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Charles Manson |
Charles Manson is one of our
country’s notorious cult leaders (more on cult leaders). Even today, after almost 30 years of incarceration,
Charles Manson still receives more mail than any other inmate. With modern-day technology Manson has a
large following of our younger generation.
The number of websites dedicated to Manson’s “cause” is staggering. What made the man what he is and why does he
command such a large following, even while behind bars?
Charlie’s Childhood
Born: November 12, 1934
Cincinnati, Ohio
Charles
Manson grew up in an atmosphere of instability and extremes. He was born an illegitimate child of a
16-year-old girl named Kathy Maddox.
While Charles’ mom was very permissive and promiscuous, his grandmother
was fanatically religious and required that they all live by the laws of the
Bible.
Charles’
mom spent time in jail for armed robbery. When Kathy was released from jail she
and Charlie moved from place to place; because of their frequent moves Charlie
had only transitory friends throughout his childhood. Not only was there no consistency in friendships, Charlie
received very little time and affection from his mother. Instead he was exposed to his mother’s
promiscuity and her heavy drinking.
From the age of 9 to today, Charles Manson has had trouble with abiding by societies standards. At 9 years old he was sent to reform school for stealing. He ran away and found his way back home to a mother who didn’t want him. He lived on the streets until the age of 13. He was then sent to Father Flanigan’s Boys Town where, within days, committed armed robbery.
At
this time Charlie spent 3 years at the Indiana School for Boys. It was noted by his teachers there that
Charlie trusted no one and would only do “good work” for those that he thought
he could get something from. He escaped
in 1951 and headed for California.
He
was caught and sent to the National Training School for Boys in Washington,
D.C. While incarcerated in Washington,
D.C. Charlie was extensively tested. It
was found that his IQ was average, 109; he was illiterate; and he was average
in all disciplines except for music. He
was also psychologically tested.
Following is some of the findings made by Dr. Block:
"…The marked degree of rejection, instability and psychic trauma." His illegitimacy, small physical size and lack of parental love caused him to constantly strive for status with the other boys. "This could add up to a fairly slick institutionalized youth," Dr. Block concluded, "but one is left with the feeling that behind all this lies an extremely sensitive boy who has not yet given up in terms of securing some kind of love and affection from the world.” (Crime Library)
Days
before he was to be paroled, Charles sexually assaulted another boy while
holding a razor to the boy’s throat. As
to be expected, he was not paroled, but sent to a more secure institution.
Evidently
the more structured and secure setting was more comfortable to Charles. He became more cooperative and even learned
to read. Does this say something about
his need for structure? He was paroled
in 1954 at the age of 19 (Crime Library).
Charles’ Adulthood
Height: 5’6”
Weight: 130 lbs
Charles
Manson went from being a juvenile delinquent to an adult offender. After being released at the age of 19 he tried
to find a semblance of normalcy in his life.
He married and had a child, Charles Jr.
He even had a job.
Unfortunately, he supplemented his income by stealing cars. He was sent to Terminal Island for 3 years
and his wife divorced him. He was released
in 1958 (The Crime Library).
Manson
was in and out of institutions for various other crimes. Eventually he was sent to McNeil Island,
Washington at the age of 26. He was
considered emotionally insecure and fanatical.
He became obsessed with his guitar and the Beatles. He wrote 80 – 90 songs while at McNeil
Island (listen). Charlie also befriended Alvin Karpis, a
notorious gangster. Alvin taught
Charles how to play the steel guitar.
Alvin also made comment that Charles Manson was a master
manipulator. Charlie would even use
manipulation when it wasn’t necessary.
In
1967 Charles Manson was released from prison and given a bus ticket to San
Francisco. Charles asked NOT to be
released. Following is a quote from
Manson:
"Oh, no, I can’t go outside there…I knew that I couldn’t adjust to that world, not after all my life had been spent locked up and where my mind was free. I was content to stay in the penitentiary, just to take my walks around the yard in the sunshine and to play my guitar…" (Crime Library)
Unfortunately, his desire to stay locked up was not fulfilled.
Manson and the Big 5…
Manson’s strongest Big 5 traits are a blend of Neuroticism and Extroversion. He is obsessive and controlling about everything from his music, how the family members listened to tyrannical rages, to his belief that there would be a major plot by the black man to take over the “white world”. He seems to be high-strung and he thinks about everything to the extreme. He always tends to think that he is the center (often referring to himself as Christ). Even today, in prison, he continues to exhibit these same attributes.