Why do people have sympathy for murderers and child abusers?

[Sweetchocolatecandy]

I’ve seen a few comments recently on threads about child abuse (specifically little Arthur) where some posters have said they feel sorry for the likes of murderers such as Tuston as she must have had mental health issues or a rough upbringing herself to make her commit an act like that. Do people really think like this? I suffer from mental health issues but I would never, ever hurt a child and I know people deal with past experiences differently but I think it’s insulting to blame ‘mental health’ for committing abuse and murder.

AIBU?

I suffer from mental health issues but I would never, ever hurt a child

You know that's like saying 'I suffer from physical health issues but would never, ever need a wheelchair'

'Mental health issues' is a catch all terms that covers hundreds, if not thousands, of illnesses ranging in severity.

The mental health issues you suffer from may mean you wouldn't but some people with, for example, schitzophrenia, may have a psychotic break and do so. That still makes them different from the MH issues that would cause someone to commit this level of abuse.

Comparing your mental health issues to the ones people who do different thing have is such a null point because 'mental health issues' is such a large category that it's so broad and varied.

@Mufasa1118

I do think that child abuse psychologically messes people up. Emma Tustin was no doubt abused as a child herself.

I do think being abused as a child makes you more likely to become an abuser.

Yes we still have a choice not to abuse, so it is each individuals responsibility, but I think those who were abused are more likely to repeat patterns

we done know she was abused and even if she was she has no right to kill a child.

@BrightonOrLancaster

You can find someone horrific and deplorable and want them locked away without completely overlooking their past

If Arthur had lived and had grown up to be a violent man, would you not also think back to his tragic childhood with some empathy?

This. Our hearts break for abused children. Those children grow up (usually) and may carry their childhood trauma into adult life. It's normal to condemn the appalling acts and to expect the law to do its job, while also wondering what the background is.

Some people want to help the “ baddies” of the world because it gives them an element of control. They want to change someone and that makes them feel good about themselves. By going for a murderer , they’re already the lowest, so the “ saviour” assumes the only way is up.
Many people have a “ I’m here to save you” agenda and if they can’t get into a job to do that professionally they’ll find a volunteer capacity to do it in. Prison visitor, maybe.

I also agree with @Jellycatspyjamas

I read people on one of the threads about Arthur saying that they'd have given a home to such a lovely little boy. The reality is that if they had it's very likely his behaviour wouldn't have been very lovely.

Abused children don't necessarily behave nicely, they won't necessarily show gratitude to the person who 'saved them'. They can be difficult, aggressive, act out learned behaviours, be incredibly difficult to cope with. Expert help and support is needed, and is often lacking.

The easiest thing in the world is to say 'they're monsters, lock them up and throw away the key.' That doesn't stop it from happening again. I don't believe someone who abuses a child sees stiff sentences as a deterrent, they either don't think they're doing anything wrong or that they'll be caught.

Serial killers usually have horrible childhoods one way or another. Not everyone with an awful upbringing turns out to harm others, but some do.

It's like Fred and Rosemary West, both had terrible childhoods and were abused. It doesn't excuse what they did but it makes them more understandable. I don't feel sorry for Rose West as a grown woman, abusing kids and murdering women etc but I do feel sorry for Rose West as a teenager. If she'd gotten some help, she might not have turned out so bad. www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/how-rose-west-became-monster-23745131

Because many have done the bollocks that is ACEs training and have been incorrectly informed that the deficit model applies to all who have had this upbringing and believe that anyone with any ACEs are doomed to a life of abusing their families and dying early.