Martin Bryant
From
his early age, Martin Bryant possessed an unusual characteristic as compared to
other children of his age. For instance, his mother, Carleen often reminded the
friends and family members of her worry about her son. Furthermore, His father,
Maurice, is noted to have had a lot of concern with him at the early ages. He
eventually took early retirement from his job so that he could look after his son,
Martin. At the time that he started school, he was highly distanced from the
rest of the children especially because of his erratic behavior. In addition
to this, he was found to have a below average intelligent quotient at the time
that he was in primary school. This made him to be put into special classes. One
of the teachers who were concerned about his welfare remembers that, “he was
isolated in his own world.” Others recount that he was even more isolated than
the deaf children who were in the same class as he was (Avery, 1996).
Martin
was found to be happier when situations were extreme in this way and never even
bothered to associate himself with other people. This situation continued to
persist as he grew older and was more apparent in him. He was confronted with
more trauma, detachment, and very dangerous situations, as he grew older rather
than changing for the better. On one of the occasions, he is recorded not to
possess any emotions to a girlfriend whom they had gone with to visit heavy
seas off Bass Strait. In this event, there were also some series of events that
made the fishermen who were around them to intervene. A similar detachment was
also witnessed when he showed no interest after his father committed suicide by
drowning himself in a dam on the family’s properties (Avery, 1996). When he was
told to seek for his father’s body, he showed no interest. In addition, he
completely enjoyed himself the more and could not be seen to bear the concern
of his father’s death. According to the report that was taken by the investigative
officers around the scene, it was noted that Martin could have full evidence of
the crime though later it was treated as a suicide case. This was because there
was a note that the father left and some cash in a car on property.
It
was because of his behaviour that he was often bullied. His relationship with
other children was heavily compromised. At one of the instances, group of young
children whom he was tormenting was almost drowning him. During his growing
period, he never changed but his strange behaviour continued to escalate almost
too unbearable levels (Avery,1996). For example, there was one instance when he
took a spear and jabbed a friend who was surfacing while they were skin diving.
As a young child, he could normally throw stones, cut down trees, destroying
vegetable gardens as well as cutting down fruit trees.
After
schooling, Martin did not bother to look for a job because his I.Q. was deemed
very low, below average. It was twenty to thirty points below average. Later in
his life, he took a job that consequently changed his life forever. Harvey Helen
employed him as a handyman. Helen was a very rich heiress. Martin formed a bond
with Harvey, which was perceived by many as more of a working relationship. She
gave him more attention and regularly took him for shopping expeditions. She
sometimes spent thousands of dollars on him. She squandered large amounts of
money needlessly. She used to spend heavily, buying new cars and jewelry.
Martin
was taught by Helen how to live an extravagant life. After he moved to a small
rural town of copping, his behaviors became more erratic. He was caught
harassing a young schoolgirl inside a bus. What followed was that he was kicked
off the bus. He chased the bus and made sure that he insulted the driver. In
the new residence that he moved in, the people within his vicinity started
complaining of his unbecoming behaviour. For example, people complained that he
was raiding their properties especially when it was late at night. He became
increasingly obsessed with criminal behaviors. It was known that he possessed
rifles and firearms. Later he was reported for threatening a neighbor with a
rifle. One of the family friends recounts an incidence when he used to brag and
show off with guns at a time when he said that he took ‘pot shots’ to some
tourists who had stopped near the property’s front gate.
Despite
the series of events that took place in his new residence, Martin continued to
live a lavish life at Helen’s residential place. The complaints that went
around the place were taken for granted. He spent a happy life in the company
of Harvey. However, this was to come to a halt when Helen was killed in a
tragic accident, which many believed to have been caused by Martin. However,
the police investigated the matter and cleared him. The two important figures
in Martin’s life were already dead and Martin was left on his own. He was named
the beneficiary of Harvey’s estate. He had a lot of properties now and cash in
excess. He would spend it in any way that he wanted. After Harvey’s burial,
Martin moved to Hobart to stay there. He later became restless. He has a lot of
income at the time that was virtually endless. He had the freedom to choose any
kind of lifestyle that he wanted. He even used to make overseas travels within
a three-year period. Those who were his close friends were those he sat with in
the aircraft and the shop owners. They remembered him because of his outrageous
clothes.
Martin
used to have multiple sexual relationships with women. He also used to make
very weird comments on the females regardless of their age. He was however
unable to build a normal relationship. His sexual preferences often included
bestiality. He hired prostitutes to come to his house. Those who came to his
house refused to go back because they found the place quite disturbing.
Before the unfolding of the massacre, Martin visited
the Port Arthur several times. It was in this time that he bought a new sports
bag. The shopkeeper at the place where he bought the bag remembered how he
measured several bags before he settled to buy the one that interested him. There
were many analysis that were carried out regarding Martins unbecoming behaviour
with so many psychologist claiming that it stemmed from impulsive behaviour. According
to the analysis of the events that had happened at the port, there was
sufficient evidence to hold the conclusion that the planning was very precise and
highly calculated.
It
was on a Sunday, 28 April 1996. Martin set off for Port Author. This was approximately
a maximum of two hours’ drive from where he resided in Hobart. On his way, he
stopped at a guesthouse at seascape cottage and killed the owners. They were
identified as Noelene and David Martin. It was shortly after he had a meal at
Broad arrow cafe that he took out a rifle and indiscriminately started
shooting. He then took off for his destination, Port Arthur. He also went ahead
to another place and started to shoot indiscriminately at the public. In just
90 seconds, twenty people were dead and twelve injured. He continued with his
journey shooting at innocent people. He also went ahead to hijacked a man, put
him in the boot of his vehicle, and killed a female passenger. He then returned
to Seascape cottage, took a hostage inside and set out fire to his car. After a
standoff with police officers, he claimed that he had hostages. Bryant set the
house on fire and quickly ran out of it. The police afterwards captured him. At
the time that he was finished, he had already killed thirty-five people. He was
later charged with a series of crimes such as murder, attempted murder,
aggravated assault, bodily harms, and unlawfully setting property on fire.
Martin received a total of 35 years imprisonment sentence without parole for
the damage he had caused.
After
a short period following the massacre, Martin was taken for a psychological
examination in a hospital. Four major psychological tests were carried out.
There were theories that were developed prior to the examination that he might
be suffering from personality disorder or schizophrenia. This was the thought
cause of his inappropriate mannerisms and actions. However, He was declared sane
and competent to stand trial.
It
was the outstanding capability of both the father as well as Helen that his
extreme negative personality traits were repressed and protected him from
harming others. However, after the death of the father and Helen, Martin was
left without a cushion against participating in cruel behaviors. From the
psychological point of view, there is the possibility of two major factors that
play a role in driving an individual into indulging in aggressive behaviors. These
factors include the nature factors and the nurture factors. The nature factors
are the innate or the inherent factors that individuals are born with. The
nurture factors are those that the individuals learn from the environment that
they live in. These are the ones that he/she learns from the people he
interacts and the general environment. The media that the individual interacts
with is a source of distorted behaviour.
In
Martins case, there are several factors that have to be considered in order to
come up with a comprehensive conclusion on the kind of theory that best
explains his situation. First, is his historical background. Secondly, is the
genetic consideration such as the intelligent quotient. Thirdly, the outcomes
of the test that were carried out by a medical practitioner. These among other
factors will be considered in order to come up with an informed conclusion.
To
a great extent, martin can be termed as a psychopath. This is because of his
dangerous activities, insanity-like and murders committed. The genetic makeup of
Martin is the one that made him to possess the undesired characteristics. There
are several grounds to prove that it is the genetic makeup and not the
environmental influences that made Martin behave the way he did. Firstly, is
the evidence of his low I.Q. Secondly, is the case where he was found to have
tortured animals. In addition to this, his approach to other people was more of
an irrational human being. It is the pain of his innate behaviors that his
mother attests that he wished he were dead after she visited him in jail. This
could have been a long time discovery made by her mother as she despaired that
her son would change. If it were a learned behaviour, then it would be easily
controlled. What can be learnt from experience can also be unlearnt. Since it
was an inherent or a genetic makeup, it was very difficult to control it until
it grew to an extreme condition.
The
medical doctor who examined him gave a report that heavily focused on
activities that that revolved around his life. For instance, the medical expert
said that the breakdown of the series of events shows a terrible tragedy. He
commented that Bryant did something evil though to him, he was leading a
desperate life. There are different scenarios that he uses to make a suggestion
that the growing trend of Martin was highly compromised through lack of care
and ignorance. For instance, the presence of guns in his environment, the death
of the father, money issues, lack of care among others. To him if proper care
was met on him, most of the activities that he did would not have happened.
The
investigation that was also done by Dr. Park Deitz, a psychiatrist from the FBI
suggested that it was possible that Martins actions were heavily influenced by
the media coverage of the ‘Dunblane’ tragedy. This might have influenced him to
indulge in the criminal activities as a way of seeking social recognition in
the society though in the negative direction. Professor Paul Mullen, his prison
psychiatrist also noted that he had a sense of inadequacies, which require
rational approach to assist the person (Mullen, 1996). The possibilities are
however endless.
Social relationships in childhood
function to allow the individual acquire the rightful developmental
capabilities that will allow them to cope with prevailing environmental
factors. It is the power of the social relationships that make individuals to
adapt to others way of life from a rational perspective. Cognitive developments
of individuals also play a key role in assisting them to adjust to the
prevailing conditions. The cognitive skills allow the individuals to maintain relationships,
as they understand other people. This was a major factor that limited Martin in
his social life and was not able to adapt and move on with others in the
society.
References
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J. (1996). Martin Bryant--Psychiatric
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(2003). Genes, criminality, and the
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