Much of the research on serial killers has been conducted in the United States

by | Oct 17, 2024 | essay

 

 

Much of the research on serial killers has been conducted in the United States, including your required readings above which outline the various explanations or motivations for serial homicide.

Which of these do you find most compelling and why?

Next, select a name from the list of Canadian serial killers below and search the internet for what is known about this individual.( Gilbert Paul Jordan-

Which of the explanations or motivations are the most relevant to the serial killer selected? How well does his profile fit what we know about the demographics of serial killers and their relationships with victims?

Discuss your findings with your group.

Sample solution

Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell. 

In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.


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God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.

Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.

To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.

 

References

Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.

Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.

Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.

Analysis of Serial Killer Motivations and Case Study

Most Compelling Explanation

While various theories have been proposed to explain serial killing, I find the psychosocial theory to be the most compelling. This theory suggests that serial killers are often individuals who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect in their childhood, leading to the development of psychological disorders and distorted worldviews. These factors, combined with other individual characteristics such as impulsivity and lack of empathy, can contribute to the development of homicidal tendencies.

Analysis of Serial Killer Motivations and Case Study

Most Compelling Explanation

While various theories have been proposed to explain serial killing, I find the psychosocial theory to be the most compelling. This theory suggests that serial killers are often individuals who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect in their childhood, leading to the development of psychological disorders and distorted worldviews. These factors, combined with other individual characteristics such as impulsivity and lack of empathy, can contribute to the development of homicidal tendencies.

Gilbert Paul Jordan

Gilbert Paul Jordan was a Canadian serial killer who murdered at least four women in British Columbia in the 1990s. His victims were all young women who were sexually assaulted and strangled.

Relevant Motivations

The psychosocial theory is particularly relevant to Jordan’s case. He had a history of abuse and neglect as a child, which may have contributed to the development of his distorted worldview and violent tendencies. Additionally, his crimes involved sexual assault, suggesting a possible sexual motivation.

Demographics of Serial Killers

Jordan’s profile fits the typical demographics of serial killers in several ways:

  • Male: The vast majority of serial killers are male.
  • Young to Middle-Aged: Jordan was in his late 20s and early 30s when he committed his crimes, which is consistent with the typical age range of serial killers.
  • History of Abuse: Many serial killers have a history of abuse or neglect, as was the case with Jordan.
  • Victims: Jordan’s victims were all young women, which is consistent with the pattern of many serial killers who target vulnerable victims.

Discussion

The case of Gilbert Paul Jordan highlights the complex factors that can contribute to serial killing. While the psychosocial theory provides a compelling explanation for his crimes, it is important to note that no single theory can fully account for the motivations of all serial killers. Understanding the underlying factors that contribute to serial killing is crucial for developing effective prevention and intervention strategies.

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