Research Paper
Table of Contents Topic Paragraph
Introduction 1 David Berkowitz
Early Life 2 Family & Childhood
Psychological theory 3 Psychosexual Development
“The Son of Sam” 4 The Killings
Letters 5 David and N.Y.P.D
Conducting the Killings 6 Lack of Preparation
Interview with Berkowitz 7 Confession by David Berkowitz
Conclusion
David Berkowitz arrested on August 10, 1977, was a serial killer from New York who killed six victims and leaving others injured. Known as the Son of Sam or .44 Caliber Killers by the New York Police department and the U.S. While Berkowitz claimed to be possessed by demons and called himself “The Son of Sam.” Berkowitz falls under the psychological theory due to the traumas he went through his early life.
David Berkowitz was the son of Tony and Betty Falco, born on June 1, 1953 and named Richard David Falco. His father left his mother for another woman leaving his mother to eventually have an affair with a married man. When she got pregnant of this man he threatened her to leave her if she kept the child. Right when the child was born he was put up for adoption but Betty Falco put Tony Falco as his biological father. After a few days he was adopted by a middle age couple Nathan and Pearl Berkowitz who renamed him David Berkowitz and raised him as their only son. Berkowitz grew up being a kid who kept to himself due to him following his adoptive parents’ ways. In this scenario he would fall under Behaviorism which emphasizes on “The role of previous learning experiences in shaping behavior.”1 Although he adopted his step parents’ ways he was a smart kid, he played baseball as an outside activity and escape to his neighborhoods reputation of being a bully. He lost his adoptive mother to breast cancer during his teenager years which deeply affected him due to his close relationship to her.