PLAGIARISM FREE/ PLEASE SEE FILES FOR REFERENCE OF WEEKS 1-3. To better understand criminal behavior, we must also understand the elements of the crimes that are being committed. From this, we can cor

Criminality Based on Biological Factors

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Criminality Based on Biological Factors

Case Summary

A woman named Andrea Yates from the United States was judged to be responsible for the deaths of her five children in 2001 after they were found drowned in the bathtub of their house. It was discovered during her trial, which drew a lot of attention from the media, that at the time of the crimes, she was suffering from acute postpartum depression in addition to psychosis. This information came to light as the trial progressed. Yates had a history of mental illness and had been hospitalized on multiple occasions for feelings of hopelessness and suicidal ideation prior to the murders. It was determined that she was displaying signs of postpartum psychosis, which is a severe form of postpartum depression. In addition to hallucinations, these symptoms also included delusions and paranoia. She was checked into a mental health hospital when it was determined that she could not have committed the crime since she was mad, which was the reason why she was exonerated (Huckerby, 2003).

Genetic/Physiological Evidence

There is evidence to suggest that Yates' genetic makeup, as well as her physiological state, could have been an influence in her illegal conduct. This theory is supported by the fact that Yates has been charged with a crime. Because Yates's family has a history of both mental illness and suicide, it is reasonable to assume that she may have inherited some predispositions that make her more likely to acquire mental illness. Research has shown that postpartum psychosis is associated with a reduction in some hormones, such as estrogen and progesterone, which may have had a role in her mental condition. In addition, her mental state may have been affected by the fact that her hormone levels dropped after she gave birth. It's possible that this played a role in the symptoms that she was experiencing. In addition, research has shown that people who have postpartum psychosis may be at a higher risk of engaging in aggressive conduct than the general population.

Behaviors Aligning with Psychopathy

Yates' actions do not appear to be consistent with the kinds of behaviors that are typical of those who have been diagnosed with psychopathic disorders. A lack of empathy, regret, or remorse, as well as a contempt for the rights of others, are a few of the defining criteria that can be used to diagnose psychopathy. Other characteristics include a disregard for the rights of others. On the other hand, Yates had a history of mental illness and was said to be "emotional and regretful" when she was taken into prison at the time of the murder. This was during the time that the crime was committed. This was going on at the same time that the illegal act was being carried out. Additionally, her behavior before the killings gave the impression that she was battling with her mental health and was looking for methods to live with her condition to function normally in her daily life. This image was generated because of her behavior before the killings (Case, 2020).

Positivist Perspective

The scenario with Andrea Yates is a fantastic example of how the positivist worldview could be put into effect, and it serves in this capacity as an illustration. According to this line of thinking, some predispositions are more likely to result in criminal activity than others. A person's genetic makeup, as well as their current physiological state, are both examples of such predispositions. The fact that Yates's family has a history of both mental illness and suicide lends credence to the hypothesis that she may have inherited certain predispositions that make her more prone to acquiring the mental illness. Additionally, her altered physiological state at the time of the killings, which may have been caused by the postpartum depression she was experiencing, may have been a factor in her conduct of committing the crimes. Her postpartum depression played a role in influencing this aspect of the situation. This transpired as a consequence of the fact that, soon after giving birth to her child, she started feeling down in the dumps.

Classical/Neoclassical Perspective

The neoclassical view of crime is supported by the evidence that has the most weight, which is the judgment of guilty and the punishment handed down in the case of Andrea Yates. When determining an appropriate punishment for the offender, the mental state of the criminal and the circumstances that led to the commission of the crime should be considered. The offender should receive a punishment that is customized to the offender (Yates, 2012). According to this point of view, the offender should get a penalty that is customized to the offender. In the case of Yates, it was ruled that she was not guilty of the crime due to the fact that she was insane; accordingly, as a result of this judgment, she was confined to a psychiatric facility. This is a sort of punishment that takes into account her mental condition and her particular circumstances, and it is tailored to fit her needs in light of those aspects since it is customized to match those requirements.

References

Case, A. Y. (2020). Reflections of an Expert Witness in the. Infanticide and Filicide: Foundations in Maternal Mental Health Forensics, 179.

Huckerby, J. (2003). Women Who Kill Their Children: Case Study and Conclustions Concerning the Differences in the Fall from Maternal Grace by Khoua Her and Andrea Yates. Duke J. Gender L. & Pol'y, 10, 149.

Yates, A. (2012). Supporting parents of young children with severe disabilities: An action research study (Doctoral dissertation, Fielding Graduate University).