Serial killers are the embodiment of all that is wrong with mankind. However, while this remains true, these individuals also offer opportunities to gain deeper insights into the human spirit. By exploring their lives, mankind is able to understand the complex forces and processes that shape human behavior. Aileen Woumos is among the serial killers who continue to fascinate. Whereas it is true that her case gained prominence because she killed seven men, the fact that she was a woman is what makes her more fascinating. Various theoretical frameworks can be applied to her case with the aim of understanding how her murderous journey developed. The frustration-aggression theory offers the best explanation of Woumos’ life and behavior.
The primary premise of the frustration-aggression theory is that aggressive behavior is the result of irritation and dissatisfaction. Essentially, this theory posits that negative experiences which cause individuals to become dissatisfied with their lives push them toward aggression (Sanderson, 2009). The video on the life of Woumos shows many instances where she suffered painful experiences that left wounds which never healed. It is revealed that her mother left her with her grandparents as she was too young to raise her. While staying with her grandparents, Woumos never received the love that children need for healthy development. Her grandfather was an alcoholic who took little interest in her life (The Specialist, 2013). The lack of affection must have caused Woumos to feel unwanted and therefore dissatisfied with her life. By killing the seven men, she was essentially hitting back at society for failing to love or accept her.
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As noted above, the frustration-aggression theory predicts that individuals who are dissatisfied with their lives could become aggressive. The discussion has also noted that during her formative years, Woumos was denied the warmth and affection that families usually offer. In addition to lacking support from her family, Woumos was unable to establish any meaningful social relationships. For example, while she was a teenage girl, she had few friends and most in her neighborhood did not like her. In fact, it is mentioned in the video that when her grandfather kicked her out, a number of her neighbors were relieved (The Specialist, 2013). Essentially, Woumos had no form of support. It is fair to argue that her isolation led to frustration. The frustration that fueled the rage which led her to murder the seven men. Therefore, the frustration-aggression theory offers the most convincing account of Woumos’ behavior.
That frustration sets the stage for aggressive behavior is the main foundation of the frustration-aggression theory. Additionally, this theory holds that aggressive people tend to blame others for their behavior (Glick, 2010). Instead of taking responsibility for their actions, they assign blame on individuals who may have nothing to do with these actions. For the most part, Woumos demonstrated maturity because she confessed to the killings. However, she assigned some of the blame for the murders on others. For example, she accused the police of setting her up. In the video, she says that the police did not stop her after she committed the first murder because they wanted to create a serial murderer and proceed to create a film based on the life of this murderer (The Specialist, 2013). Her arguments are unsound and absurd. However, the accusations that she levels against the police show that her behavior is consistent with the frustration-aggression theory.
One of the key issues that the frustration-aggression theory explores is how individuals identify their victims. This theory holds that when one is unable to confront the party that is responsible for their frustration, they target their aggressive behavior at others who are unable to protect themselves and have little to do with the frustration that the individual suffered. Woumos’ parents, the many men she slept with for money, her grandparents and her community are among the parties who should be blamed, at least partly, for her behavior. She did not target these parties. Instead, she preyed on men who simply desired pleasure. By targeting these men, Woumos established the validity of the frustration-aggression theory as a model for criminal behavior. In conclusion, law enforcement agencies need to use such frameworks as the frustration-aggression theory to understand the behavior of criminals and to provide the support required for healthy development.
References
Glick, P. (2010). Scapegoating. The Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology. DOI:
https://doi.org/10.1002/9780470479216.corpsy0817
Sanderson, C. A. (2009). Social psychology. Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.
The Specialist. (2013). Serial Killers 8/25- Aileen Woumos [Damsel of Death]. YouTube.
Retrieved July 8, 2018 from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y6GVoiwsoK8
