Aileen Wuornos Case Study

Aileen Wuornos was a female serial killer who killed 6 men in a 1-year period (1989-1990) across the state highways of Florida. She worked as a prostitute, picking up potential clients from means of hitchhiking. Long before her killings, Aileen lived an abnormal and rough early life. Her father committed suicide in prison (imprisoned for child molestation) and her mother abandoned her and her brother Keith. Aileen and Keith were raised by their grandparents in which Aileen claimed that she was sexually abused by her grandfather and was involved in a sexual relationship with her brother (Biography.com Editors, 2015). There were also allegations that her grandmother was an alcoholic and her grandfather “a terrifying, violent force” (Biography.com Editors, 2015). There are also claims that she was kicked out as a teenager and lived in the woods independently during her adolescence. Given Aileen’s cruel and horrific childhood, adolescence, and teen life, it is evident that the psychodynamic theory of psychological theories of crime applies as an explanation
She was sexually abused during her childhood by someone that was supposed to be her protector and guardian and raised around alcoholism (grandparents). On top of that, she had no maternal and/or paternal guidance, all of which most likely contributed to her deviance and lack of morals (lack of ego leads to an underdeveloped superego as stated in Aileen’s case). Aileen Wuornos also claimed that she lived in the woods during her adolescence forcing her to be independent. This could explain one reason as to why she eventually became a prostitute. She had no education or work experience and made quick money by selling herself to men for sexual pleasures. More simply stated, she depended solely on herself to make ends meet. With an educational and moral deficiency, she took up prostitution to do just