A Study of Dennis Nilsen

... A Study of Dennis Nilsen Behavioural Approach Reasons for Actions Dennis Nilsen had many accounts as a child, and in his teenage years that, all in turn, contributed to his abnormal adulthood. Firstly, his parents had an unhappy marriage, full of conflict from his father's drunkenness and long absences. His parents then separated, and therefore his mother brought him up. This could have affected his behaviour in later life, because he did not have a father figure as a role model only a grandfather and an older brother. The strongest influence over Nilsen was that of his stern grandparents. This could be applied through Adorno's theory that if a child is brought up very strictly, they could grow angry at the grandparents for the rules, and repress emotions, which cannot be taken out on the grandparents, because of the obvious consequences. This anger would therefore express itself on other people in later life. Another theory

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