A reign of terror shocked the United States in the 1970s. More and more female students are disappearing suddenly and inexplicably. During a frantic search for the serial killer, investigators failed to find a link to the attacker. The striking similarities of the victims indicated to a single brain were the impetus for this ploy. However, when he was arrested, America learned that not all serial killers fit this profile. Ted Bundy, a man known by many as intelligent and scheming, spread his reign of terror across the United States by systematically targeting and murdering young women; Using process perspective, it is possible to determine that his confusing and often tumultuous upbringing in his youth influenced his future behavior as one of America's most notorious serial killers. Ted Bundy was born as Theodore Robert Cowell in Burlington, Vermont on November 24, 1946. Bundy, from a middle-class family, was a white male born to his mother, Eleanor Louise Cowell. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay. Eleanor earned her living working as a department store saleswoman. His father, who was an Air Force veteran, was not present during Bundy's childhood or afterward. For the first years of his life, Bundy and his mother lived with his mentally challenged grandfather in Philadelphia. Bundy would later refer to his grandparents as his mother and father, and his biological mother as his older sister. Bundy grew up believing this to be true. Thanks to this simulation, Bundy's mother would not receive any criticism for being a single mother. (Wikipedia, 2005) Shortly after moving to Philadelphia, Bundy and his mother moved to Tacoma, Washington. They both lived with Eleanor's uncle, Jack, who taught music classes at the College of Puget Sound. Soon after, Eleanor met John Culpepper Bundy, a hospital cook from North Carolina, at church and married him a few years later. Therefore, Theodore Robert Cowell would be known as Ted Bundy. (Wikipedia, 2005) Bundy had four younger siblings whom he spent most of his time babysitting. Bundy didn't like his new father very much. John raised Bundy unsuccessfully as his own, only including Bundy on camping trips and other father-son activities with his other sons. Bundy considered himself unique and had his own ideas. Bundy's grandfather was the only man he respected. Bundy became desperate when it was time to leave his grandfather and move to another place far away on the other side of the county. (Wikipedia, 2005)As a young child, Bundy was very shy and was often the target of bullying at his high school. Despite the humiliating experiences he endured, he maintained a high grade point average. Bundy, who attended Woodrow Wilson High School, was known to be an intelligent, if not brilliant, young man; his high school friends would later remember him as a happy, normal teenager. He was a more popular figure in high school than in college. Although very shy, Bundy was considered well-dressed and extremely polite. However, no one remembers Bundy ever dating anyone during this time. He was more interested in other hobbies like skiing and politics. He was an active leader in his Boy Scouts and was a member of the Methodist Church. Bundy's interest in politics began to blossom in high school. Growing up, he was an overenthusiastic worker and campaigned for the Republican Party. Bundy also madevolunteering for the Seattle Rape Crisis Center. (Wikipedia, 2005) Bundy felt he had a problem with social interaction, but never thought to seek medical or psychological help for it. As for his relationship with his parents, he believed that it was his mother who largely took care of him and his siblings. Bundy, however, did not speak to his mother in personal terms because he believed his mother had difficulty speaking on an intimate, personal level. He once said: “I didn’t know what made people want to be friends. I didn't know what made people attractive to each other. I didn't know what was behind social interactions. Bundy once told the authors that he had another side to himself, one he called "the Entity," that he kept well hidden from others. Regardless, he will always be remembered by his friends as a remarkable and eloquent gentleman. One morning, when Bundy was four years old, he appeared in his aunt's bedroom, smiling as he brandished several knives and placed them next to her bed. (Crimelibrary, 2005; Wikipedia, 2005) Although Bundy was likeable, popular, and handsome, he dated very few people during his high school years. He felt uncomfortable in social situations, and this awkwardness and fear haunted him during his college years when he attended the University of Puget Sound and the University of Washington. Bundy had a serious relationship with a freshman, known by the fictional name "Stephanie Brooks." Bundy felt she was everything he had ever wanted and dreamed of in a woman. She was a beautiful and extremely sophisticated woman. Born into a wealthy California family, Bundy couldn't believe that someone of his class would be interested in someone like him. Although they had many differences, they both loved skiing. It was during their numerous ski trips together that he thought he fell in love with her. However, she was not as in love with Bundy as he was with her. She really liked Bundy too, but she thought he had no direction in life or any admirable future goals. Bundy did his best to impress her, even if it meant lying, something she despised. At one point, she had ended the relationship because she felt Bundy wasn't motivated enough. Bundy never got over the breakup. After their breakup, nothing, including school, seemed to interest him and he ended up dropping out. Depressed by the breakup, he managed to stay in touch with her by writing to her after returning to California. Their separation lasted about two years. They met again, that's when Bundy decided to propose to her. Two days after the proposal, Bundy hastily dumped her by not returning her phone calls. Shortly after this final break, Bundy began his murderous rampage that lasted three years. Criminologists theorize that "Stephanie became the model for Bundy's victims: young white women with long black hair parted in the middle." (Crimelibrary, 2005; Wikipedia, 2005)Life became more confusing for Bundy. In 1969, he learned that his sister was actually his mother and that his parents were his grandparents. Not surprisingly, this late discovery had a pretty serious impact on Bundy. He went from a shy and reserved person to a more focused and dominant character. Bundy became motivated, as if he needed to prove himself to the world. He re-enrolled at the University of Washington and began studying psychology. He became an honors student and excelled in the subject. He became the favorite among his professors at his university. (Crimelibrary, 2005; Wikipedia, 2005)Ted Bundy.