Psychological Criminal Behavior: A Case Study of Jodi Arias

Introduction

Jodi Arias, a 32 years-old-woman from Arizona, was convicted of killing her x-lover, Alexander Travis, on 4th June 2008 (Sarteschi, 2017). The trial took place in 2013, where the lady was found guilty of first-degree murder and thereby sentenced to life in prison (Sarteschi, 2017). For two years after the murder incident, the crime offender had maintained that some intruders broke into her house and killed her x-lover. Later, Ms. Arias changed her side of the story to self-defense after admitting that the intruder version was a complete fabrication. The court found that the defendant nearly decapitated her ex-boyfriend, having shot and stabbed him 27 times (Sarteschi, 2017). In the court ruling, the jury concluded that Mr. Alexander died as a result of ‘‘sharp force trauma of neck and torso" (Sarteschi, 2017, p.109).

Is your time best spent reading someone else’s essay? Get a 100% original essay FROM A CERTIFIED WRITER!

Order now

Information About the Crime Offender

Court documents have essential information about Ms. Arias. Of great note is that she had post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) (Crist et al., 2013). Also, there is evidence that the crime offender experienced dissociative amnesia during and immediately after the murder crime (Crist et al., 2013). Besides, the defense and the prosecution's psychiatric diagnoses indicated that the defendant was suffering from transient global disorder (Sarteschi, 2017).

Psychotherapists that supported the defense also tabled evidence that showed that the victim and Ms. Arias had an abusive relationship that bred domestic violence. Hence, Ms. Arias was a victim of family violence. According to Kouri (2016), the lady did not have a high school diploma at the crime time. The author further noted that Ms. Arias hailed from a working-class family and had spent most of her adult years working as a waitress (Kouri, 2016).

The Offender’s Criminality and Psychological Theory of Crime

There is physiological evidence that supports the notion that traits and biology influenced Ms. Aria's criminal behavior. The two psychiatric diagnoses, transient global disorder, and PTSD precipitated Ms. Aria's criminality. These mental illnesses are characterized by adverse changes in thinking and mood, which is also evident in the criminal offender's life. Key symptoms of PTSD related to moods and thoughts include negative thinking about others and oneself, feeling detached from close people, hopelessness, and difficulty maintaining relationships (Andrews et al., 2000). Symptoms related to changes in physical and emotional reactions include aggressive behavior, irritability, and angry outbursts. The transient global disorder is characterized by sudden memory loss that renders one unable to recall recent events.

Several elements show how the symptoms of PTSD and transient global disorder connect with Ms. Aria’s behavior. This alignment provides evidence that supports an argument that psychological factors, specifically transient global disorder and PTSD, led Ms. Arias to commit murder. First, the crime offender did not have a memory of what transpired during the killing. This aspect is a symptom of transient global disorder, a condition characterized by a sudden memory loss. According to Crist et al. (2013), Ms. Arias testified that she could not recall what happed after the gunshot. Besides, the lady had recurring suicidal behavior, which is a key symptom of PTSD. Psychiatric evaluators reported that the criminal offender was imminently suicidal (Crist et al., 2013). This aspect shows how Aria's behavior constitutes PTSD.

Secondly, the defendant had antisocial behaviors. She even engaged in a series of fights with her lover some days before the murder. According to Kouri (2016), the crime offender did not have a history of antisocial behaviors in her life. This phenomenon suggests that Ms. Aria’s aggressive personality played a key role in her criminality. Besides, there are reports that the lady had been caring, kind, sensitive, and wonderful before meeting Mr. Alexander (Kouri, 2016). This situation provides evidence that Ms. Arias experienced adverse emotional and mood changes that precipitated her criminal behavior. The psychological theory of crime holds that some mental illnesses are associated with a criminal tendency (Moore, 2011). Ms. Arias had an antisocial personality, which Moore (2011) said is strongly correlated with criminality.

Ms. Arias meets the diagnostic criteria of psychopathy, thus indicating that her traits contributed to criminal behavior. In this regard, psychopathy constitutes a cluster of personality traits, including grandiosity, impulsiveness, dishonesty, and manipulation (Sarteschi, 2017). These personality traits are distinctly applicable to the offender in two ways. First, Ms. Arias lied several times in court. Secondly, she engaged in behaviors that she believed was beneficial to her, but, in a real sense, were destructive to the case (Sarteschi, 2017). As an example, the lady contemplated suicide to avoid prison (Sarteschi, 2017).

As mentioned earlier, Ms. Arias did not have a history of criminal behavior, suggesting that she learned it in adulthood. This aspect has a theoretical basis because the psychological theory of crime states that processes underlying behavior and restraints result from social experiences and biological predispositions (Moore, 2011). The interaction of domestic violence and loss of socio-emotional attachment to Mr. Alexander precipitated Ms. Aria’s criminality and, by extension, the killing of her ex-boyfriend. In a broad sense, personality trait theory holds that personality traits precipitate criminal and delinquent behaviors (Andrews et al., 2000).

Applying Information From the Murder Case

Information from Ms. Aria’s case can help in developing policies related to law enforcement in two ways. First, law enforcement agencies can apply it to promote accountability and nurture transparency in policing. Ms. Aria's case was highly publicized, and its details were available for public review, an aspect that promoted transparency and public trust. Examples of ways law enforcement agencies can use this idea are developing a policy that requires police departments to publish information regarding stops, arrests, and summons. Secondly, information about collaboration between community members and police investigators can be applied to develop law enforcement policies in neighborhoods disproportionately affected by crime. An example of a policy that decision-makers can initiate is a policy that requires police units to deploy resources that aim to enhance greater community engagement to reduce crime.

References

Andrews, B., Brewin, C. R., Rose, S., & Kirk, M. (2000). Predicting PTSD symptoms in victims of violent crime: The role of shame, anger, and childhood abuse. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 109(1), 69-73. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-843x.109.1.69

Crist, T. M., Cory, M. G., & Clark, K. A. (2013). The opinion of the court in State v. Arias. https://www.courthousenews.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Arias.pdf

Kouri, K. (2016). The Jodi Arias saga: A tragic drama. Sociology and Criminology-Open Access, 4(1). https://doi.org/10.4172/2375-4435.1000131

Moore, M. (2011). Psychological theories of crime and delinquency. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(3), 226-239. https://doi.org/10.1080/10911359.2011.564552

Sarteschi, C. M. (2017). Jodi Arias: A case of extreme violence. Violence and Gender, 4(3), 109-113. https://doi.org/10.1089/vio.2017.0021