THE ACT: WHEN Caitlin Hayman
2017054145
THE VICTIM
BECOMES THE
OFFENDER
Department of Criminology
CRIM3734 Me L. Coetzee
28 May 2020
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1
2. Dee Dee blanchard: The First Offender ............................................................... 2
2.1. Biological Risk Factors ............................................................................................ 2
2.2. Psychosocial Risk Factors ...................................................................................... 2
2.3. Mental Disorders ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Gypsy Rose Blanchard: The Victim who became the Offender ........................... 7
3.1. Developmental Risk Factors ................................................................................... 7
3.2. Psychosocial Risk Factors ...................................................................................... 9
4. Nicholas Godejohn: The Murderer ..................................................................... 11
4.1. Developmental Risk Factors ................................................................................. 11
4.2. Psychosocial Risk Factors .................................................................................... 12
4.3. Mental Disorders ................................................................................................... 13
5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 15
6. List Of References ............................................................................................ 16
, 1. INTRODUCTION
The Act (2019) is an American true crime series consisting of eight subsequent
episodes. The series centres around the true story of an overprotective mother, Dee
Dee Blanchard, and her alleged extremely ill daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who
seeks to escape the toxic relationship she shares with her mother.
In her search for freedom, Gypsy finds solace in Nicholas Godejohn, who she met on
a Christian singles site unbeknownst to her mother (Dean, 2016). In order for them to
live ‘happily ever after’, Gypsy and Nick plot to murder Dee Dee and run away together
in a sinister turn of events (The Act, 2019).
In this document, Dee Dee Blanchard, Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn
will be analysed in terms of their individual personalities, behaviours and actions
across the series. In addition, due to the fact that the series is a dramatization of real-
events, facts from the real case will also be used in order to provide an accurate profile
of each offender. The aim of this analysis is to construct an appropriate outline of each
individual by looking at their biological, psychosocial, developmental and mental
condition which contributed to the increase of their criminality.
1
2017054145
THE VICTIM
BECOMES THE
OFFENDER
Department of Criminology
CRIM3734 Me L. Coetzee
28 May 2020
,TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Introduction .......................................................................................................... 1
2. Dee Dee blanchard: The First Offender ............................................................... 2
2.1. Biological Risk Factors ............................................................................................ 2
2.2. Psychosocial Risk Factors ...................................................................................... 2
2.3. Mental Disorders ..................................................................................................... 4
3. Gypsy Rose Blanchard: The Victim who became the Offender ........................... 7
3.1. Developmental Risk Factors ................................................................................... 7
3.2. Psychosocial Risk Factors ...................................................................................... 9
4. Nicholas Godejohn: The Murderer ..................................................................... 11
4.1. Developmental Risk Factors ................................................................................. 11
4.2. Psychosocial Risk Factors .................................................................................... 12
4.3. Mental Disorders ................................................................................................... 13
5. Conclusion ......................................................................................................... 15
6. List Of References ............................................................................................ 16
, 1. INTRODUCTION
The Act (2019) is an American true crime series consisting of eight subsequent
episodes. The series centres around the true story of an overprotective mother, Dee
Dee Blanchard, and her alleged extremely ill daughter, Gypsy Rose Blanchard, who
seeks to escape the toxic relationship she shares with her mother.
In her search for freedom, Gypsy finds solace in Nicholas Godejohn, who she met on
a Christian singles site unbeknownst to her mother (Dean, 2016). In order for them to
live ‘happily ever after’, Gypsy and Nick plot to murder Dee Dee and run away together
in a sinister turn of events (The Act, 2019).
In this document, Dee Dee Blanchard, Gypsy Rose Blanchard and Nicholas Godejohn
will be analysed in terms of their individual personalities, behaviours and actions
across the series. In addition, due to the fact that the series is a dramatization of real-
events, facts from the real case will also be used in order to provide an accurate profile
of each offender. The aim of this analysis is to construct an appropriate outline of each
individual by looking at their biological, psychosocial, developmental and mental
condition which contributed to the increase of their criminality.
1
