psych paper

The Birdman of Alcatraz


Robert Stroud was born on January 28, 1890, in Seattle, Washington; to parents Elizabeth and Ben Stroud. HIs father Ben was

an alcohalic and abusive, he also ignored him as a child, and threatened to kill Robert. His mother though was tender and loving. He had

two half sisters Minnie and Mamie, and later will have a younger brother Marc. Robert attended school until third grade, then left home, traveled

around the country riding under trains andworked odd jobs around the United States, until he heard about a section railroad job for a railroad in

Alaska. So in May, 1908, after hearing about a section job on a railroad, nineteen year old Robert packed up and left for Katalla, Alaska . Soon after

he arrived he fell sick with pnemonia he met Kitty O'Brien, a dance hall entertainer and supposedly a prostitute and "box-hustler". She helped care for

him and nursed him back to health while he was sick. Then they moved to Juneau, Alaska after Robert's job fell through. Kitty and Robert were invited

to stay with one of Robert's old friends Charlie while they were in Juneau. One night when Robert left to get some fish from a fisherman for they little

pow wow they were having Charlie beat Kitty and stole her gold locket. When Robert returned to the cottage everyone had left, and he found Kitty in

their room with two black eyes and a red line around her neck. When Charlie returned to the cottage Robert shot once and missed, shot again and the

bullet hit Charlie in the temple and killed him.


Right after he shot Charlie he kissed Kitty and went to the local Juneau City Marshall and admitted that he shot a man, Robert

was still nineteen. He was sentanced to twelve years at McNeil Island penitentury, three years after he was incarcerated he was transfered to

Leavenworth prison. While in prison at Levanworth Robert attended classes for engineering, math, and science. He also made knives in his past time.

Four years into his sentance at Leavenworth he killed a gaurd, the judge gave him the death penalty but thanks to his mother and President Wilson, he

got off with life in prison. Robert was moved to San Fransico in 1942.


Antisocial personality disorder is a mental illness similar to psychopathic personality and also sociopathic personality disorder. Antisocial personality disorder is not the same as social anxiety, although

commonly mistaken for it. The definition of antisocal personality disorder, according to the DSM, is "pervasive pattern of disregaurd for the violation and rights of others." (wikipidea,2) Some characteristics

of this disorder include: "failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors as indicated by repeatedly performing acts that are grounds for arrest, deceitfulness, as indicated by repeated lying,

use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure, impulsivity or failure to plan ahead, irritability and aggressiveness, as indicated by repeated physicial fights or assults, reckless disregaurd for

safety of self or others, consistent irresponsibilty, as indicated by repeated failure to sustain steady work or honor financial obligtations, lack of remore as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalizing having

hurt, mistreated, or stolen from another." (wikopedia,2) . Most people who have antisocial personality disorder exhibit criminal behavior due to their lack of respect for others rights and fear of consequences.