The Personality of Charles Manson

Some People Are Born To Be Bad

The focus of this case study will be an examination of the personality of the notorious criminal and mass murderer Charles Manson. The study will examine the social background, family history and early development of Manson, and relate the specific factors associated with Manson’ early life with various theories of personality. The personality of Manson will be examined in light of various personality disorders exhibited by Manson include antisocial personality disorder, paranoid personality disorder, narcissistic personality disorder, and authoritarian personality disorder. It will be argued that Manson exhibited qualities that are consistent with these disorders very early life, and that nothing is his social, familial, or cultural background would account for such disorders. Hence, it will be suggested that Manson’s profoundly antisocial personality has a genetic basis.

Introduction