In the case of Charles Manson, there are many factors at play during his life that contribute to his psychopathy. By analyzing these factors and connecting them to material learned in class, a deeper understanding Charles Manson and his crimes can be gained.
Early Childhood Trauma
Throughout multiple interviews, Manson mentions the trauma he endured during his early childhood. After being abandoned by his father and neglected by his mother, he bounced around between family members committing gradually more severe crimes until finally he was made a ward of the state. During his time under the states control, he was housed in a variety of boarding schools, reform schools, and detention facilities. Manson stated that while staying at one particular reform school called the Gibault Home for Boys, he learned "how to keep [his] feelings to [him]self, because if you care too much about a part of your life and personal habits, others will take advantage of it and ridicule you." He also reportedly was both physically and sexually abused repeatedly while at this home. In their book Psychopathy: An Introduction to Biological findings and Their Implications, Glenn and Raine (2014), highlight key factors involved in the development of psychopathy from childhood. They cite multiple studies which support the concept that abuse and neglect sustained before the age of 11 acts as a frequent precursor to high PCL-R scores in adulthood.
Types of Aggression
Generally speaking, there are two types of aggression: Predatory or Instrumental and Affective or Reactive. Predatory aggression, according to Helfgott (2008), is defined as aggression committed when there is no threat present; it is goal oriented. On the other hand, affective aggression is emotionally driven. Manson, like most psychopaths, committed his crimes based on predatory aggression. Even his juvenile crimes of theft were committed on the basis that he was poor, needed food and had no probelm taking advantage of the weak and vulnerable. This predatory aggression carried over to adult hood as is evidenced by the murder of Gary Hinman which was motivated by Manson feeling that Hinman owed him and the Manson Family land and money. Additionally, the Tate-LaBianca killings were committed for the express reason of igniting the race war 'Helter Skelter' that Manson believed was part of his destiny. In neither of these instances did Manson have any emotional reason for killing or for choosing those specific victims; he simply had a goal that he needed to achieve and these people were the stepping stones on which to travel. Additionally, Porter and Woodworth found in their article Psychopathy and Aggression, that predatory aggression in children is an indicator of "atypical affective functioning" and could be tied to antisocial behavior throughout the child's lifetime (Patrick, 2006, p. 483).
Manipulation Games and The Family
Manson shows a particular affinity for manipulation. He intentionally chose followers to induct into The Family that he felt would be malleable to his vision. He manipulated and coerced them into agreeing with his psychopathic and psychotic beliefs. In this way, he took a group of impressionable young people and twisted their minds to think like a psychopath. He had them so fully under his control that he convinced them to brutally and remorselessly kill seven people without him so much as even entering the scene of the crime. Even those whom he claimed to care most about were simply pawns in his game. While the motives for the crimes may have been psychotically driven (Helter Skelter), the planning and manipulation of the murders themselves display the mind of a severely antisocial leader. Additionally, Manson still refuses to take responsibility for his parts in the crimes. During their trials, Manson further flexed his power over the women of The Family by giving the three women on trial specific instructions to follow that were often times outrageous yet they continued blindly followed instructions. There have also been reports from past Manson Family members of group acid trips in which Manson would instruct everyone to take LSD with the promise that it would make them closer but often times no one observed Manson himself actually taking the drugs (Watkins, 2012).
Unconscious Defense Process/Conscious Cognitive Styles
Although Manson was at least partially motivated by psychosis and didn't physically commit any of the murders himself, the primitive borderline defenses common to most primary psychopaths is still visible in his behavior. This process is composed of six defense processes which build on one another and ultimately lead the psychopath to decide that crime is the only solution. When looking specifically at the murder of Gary Hinman, with whom Manson had a personal relationship, the process is evident.
Splitting - Black and white view on the world. People are either all good or all bad. In the case of Manson, he was all good and the family was all good but the other races were all bad. Hinman in the beginning was all good as well since he was a friend of Manson's.
Primitive idealization - Idealization of victim to meet a specific stereotype. Manson idealized Hinman as a loyal friend and has high expectations for him.
Projective identification - Projecting ones own feelings onto the victims. Manson did not do this specifically with the victims he chose but he did do this with the Family Members he selected to carry out the murders as well as with Hinman himself.
Devaluation - Morphing of the victim into a monster in order to preserve ones own sense of importance (result of splitting). Hinman became all bad once Manson began to feel that he owed The Family money and property.
Omnipotence - belief that the perpetrator is entitled to harm someone they now view as a monster. Manson's view of Hinman had morphed and now he felt entitled to carry out what he saw as justice.
Denial - self image remains all good despite the antisocial actions that were just performed. Manson continued to feel that he was the key to rebuilding the world after Helter Skelter despite the fact that he had just ordered a once good friend to be murdered. Manson still does not accept responsibility for the murders he ordered his followers to carry out.
Early Childhood Trauma
Throughout multiple interviews, Manson mentions the trauma he endured during his early childhood. After being abandoned by his father and neglected by his mother, he bounced around between family members committing gradually more severe crimes until finally he was made a ward of the state. During his time under the states control, he was housed in a variety of boarding schools, reform schools, and detention facilities. Manson stated that while staying at one particular reform school called the Gibault Home for Boys, he learned "how to keep [his] feelings to [him]self, because if you care too much about a part of your life and personal habits, others will take advantage of it and ridicule you." He also reportedly was both physically and sexually abused repeatedly while at this home. In their book Psychopathy: An Introduction to Biological findings and Their Implications, Glenn and Raine (2014), highlight key factors involved in the development of psychopathy from childhood. They cite multiple studies which support the concept that abuse and neglect sustained before the age of 11 acts as a frequent precursor to high PCL-R scores in adulthood.
Types of Aggression
Generally speaking, there are two types of aggression: Predatory or Instrumental and Affective or Reactive. Predatory aggression, according to Helfgott (2008), is defined as aggression committed when there is no threat present; it is goal oriented. On the other hand, affective aggression is emotionally driven. Manson, like most psychopaths, committed his crimes based on predatory aggression. Even his juvenile crimes of theft were committed on the basis that he was poor, needed food and had no probelm taking advantage of the weak and vulnerable. This predatory aggression carried over to adult hood as is evidenced by the murder of Gary Hinman which was motivated by Manson feeling that Hinman owed him and the Manson Family land and money. Additionally, the Tate-LaBianca killings were committed for the express reason of igniting the race war 'Helter Skelter' that Manson believed was part of his destiny. In neither of these instances did Manson have any emotional reason for killing or for choosing those specific victims; he simply had a goal that he needed to achieve and these people were the stepping stones on which to travel. Additionally, Porter and Woodworth found in their article Psychopathy and Aggression, that predatory aggression in children is an indicator of "atypical affective functioning" and could be tied to antisocial behavior throughout the child's lifetime (Patrick, 2006, p. 483).
Manipulation Games and The Family
Manson shows a particular affinity for manipulation. He intentionally chose followers to induct into The Family that he felt would be malleable to his vision. He manipulated and coerced them into agreeing with his psychopathic and psychotic beliefs. In this way, he took a group of impressionable young people and twisted their minds to think like a psychopath. He had them so fully under his control that he convinced them to brutally and remorselessly kill seven people without him so much as even entering the scene of the crime. Even those whom he claimed to care most about were simply pawns in his game. While the motives for the crimes may have been psychotically driven (Helter Skelter), the planning and manipulation of the murders themselves display the mind of a severely antisocial leader. Additionally, Manson still refuses to take responsibility for his parts in the crimes. During their trials, Manson further flexed his power over the women of The Family by giving the three women on trial specific instructions to follow that were often times outrageous yet they continued blindly followed instructions. There have also been reports from past Manson Family members of group acid trips in which Manson would instruct everyone to take LSD with the promise that it would make them closer but often times no one observed Manson himself actually taking the drugs (Watkins, 2012).
Unconscious Defense Process/Conscious Cognitive Styles
Although Manson was at least partially motivated by psychosis and didn't physically commit any of the murders himself, the primitive borderline defenses common to most primary psychopaths is still visible in his behavior. This process is composed of six defense processes which build on one another and ultimately lead the psychopath to decide that crime is the only solution. When looking specifically at the murder of Gary Hinman, with whom Manson had a personal relationship, the process is evident.
Splitting - Black and white view on the world. People are either all good or all bad. In the case of Manson, he was all good and the family was all good but the other races were all bad. Hinman in the beginning was all good as well since he was a friend of Manson's.
Primitive idealization - Idealization of victim to meet a specific stereotype. Manson idealized Hinman as a loyal friend and has high expectations for him.
Projective identification - Projecting ones own feelings onto the victims. Manson did not do this specifically with the victims he chose but he did do this with the Family Members he selected to carry out the murders as well as with Hinman himself.
Devaluation - Morphing of the victim into a monster in order to preserve ones own sense of importance (result of splitting). Hinman became all bad once Manson began to feel that he owed The Family money and property.
Omnipotence - belief that the perpetrator is entitled to harm someone they now view as a monster. Manson's view of Hinman had morphed and now he felt entitled to carry out what he saw as justice.
Denial - self image remains all good despite the antisocial actions that were just performed. Manson continued to feel that he was the key to rebuilding the world after Helter Skelter despite the fact that he had just ordered a once good friend to be murdered. Manson still does not accept responsibility for the murders he ordered his followers to carry out.