SECTION II – THEORIES OF CRIME AND DEVIANCE
Psychology of Crime
Module 6 examines how psychological factors influence criminal behavior and how psychology contributes to our broader understanding of crime. Forensic psychology applies psychological principles to explain the causes of crime, understand offender motivations, and assess the impact of crime on victims and society. It also guides criminal justice practices by providing insights into deviance, treatment, and rehabilitation.
While psychology offers valuable insights, it is only one part of a much broader picture. Criminal behavior results from the interaction between psychological traits and social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors. Therefore, psychology should be considered in conjunction with other fields, such as sociology, criminology, and law, to develop a more comprehensive understanding of crime. By combining these perspectives, researchers and practitioners can create more effective strategies for prevention, intervention, justice, and public safety.
Learning Objectives
After completing this module, you should be able to:
- explain the link between mental illness and crime, addressing common misconceptions.
- outline the fundamentals of psychoanalytic theory, including Freudian elements of personality and defense mechanisms.
- compare and contrast operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and observational learning when explaining criminal behavior.
- distinguish between cognitive structure and cognitive content, and use them to analyze criminal behavior.
- differentiate between general personality research and “criminal personality” research, and provide examples of psychopathy.
- analyze the discussion on IQ and criminal activity.
- summarize psychology’s role in studying crime.
- identify and explain the key principles of psychological perspectives on criminal behavior.
- evaluate how personality theories explain criminal behavior.
Summary
The psychology of crime looks at the mental and emotional processes that influence criminal behavior, including motivations, thoughts, emotions, and personality traits. This view aims to explain why some people commit crimes while others do not, and how psychological factors interact with broader social, cultural, and environmental influences.
Personality and trait theories propose that traits like impulsivity, sensation-seeking, low empathy, and aggressiveness can raise the chances of offending, with psychopathy representing an extreme version of these traits (see Cherry’s Big Five Personality Traits and How Sociopaths Are Different from Psychopaths). Cognitive theories also suggest that poor judgment, problem-solving, or moral reasoning may make someone more likely to commit crimes (as discussed in Clark’s Psychological Theories of Crime).
Behavioral and learning perspectives stress that criminal behavior is often learned. Operant conditioning (Skinner) demonstrates how reinforcement and punishment influence actions (McLeod’s Operant Conditioning), while Bandura’s social learning theory emphasizes how observing others, whether family, peers, or media, can encourage aggression or delinquent conduct (Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment; Sprouts’ Social Learning Theory video). Family conflict, inconsistent discipline, and delinquent peer groups further raise the risk.
Mental health issues, including antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, and substance use disorders, are sometimes linked to criminal behavior. However, it is important to emphasize that most people with mental illness do not commit crimes. Current debates, such as the connection between youth mental health and social media (Subbaraman, WPO), highlight the challenge of isolating single causes within complex psychological and social systems.
Emerging neuroscience adds another layer by showing how brain structure and function can influence aggression, self-control, and impulsivity (Bendix, NBC News). These findings must be understood within the social, cultural, and environmental contexts of behavior.
Overall, the psychology of crime is a complex field that examines how psychological traits, cognitive processes, learning experiences, and environmental factors come together to influence criminal behavior. By combining insights from psychology with criminology, sociology, and law, practitioners can create more effective strategies for prevention, intervention, and rehabilitation. Multimedia resources like Khan Academy’s Psychoanalytic Theory, TEDx Talks on the Future of Criminology, and JCS’s What Pretending to Be Crazy Looks Like further demonstrate how psychological perspectives apply to crime and criminal justice.
| Concept / Topic | Supporting Resource(s) |
| Overview of psychological theories of crime | Clark, J.W. (2009). Psychological Theories of Crime (Pressbooks, Ch. 31) |
| Psychoanalytic theory (Freud, superego, defense mechanisms, childhood experiences) | Khan Academy: Psychoanalytic Theory (2015); Clark (2009) |
| Behavioral learning – operant conditioning (reinforcement & punishment) | McLeod, S. (2023). Operant Conditioning (Simply Psychology) |
| Social learning theory – observation, imitation, modeling | McLeod, S. (2023). Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment; Sprouts: Social Learning Theory Video (2022) |
| Personality traits and crime (Eysenck, Big Five, psychopathy, sociopathy) | Cherry, K. (2023). Big Five Personality Traits (Verywell Mind); How Sociopaths Are Different from Psychopaths (Verywell Mind, 2022); Psychopath Child (AP Psychology, 2013); JCS: What Pretending to Be Crazy Looks Like (2021) |
| IQ and criminal behavior debate | Clark (2009) – sections on intelligence & crime |
| Mental illness and crime (antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, substance use disorders) | Subbaraman (2024, WPO): Social Media and Youth Mental Health; How Sociopaths Are Different from Psychopaths; TEDx Talk: Brian Boutwell, The Future of Criminology (2016) |
| Adverse childhood experiences & trauma | Clark (2009); Psychopath Child (AP Psychology, 2013) |
| Family influences (discipline, conflict, supervision) | Clark (2009); Bandura’s Bobo Doll (social modeling in families) |
| Peer relationships & delinquent networks | Sprouts (2022). Social Learning Theory |
| Substance abuse & criminality | Clark (2009) |
| Neuroscience, brain structure, and behavior | Bendix, A. (2023). NBC News: The Shape of Your Brain May Strongly Influence Your Thoughts and Behavior |
| Applications in forensic psychology & criminology | TEDx Talk (2016) Brian Boutwell: The Future of Criminology; JCS (2021) What Pretending to Be Crazy Looks Like |
Test Your Knowledge
Print a copy of the following worksheet and bring it to class! As an alternative, complete the worksheet while you read through the summary located above: Worksheet
Key Takeaways
Click on the > to expand the related statement.
Key Terms/Concepts
Click on the following key term/concept to view the definition:
Albert Bandura (1925-2021)
Antisocial Personality
Attachment Theory
Behavioral Theory
Behavioral Conditioning
Behaviorism
Big Five Model of Personality
Charles Goring (1870-1919)
Cognitive Theory
Cyberpsychology
Defense Mechanisms
Forensic Psychology
Gabriel Tarde (1843-1904)
General Personality and Criminal Personality
Human Genome Project (HGP)
Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987)
Maladaptation
Malingering
Modeling Theory
Neurocriminology
Psychoanalytic Perspective
Psychodynamic Theory
Psychopath
Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R)
Rehabilitation and Treatment Implications
Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Social Media and Mental Health
Trait Theory
Psychological Positivism
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Modern Application
Read, Review, Watch and Listen
1. Read Chapter 31: Psychological Theories of Crime by John W. Clark, Troy University (Clark, 2009)
- Print a copy or have access to this reading via a digital device for in class review and discussion.
- To support the student’s reading of the article, they can listen to a recorded version of the same. Note that listening to the article is not a substitute for a careful and directed reading of the document
This chapter:
- explores the major psychological theories of crime, highlighting psychodynamic, behavioral, and cognitive theories to explain criminal behavior through personality, intelligence, and learning processes.
- explains how psychodynamic theory suggests early childhood experiences, including neglect or lack of nurturing, can lead to weakened personality structures that may contribute to criminal tendencies.
- delves into behavioral theory, emphasizing that criminal behavior is often a learned response, influenced by family interactions, environmental experiences, and exposure to violent media.
- discusses cognitive theory, focusing on how flawed information processing and impaired moral development may hinder individuals’ ability to make ethical decisions, potentially leading to criminal behavior.
- examines the relationship between personality traits, such as neuroticism and extraversion, and criminal behavior, as well as the controversial link between intelligence and crime within the nature-versus-nurture debate.
2. Read WPO’s More Children Are Depressed and Anxious. Is Social Media Really Behind It? Lawmakers have proposed restrictions, but some scientists say it is hard to tell if they will help (Nidhi Subbaraman, October 15 2024).
a. There is growing concerns among lawmakers, parents, and health experts about the potential link between social media use and rising levels of depression and anxiety among children and teenagers.
b. Although many attribute youth mental health issues to social media, experts find it difficult to determine the exact impact due to numerous influencing factors, making it hard to isolate social media as a primary cause.
c. The recent legislative efforts aimed at restricting children’s access to social media to protect their mental health, though some scientists argue that these restrictions might limit important social connections for young people.
d. The complexities in studying social media’s impact on mental health, as platforms frequently update features, and access to critical data is often limited, complicating efforts for thorough, long-term research.
e. While social media companies have implemented safety features for young users, they are still facing lawsuits and criticism for allegedly creating addictive products that could harm youth mental health, with some states seeking further legal action.
3. Review Saul Mcleod’s Operant Conditioning: What It Is, How It Works, And Examples (Simply Psychology, June 2023)
a. Operant conditioning, developed by B.F. Skinner, is a learning process where behaviors are influenced by the consequences that follow them, encouraging or discouraging specific actions.
b. In operant conditioning, reinforcement is used to increase the likelihood of a behavior being repeated, with positive reinforcement adding a desirable stimulus (like a reward) and negative reinforcement removing an unpleasant one (such as stopping an annoying sound).
c. Punishment, another key element, is used to decrease the likelihood of a behavior, with positive punishment introducing an unpleasant stimulus (like a scolding) and negative punishment taking away a desired item (such as a toy).
d. Skinner identified schedules of reinforcement — fixed, variable, interval, and ratio — which affect how quickly and strongly a behavior is learned based on the timing and frequency of reinforcement.
e. Through operant conditioning, Skinner demonstrated that behavior is not merely a response to stimuli but can be shaped and controlled by carefully manipulating consequences, establishing a foundational concept in behavior psychology.
4. Review Saul Mcleod’s Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment On Social Learning (Simply Psychology, June 2023)
a. Albert Bandura developed a comprehensive social cognition theory of aggression that depends on cognitive processes for its explanatory power.
b. Everyone is capable of aggression but must learn how to behave aggressively.
c. Central to his theory are the ideas of observation, imitation, and modeling. People learn to act (aggressively or otherwise) by observing others, either in person or in the media.
5. Review Kendra Cherry’s What Are the Big 5 Personality Traits? Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (verywell mind, March 2023)
a. Hans Eysenck explained crime as the result of fundamental personality characteristics or traits, which he believed are largely inherited.
b. He believed the degree to which three universal super-traits are present in an individual accounts for his or her unique personality.
c. Termed these super-traits introversion/extraversion; neuroticism/emotional stability; psychoticism – people who score high on any of these are not easily socialized or conditioned and commit more crime in adulthood.
d. Psychoticism thought to be closely correlated with criminality at all stages.
e. Today, trait theories of personality have expanded to the Five Factor Model with five basic traits: openness to experience, extraversion, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and agreeableness.
6. Review NBC News’ The shape of your brain may strongly influence your thoughts and behavior, study finds (Bendix, A. , May 21, 2023) [last accessed July 2023]
7. Watch Social Learning Theory: Bandura’s Bobo Beatdown Experiments (Sprouts, 2022)
a. Social learning theory suggests that all behaviors, including crime, are learned in much the same way, involving the acquisition of norms, values, and patterns of behavior conducive to crime, so that crime is a product of the social environment rather than an innate characteristic of some individuals.
8. Watch Psychoanalytic Theory (Khan Academy, 2015)
a. Psychoanalytic theory, based on the work of Sigmund Freud (1856-1939), suggests that criminal behavior is maladaptive, the result of inadequacies inherent in the offender’s personality which is formed by early childhood experiences that influence his or her likelihood for committing future crimes.
b. Psychoanalysis suggests that one possible cause of crime may be a poorly developed superego, which leaves the individual operating without a moral guide.
9. Watch TEDx Talks (May 2016), Brian Boutwell: The Future of Criminology Saint Louis University [14:34] (TED, 2021) – also embedded below.
10. Watch and Review How Sociopaths Are Different from Psychopaths by Marcia Purse (verywell mind, November 2022)
a. The concept of the psychopathic personality was developed by Hervey Cleckley, who described a psychopath as a “moral idiot,” with poverty of affect as the central defining characteristic.
b. There are several different types of psychopaths, including sociopaths, who are born with a normal personality but develop psychopathic characteristics due to personal experiences early in life.
c. Today, the terms “psychopath” and “sociopath” have fallen out of favor and have been replaced by the concept of antisocial personality.
11. Watch JCS’ What Pretending to be crazy looks like (May 2021)
12. Watch Psychopath Child (AP Psychology, August 2013)
To access the PPT file, click HERE. Note that files are updated regularly and as such might change in content and appearance.
Read, Review, Watch and Listen to all listed materials by the due date listed within the course LMS (i.e., Blackboard) site.
Contact the professor with any course-related questions
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The Future of Criminology Saint Louis University
Activity – Violent Video Games and Crime Nexus?
STOP!!!
Students should review the course syllabus to determine the assignment of this activity.
This is a copy of the module’s activity that students find within Blackboard. For that reason, refer to the Activities page to submit your work for review.
Purpose
The process of building theory involves establishing testable assumptions that explain a set of facts. These facts serve as a foundation to address current social issues within a modern society. For example, there is ongoing debate about the potential harm caused by violent media, music, and video games. The purpose of this forum is to give students an opportunity to explore the possible link between video games and violence as part of developing an understanding of evidence-based criminology.
Instructions
- Review behavioral theory as outlined within Chapter 31 Psychological Theories of Crime (p. 274) [see attachment].
- Read the attached article from Psychology Today, Do Violent Video Games Make Kids More Violent.pdf and explore a few of those links embedded within the file.
- Watch The Debate Behind Video Game Violence (CSNBC, 2020)
- Watch Game Theory: Do Video Games Cause Violence? It’s Complicated (The Game Theorists, 2021)
- Watch Video 1: Video game violence linked to bad behavior, study says (embedded below).
- Watch Video 2: How do video games affect behavior? (embedded below).
Answer the following questions
- Apply modeling theory within the framework of social learning theory to explain how violent video games might influence a player’s emotions and shape their perceptual or emotional view of the world, possibly increasing the chance of maladaptive behaviors.
- Summarize how playing violent video games could impact a person’s real-life behavior.
- A recent review of this emerging research finds a moderate correlation between exposure to violent video games and both aggression and lack of empathy. An exclusive review of studies on criminal aggression, however, did not find that video gaming had a significant impact. Skeptics of the connection between media exposure and real-world violence also point out that both cross-national research and American crime trends challenge the idea of a large effect. Using key concepts and other aspects of Module 6, explain whether or not you believe there is actually a link between video games and real-world violence.
Key Terms/Concepts
- Definitions for these terms are located above within the Key Terms/Concepts section. Make a concerted effort to identify various relevant terms/concepts that support each answer.
Refer to the course learning management system (LMS); that is Blackboard (BB), for the correct due date. In addition, submit your work via BB for grading.
Discussion Questions
- How does the development of the id, ego, and superego influence deviant and/or criminal behavior?
- How does social learning theory explain the acquisition of violent and aggressive behavior?
- What are the three primary sources of behavior modeling according to Bandura?
- How does moral development theory account for the different stages of moral reasoning?
- What are some factors that may impair the information-processing abilities of criminal offenders?
- How does the Big Five model of personality measure individual differences in personality?
- What are some personality traits that are correlated with delinquent and criminal behavior?
- What are the arguments for and against the nature-versus-nurture debate in relation to intelligence and crime?
Supplemental Resources
- The Moral Sense Test: How do you decide between right and wrong?
- Treating Antisocial Personality Disorder (Psych Central, 2023)
- “Psychopathic Child” AP Psychology (Hacker, C., August 2013)
- National Human Genome Research Institute’s Fact Sheet: Human Genome Project (NIH, 2023).
Click HERE to learn more about College of DuPage’s Psychology Program
References
- Clark, J. W. (2009). Psychological Theories of Crime. In J. M. Miller (Ed.), 21st Century Reference Series. 21st Century Criminology: A Reference Handbook (Vol. 1, pp. 271-278). SAGE Reference. https://link.gale.com/apps/doc/CX3201600042/GVRL?u=cod_lrc&sid=bookmark-GVRL&xid=18bf305f
- Simply Psychology, Operant Conditioning: What It Is, How It Works, And Examples (Saul Mcleod, Feb. 2, 2024). https://www.simplypsychology.org/operant-conditioning.html. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- Simply Psychology, Bandura’s Bobo Doll Experiment On Social Learning (Saul Mcleod, Feb. 1, 2024). https://www.simplypsychology.org/bobo-doll.html#:~:text=Bobo%20doll%20experiment%20demonstrated%20that,(1977)%20Social%20Learning%20Theory. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- verywell mind, What Are the Big 5 Personality Traits? Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism (Kendra Cherry, March 11, 2023). https://www.verywellmind.com/the-big-five-personality-dimensions-2795422#toc-the-big-5-personality-traits. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- NBC News (May 21, 2023), The shape of your brain may strongly influence your thoughts and behavior, study finds (Bendix, A.). https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/brain-shape-may-influence-thoughts-behavior-rcna86938. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- Sprouts (April 2022), Social Learning Theory: Bandura’s Bobo Beatdown Experiments [Video] (YouTube). https://youtu.be/XHIhkM1cAv4?si=c3m8YiBZrBLQWj24,. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- Kahan Academy (Sep. 13, 2013), Psychoanalytic theory [Video] (YouTube). https://youtu.be/jdawTFsCNtc?si=qpix8Hg3Xh5-9509. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- TEDx Saint Louis University (May 26, 2016), Brian Boutwell: The Future of Criminology [Video] (YouTube). https://youtu.be/xbikaH4GTSo?si=hjHj5F_yzrYJ8sqZ. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- verywell mind, (Nov. 14, 2022) How Sociopaths Are Different from Psychopaths (Purse, M.). https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-sociopath-380184. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- JCS (May 26, 2021), What Pretending to be crazy looks like [Video] (YouTube). https://youtu.be/Mwt35SEeR9w?si=4BKfZ3c6Zkk1Lz2J. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
- AP Psychology (Aug. 26, 2013), Psychopathic Child (Calvin Hecker) [Video] (YouTube). https://youtu.be/VDVaiwzU8yc?si=5LicZqkIe_BmHgl0. Accessed 3 March, 2024.
Albert Bandura was a prominent psychologist best known for his work on social learning theory, which later evolved into the broader framework of social cognitive theory. Bandura made significant contributions to the field of psychology through his research on the processes through which individuals learn in social contexts.
Refers to a psychological disorder characterized by a persistent pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others. Individuals with antisocial personality typically demonstrate a lack of empathy and remorse for their actions, along with a tendency to engage in impulsive and irresponsible behavior. This disorder is also known as antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) and is often associated with behaviors such as lying, manipulation, aggression, and a disregard for social norms and rules.
Suggests that healthy personality development in young children requires a warm, intimate, and continuous relationship with the primary caregiver. Children lacking such a relationship are more likely to engage in maladjusted behavior.
Attachment theory postulates three forms of attachment. Secure attachment is a healthy form of attachment and develops when a child is confident that the mother figure will be responsible and available when needed. Anxious-avoidant attachment develops when children feel rejection and develop a lack of confidence in the support and care of the parent. Anxious-resistant attachment develops from similar experiences and results in feelings of uncertainty, causing the child to feel anxious, to become fearful of his or her environment, and to cling to potential caregivers and partners. The latter two forms of attachment are non-secure and may lead to delinquent behavior.
The second main thrust of early psychological theorizing, built upon the concept of conditioned behavior, particularly concept of classical conditioning demonstrated by Pavlov. Researchers such as B.F. Skinner further developed the theory, which involves the use of rewards and punishments to control a person’s responses, or operant behavior. One of the earliest learning theories was Gabriel Tarde’s theory, which was based on imitation and suggestion. Albert Bandura’s social cognition theory of aggression suggests that people learn to act by observing others; observation of aggressive behavior teaches one how to behave aggressively.
Emphasizes the concept of operant behavior: behavior choices operate on the environment to produce consequences for the individual. When behavior results in rewards or desirable feedback, the behavior is reinforced and will probably become more frequent. When behavior results in punishment, the frequency of that behavior decreases. There are four conceptual categories of rewards and punishments:
1. Positive rewards
2. Negative rewards
3. Positive punishments
4. Negative punishments
Behavior theory differs from other psychological theories in that the major determinants of behavior are in the surrounding environment rather than in the individual.
A psychological theory and approach that focuses on the study of observable behaviors rather than mental processes or internal states. It emerged as a dominant school of thought in the early 20th century, particularly with the work of behaviorist pioneers such as Ivan Pavlov, John B. Watson, and B.F. Skinner.
Also known as the Five-Factor Model (FFM), is a widely accepted and influential framework for understanding and categorizing human personality traits. It proposes that personality can be described and organized into five broad dimensions, or factors, which capture the most important and distinctive aspects of an individual's personality. These five factors are often referred to by the acronym OCEAN.
Was a British psychiatrist and criminologist who is known for his research on the relationship between crime and intelligence. He conducted a significant study that focused on the connection between criminality and intellectual abilities.
Goring's most famous work is "The English Convict: A Statistical Study," which was published in 1913. In this extensive study, Goring examined the characteristics and backgrounds of over 3,000 prisoners in English prisons. He compared these characteristics with those of non-criminals to determine whether there was a significant difference in intelligence between the two groups.
Goring's research aimed to investigate the prevalent eugenic theories of his time, which suggested that there was a hereditary basis for criminality and that criminals were more likely to have lower intelligence. However, his study did not support these ideas. He found that there was no evidence of a direct link between criminal behavior and low intelligence. In fact, Goring's research indicated that criminals did not differ significantly from non-criminals in terms of intelligence.
This finding challenged the eugenic views of his era, which had proposed that criminality was largely inherited and associated with low intelligence. Goring's work contributed to a more nuanced understanding of the complex factors that contribute to criminal behavior, including social, environmental, and psychological factors. His research played a significant role in shifting the focus of criminology away from simplistic notions of biological determinism and toward a broader exploration of the causes of crime.
A psychological perspective that focuses on the study of mental processes, such as thinking, memory, perception, problem-solving, and decision-making. Unlike behaviorism, which emphasizes observable behaviors, cognitive theory looks at the internal mental processes that influence how people perceive and interact with the world.
A study of the human mind and behavior in the context of human-technology interaction, particularly focusing on how digital technologies, the Internet, and virtual environments influence psychological processes, emotions, and social behaviors. This interdisciplinary field combines elements from psychology, computer science, and information technology to explore a wide range of topics, including online identity, digital communication patterns, cyberbullying, online addiction, virtual reality, and the impact of social media on mental health.
Repression, denial, projection, and displacement.
The application of psychological principles, research, and methods to issues related to law and the criminal justice system. It focuses on understanding criminal behavior, assessing offenders, working with victims, evaluating witness credibility, and informing legal decision-making. Forensic psychologists may be involved in risk assessment, competency evaluations, jury selection, expert testimony, and developing treatment and rehabilitation programs for offenders.
Was a French sociologist, criminologist, and social psychologist. He is known for his significant contributions to the field of sociology, particularly in the areas of social theory, social psychology, and the study of social phenomena. Tarde suggested that the basis of society was imitation, and he developed a theory of behavior built upon three laws of imitation and suggestion: (1) People in close contact tend to imitate each other’s behavior, (2) Imitation moves from the top down, and (3) New acts and behaviors either reinforce or replace old ones.
Explicitly mention antisocial personality disorder (ASPD), beyond psychopathy.
The HGP was an international scientific research initiative that aimed to map and sequence the entire human genome. It was one of the most significant and ambitious scientific endeavors in history, spanning several countries and involving thousands of researchers and institutions.
The primary goal of the Human Genome Project, which was officially launched in 1990, was to identify and determine the sequence of all the genes in the human genome and to analyze their functions. The human genome is the complete set of genetic information present in human DNA, and it contains all the instructions necessary for building and maintaining a human being.
Was an American psychologist known for his research and theory on moral development. He was a professor at Harvard University and is best known for his work in the field of developmental psychology, particularly his theory of moral development, which expanded on the ideas of Swiss psychologist Jean Piaget.
Kohlberg's theory of moral development proposed that individuals progress through distinct stages of moral reasoning as they mature. He identified six stages of moral development, which were grouped into three main levels:
Preconventional Level:
a. Stage 1: Obedience and Punishment Orientation
b. Stage 2: Individualism and Exchange
Conventional Level:
a. Stage 3: Interpersonal Relationships and "Good Boy/Girl" Orientation
b. Stage 4: Maintaining Social Order and Authority Orientation
Postconventional Level:
a. Stage 5: Social Contract and Individual Rights
b. Stage 6: Universal Principles
Kohlberg's theory suggested that moral development is a lifelong process, and individuals may not necessarily progress through all the stages. He argued that individuals move through these stages as they encounter moral dilemmas and engage in moral reasoning.
Refers to a condition or response that is not well-suited or appropriate for the given situation or environment. In various fields, such as psychology, biology, and ecology, the term is used to describe instances where an organism or individual exhibits behaviors, traits, or characteristics that hinder their ability to function effectively or adapt to their surroundings.
Pretending or exaggerating mental illness for secondary gain (relates to JCS “Pretending to Be Crazy” resource).
Within the context of psychology, refers to a framework for understanding how individuals learn and acquire new behaviors, attitudes, and emotional responses through observation and imitation of others. Rooted in the principles of social learning theory, particularly as developed by Albert Bandura, modeling theory posits that people can learn not only through direct experience but also by observing the actions and outcomes of others' behaviors. This process involves attention to the model's behavior, retention of the observed behaviors, reproduction of the behavior, and motivation to replicate the behavior based on the observed consequences. Modeling theory has broad applications, including understanding the acquisition of social skills, the impact of media on behavior, therapeutic interventions, and educational strategies. It underscores the significant influence that societal, familial, and media models have on an individual's development and behavior.
An umbrella term for brain-based explanations of crime (an emerging field linked to Bendix, NBC News).
Refers to a psychological approach that was developed by Sigmund Freud, the founder of psychoanalysis. It is a theory of personality and a method of psychotherapy that focuses on the unconscious mind and its influence on human behavior. The core ideas of the psychoanalytic perspective revolve around the role of unconscious thoughts, feelings, and motivations in shaping human experiences and behaviors.
A broader umbrella term that includes Freud’s psychoanalytic theory.
Also known as a sociopath, is an individual who exhibits a cluster of personality traits and behaviors associated with antisocial personality disorder (ASPD). Psychopathy is a term commonly used in forensic psychology and criminology to describe individuals who display a specific set of characteristics, which often include manipulativeness, a lack of empathy, shallow emotions, and a propensity for engaging in impulsive and antisocial behaviors.
Hare’s diagnostic tool; commonly used in criminology and corrections.
Including cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT), anger management, trauma-informed care, and more.
A contemporary applied framework in corrections based on psychological theory.
Was an Austrian neurologist and the founder of psychoanalysis, a groundbreaking approach to understanding the human mind and behavior. He is considered one of the most influential figures in the field of psychology and his ideas have had a profound impact on various disciplines, including psychology, psychiatry, and cultural studies.
Explicitly link to the Subbaraman (2024) article, framing it within current psychological issues.
Also known as personality trait theory, is a psychological perspective that focuses on identifying and describing the enduring patterns of behavior, thoughts, and emotions that make up an individual's personality. According to trait theory, individuals possess characteristic traits or predispositions that influence how they perceive, interpret, and respond to the world around them.
