Multiple Personality Disorder: No Excuse for Criminal Activity :: Argumentative Essay

Kenneth Bianchi, a man who has murdered many women, now claims that he has Multiple Personality Disorder. Can we possibly decide that it is reasonable to convict an individual of a crime if that individual suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder? This psychological malady, known as Multiple Personality Disorder, or sometimes as Multiple Dissociative Identity, is a mental illness in which a person develops two or more distinct identities that control the patient’s behavior. If an aberrant personality takes over, the individual no longer has control over one’s actions. The cause of this disorder is unknown; however, 97% of the patients with this disorder have been abused during childhood. Throughout time, the issue of a person having conflicting personalities inside, like Jekyll and Hyde, has been very controversial. Some authorities believe that this disorder does not exist, and some believe that it does. In a number of cases, criminals have used Multiple Personality Disorder as a defense for their criminal deviance. Should an individual who has committed a crime be sentenced to prison when he/she has no control over oneself? In my opinion an individual who commits a crime and suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder should be held responsible for his/her actions. As punishment, this convicted person should be sent to an asylum. In many criminal cases it is hard to believe that the defendant has multiple personalities because the defendant could be trying to deceive the jury. Statistics have proven that people with Multiple Personality Disorder usually refer to other personalities as â€Å"I.† A perfect example is Kenneth Bianchi who was on trial for murder and convinced his attorney that he had multiple personalities inside. Bianchi had the jury almost convinced that Steve Walker, Bianchi’s other personality, was responsible for the murders. Bianchi’s defense showed the first sign of unraveling when he started to refer to Steve Walker as â€Å"he† instead of â€Å"I.† Dr. Marti Torne, an authority in hypnosis, tested Bianchi. According to Dr. Torne, a person suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder will house three or more personalities. Bianchi failed this hypnosis test because he only presented two personalities. After Bianchi’s testimony, Bianchi started to m ake up a new personality, named Billy. However, the jury remained suspicious, and eventually Kenneth Bianchi was found guilty. In effect, his defense, depending on a claim of Multiple Personality Disorder, was deemed unconvincing. Kenneth Bianchi almost got away with murder. Multiple Personality Disorder: No Excuse for Criminal Activity :: Argumentative Essay Kenneth Bianchi, a man who has murdered many women, now claims that he has Multiple Personality Disorder. Can we possibly decide that it is reasonable to convict an individual of a crime if that individual suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder? This psychological malady, known as Multiple Personality Disorder, or sometimes as Multiple Dissociative Identity, is a mental illness in which a person develops two or more distinct identities that control the patient’s behavior. If an aberrant personality takes over, the individual no longer has control over one’s actions. The cause of this disorder is unknown; however, 97% of the patients with this disorder have been abused during childhood. Throughout time, the issue of a person having conflicting personalities inside, like Jekyll and Hyde, has been very controversial. Some authorities believe that this disorder does not exist, and some believe that it does. In a number of cases, criminals have used Multiple Personality Disorder as a defense for their criminal deviance. Should an individual who has committed a crime be sentenced to prison when he/she has no control over oneself? In my opinion an individual who commits a crime and suffers from Multiple Personality Disorder should be held responsible for his/her actions. As punishment, this convicted person should be sent to an asylum. In many criminal cases it is hard to believe that the defendant has multiple personalities because the defendant could be trying to deceive the jury. Statistics have proven that people with Multiple Personality Disorder usually refer to other personalities as â€Å"I.† A perfect example is Kenneth Bianchi who was on trial for murder and convinced his attorney that he had multiple personalities inside. Bianchi had the jury almost convinced that Steve Walker, Bianchi’s other personality, was responsible for the murders. Bianchi’s defense showed the first sign of unraveling when he started to refer to Steve Walker as â€Å"he† instead of â€Å"I.† Dr. Marti Torne, an authority in hypnosis, tested Bianchi. According to Dr. Torne, a person suffering from Multiple Personality Disorder will house three or more personalities. Bianchi failed this hypnosis test because he only presented two personalities. After Bianchi’s testimony, Bianchi started to m ake up a new personality, named Billy. However, the jury remained suspicious, and eventually Kenneth Bianchi was found guilty. In effect, his defense, depending on a claim of Multiple Personality Disorder, was deemed unconvincing. Kenneth Bianchi almost got away with murder.