Psychology of Crime
Module 6 explores the interaction between psychological factors and criminal behavior. The examination between psychology and crime provides an opportunity to consider how individual psychological characteristics, experiences, and processes can contribute to the commission of criminal acts. The field of forensic psychology focuses on understanding how psychological principles can shed light on the causes of crime, the motivations of offenders, and the impact of crime on victims and society. It also examines the application of psychological knowledge in the criminal justice system to better understand and address criminal behavior. It’s important to note that while psychology can provide valuable insights into criminal behavior, it is just one piece of a larger puzzle. Criminal behavior is a complex and multifaceted phenomenon influenced by social, economic, cultural, and environmental factors, in addition to individual psychological traits. The integration of psychological knowledge with other disciplines, such as sociology, criminology, and law, is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of crime and the development of effective strategies for crime prevention, intervention, and justice.
Learning Objectives
After completing this module, you should be able to:
- explain how mental illness relates to crime in general.
- describe the fundamentals of psychoanalytic theory, including Freudian elements of personality and defense mechanisms.
- enumerate the three learning mechanisms operant conditioning, classical conditioning, and observational learning and how they relate to theories of crime.
- explain cognitive structure and cognitive content and how they have been applied to criminal behavior.
- distinguish between general personality research and research on a “criminal personality.” Furthermore, be able to provide examples of general traits related to crime and the specific attributes of a psychopath.
- summarize the debate on the relationship between IQ and criminal behavior.
- discuss the contributions of psychology to the study of crime.
- identify the major principles of psychological perspectives of criminal behavior.
- explain how personality explains criminality.
- recognize the treatment implications of psychological understandings of criminality.
Summary
The psychology of crime is the study of the psychological factors that contribute to criminal behavior, including the motivations, thoughts, emotions, and personality traits of individuals involved in illegal activities. This field of study seeks to understand why some individuals engage in criminal acts while others do not and how psychological factors interact with social, environmental, and cultural influences to shape criminal behavior.
Certain personality traits have been associated with an increased likelihood of criminal behavior. Traits such as impulsivity, sensation-seeking, low empathy, aggressiveness, and a lack of conscience or guilt (associated with psychopathy) have been linked to criminal conduct.
Cognitive factors play a role in criminal behavior. Deficits in decision-making, problem-solving skills, and executive functions can lead individuals to engage in criminal acts as a way of addressing their problems or achieving their goals.
Mental health issues can be relevant to criminal behavior, particularly in cases of severe disorders like antisocial personality disorder, conduct disorder, or substance use disorders. However, it is essential to recognize that most people with mental health issues are not involved in criminal activities.
Adverse childhood experiences, such as physical or emotional abuse, neglect, or exposure to violence, can significantly impact an individual’s likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior later in life. Early trauma can affect brain development and lead to maladaptive coping strategies.
The social learning theory suggests that individuals learn behaviors, including criminal ones, through observation and imitation of others. Exposure to criminal role models or environments can contribute to the adoption of criminal behavior.
Family influences, such as inconsistent discipline, family conflict, or a lack of parental supervision, can impact an individual’s likelihood of engaging in criminal conduct. A dysfunctional family environment may contribute to the development of delinquent behavior.
Peer relationships and social networks can play a significant role in criminal behavior. Association with delinquent peers can reinforce criminal attitudes and behavior, leading to further involvement in criminal activities.
Substance abuse can impair judgment and increase the likelihood of engaging in criminal acts to obtain drugs or maintain an addiction.
Advances in neuroscience have shown that brain structure and functioning can influence behavior, including criminal conduct. Abnormalities in certain brain regions may be associated with increased aggression or impulsivity.
The psychology of crime is a complex and multidimensional field that considers various individual and environmental factors. It’s essential to understand that criminal behavior is the result of an intricate interplay between biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors. By integrating psychological knowledge with other disciplines, policymakers and practitioners can develop more effective prevention and intervention strategies to address criminal behavior and promote public safety. Moreover, understanding the psychological aspects of crime can also contribute to efforts aimed at rehabilitation and reducing recidivism among offenders.
Key Takeaways
- Psychological theories of crime focus on the association among intelligence, personality, learning, and criminal behavior.
- Psychodynamic theory suggests that criminal behavior is influenced by unconscious mental processes, early childhood experiences, and the id, ego, and superego.
- Behavioral theory proposes that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with others and the environment, especially through modeling and social learning.
- Cognitive theory emphasizes the role of mental processes, such as moral reasoning, information processing, and problem-solving, in criminal behavior.
- Personality and intelligence are two factors that may affect criminal behavior, according to various measures and models, such as the Big Five, IQ, and psychopathy.
Key Terms/Concepts
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
Gabriel Tarde (1843-1904)
Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987)
Maladaptation
Modeling Theory
Psychoanalytic Perspective
Psychopath
Sigmund Freud (1856-1939)
Trait Theory
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.
- You can choose to listen to the article by clicking on the listen icon
located within the navigation bar associated with the article.
2. Review Saul Mcleod’s Operant Conditioning: What It Is, How It Works, And Examples (Simply Psychology, June 2023)
3. 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.
4. 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 supertraits are present in an individual accounts for his or her unique personality.
c. Termed these supertraits 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.
5. 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]
6. 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.
7. 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.
8. Watch TEDx Talks (May 2016), Brian Boutwell: The Future of Criminology Saint Louis University [14:34] (TED, 2021) – also embedded below.
9. 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.
10. Watch JCS’ What Pretending to be crazy looks like (May 2021)
11. 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
Click HERE to report any needed updates, e.g., broken links.
The Future of Criminology Saint Louis University
Activity
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.
Violent Video Games and Crime Nexus?
Purpose
Instructions
- Review behavioral theory as explained within Chapter 31 Psychological Theories of Crime (p. 274)
- Read attached article from Do Violent Video Games Make Kids More Violent and explore a few of those links embedded within the file.
- Watch Video 1: Video game violence linked to bad behavior, study says (also embedded below)
- Watch Video 2: How do video games affect behavior? (also embedded below)
- Use modeling theory within the context of social learning theory to explain how you believe violent video games might affect a player’s emotions and influence their perceptual or emotional view of the world and increase the likelihood of maladaptive behavior.
- Summarize how playing violent video games might influence a person’s real-life behavior?
- A recent summary of this emerging literature finds a moderate correlation between exposure to violent video games and both aggression and lack of empathy. An exclusive review of studies of criminal aggression, however, did not find that video gaming had a significant impact. Skeptics of the link between media exposure and real-world violence also point out that both cross-national research and American crime trends cast doubt on the existence of a large effect. Using aspects of Module 6, explain whether or not you believe there is in fact a connection between video games and real-world violence.
Key Terms/Concepts
Definitions for these terms are found within Module 6
- Albert Bandura
- Behavioral Theory
- Behavioral Conditioning
- Modeling Theory
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)
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
