ISSN: 2710-4028 DOI: https://doi.org/10.54208/0008 103
1997:46). Family members also shared Manson’s
freeloading ways: “The group had a parasitic economic
relationship to the wider society. Family members
frequently fed themselves from the garbage thrown away
by expensive markets and restaurants. More frequently,
they used credit cards, either stolen or donated by new
members, and sold drugs, to purchase goods for the
group” (Nielsen 1984:322). Manson also befriended
several people, including Dennis Wilson, Arlene
Barker, and George Spahn, to provide settlements for
the Family (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:128–129, 250–
251 Sanders 1971:99–100). For two years, the Family
supported itself by taking, stealing, and trading on the
goodwill of others.
According to Hare, poor behavioral controls are a
hallmark of psychopathy:
Manson had frequent bursts of temper in addition
to Family members, others outside the group were
often subject to his rages. Manson enjoyed tormenting
people, even when they did nothing provocative. He
threatened to kidnap a Topanga woman’s baby for the
sole purpose of frightening her. When a fireman asked
Manson to cut the weeds at Spahn Ranch for fire safety
reasons, Manson threatened to gouge out his eyeballs
(Sanders 1971:242).
Associates of the Family also suffered at Manson’s
hands. When Dennis Wilson refused to give Manson
money, he threatened to kill his son (Sanders 1971:242).
Manson also became very violent when frustrated.
When Family associate Gary Hinman refused to give
Manson his money, Manson slashed him with a sword,
slicing his ear in half. Hinman was then murdered
by Family member Bobby Beausoleil (Bugliosi with
Gentry 1974:102–103 Sanders 1971:247–248).
Manson also shot Family associate Bernard Crowe,
In psychopaths, inhibitory controls are weak,
and the slightest provocation is sufficient to
overcome them. As a result, psychopaths are
short-tempered or hot-headed and tend to
respond to frustration, failure, discipline,
and criticism with sudden violence, threats,
and verbal abuse. They take offense easily
and become angry and aggressive over
trivialities, and often in a context that
appears inappropriate to others. (Hare 1:59)
who threatened revenge when Manson short-changed
him in a drug deal. Fortunately, Crowe survived the
shooting (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:91–92).
Manson’s dysregulated (or disinhibited) behavior
persisted in prison. According to Hare, “[e]ven within
prison populations psychopaths stand out, largely
because their antisocial and illegal activities are more
varied and frequent than are those of other criminals”
(1993:68 [italics in original]). By the time eight years
had passed after his conviction for the Tate-LaBianca
murders, Manson had accumulated forty-six violations
of prison regulations. While many involved hair and
dress regulations, he was also caught fighting with
other inmates and guards (Rapoport 1979:A1). This
dysregulation (or disinhibition) is rooted in childhood.
Hare states that “[m]ost psychopaths begin to exhibit
serious behavioral problems at an early age. These
might include lying, cheating, theft, fire setting,
truancy, class disruption, substance abuse, vandalism,
violence, bullying, running away, and precocious
sexuality” (1993:66). He mentions cruelty to animals as
another common childhood behavior of psychopaths
(1993:66). By his own admission, Manson displayed
many childhood indicators of psychopathy. He relates
a childhood wherein he often fought other children
and even stole and burned their toys out of jealousy
and rage. He also admits to an instance of being beaten
for deliberately hurting his uncle’s dog (Manson and
Emmons 1986:31–33).
Manson spent his teenage years detained in and
absconding from several state facilities. These years
were characterized by rampant criminal activity
including auto theft, armed robberies, and assaults.
While detained at the National Bridge Honor Camp,
Manson sodomized another boy while holding a razor
blade to his throat. After this offense, he was transferred
to the Federal Reformatory at Petersburg, Virginia,
where he was considered “dangerous” and “committed
eight serious disciplinary offenses, three involving
homosexual acts” (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:137–
139). Manson’s extensive contact with the criminal
justice system as a child is consistent with psychopathy.
Hare, Forth, and Strachan posit that psychopaths’ mean
age of first contact with the criminal justice system
is twelve. Furthermore, “[a]mong federal offenders,
most psychopaths have had formal contacts with the
criminal justice system by age 15 or 16, several years
1997:46). Family members also shared Manson’s
freeloading ways: “The group had a parasitic economic
relationship to the wider society. Family members
frequently fed themselves from the garbage thrown away
by expensive markets and restaurants. More frequently,
they used credit cards, either stolen or donated by new
members, and sold drugs, to purchase goods for the
group” (Nielsen 1984:322). Manson also befriended
several people, including Dennis Wilson, Arlene
Barker, and George Spahn, to provide settlements for
the Family (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:128–129, 250–
251 Sanders 1971:99–100). For two years, the Family
supported itself by taking, stealing, and trading on the
goodwill of others.
According to Hare, poor behavioral controls are a
hallmark of psychopathy:
Manson had frequent bursts of temper in addition
to Family members, others outside the group were
often subject to his rages. Manson enjoyed tormenting
people, even when they did nothing provocative. He
threatened to kidnap a Topanga woman’s baby for the
sole purpose of frightening her. When a fireman asked
Manson to cut the weeds at Spahn Ranch for fire safety
reasons, Manson threatened to gouge out his eyeballs
(Sanders 1971:242).
Associates of the Family also suffered at Manson’s
hands. When Dennis Wilson refused to give Manson
money, he threatened to kill his son (Sanders 1971:242).
Manson also became very violent when frustrated.
When Family associate Gary Hinman refused to give
Manson his money, Manson slashed him with a sword,
slicing his ear in half. Hinman was then murdered
by Family member Bobby Beausoleil (Bugliosi with
Gentry 1974:102–103 Sanders 1971:247–248).
Manson also shot Family associate Bernard Crowe,
In psychopaths, inhibitory controls are weak,
and the slightest provocation is sufficient to
overcome them. As a result, psychopaths are
short-tempered or hot-headed and tend to
respond to frustration, failure, discipline,
and criticism with sudden violence, threats,
and verbal abuse. They take offense easily
and become angry and aggressive over
trivialities, and often in a context that
appears inappropriate to others. (Hare 1:59)
who threatened revenge when Manson short-changed
him in a drug deal. Fortunately, Crowe survived the
shooting (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:91–92).
Manson’s dysregulated (or disinhibited) behavior
persisted in prison. According to Hare, “[e]ven within
prison populations psychopaths stand out, largely
because their antisocial and illegal activities are more
varied and frequent than are those of other criminals”
(1993:68 [italics in original]). By the time eight years
had passed after his conviction for the Tate-LaBianca
murders, Manson had accumulated forty-six violations
of prison regulations. While many involved hair and
dress regulations, he was also caught fighting with
other inmates and guards (Rapoport 1979:A1). This
dysregulation (or disinhibition) is rooted in childhood.
Hare states that “[m]ost psychopaths begin to exhibit
serious behavioral problems at an early age. These
might include lying, cheating, theft, fire setting,
truancy, class disruption, substance abuse, vandalism,
violence, bullying, running away, and precocious
sexuality” (1993:66). He mentions cruelty to animals as
another common childhood behavior of psychopaths
(1993:66). By his own admission, Manson displayed
many childhood indicators of psychopathy. He relates
a childhood wherein he often fought other children
and even stole and burned their toys out of jealousy
and rage. He also admits to an instance of being beaten
for deliberately hurting his uncle’s dog (Manson and
Emmons 1986:31–33).
Manson spent his teenage years detained in and
absconding from several state facilities. These years
were characterized by rampant criminal activity
including auto theft, armed robberies, and assaults.
While detained at the National Bridge Honor Camp,
Manson sodomized another boy while holding a razor
blade to his throat. After this offense, he was transferred
to the Federal Reformatory at Petersburg, Virginia,
where he was considered “dangerous” and “committed
eight serious disciplinary offenses, three involving
homosexual acts” (Bugliosi with Gentry 1974:137–
139). Manson’s extensive contact with the criminal
justice system as a child is consistent with psychopathy.
Hare, Forth, and Strachan posit that psychopaths’ mean
age of first contact with the criminal justice system
is twelve. Furthermore, “[a]mong federal offenders,
most psychopaths have had formal contacts with the
criminal justice system by age 15 or 16, several years
