Psychology of the Mind
Perspectives Application – Andrea Yates
On June 20, 2001, after her husband had left for work, Andrea Yates, a Houston mother,
drowned her 5 children in the family bathtub. She told police that she drown the children
to save them from burning in hell. A jury rejected her insanity defense, and she was
sentenced to serve life at a psychiatric prison. In January 2005, a Texas Appeal Court
overturned her conviction because psychiatrist for the prosecution had falsely testified
that he had consulted for a Law and Order episode. The Appeals Court stated that the
false testimony might have contributed to the jury’s rejection of Yates’ insanity defense.
Directions:
With a partner, take some time to study the timeline of events that led up to Andrea
Yates’ murder of her children. What do you believe caused her to commit such a heinous
act? Although we may never fully understand the motives for her behavior, psychology
provides theories about the causes of behavior – theories for exploring basic questions
about who we are and why we think, feel, and act as we do. Below, there are 6 major
perspectives that help us do just that. Your task is to explain how each of these different
perspectives might address the cause of Andrea Yates’ behavior. Discuss questions that
each perspective might ask and suggest some initial causes of her behavior and then list
some actions that fit the perspective.
Perspective
Psychodynamic
Possible Causes of her Behavior
Actions / Behaviors that relate to
the perspective
Psychology of the Mind
Behaviorism
Biological
Humanism
Cognitive
Psychology of the Mind
Socio-Cultural
Timeline – Andrea Yates

April 17, 1993 – Russell Edison Yates and Andrea Pia Kennedy married

February 26, 1994 – Noah Jack Yates born

December 15, 1995 – John Samuel Yates born

November 1996 – Miscarriage

September 13, 1997 – Paul Abraham Yates born

February 15, 1999 – Luke David Yates born

June 17, 1999 – Andrea Yates took overdose of Trazodone (antidepressant)

June 17-24, 1999 – Andrea Yates first hospitalization at The Methodist Hospital –
Texas Medical Center. Diagnosis “major depressive disorder,
single episode, severe.”

July 20, 1999 – Andrea Yates attempted to kill herself with a knife

July 21 – August 8, 1999 – Andrea Yates’ second hospitalization at Memorial
Spring Shadows Glen Hospital. Diagnosis “major
depressive disorder, severe, recurrent, with psychotic
features. Rule out schizophrenia, catatonic type.”

August 9-20, 1999 – Andrea Yates continued hospital care as a day patient

October 1999 – Andrea Yates’ Haldol/Decanoate (antipsychotic drug) injections
continued.

January 2000 – Andrea Yates’ last monthly visit with psychiatrist Eileen Starbranch

March 2000 – Andrea Yates became pregnant with Mary

November 30, 2000 – Mary Deborah Yates born

March 12, 2001 – Andrea Yates’ father died
Psychology of the Mind

March 31 – April 12, 2001 – Andrea Yates’ third hospitalization at Devereux Texas
Treatment Network, League City. Diagnosis
“postpartum depression. Major depression, recurrent,
rule out psychotic features.”

April 2, 2001 – Andrea Yates’ Devereux psychiatrist, Mohammad Saeed, MD,
requested her court-ordered commitment to Austin State Hospital;
diagnosis: “Major depression, with psychotic features.”

April 13, 2001 – Andrea Yates admitted as a day patient at Devereux Texas
Treatment Network, League City. Partial Hospitalization program,
one day.

April 19, 2001 – Dora Yates arrived to visit her grandchildren

May 3, 2001 – Andrea Yates filled bathtub with water

May 4-14, 2001 – Andrea Yates’ fourth hospitalization (readmitted to Devereux).
Diagnosis “Postpartum depression” and “Major depression
recurrent severe (postpartum).” Haldol prescribed for second
time in Yates’ medical history

May 15-22, 2001 – Andrea Yates continued care at Devereux, League City, as day
patient in the Partial Hospitalization Program.

June 4, 2001 – Psychiatrist Mohammad Saeed ordered Andrea Yates to discontinue
Haldol; did not prescribe another antipsychotic medication

June 2001 – Tropical storm Allison flooded downtown Houston

June 18, 2991 – Andrea Yates’ last appointment with psychiatrist Mohammad Saeed

June 20, 2001 – Andrea Yates drowned her children

July 30, 2001 – Andrea Yates’ attorneys filed Notice of Intent to offer insanity defense

August 9, 2001 – State of Texas filed motion to seek the death penalty

September 12, 2001 – Andrea Yates’ sanity hearing postponed because of 9/11 attack
on World Trade Center and Pentagon

September 18, 2001 – Competency hearing began

September 22, 2001 – Andrea Yates found mentally competent to stand trial after the
jury deliberated more than eight hours

February 18, 2002 – Andrea Yates murder trial began

March 12, 2002 – Andrea Yates found guilty of two counts of capital murder after the
jury deliberated less than four hours

March 15, 2002 – Andrea Yates sentenced to life in prison after jury deliberated for
thirty-five minutes