Analysis of Personality Disorder and Crime - Essay Example

Case Study Analysis of Personality Disorder and Crime Case Study Analysis of Personality Disorder and Crime Introduction The media have been giving attention to crimes committed by people with mental disorders. Many serial killers depicted in different sources have highlighted that the individuals suffer from different mental disorders. Without a doubt, an existing connection has been identified between mental illnesses and violence. Worst still, many offenders involved in serious crimes have claimed that they are not responsible for the crimes because of their mental disorders they suffer from. One of the common mental disorders is the personality disorder. People with a personality disorder exhibit numerous problematic traits that do not conform to healthy personality functioning. In order to understand the close association between personality disorder and crime, the cases of Nicola Edgington and Jessica McCord will be analysed in this paper. In addition, the paper will give attention to social control, which is of critical importance in any society. The two high profiled cases will critically be analysed in this paper. Personality Disorder and Offending Personality disorder has been defined based on clinical terms, legal terms, as well as according to social understanding. According to the clinical definition, individuals with personality disorder exhibit highly problematic traits that may trigger distress to themselves or those around them. In addition, personality disorder exhibits persistent problematic traits that may begin at a young age and continue for a long time. Such problematic traits are pervasive because they impair the life of the individual in different aspects. In many cases, people with personality disorders are unable to maintain family, social, or intimate relationships (Bowers, 2002). Specialists have highlighted that individuals with personality disorders may experience frequent mood swings and be unable to control their behaviour. In some cases, they prove to be very hostile towards others and exhibit high levels of suspiciousness. The relationships of such individuals are always stormy, and they often exhibit emotional outbursts of high intensity. Some may indulge in substance misuse and may even harm themselves. Other individuals spend their lives, causing harm to others or seeking approval from others. Paranoid schizophrenia and borderline personality disorders mentioned in the cases of Nicola and Jessica are some of the common personality disorders. Paranoid schizophrenia is defined by high levels of suspiciousness, distrust, lack of attachment to others and flattened emotions (Buchanan & Grounds, 2011). On the other hand, individuals with borderline personality disorder have unstable relationships, poor self-image, and may prove to be highly impulsive. Individuals with personality disorder are susceptible to committing the crime because they have numerous problematic traits. Some of them experience emotional crises, a factor that may affect their power of judgement and reasoning. In other cases, individuals with personality disorder may be violent in nature. Such violence may culminate into offending. Impulsivity governs other personality disorders. Therefore, individuals with such personality disorders may commit crimes out of impulsivity (Buchanan & Leese, 2001). Some personality disorders make individuals, aggressive and controlling, a character trait that may expose them to crime. Other personality disorders make people lack empathy, a factor that may motivate them to commit a crime against fellow humans. In some cases, individuals with personality disorders indulge in violent fantasies and may choose to make them real. Some individuals will commit crimes in search for attention from others. Noncompliance may also be evident in individuals with personality disorders exposing them to crime (Corbett & Westwood, 2005). A close analysis of two cases of women with personality disorders and their susceptibility to committing crime serves to highlight that personality disorder may contribute to the development of problematic traits leading to crime. The story of Nicola Edgington has been on different media platforms, especially after 2011 when she was involved in murder cases. In 2005, Nicola was 25 years old and killed her mother registering her first crime. A close analysis of the events leading to the crime reveals that her mother invited Nicola to her home. Prior to the murder, Nicola had spent time with her brother. Upon returning to her mother’s house, Nicole used a large kitchen knife to stab her mother to death (Duggan, 2011). It was established that there was a dispute concerning the welfare of Nicola’s young children. On October 10, 2011, Nicola started making calls to the police claiming that there were strangers in her flat. The following day, she was admitted to a hospital but escaped. Nicola decided to buy a large kitchen knife, which she used to stab Kerry Clark. Fortunately, Kerry fought back and survived the ordeal. Nicola left the scene, although members of the public notified the police. She went further to obtain another knife from a butcher’s shop, which she used to stab Mrs. Sally Hodkin, who succumbed to the injuries. The police caught up with Nicola after she stabbed Mrs. Hodkin and arrested her. The specialists assessing the condition of Nicola before the trial brought forth different findings. Some of the specialists highlighted that she suffered from Schizophrenia (Fiona Hamilton & Kat, 2013). However, the prosecution highlighted that Nicola had borderline personality disorder. On the other hand, Jessica McCord plotted the death of her ex-husband in collaboration with her husband then, Jeff McCord in 2003. It was established that Jessica had grown up in an abusive family and that she suffered from borderline personality disorder. During her marriage with her ex-husband Alan Bates, Jessica exhibited numerous symptoms of borderline personality disorders because of the psychological disorder she suffered during her childhood (Gurr, 2003). After a difficult relationship, defined by Jessica’s pathological nature, Bates filed for a divorce. After the divorce, Bates needed to get custody of the two children they had together. However, Jessica made it extremely difficult for him to visit even the children. In 2003, Bates was fortunate enough to be granted visitation rights. Notably, both Jessica and Bates had remarried. When Bates and his wife visited Jessica in order to see the children, Jessica, and her husband tricked them into the back of the house, and Jessica shot them dead. Both Jessica and her husband faced a charge for the two murder cases (International Business, 2013). Women with Personality Disorders Researchers have sought to highlight the prevalence of personality disorders among women. Some studies reveal that men are more likely to develop personality disorders while such cases are rare among women. However, the World Health Organization recognizes the vulnerability of women to developing personality disorders. Personality disorders may result from childhood abuse, neglect, sexual and physical abuse, as well as emotional abuse (Julian, 2013). Women are more exposed to such types of violence and forms of abuse. Therefore, such factors increase their susceptibility to developing personality disorders. According to recent research, men and women are likely to suffer schizophrenia and bipolar disorder art relatively similar rates. There are gender differences in the development of certain personality disorders. Women may exhibit certain risk factors that may contribute to the development of personality disorder. Some of the risk factors include gender-based violence, low income, low social status, as well as a socioeconomic disadvantage (Kwon, 2015). Research has revealed that doctors are more likely to diagnose depression in women positively, compared to men. Media and Personality Disorders Notably, the media plays a critical role in the perception of personality disorders. The media has highlighted the connection between personality disorders and violence. However, the media do not recognize or highlight the complexities surrounding personality disorders. Many media sources have over-represented the number of people with personality disorders who commit crimes. Therefore, the influence of the media has led to an assumption that anyone committing a serious crime has a mental illness especially a personality disorder. The justice system regards such individuals as evil and dangerous (Ministry of Justice, 2011). The media propagates such perceptions, a factor that increases the public anxieties. Notably, there are people with personality disorders, but who do not commit crimes. Unfortunately, the media has led to the development of stigma towards people with personality disorders. Film directors have ridiculed individuals with a personality disorder by depicting them as committing horrific crimes. In over 45% of television programs, producers and scriptwriters portray individuals with personality disorders as highly dangerous. Unfortunately, the media presents cases without ensuring that there is a proper balance in their reporting (Mullen, 2007). The effects of such reporting have led to social rejection and exclusion of people with personality disorders. The negative image that the media creates in an effort to describe people with personality disorders has made the justice system to become less sensitive. For such individuals, in many places, individuals with personality disorders are likely to be discriminated and denied employment opportunities. According to recent studies on the moral panic theory, the media may contribute to increasing violence and crimes depending on how they report incidences. In many cases, different media forms, causing public anxiety (Peay, 2011a), may falsify the representation of the potential threat to the public resulting from individuals with personality disorders. Unfortunately, the media’s coverage supported that people with mental illnesses can prove to be highly dangerous to the society. The media quoted some of the sentencing remarks during Nicola’s sentencing and emphasized that she was not only dangerous but also manipulative. A similar coverage was exhibited in the case of Jessica McCord. Many reporters and newspapers highlighted that she was a merciless killer (Peay, 2011b). In the case of Nicola, the media gave attention to the steps she took so as to ensure that she committed a crime. Although she knew she was having a relapse, she left the hospital and purchased a large knife for her act. Therefore, the media highlighted that despite her mental health condition, Nicola had the capacity to plot her acts well. However, the public was shocked by Nicola’s actions, and many of the people felt that the 37-year sentence was fair enough. However, the case served to shed light on issues related to crime and mental disorders (Seddon, 2008b). Treatment Option for Personality Disorder Unlike the representations of personality disorders in the media, research has highlighted that it is possible for individuals suffering from different types of personality disorders to register the positive change. In many cases, when individuals with personality disorders receive the relevant care, they are likely to present lesser symptoms and limited mood changes. Therefore, they are no longer positively diagnosed with personality disorders (Trebilcock, 2012). For example, individuals who receive therapy during the younger years when they exhibit borderline traits may eventually overcome the personal crisis and become normal individuals. Unfortunately, about 10-15% of individual with personality disorders may commit suicide or take overdoses of drugs leading to premature deaths. The good news is that many individuals with personality disorders are responsive to different types of therapy and overcome the personality disorder with time (Tyrer, Duggan, Cooper, Crawford, Seivewright, Rutter, Maden, 2010). Individuals with personality disorders who commit crimes and end up in prisons may have access to accredited prison programs that may help them manage their behaviour effectively. In other cases, individuals may seek democratic therapeutic communities who offer treatment programs lasting for 18 months. Notably, democratic therapeutic communities represent an alternative to social therapy coupled with an accredited offending behaviour program. The program exposes individuals to a favourable environment that can help individuals with personality disorders to manage their behaviour effectively. When it comes to individuals with dangerous and severe personality disorders, they should receive special programs because they exhibit extreme cases of personality disorders (Vanessa Allen & Neil, 2013). People who qualify for dangerous and severe personality disorders should be confined in high-security units available in both security hospitals and prison estates. Notably, Nicola and Jessica’s cases can be categorized under the dangerous and severe personality disorders. Therefore, both should be placed in the high-security units as a measure to protect others because they can be dangerous. High-security units have been established in order to provide help to patients with disorders that make them dangerous (Völlm & Konappa, 2012). Such patients require critical forensic mental healthcare. In England and Wales, there are currently three high-security hospitals Ashworth, Broadmoor, and Rampton with a bed capacity of about 795. These institutions provide high-security services and receive patients from prisons or from other institutions who require high levels of healthcare. Admission into high-security hospitals depends on the level of risk posed by the patient as well as responsiveness to different types of treatment. Women such as Nicola and Jessica should be admitted to such institutions. Conclusion The cases highlighted above reveal that there is a salient need for the government to introduce stringent social control measures in an effort to protect the public from the harm inflicted by people with dangerous and severe personality disorders. Evidently, there is a close association between personality disorders and crime as depicted in the case of Nicola and Jessica. The current systems need to ensure that such individual have access to forensic mental healthcare and that they are confined in high-security units in an effort to protect other people. 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