
He was seen as a person who suffered from a large degree of rejection, instability and psychic trauma and always looking for status and securing some kind of love. Often he was also known to be dangerous, unpredictable and safe only under supervision. In many ways Manson reflects personality traits and obsessions that are associated with gurus of cult-quasi-religious groups that began to emerge in the 60's and are still with us today. He was pathologically deluded into believing that he was harbinger of doom regarding the planet's future, in much the same way that cult and evangelist figures today claim prophetic knowledge of the world's end. Manson was also influenced, not only by drugs such as LSD, but by art works and music of the time such as The Beatles song 'Helter Skelter' from their White Album. He had a strong belief and interest in the notion of Armageddon from the Book of Revelations. Scientology and more obscure cult churches such as Church of the Final Judgment were also fleeting interests.
So why did Mason become a criminal? Mason’s life wasn’t stable at birth so this caused problems early on, rejection and trying to find love and acceptance can lead to a lot of things that are done for control and attention. Mason’s mother was an alcoholic and prostitute so genetic and heritability could have played a major role in his criminal behavior. It’s said by researchers that people who are genetically predisposed to certain type of behavior may become aggressive or criminal through interaction with the surrounding physical and social environment. With an alcoholic mother Mason could have suffered brain dysfunction which are organic problems with the brain may lead to behavioral anomalies, including crime and deviance.
Studies show that advances in research on biological embedding, or the process by which social experiences change neutral circuity in the brain. Mason had changes in brain structure which was brought about by a very stressful and traumatic childhood experiences. Experiences of childhood adversity affect cellular pathways and translate into the molecular and genetic changes that result in biological effects on development and health. Manson found loved when he created “The Mason Family” he was in control and the leader. Many people would argue Mason and his followers where flat out killers, but a childhood like Mason’s isn’t promised to be the next lawyer.
"Charles Manson." Bio. A&E Television Networks, 2014. Web. 02 Sep. 2014.
Criminology Today An Integrative Introduction, Seventh Edition, Frank Schmalleger, Ph.D. Pearson Education, Inc 2015, 2012, 2009