Ted Bundy was made as there are environmental factors which influenced his development. Some environmental factors during his childhood could have influenced his development, even though they could have triggered his biological disposition (Ryan, 2018). His personality development was interrupted due to the abuse and trauma during his childhood. During his childhood, he was physically abused, and one of his parents engaged in substance abuse. As a sociopath, his behavior could have emanated from the unstable background that he grew up in, as his mother was ashamed of him, and he grew up knowing that his grandparents were his parents (Ryan, 2018). Generally, sociopathy emanates from environmental factors such as a child’s upbringing in a negative household that lead to emotional abuse, childhood trauma or physical abuse.
Bundy could have stopped his impulses by seeking treatment, particularly since he was studying psychology and had a better understanding of human behavior than the average person. He could have looked for treatment to help deal with his antisocial tendencies and refrain from the antagonistic actions that later arose, such as a series of murders (Ryan, 2018). Bundy could have realized that his actions were abnormal as a psychology student. He could have acknowledged that he needed constant stimulation as he could get bored easily and had to be actively engaged. Additionally, Bundy could have looked for long-term therapy for him to effectively ascertain his problem (Ryan, 2018). He could have stopped his impulses through confronting the problem head-on. As a psychology student, the approach could have helped him acknowledge that it is a complex group of actions and behaviors that work together and dealing with the entire issue instead of all the parts would be a beneficial start.
The system, his family or even society could have done certain things differently to prevent Bundy from developing into a full-blown killer. Those close to Bundy could have identified the key factors that could have resulted in the sociopath Bundy demonstrated (Ryan, 2018). Bundy portrayed aggression was earlier diagnosed with an adjusted disorder, raised by a parent who engaged in substance abuse and underwent through physical abuse during his childhood. Such factors could have considerably influenced his behavior, and society and the family members could have focused on addressing these issues. His family could have realized that the driving force for Bundy was to dominate others to feel in power and control (Ryan, 2018). Society and his family could have acknowledged that Bundy did not have a conscience, and he was willing to do anything to get what he wanted. Identifying such characteristics could have been crucial in finding effective strategies to address his condition. Bundy’s family could have used effective strategies such as talk therapy to help manage his anger and violence.
The society can use several strategies to respond to individuals like Bundy, who are sociopathic and unlikely to benefit from treatment. The use of assertive communication can play a crucial role in responding to sociopathic individuals. Passive or aggressive modes of communication may result in problems. Individuals in society should refrain from engaging in arguments as they may prompt sociopathic individuals to become aggressive and engage in killings, just like Bundy did. Limiting the time one is willing to spend with a sociopathic individual is an ideal way of responding to them. One can consider phone calls or virtual get-togethers rather than in-person meetings. Society should realize that setting clear boundaries to safeguard emotional and physical space is crucial as a way of responding to sociopathic individuals who cannot benefit from treatment.
References
Ryan McCarty. (Mar 10, 2018). Ted Bundy Documentary Biography Channel. tedbundystuff.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H7DAPH2cCrk
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