1. A Comparison: Social Control Theory and Behavior Trait TheoryRelated to John Gacy Elizabeth Hall Kaplan University Criminology CJ102 Greg Matoesian March 09, 2010 http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

2. Behavior Trait Theory Developed by Albert Bandura- late 1970's Based on observing and imitating the conduct , mind set, and affecting responses of other people. Based on the principal that if we had to learn everything without the basis of example from others, humans would never learn anything. Learn crime and aggression through life experience. (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

3. Behavior Trait Theory 2 Contributing Factors to Crime Causation Negative Family Interactions Environments laden with violence Mass Media (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

4. Social Control Theory Developed by Travis Hirschi in 1969 All humans have the potential to commit crime Crime is socially controlled out of fear of what others think. Conforming or not conforming to social standards depends on social bonds formed. Social Bonds are put into four main elements: Attachment, Commitment, Heavy Involvement in Conventional Activities, Common Moral Beliefs (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

5. Social Control Theory 2 Contributing Factors to Crime Causation Negative Attachment to Family Non-Involvement in Conventional Activities Involvement in Non-Conventional Activities Attachment or Non-Attachment to peers. (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

6. Similarities in Theories Social Control and Behavior Trait Theories Both: Are concerned with familial bonds although differently Are concerned with what other people think or do Involve getting opinions or attitudes from others (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

7. Differences in Theories Social Control and Behavior Trait Theories Differ in That: Social Control Theory assumes that class or social standing is responsible for crime, while Behavior Trait Theory claims that crime is learned from others. Control Theory says that negative attachments to family causes crime where Behavior Theory blames negative family interactions. (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

8. John Wayne Gacy Backstory Born in Chicago IL in 1942 to Irish Catholic parents John was the second child of three, but the only boy. All of the Gacy children attended parochial school and Catholic church community. John was well liked by his teachers, held various part time jobs, and was an active member of the Boy Scouts. Although his relationship with his father was strained because John could never gain his approval along with the father being abusive, and some serious medical problems (a clot in the brain undiscovered from age eleven to sixteen, at seventeen unspecific heart troubles) his childhood was relatively normal. After an unhappy experience in Las Vegas, early in the peace and love generation of the 1960’s he enrolled in college in Chicago and gained a degree in business. During this time he excelled at the art of selling. After promotions and accolades at his new job, Gacy settled down, got married, and ended up managing a Kentucky Fried Chicken for his father in law. (Clark County Prosecutor n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

9. John Wayne Gacy Backstory 2 In 1968, Gacy was convicted of molesting a minor working for him at Kentucky Fried Chicken. This was the beginning of what would be one of the most notorious killers in American history. He served 18 months in prison during which time his wife divorced him. After serving his time, John remarried, became heavily involved with the Jaycees, had three children, and was viewed as a fine upstanding member of society. What no one knew was that he was homosexual, and preferred violent homosexual sexual relations to heterosexual relations. Gacy went on to murder 33 boys from 1975-1978, hiding them in the crawlspace of his house. He Hired young boys to spread lime around his basement to deal with the odor of decay. Even though there were bodies under the house, this did not stop John from having barbeques with the mayor attending among other prominent people in town. If anyone questioned the smell, it was explained away as a sewage problem. (Clark County Prosecutor n.d.) (Clark County Prosecutor n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

10. Behavior Trait Theory as Related To Gacy Pro Behavior Theory Gacy had an abusive father- he learned violence and gained a hatred for himself for not being able to gain father’s approval, also could not accept his own homosexuality due to his catholic upbringing. Anti Behavior Theory Gacy had an accident when he was 11 causing blackouts for years due to a blood clot in his brain. This would lead one to question whether his problems started with a neurological condition. This theory will be more useful as neuroscience advances in technology (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

11. Social Control Theory as Related To Gacy Pro Control Theory Gacy had a bad relationship with his father – Negative attachment is the only part of this theory that fits Gacy, especially when you consider that he was hiding homosexuality. Anti Control Theory Gacy was a prominent member of the community, grew up in a middle class neighborhood, ran a successful business, was an important member of the Jaycees and a Boy Scout Leader. This theory needs a lot of work to support itself. The idea that he committed the violent crimes of rape and murder because he wanted to get back at the upper class is ridiculous, since nothing of the sort was discovered. (Siegel, n.d.) http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/

12. References Clark Prosecutor. (n.d.) John Wayne Gacy: Executed May 10, 1994 at 12:58 a.m. by Lethal Injection in Illinois. Retrieved From the World Wide Web March 05, 2010 www.clarkprosecuter.org/html/death/US/gacy237.htm Rotten (n.d.) John Wayne Gacy. Photo Retrieved From the World Wide Web March 04, 2010 http:www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/ Siegel, L. J. (n.d.) Criminology The Core. Third Edition. University of Massachusetts, Lowell: Thompson Wadsworth & Cenegage Learning. http://www.rotten.com/library/bio/crime/serial-killers/john-wayne-gacy/