Andrei Chikatilo

Andrei Chikatilo To understand criminal behavior it is superstar has to understand criminology. Criminology focuses on why people rank crime. Many theorists have developed criminological descriptions and explanations as to why crime occurs. These theories be then applied to events or individuals in an attempt to explain criminal behavior. Serial killers are very difficult to assess, but, because of the nature and extent of their crimes, many have been pushed to examine what goes on in the minds of these concomitant killers.Although some may use different criminological theories to explain different individuals, I believe that Sigmund Freuds concept of Id, Superego and Ego best explains Andrei Chikatilo actions. Freuds theory falls into Control Theories which argues that without appropriate socialization, people act on their preprogrammed tendency towards crime and deviance. If it werent for restraints on peoples innate self-tendencies, everyone would naturally commit crime (Tibb etts, 2012). Controltheories concentrate on social control.It focuses on how individuals relate to their social surrounds or how they relate to agents of socialization. Agents such as family members, school teachers, church members, pack media or police officers. It explains how bonding and interacting with society keeps people away from criminal behaviors. Freud had formed his own theory on how individuals choose crime over anything else He developed the concept of ID, Ego and Superego. He states that individuals are all born with inherent drives and motivations that gravitate towards selfishness and greed (Tibbetts, 2012).Freud in any case felt that crime is not triggered because a person has criminal tendencies it is caused by an underdeveloped or traumatized psyche. Traumatic experiences in early childhood can tarnished individuals psyche. The psyche is divided into troika domains the Id, the Ego and The Superego. These domains also develop at different stages in our lives. T he Id domain is what Freud states that we are born with it is the phalanx behind our desires. When we want to consume food and drink, transcend or have sexual desires, these drives are the demands of the Id.It seeks pleasure and satisfaction it is unaware or unaffected by reality. The Id can be seen as the dark location or the devil of an individuals personality. Selfishness plays a huge roll with this domain, as it doesnt care about anyone elses needs or wants. Its has no values, no righteouss and no sense of judgment. Our needs are stored up in the Id and no matter what, they must be complete. As individuals let down to interact with others and society, the second of the three domains starts to develop. This is known as the superego. The superego is different from the Id.It has demands that are contrary to the ones of the Id. The superego is the part of the psyche that demands us to act in a socially accepted way, whereas the id demands us to act selfish and inconsiderate. I t controls what actions we deem to be right and wrong and also controls the feeling of guilt. The superego is what helps us to bond and mix into society. It is the driving force that controls or stops the demands of the Id. If the ego succumbs to the demands of the Id, then the superego steps in with guilt. Individuals tend to feel bad when this happen.The last of the three domains is the Ego. The ego is the conscious part of a persons psyche that divides thoughts into what is real from what is not. It is based on reasoning, trying to take a realistic approach to things. In addition the ego also acts as a mediator between the Id and the superego. The ego shares the same demands of the Id, but tries to obtain those pleasures in a realistic way. It is always trying to satisfy the demands of the id and moral demands of the superego. However the ego tends to gravitate more towards the demands of the id.Freud argues that persons with a deficient superego due to poor interactions with par ents and others have problems controlling the demands of the Id. Children can learn right from wrong when they are increase up. They may be born with Id desires but would be able to control those desires by what they have learnt growing up. Andrei Chikatilo grew up in a humankind of frenzy and human degradation. As a child he had to suffer the effects of the war which made food supplies go scarce. As a guide of this there were mass out breaks of cannibalism. Chikatilo was also kept from the outside world at some point in time.His mother always threatened him. She told him that if he goes out to play when it becomes dark, he will be eaten just like his brother. His father was also absent in his life as he was table service in the war. It is said that he also witness an assault and rape on his mother. As a child, Chikatilo did not learn moral values growing up they were missing because of poor parenting. Things like these would traumatize a young childs undeveloped psyche. So he grew up not universe able to control his urges. As Chikatilo grew up his superego developed. In his late teens he tries to better himself and he attained a university degree.At the age of twenty-eight he get married and some years later he started a family. He found work as communication technician and still continued to gain a higher(prenominal) education. He had a family, he was a good husband, he had a house and by Russian standards, he had a pretty good life. He was even involved in the communist party. Chikatilo was now acting in a socially acceptable manner he was living to the demands of his superego. He did what it takes to conk into society. However as he was suppressing the demands of his Id by playing the part of Mr. Nice guy, he wasnt able to keep it under control.I would believe that his ego was slashed it wasnt able to keep that balance between the Id and superego. In the early 1970s Chikatilo started preying on young children. After he was caught he moved and star ted a new life. This was where his Id took over. He would have murderous desires and he acted on them he kidnapped a young girl, nine year old, Yelena Zakotnova. It was then he discovered that violence on individuals fulfills his desires. As he molested the girl he grew increasingly excited and wanted to have more direct sexual contact with her body.His Id is now in full control wanting him to fulfill his desires, without even thinking about how his action will affect others or the young girl. After he fulfilled his desires hes super ego kicked back in. He almost got caught so he decided to take a break. Now, he returned to being a normal citizen and started thinking about his actions. For over ten years he was able to keep his urges under control, but he gave into those urges and killed over and over again. Andrei Chikatilo struggles with his personality. At one time he follows the demands of the super ego another time he just forgets about everything and fulfill his desires.He was able to switch and let one part of his psyche be in control, while the other is dormant. He was able to keep his two personalities separated. Andrei Chickatilo killed fifty-three people, adults and children alike, from nine to forty-five in the quadrangle of twelve years. What could cause someone to kill this many times? In Chikatilos case I think that the war between his Id and superego was too untold for his weakened ego. When this happened either one was able to be dominant and take over this personality. This is what caused him to kill one time and act in a socially accepted manner another time.