La mente criminal de Charles Manson: una mirada desde la neurociencia forense
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Date
2025
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Publisher
PUCE - Quito
Abstract
En la neuropsicología forense se integran disciplinas como la neurociencia, la psicología y el derecho, enfocando su atención a las alteraciones cerebrales, permitiendo de este modo una comprensión más profunda de las disfunciones cerebrales las cuales pueden influir en las conductas criminales. El estudio que se va a presentar analiza el caso de Charles Manson, un individuo famoso por sus actos de manipulación y asesinato en la década de 1960, el cual nos demuestra cómo las alteraciones en el cerebro pueden estar vinculadas a los comportamientos delictivos. El objetivo primordial de esta investigación será integrar los hallazgos neuropsicológicos permitiéndonos brindar un entendimiento más amplio del comportamiento criminal. Es por ello que el caso de Manson, se presenta como el punto de partida para estudiar la interacción entre las disfunciones cerebrales, los factores ambientales y psicológicos presentes en el individuo, para lograr este objetivo, se realizó una revisión exhaustiva entre la conducta criminal y la neuropsicología forense. Se evaluó la eficacia de los estudios seleccionados, permitiendo de esto modo la extracción de información valiosa, de esta manera se logró realizar un análisis optimo el cual facilitó la identificación de patrones clave presentes en sujetos con conductas criminales. Los resultados obtenidos manifiestan alteraciones en las áreas cerebrales como la amígdala y la corteza prefrontal, las cuales se encuentran asociados con el control emocional y la regulación de impulsos, vinculándose de forma directa con la falta de empatía y los comportamientos agresivos. Es decisivo destacar la interacción entre los factores neurobiológicos y las experiencias traumáticas presentes en la infancia, ya que estos aspectos plantean diferentes variables las cuales pueden combinarse para dar lugar a comportamientos criminales extremos.
Forensic neuropsychology integrates disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology and law, focusing its attention on brain alterations, thus allowing a deeper understanding of brain dysfunctions which may influence criminal behaviors. The study to be presented analyzes the case of Charles Manson, an individual famous for his acts of manipulation and murder in the 1960s, which demonstrates how alterations in the brain can be linked to criminal behaviors. The primary goal of this research will be to integrate neuropsychological findings allowing us to provide a broader understanding of criminal behavior. Therefore, the Manson case is presented as the starting point to study the interaction between brain dysfunctions, environmental and psychological factors present in the individual. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive review of criminal behavior and forensic neuropsychology was conducted. The efficacy of the selected studies was evaluated, thus allowing the extraction of valuable information, in this way an optimal analysis was achieved, which facilitated the identification of key patterns present in subjects with criminal behavior. The results obtained show alterations in brain areas such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, which are associated with emotional control and impulse regulation, directly linked to lack of empathy and aggressive behaviors. It is crucial to highlight the interaction between neurobiological factors and traumatic experiences present in childhood, as these aspects pose different variables which may combine to give rise to extreme criminal behaviors.
Forensic neuropsychology integrates disciplines such as neuroscience, psychology and law, focusing its attention on brain alterations, thus allowing a deeper understanding of brain dysfunctions which may influence criminal behaviors. The study to be presented analyzes the case of Charles Manson, an individual famous for his acts of manipulation and murder in the 1960s, which demonstrates how alterations in the brain can be linked to criminal behaviors. The primary goal of this research will be to integrate neuropsychological findings allowing us to provide a broader understanding of criminal behavior. Therefore, the Manson case is presented as the starting point to study the interaction between brain dysfunctions, environmental and psychological factors present in the individual. To achieve this goal, a comprehensive review of criminal behavior and forensic neuropsychology was conducted. The efficacy of the selected studies was evaluated, thus allowing the extraction of valuable information, in this way an optimal analysis was achieved, which facilitated the identification of key patterns present in subjects with criminal behavior. The results obtained show alterations in brain areas such as the amygdala and the prefrontal cortex, which are associated with emotional control and impulse regulation, directly linked to lack of empathy and aggressive behaviors. It is crucial to highlight the interaction between neurobiological factors and traumatic experiences present in childhood, as these aspects pose different variables which may combine to give rise to extreme criminal behaviors.
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Keywords
Neuropsicología forense, Criminales - Psicología, Psicopatología, Asesinos en serie - Casos clínicos, Corteza prefrontal - Control de impulsos, Trauma infantil - Desarrollo psicosocial, Forensic neuropsychology, Criminal behavior, Psychopathy