Criminal Behavior | Case of Charles Manson

Criminal Behaviour
Case of Charles
Manson

Criminology 1
Criminal Behaviour and Psychopathy: An Introduction
Psychopathy is an essential aspect in relation with the criminal aspect. Criminal
behaviour can be easily tracked through the behaviour one inflicts. Psychopathy just states
the mental state of a human while, identifying criminals or violent people by their state of
mind is not the sole purpose behind this, but to understand how such minds work. The idea
where the risk lies and the identifying the same is what psychopathy assists in. The traits as
such are clearly a reflection of how people see the world as in their surroundings and as such.
The need for treatment as such is derived from the same or the direction regarding the
treatment can be figured out (Hedegaard, 2013). This is a debatable aspect that psychopathy
is to be linked with criminal or violent intent, under certain circumstance the media
recognises the psychopathic behaviour as something negative or related to criminal
tendencies or even violence, while actual definition of psychopathy never has talked about
these, instead it talks about mental state and the aspects related to same. People can identify
different behaviours or out of the regular behaviour, and when this behaviour turns a bit odd
this shows the primary signs of something being wrong. Similar is the spectrum of
psychopathic behaviour or mental state, there is no clear way to identify if person is a
psychopath or not, but early signs of the same can be taken care of, symbolizing violent
behaviour or as such (International Business Times, 2017). The issue that shall be discussed
below is how psychopathy affects people and how it leads to criminal behaviour, apart from
that another aspect that shall be discussed is the case of Charles Manson and the criminal
behaviour surrounding the case. The incidents or the deaths that took place, the reason behind
that as well as how, Charles Manson became a well -known face throughout the world and
everything as such shall be discussed further.

Criminology 2
Charles Manson and his mental state
The criminal behaviour in Charles developed at a very early stage when both the
parents of Manson went to jail or were imprisoned. He is said to have conspired to kill around
35 people and commit various other criminal activities such as writing fraud checks as well
as is said to have formed a cult where he manipulated people to kill others. Being a
psychopath, when he was in prison, he influenced several people by exploiting their
weaknesses and even after he was released, he kept on doing so. This psychopathic behaviour
of his, led to several crimes being committed and not just by Manson himself, but all the
‘family’ members. Manson used to recruit people in order to influence them or for his own
benefit so as to manipulate them and get things done or work for his basic needs such as
drugs. Regular use of drugs and substance abuse was done and as the number of members in
his ‘family’ grew, the small crimes of theft started becoming big or huge for that matter and
in order to obtain these, violence was inflicted on people by these members. The
psychopathic tendencies then clearly could be seen when he started manipulating people
based on their weaknesses as such related to race, ethnicity, the effects of far and as such that
in reality meant nothing (Mountjoy, 2014).
When Manson saw black people and racism related news in the television, he created
this theory in his mind that all the black people were going to attack and kill all the white
people. Factually this was possible for him to think as he had a severe case of schizophrenia
as well as other mental issues that led him to believe that racist war is going to take place. In
order to avoid the same, he took steps and influenced all the members that it was the truth.
Tables were turned and the problem grew serious when the first murder took place which was
again a very brutal one, where, Roman Polanski’s wife, Sharon Tate along with five other
people was killed. Sharon Tate was then pregnant with Polanski’s child (Glowaz, 2017). Till
the end, Sharon kept begging for mercy and also stated the fact regarding her pregnancy and

Criminology 3
also pleaded to spare her child, while, Susan Atkin, the member of the ‘family’ of Manson
did not relay any mercy and after brutally killing them, later they used the blood to write on
the wall as well. This kind of behaviour is something that is a clear indicator of the red flags
of the mental state of Manson as well as the people he was surrounded with. Yet there was no
one to recognise that. People who he surrounded himself with were all those individuals
whom he influenced or manipulated and hence, could never figure out the issue with the same
(Darlene, 2016).
After the first killing, the ‘family’ here proceeded to killing many other people as well
that included two renowned families, the Hinman as well as the Labianca family. Manson
used to create his own theories and influenced these people surrounding him to also make
their mental state as such that even they started created non -existent theories or the theories
that were not practical at all. Though Manson was very good influencer, yet he channelized
this talent into influencing or manipulating people in the wrong manner instead of using it to
his privilege of starting everything anew or by confessing to the crimes he did and serving the
prison time as well as being treated alongside (Glowatz, 2017).
Several researches have conducted extensive research that has yielded to a certain
result as to why the criminals develop this kind of behaviour and the scholars and researchers
also found out certain common behavioural aspects that relate with the criminal behaviour.
But, apart from a few basics, there haven’t been many approaches. However, advancements
in these researches recently have shown that past trauma or physical or mental connection
with people as such is one such factor that can lead a person to behave in a violent manner.
Psychopathy is a subject that makes the person’s or individual’s mental state clear to the
people surrounding them. For instance if a child is playing and suddenly he says to another
kid that he is going to kill another child and attempts to do so. In this case, the factors that are
so related to the Charles Manson case are the Self Importance he had for himself that led

Criminology 4
him to take a step towards even killing people so as to prove his theories and gain recognition
as well as his ability to Manipulate people so easily that he could make people do whatever
he wanted he had that power over others. Even though there are so many researches on
psychopathy and widespread reasons as to how and due to what psychopathy can be
developed in the mental state of an individual leading to criminal behaviour, there is no single
element that can be discussed as such as they all give rise to basic issues only (Penn State,
2019). Some researchers also think that, “The majority interprets anomalies in brain structure
and function as a cause-effect relationship”. While, most of the scholars have clearly
mentioned that it is all about the effect of an abuse or trauma leading to changes in the mental
state of an individual. This is the main reason behind the psychopathic behaviour. People
going through trauma or watching something horrific can also direct themselves to a positive
outlook, but overthinking and over analysing things leads to constant evaluation, this leads
the people’s minds to function on its own causing illusions or certain imaginary thoughts as
well leading to psychopathy (Charles Manson the True Story, 2020).
Conclusion
Manson clearly gave signs for an unfathomable length of thoughtful character issue, a
condition in the illustrative manual of psychiatry that is separate by a nonappearance of
regard for the assumptions of others, and for what is acceptable and awful. People with single
character issue will when all is said in done irritate, control or treat others cold-bloodedly
or with merciless absence of enthusiasm as per the examiners. They show no fault or lament
for their direct. They are pompous, known to lie and can consistently have all the earmarks of
being bewildering, which is the manner in which they control people, and will as often as
possible participate in powerful, imprudent, careless or hazardous lead.

Criminology 5
Psychopathy and Sociopathy are remarkable sorts of pulled back character issue: The
more offensive, frightful, or risky individual direct measures are insinuated as sociopathic or
psychopathic, as per certain scholars. The terms are oftentimes used on the other hand, and
these two sorts of people decidedly share a lot for all expectations and reason — they
participate in crazy lead for the surge, conventionally have criminal records, are generally
impervious to treatment and, considering the way that they emulate normal direct and mislead
the people in their lives, no one around them may assume they are upset.

Criminology 6
Bibliography
Charles Manson the True Story. (2020). CHARACTERISTICS OF A PSYCHOPATH.
Retrieved March 17, 2020, from Charles Manson the true story:
https://www.charlesmanson.com/related/characteristics-of-a-psychopath/
Darlene, Y. (2016, December 6). Story Of Charles Manson: America's Most Psychopathic
Serial Killer! Retrieved March 17, 2020, from https://onedio.co/content/story-of-
charles-manson-americas-most-psychopathic-serial-killer-13230
Glowatz, E. (2017, November 27). Was Charles Manson A Psychopath Or Sociopath?
Sharon Tate Murderer’s Mysterious Pathology. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from
Medical Daily: https://www.medicaldaily.com/was-charles-manson-psychopath-or-
sociopath-analyzing-murderer-and-cult-leader-407778
Glowaz, E. (2017, November 11). Was Charles Manson A Psychopath Or Sociopath? Sharon
Tate Murderer, Cult Leader, Dies At 83. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from
International Business Times: https://www.ibtimes.com/was-charles-manson-
psychopath-or-sociopath-sharon-tate-murderer-cult-leader-dies-83-2533039
Hedegaard, E. (2013, December 5). Charles Manson Today: The Final Confessions of a
Psychopath. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from Rollinng Stones:
https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/charles-manson-today-the-final-
confessions-of-a-psychopath-58782/
International Business Times. (2017, November 20). Was Charles Manson A Psychopath Or
A Sociopath? Retrieved March 16, 2020, from International Business Times:
https://www.thefreelibrary.com/Was+Charles+Manson+A+Psychopath+Or+A+Socio
path%3f-a0517542099

Criminology 7
Mountjoy, P. (2014, November 20). Charles Manson v. Tex Watson – The line between
sociopathic and psychopathic behaviors. Retrieved March 16, 2020, from
https://www.commdiginews.com/health-science/charles-manson-v-tex-watson-the-
line-between-sociopathic-and-psychopathic-behaviours-29993/
Penn State. (2019, November 15). Charles Manson’s Personality Disorder. Retrieved March
16, 2020, from Penn State:
https://sites.psu.edu/intropsychf19grp9/2019/11/15/charles-mansons-personality-
disorder/