The Nasty, Brutish and Short Life of Robert Sandifur

The Nasty, Brutish and Short Life of Robert Sandifur

By the time he was 11 years of age, Robert Sandifur had been prosecuted 8 times for robberies and other crimes and was the main suspect in a shooting that left one teenager, Shavon Dean age 14, dead and two others seriously wounded.

Over the previous 2 years, Sandifur was prosecuted for robbery, car theft, arson and burglary. He was convicted twice, receiving probation both times, but was then given three weeks in a detention centre for probation violations.

“A 1986 investigation (Robert was 3) by the Department of Children and Family Services found scars on Robert’s face, cord like marks on his abdomen and leg, and cigarette burns on his buttocks”.

Robert was placed in a juvenile centre when he was nine years old, after complaints had been made to the authorities that his grandmother was not supervising him. He was originally placed in her care when his mother was declared unfit. The father’s whereabouts was unknown.

Robert escaped from the facility and was placed in his grandmother’s care again, until a space could be found for him in a facility where children could be locked in or restrained.

Police believed Robert was a part of a gang and one of his neighbour’s said that Robert may have felt that he’d finally” found a family” within the gang. (from Associated Press, 1995)

QUESTIONS

1) How would Skinner and the Behaviourists explain Robert’s violent behaviour? In your answer identify the events in his life which shaped his behaviour.

2) How would Freud explain Robert’s behaviour? Be sure to explain how Robert’s Id, Ego and Superego influenced his behaviour.

3) Do you support Freud’s ideas or Skinner’s ideas? Why?