Sociology 2266A/B Study Guide - Quiz Guide: Dennis Nilsen, Dependent Personality Disorder, Avoidant Personality Disorder
26 Jul 2020
School
Department
Course
Professor
Personality disorder (mental illness according to the DSM)
− Antisocial personality disorder (overlap with psychopathy but not the same)
− Narcissistic personality disorder (conceptualisation of narcissism difficult – low self-
esteem/poor self-concept? But Dark Triad conflicts this?)
− Borderline Personality disorder (unstable, neurotic) – not as relevant to murder, more
women possess it
− Avoidant personality disorder (akin to interpersonal relating; Relating Theory Neutral
Distance – uncommunicative/suspicious– Birtchnell, 1994) – octagon theory
− Dependent personality disorder (akin to Lower Closeness/Fear of Rejection – Birtchnell,
1994)
Schizophrenia
− One of the most complex
− Often seen in insanity defences
− Amanda Bates – murdered own 5 children
− Voices told her to do it
− Complex – what role does social isolation play (Schizophrenia itself or the issues it relates
to?)
− Wallace et al (2004)
Contested diagnosis of mental disorder in court
− Dennis Nilsen
− Murdered 15 victims 1978-1983 in England
− Kept bodies for weeks/months, storing them away and then bringing them out again
− Necrophiliac
− Jury thought he was sane enough to serve life in Prison
Learning theories
− Social Learning Theory (Bandura, 1973) – learn behaviour through imitation
− For behaviour to be shaped appropriately, child must have a need to be accepted by others
– need to want to be liked
− Parenting important here
− Inconsistent parent discipline > may not learn what is acceptable behaviour
− Rejected child may not learn to desire acceptance/love of others
− Feelings of rejection > hostility/aggression (Bandura, 1973)
− Attachment theory links (psychodynamic) – social learning links to attachment theory
Learning theories - Inadequate parenting
− Failure to learn prosocial alternatives (restricted behavioural repertoire; Moffit 1993)
− Tremblay (1990) dominant antisocial repertoire likely to continue
− Sent on downward reinforcing spiral
Document Summary
Personality disorder (mental illness according to the dsm) Antisocial personality disorder (overlap with psychopathy but not the same) Borderline personality disorder (unstable, neurotic) not as relevant to murder, more women possess it. Avoidant personality disorder (akin to interpersonal relating; relating theory neutral. Distance uncommunicative/suspicious birtchnell, 1994) octagon theory. Dependent personality disorder (akin to lower closeness/fear of rejection birtchnell, Amanda bates murdered own 5 children. Complex what role does social isolation play (schizophrenia itself or the issues it relates to?) Kept bodies for weeks/months, storing them away and then bringing them out again. Jury thought he was sane enough to serve life in prison. Social learning theory (bandura, 1973) learn behaviour through imitation. For behaviour to be shaped appropriately, child must have a need to be accepted by others. Inconsistent parent discipline > may not learn what is acceptable behaviour. Rejected child may not learn to desire acceptance/love of others. Feelings of rejection > hostility/aggression (bandura, 1973)
