Psychology of Behaviour

This essay discusses various psychological perspectives, social influence on behaviour, causes and theories of criminal behaviour, and application of psychological perspectives in public service. It also explores the murder of James Bulger by two 10-year-old boys. The essay provides insights into psychodynamic and cognitive approaches to understanding human behaviour.

Psychology of Behaviour

Table of Contents
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................10

Psychology can be defined as the science of behaviour as well as mind. The following
essay contains discussion done over the variety of psychological perspectives such as biological,
cognitive, humanistic etc. In addition to this, it explores the impact of social influence over
behaviour, causes and theories of criminal behaviour. Apart from this, it examines the
application of psychological perspectives within public service. Further, the report also takes into
account the murder of a 2 year old child named James Bulger via two 10 year old guys named
Jon Venables and Robert Thompson.
This section of the discussion gains an insight into the two primary psychological
approaches which provide assistance in effectively comprehending the human behaviour. These
approaches are identified as being Psychodynamic and Cognitive. A detailed discussion over the
same is given below in detailed manner.
The psychodynamic or psychoanalytic theory given by Freud is based on the premise that
unconscious mental procedures tend to influence the daily behavioural pattern of individuals
while childhood experiences tend to shape the futuristic personality of adults composed of id
(pleasure principle aligned with unconscious mind), ego (reality principle concerned with the
conscious mind) and finally, superego (morality linked to the preconscious mind). Freud in the
year 1920 put forth the premise that Thanatos (death instinct) as well as Eros (life instinct) is
incorporated within the unconsciousness. These are regarded to be the key motivating forces
within the domain of mental realm. The 5 phases of psychosexual theory tend to emphasize over
the success completion of each phase for facilitation of healthy development of a child. Hereby,
the phallic stage is considered to be the most important as hereby a child undergoes Oedipus
complex whereby the child develops a desire towards the parent of opposite sex.
Contrary to this, Horney in the year 1994 put forth the view that the views held by Freud
were largely an illustration of the envy held by women towards the male dominant society.
Further, it is seen that the theory of Freud is based on a small sample of neurotic, elite section of
Austrian women which do not represent the whole population in any way. Thus, the theory of
Freud has been considered as sexist. It does not take into due consideration the differences
arising due to diverse cultural backgrounds of individuals. As opposed to this, the cognitive
theory stresses over the relevance as well as significance of comprehension of mental procedures
impacting upon the behaviour while enabling personnel to gain understanding of the world
circumscribing them. This theory focuses over the manner in which human beings tend to
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process the information in relation to the way the thought procedure impact upon the behavioural
conduct and patterns of individuals.
It is acknowledged that the cognitive psychology is distinct from psychodynamic
approach that emphasizes upon the significance of unconscious mind along with the relation
amidst the behavioural patterns and external events. On the contrary, cognitive psychology put
forth the premise that events that take place to an individual should be comprehensively taken
into account if the behavioural pattern needs to be completely comprehended.
Social influence can be comprehensively defined as the way within which the personnel
alter their behaviour in fulfil the requirements and needs of a social environment. Conformity
and obedience are the two forms of behaviour that are exhibited by the individuals as a result of
social influence. In this relation, it is acknowledged that conformity is the consequential outcome
of an imagined or real kind of pressure. Individuals conform in accordance with several reasons
such as incentives, authority, social guidance, low self esteem, team prestige and many more. In
simple words, it can be said that conformity is a kind of social influence that largely involves
alteration in behavioural conduct or beliefs for fitting within any group. On the other hand,
obedience can be acknowledged as a kind of social influence that tends to involve performance
of a course of action in accordance with the orders given by an authoritative person.
The children, Thompson and Venables, are influenced from their environment or groups
that affect their behaviour. As per the case the both the children are impacted from their
environment as both of them come from families whereby there are some similarities. In both
families, the parents were separated, thus both of them were posed to lack of care and empathy
from their mothers. All of these developed negative behaviour and state of mind in them since
their early childhood. In the context of given case, both boys were product of a social
dysfunctional family. This provides understanding about the behavior of children which causes
major impact on their action.
There are different types of consequences occur from discrimination and prejudice.
Prejudice is acknowledged to be a kind of negative emotional reaction to a specific group of
individuals occurring as a result of intolerant, unfair, or unfavourable attitude kept towards that
group. On the contrary, discrimination can be comprehensively defined as the specific
behavioural pattern that is kept towards the members of the group which is unfair in nature as
against the behaviour exhibited towards the participants of other teams.
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The prejudice also develops discrimination from which development of unchallenged act
and behavior of individual occurs within society. As discrimination also involves lack of various
availability of things that develop challenged behavior in children such as poor health, education,
etc. This also develops what lesson vulnerable feeling among individuals which leads to harm
among other people as individual start identifying them according to their situation. As both of
the boys have different backgrounds from which Thompson was molested by his father and leave
from his mother while the mother of Venables have depression from which she become violent
towards him (Dunkel and Kruger, 2015).
The psychological and social theories help Public Services employers to perform
professionally, provide best services for public. The psychologists use these theories in
treatments and practices, so that they can reduce mental problems of individuals.
The understanding of human behaviour based on scientific psychological approach helps to
predict, shape the perceptions and decisions of citizens human in different situation. The
knowledge of psychology is a powerful tool in serving public on the best of Pubic Services
abilities.
There are different theories that explain criminal behaviour. Theories reveal relation
between factors that cause criminal behaviour which leads to violent and aggressive action of
individuals. The physical theories refer to the criminal mind which develops through physical
body and the gene changes. Within this the characteristics are inherited from relationship and
from environment. The change in this factor can develop various problems in the development of
child. The misunderstanding about environment can cause various challenges among children.
The genital changes and complications are discussed hereafter below.
Complications can take place within the procedure of development of the chromosomes.
This at times even consequently implies a person possessing an extra sex chromosome. In very
few males, there are one X and two Y chromosomes (i.e. XYY). The thorough research and
study conducted upon this subject has revealed that there is a unique relation between XYY and
the existence of aggression and criminality within an individual. However, this hypothesis was
contradicted owing to the selection bias. In this relation, many researches assessed the existence
as well as the incidence of XYY syndrome within certain sub samples inclusive of mental health
hospitals and prisons instead of representative community sample”. Several other scholars and
researchers found absolutely no direct association between XYY syndrome and aggression &
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criminality. Further study conducted on this subject matter has revealed that the low levels of
serotonin makes it extensively complex for the prefrontal cortex in controlling the emotional
reactions to anger arisen within amygdale.
Extensive research was conducted by Bowlby on this subject matter giving some crucial
revelations about the topic. Bowlby put forth the premise that an effectual and secure attachment
provides assistance to the child in developing into an adult who had the ability to form solid
relations with other individuals. Inability to shape such connections could later prompt emotional
wellness and social issues. His investigation conducted over 44 adolescent thieves in the year
1994 demonstrated that the individuals who experienced thought that it was troublesome in later
years to frame associations with others or experience positive feelings like sympathy and warmth
for other people. Over half of the adolescent thieves had been isolated from their moms longer
than a half year in their initial 5 yrs of living. His examination showed that "affectionless
psychopathy was brought about by maternal deficiency. Be that as it may, Rutter scrutinized this
examination as it depended on correlational information and as such just depicts a connection
between the two factors.
The psychological theory provides various causes factors which are responsible for
development of crimes. This is occur as personality of a person which leads to the change in their
behaviour. It also involves relation with cognition development within it (Jost, 2017). There are
some factors which help in developing psychological of behavior with mind state of a person.
This behavior develops from supervision neglect and criminal act from parents to their children.
Thompson and Venables both are facing neglecting behaviour by their parents. Develop changes
with their behavior from which there criminal act performed.
The development of Life course focuses on human development and identification of
interaction of human with others. As there are different factors which influence criminal
behavior with in individual. This theory provides statement of starting phase of development to
the end. This also involves some community and personality factors which are responsible for
the development of a child (Gardner, 2017).
There are various influences that play their role in development of crime and these are
comprehensively explored as follows.
The biological risk factors plays vital role in in crime conducting. The biological factors
are occurring internally that are predispose to criminal act. Also lead to dysfunction within brain
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which provides motivation to take and perform criminal act. The changes with the neurons can
also cause conduct to criminal acts. Some of the examples of these factors are low intelligence,
poor diet, impulsivity and hyperactivity, hormones such as testosterone and cortisol, and
environmental pollutants.
Within the development process the adverse childhood experiences refers to child
development. There are number of children occur who does not gain proper environment from
which they can develop. This results in acting criminally by them (Konrath and Grynberg, 2016).
There are number of factors occur from which children enhance in in taking criminals steps. This
has been stated that criminal act mostly occur in those children who are having bad experiences.
Both the children, Venables and Thompson have had worse past experiences which led them to
act criminally. Both the children do not have appropriate environment from which they can
develop properly.
The negative social environment refers to the impact from surrounding on the behavior
of children. The living in negative environment can also influence criminal act within the
behavior of children. Negative environment includes depression and stress which impact on
mentally that result in in mental disorders which enhance people to act criminally. The both of
children have negative environment of their family which develop stress in their mind.
The substance abuse is vital factor that provides contribution in in criminal act. It
involves the construction of different things that make harm to others. In this use of alcohol and
drugs occur which develops unconscious mind from which a person can enjoy themselves and
other people. From this different physiological and psychological alteration occur as excessive
changes are developed within mind (Kopec, 2018). This cause negative impact on the mind is
from which a person is not able to take decisions properly as they lose their self control on
themselves. This lead to act them criminally from which they are not able to think properly. As
the mother of Thompson consume excess amount of alcohol which develop changes with your
mind. From this she abundant him which cause negative impact on the mind state of child.
The theories of physiological, psychological and biological have a various cost factors that
assist in determining real world of crime. The changes within this factor develop genetically
notification which results in in criminal actions. As the thinking of their reception of a person is
important to be raise so that act of criminal can be minimized. As the people perceive different
mind from which they adapt good behavior from others (Lofland, 2017).
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The psychological perspectives include the criterion of analysing the attitudes, beliefs and
behavior of people to learn about them. It includes different types of psychological perspectives
that be used by team of public services in order to make decisions to deals with the criminal
takes of murder occurred with James. Meanwhile, the utilisation of various psychological
perspectives provide support to examine the actual psychology of people for taking actions
towards those two individuals who attempt the murder. However, the team of public services
should deal with criminals according to the section of juvenile criminal aspects. It has been
analysed that the criminals are also children named Thompson and Venables with age of 10
years who may not aware of that they have done a severe crime as murder then team of public
services should remain very careful to deal with them. They can use various psychological
perspectives to understand about the psychology of criminals of given case which are given here
(Ohnmacht, 2017).
Psychodynamic perspective contains to evaluate the human behavior including violent
side of an individual which was produced from the unconscious forces operation in mind of
them. It is necessary to learn about these forces which make an individual much violent to
attempt severe activities to which they were not sure about. Meanwhile, It has been analysed that
it consist the fact of believing in conflicts take place during the early childhood at different
psychosexual stages of life that are responsible for affecting the capability of them to act in
normal manner as an adult. In context of James murder case, the team members of public
services can utilise psychodynamic perspectives to evaluate actual mid set of the criminals to cat
with them accordingly. It is very important for them to investigate them case very effectively as
well as efficiently to identify the actual facts behind the crime happened so that appropriate
decision can be taken by judiciary (Thompson, 2015).
Behavior perspective can be known as an important psychological perspectives because it
is suitable to understand about the reason behind violent attempt of child criminals by evaluating
their social interaction. Many times, it has been analysed that negative social interaction at the
time of early childhood impact negatively on their mind sets which is responsible for enhancing
their violent behaviour. However, the individuals involved in the crime do not have good family
background due to which they were somehow avoided in society due to which they did not get
proper education and care from guardians which makes them to have such negative behaviour.
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Psychology can be defined as study of various subfields such as human development,
behaviour, clinical aspects, social behavior and cognitive procedures. It includes that various
psychological perspectives plays an important role in supporting the members working in public
services to understand the reality of entire situation. Meanwhile, it is very important for them to
evaluate the actual psychology the criminals have at the time of attempting murder. Even the
force team should also analyse about the psychology before and after attempting the crimed of
murder. However, it is observed that the team working as public services to identify the mind set
and behavior those criminal children as they live in slums and do not get good education & care.
The evaluation of their psychology helps to determine the actual cause of violent and criminal
attempt of such children who belongs from slums which can be improve further so that such
crimes can be reduced from the country (Zineldin, 2017).
According to the James murder case, it has been identified that the two year child had
suffered a lot before his death as they got damaged skull and specialist need around 33 minutes
of time to describe overall injuries he had. It includes that 22 bruises, splits &grazes on his face
and head whereas he had moire than 20 wounds on his entire body. However, all these symptoms
indicates that the baby has faced extreme torture by the criminals before getting dead. Apart from
this case, it has been analysed that every criminals has its own psychology due to which they
attempt murder of any kind of other severe crime which is required to be evaluated by public
services. It is very important to study and understand the criminal psychology in order to prevent
its severe impact on society. In addition to this, it is observed that team members related to
public services are required to deal with the criminals appropriately because they belongs to the
category of juvenile section. Moreover, they can identify the cause of criminal attempt by
children living in slums which make them capable to prevent such societal crimes in future.
On the other hand, the criminal behavior and it relevant cause must be determined in
order to make effective strategies and practices to make sure that kids belongs to slums area will
get proper education with the help of government authorities. However, the special focus and
efforts of legal bodies are must towards these children in order to remove the risk of child abuse
and such murder cases from the society. It is also favourable to reduce the criminal behavior and
addiction of drugs can also be avoided properly.
There are various kinds of public health services such as public health, environment
protection, emergency facilities, justice and so on. It includes various kinds of department who
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focus on slum areas and people living there while providing services to them. However, it has
been analysed that staff working for public services are responsible for avoiding such areas to
render services which impact on their entire, lifestyle. Basically, it is very important for
government to make sure that desired public facilities were received by these communities or
not. In addition to this, the psychological perspectives is favourable to evaluate about the
behavior of people and analyse its negative impact on the entire society. The poor condition slum
children is responsible for making them violent in such as manner as they get involved in wrong
activities like drug abuse, addition, sexual activities and crimes like murder. It is necessary for
public services like education department to deliver free education with uniforms and meal
which helps to improve their lives and that is accountable for contributing for welfare of the
society. Improper or lack of education and inappropriate care leads to increase criminal activities
among slum children.
Considering the above fact, it has been evaluated that of public services contributed well
then case of James murder will not happen ever. It is essential for emergency department to
immediately respond complaints of people living in slums for making their live better as well as
contribute well towards society. However, the environment safety department should out special
focus on slum areas because most of the epidemics happen there so that it must be on priority to
spread pesticides for reduction of harmful pathogens for improving living atmosphere. Besides
of this, the government and legal bodies should focus on slum children and ensure to educate
them so that they will not involve in criminal activities because it impact on their entire life as
well as future of the country. Moreover, the psychological perspectives should be considered by
public services to understand the situation and needs of slum kids for improving their lives.
It is evident that psychology plays a crucial role within the domain of public services. It
is concerned with study of behaviour of individuals in an effective manner so as to derive
positive outcomes. Besides this, it is summarised that there are different types of approaches are
occur with in psychology. As there are similarities and difference arise in these approaches
which assist in determining impact of behaviours properly. The obedience and conformity also
influences people with in different ways that can be occur as bad manner that influence them to
act to other people. There are consequences of discrimination and prejudice occurs that motivates
individual to act criminally. The influence of psychological and social theories occurs that
provides influences to individual which develop changes within their behaviour. Including this,
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criminal theories also occur which provide impact on them. The perspective of psychological
occurs and can be applied by team members in the services of public.
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REFERENCES
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