Education of a Felon:A Memoir: Edward Bunker

Case Analysis of Criminal Activity directly related to Parental Attachment, Emotional and Social Development

Adam Godard

Effects of Divorce on Children

• Divorce effects children physically, emotionally and socially.

• Some children such as Edward are left feeling unwanted and develop dysfunctional attention seeking behaviors which in his case was criminal activity.

• Children of divorced parents may not form attachment bonds with either parent that cause problems later in life.

Parent-Child Relationships

• Trust or mistrust forms between parent and child. Child senses if basic needs are being met if not begins to withdraw and protect self and at times act out for attention.

• Edward at the age of 3 committed his first crime by taking a claw hammer to an incinerator. This was the first of many crimes that more than likely his way of wanting acceptance from his parents.

Conduct Disorder• Defined as behavioral and

emotional problems in children.

• Children are labeled as bad, aggressive, disobedient, problem child.

• Some children have a higher IQ than their peers which contributes to this disorder.

• Edward disregarded authority

• Acted out in public• Parents called him a “bad

child”. • Edward had an above

average IQ and wanted to be looked at as an adult not a child. This contributed to his academic failure.

Cognitive DevelopmentParents have major role in teaching good vs bad behaviors.

Boys tend to model their fathers behaviors whereas girls tend to model mothers behaviors.

Fathers tend to respond to their sons the way their fathers responded to them. Can be positive or negative responses.

Edwards father had a issue with alcohol abuse. He was abusive to his mother and to Edward so a loving and nurturing relationship did not develop between the two.

Edward experienced no guidance in appropriate cognitive development from either his father or mother

Dysfunctional family relationship contributed to his life of crime and his disregard for authority.

Oppositional Defiant Disorder

• Several comorbidities such as anxiety, depression, ADHD and other forms of mental illness go along with this disorder according to research.

• Often undiagnosed in children• Tend to follow children into adulthood and

cause problems with work and relationships which Edward had a problem with.

Effects of Joint Custody on Children• Huge issue among

divorcing parents• Attempts to balance the

need for both parents in child's life

• If parents do not get along, children often caught in the middle.

• Edwards father valued his drinking more than spending time with his son.

• Edwards mother remarried and wanted nothing to do with him because he was “bad”.

Alcohol Abuse

• Very negative impact on people

• Legal drug• Abuse of is more

common in men than women

• Can tear a family apart• Affects more than just

the person abusing alcohol

Mother-Infant bonding• Very important during first

6 months of life• Mothers that do not bond

well with infants usually had so form of bonding issue with their own mother.

• Child lacks physical, emotional and psychological stability

• Edward’s mother was the victim of physical and verbal abuse by his dad so this was a very significant factor in her and Edward as a infant not bonding.

• Ultimate betrayal to Edward was being put in foster homes after his parents divorce. Neither parent wanted him.

Child Abuse

• Can be physical, mental or emotional

• Usually continues from one generation to another.

• Leads to low self-esteem, behavioral problems and sometimes suicidal behavior.

• Can lead to criminal activity as evidenced by Edward Bunker.

References

Arkes, J. (2013). The Temporal Effects of Parental Divorce on Youth Substance Use. Substance Use & Misuse, 48(3), 290-297. doi:10.3109/10826084.2012.755703Berk, L. (2014). Family Influences. In Exploring Lifespan Development (3rd ed.). Upper Saddle River, New Jersey: Pearson Education.Bunker, E. (2000). Education of a felon: A memoir. New York: St. Martin's PressFacts for Families. (2013, August 1). Retrieved October 10, 2014, from http://www.aacap.org/App_Themes/AACAP/docs/facts_for_families/33_conduct_disorder.pdfHalla, M. (2013). THE EFFECT OF JOINT CUSTODY ON FAMILY OUTCOMES. Journal Of The European Economic Association, 11(2), 278-315. doi:10.1111/jeea.12003Jang, M. H. (2012). Gender Differences in associations between parental problem drinking and early adolescents' Internet Addiction, 288-297. LONG, E. (2014). Memorable Experiences Between Fathers and Sons: Stories That Shape a Son's Identity and Perspective of His Father. Journal Of Men's Studies, 22(2), 122-139.Martín, V., Granero, R., & Ezpeleta, L. (2014). Comorbidity of oppositional defiant disorder and anxiety disorders in preschoolers. Psicothema, 26(1), 27-32. doi:10.7334/psicothema2013.75Muzik, M., Bocknek, E., Broderick, A., Richardson, P., Rosenblum, K., Thelen, K., & Seng, J. (2013). Mother-infant bonding impairment across the first 6 months postpartum: the primacy of psychopathology in women with childhood abuse and neglect histories. Archives Of Women's Mental Health, 16(1), 29-38. doi:10.1007/s00737-012-0312-0Norman, R. E., Byambaa, M., De, R., Butchart, A., Scott, J., & Vos, T. (2012). The Long-Term Health Consequences of Child Physical Abuse, Emotional Abuse, and Neglect: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Plos Medicine, 9(11), 1-31. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001349