Understanding Criminal Behaviour

This assignment delves into the psychological underpinnings of criminal behavior. It examines various perspectives, analyzes the reasons and factors driving such actions, and concludes with the application of these psychological insights in public service contexts. The report emphasizes how understanding criminal behavior can contribute to effective strategies for addressing crime issues.

Psychology of Behaviour:
Project 2

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LO 3.................................................................................................................................................3
P 3 Factors and influences which contribute to criminal activities.............................................3
M 3 Major theories of Criminal behaviour.................................................................................4
D2 Real-world crime ..................................................................................................................5
LO 4.................................................................................................................................................6
P 4 How psychological perspectives can be applied by individuals in public service................6
P 5 Psychosocial perspective applied by the teams of public service.........................................7
M 4 How psychology is practically applied by public services to reduce criminal behaviour...7
D 3 How psychological perspective is applied to work of a range of public service.................8
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................1

INTRODUCTION
Behaviour may be defined as the range of mannerism and actions which are made by an
individual, systems or any artificial entities in concurrence with themselves and to their
environment. Psychology of behaviour is a theory of learning which is based upon the idea that
all human behaviours are acquired through conditioning. It helps in predicting how human
behave so that we can build better habits and create better outcomes and develop better
communities. Present report discusses about the criminal behaviour and its causal factors. This
report also includes the influences which may contribute to the criminal activities and what are
the factors which lead to such influences. Present report also discusses about the major theories
of criminal behaviour and also assesses the psychological perspectives applied in the public
services. This report also discusses about the psychology applied by public services to reduce the
criminal activities.
LO 3
P 3 Factors and influences which contribute to criminal activities
Its is the biological factor that are often the starting point of the criminal behaviour, the
basic idea behind it is that some people are psychologically susceptible in committing the crime.
Even, if its is true, it does not give a proper explanation why a criminal rate varies from country
to country, city to city and states to states. None of us could know can know surely about the
causes of a crime. However, there are some factors which have an influence on the criminal rate
some of these factors are mentioned below:
Poverty level and job availability: As we know by statistically that poverty goes hand in hand
with the crime and the country or place where poverty is more prevalent in a particular
community that particular community is experiencing higher levels of crime rate (Lea, 2015).
But logically speaking it is not the poverty alone which leads to the crime but it is the factors
which are associated with it for example joblessness, low access to the quality schools, lack of
opportunities, unemployment rate, etc. Such factors offers a way for the less advantageous
people to access the things that they may not afford which leads to the crime.
Age of population: There exists a correlation between the age of population and crime rate,
most crimes are committed by the people which are in their teenage i.e. in 20's and 30's. It is
especially in those areas where the population is transient and young. Violence is associated with

the young man and it is believed that community with higher age has low criminal rates but the
country or community which has more young populations have higher criminal rate.
Social level of morality: As different communities and homes have got different degrees of
morality, in some communities and families aberrant behaviour is encouraged and tolerated but
in some families and communities even some minor deviant behaviour is reported and corrected
(Brown and et.al., 2017). The upbringing of the people and even the social environment can help
in shaping the behaviour of an individual which can have an effect their decision.
Police policy: This is also an important factor which have an influence on the criminal activities
for example a country with lenient police policy against the criminal have to suffer from more
crimes as compared to the country which have got strict police policy. A well sourced police
force which is forced with the tough sentences for the perpetrators may result in the less criminal
activities.
Victimisation and re-victimisation: This also the factor which results in criminal activities,
when any person becomes a victim of any social abuse it may or may not result in the criminal
activites but if a same person becomes the victim again and again it will indulge him or her into
criminal activities.
M 3 Major theories of Criminal behaviour
There are various psychological theories of crime which can help in understanding the
psychological behaviours of criminals some theories are mentioned below:
Bowlby's Maternal Deprivation: According to this theory continual disruption of the
attachment between infant and mother could result in the long-term cognitive, emotional and
social difficulties for that particular infant. Bowlby's maternal deprivation suggested that
intimate, warm and continuous relationship with a mother is necessary for the child's healthy
psychological environment (Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation, 2018.). Bowlby believed
that attachment behaviour between mother and infant are instinctive which will be activated by
the conditions which seem to be threatening for both mother and infant like separation, fear,
insecurity, etc (Milne, 2015). According to this theory child has an innate need to get attached to
one main attachment and this attachment should be qualitatively different from any of the
subsequent attachments i.e. the relationship between mother and infant and breakdown of this
attachment may lead to negative consequences. The long term consequences of maternal
deprivation includes the reduced intelligence, delinquency, aggression, affectionless psychopathy

and depression. The short term separation from an attachment could lead protest, despair,
detachment, etc.
Eysenck's Theory of Criminal personality: This theory of criminal personality suggests that
personality of an individual is biologically based and personality traits of an individual includes
various dimensions of neuroticism and extraversion which can be measure by framing a
personality questionnaire (Hayley and et.al., 2017). But here extraversion of an individual refers
to the biological needs which have high and low levels of an environmental stimulation which is
determined when there is an arousal in person's autonomic and central nervous system. It simply
means that a person with high level of extraversion have typically low levels of arousal i.e. such
persons needs more environmental stimulation in order to fuel their excitement. While as
neuroticism in an individual refers to the stability of personality and high neuroticism rate
represents a person who is more reactive and more volatile and has more offending behaviour.
Eysenck also added the third personality dimension which is called the Pyschoticism which
means a degree a person is aggressive, antisocial and uncaring. Eysenck finally argued that a
person being a criminal should have scored high in these rates of dimensions.
Social Learning Theory: This theory was propounded by Albert Bandura, according to this
theory people learn from one another through observation, modelling and imitations. This theory
is also called as bridge between behaviourist and cognitive learning theories as it encompass
motivation, attention and learning from others which result in adopting of the different
behaviours.
D2 Real-world crime
Peter Connelly also known as Baby P, a 17 old month English boy who died 2007,
London after scumming to his injuries. He had to suffer more than 50 injuries over 8 month
period. He was seen repeatedly in London Borough Child service and NHS health professionals.
Three persons were convicted to cause or allowing the death of child and mother was pleaded to
guilty of charge. Baby P's mother Tracey Colleny had high neuroticism rate which resulted in the
criminal behaviour and letting her child to get torched by her boyfriend and another person. She
was influenced by her boyfriend. Tracy Connelly got in a relationship with Steven Barker at
whose hands Peter has to suffer child abuse due to which Peter was admitted to hospital several
times which lead to the death of 17 month old baby. She wanted to live with her boyfriend and
his boyfriend disliked the child which resulted in a criminal activity.

LO 4
P 4 How psychological perspectives can be applied by individuals in public service
There are various psychological perspectives which can be applied by the individuals of
City of London Police department. Psychological perspectives includes Behavioural perspective,
Psychodynamic perspective, Humanism, Biological Psychology and Cognitive Psychology
(Starkey and Isler, 2016). These psychological perspectives can be applied by the individuals of
City of London Police department by following ways:
Behaviourist perspective: This approach can be applied by the individuals by understanding the
different people are different behaviours as they are controlled by the environment they live in
and has also to understand that they are the results of what they have learned from their
environment. Such understanding should be developed by the individual of public service. Also
individuals of public service need to understand the behaviour of an individual can be explained
by its motive which means behaviour should occur by reason that they serve (Bomberg and et.al.,
2017). Individual can learn from the consequences of its behaviour.
Psychodynamic perspective: This can be applied by the individuals if individuals is facing a
problem of Id and its superego and there is a conflict between two. This conflict can be resolved
by using a defence mechanism which will help to reduce the anxiety. Psychodynamic perspective
will help the individuals to resolve their inner conflicts which can help the individuals to take
better decisions.
Humanism: This perspective suggests that individuals are responsible for their own well-being
and happiness as a human. So, it is important for the individuals of public service to mend their
behaviours as an individual have got an innate capacity of self-actualisation which is the unique
desire to achieve the highest potential as good person.
Cognitive perspective: An individual need to study the mental process or an act by which a
knowledge acquired by a criminal. Individuals need to focus on the mental functions like
memory, attention, perception, etc (Carfora and et.al., 2017). This perspective will help the
individuals of City Police to understand the human behaviour more accurately.
Biological psychology: Individuals of the police department have to understand that most of the
behaviours are inherited by a person and have a significant impact on the behaviour of an
individual i.e. it is the structure and psychology of the brain which have an influence on the
behaviour of an individual.

P 5 Psychosocial perspective applied by the teams of public service
Psychological perspectives can be applied by different teams within City of London
Police department by understanding there are different behaviours of the individuals in a team
may have come from different environments and have to understand how various environmental
factors affects the behaviour of the individuals in a team (Ajzen, 2015). Members in team has to
understand that there are two main forces from where the people can learn in team by classic
conditioning and operant behaviour. But the individuals in a team can learn by associations
which are formed in team. Leaders of a team have to manage their ego and teams need to solve
their inner conflicts which will help in building a strong team and will also improve their
decision making skills (Kemdra, 2019). In team a team member should not put any unnecessary
pressure on other team member which will have an impact on the identity of an individual and
should not hurt any feelings and self image of an individual. Teams should work collaboratively
in order to achieve their higher potential as people. Also, there should be an understanding
among the team members and the decisions taken should come as a same perception, attention
and memory and also they need to understand that different members come from different
biological factors which have an impact on their behaviours in a team.
M 4 How psychology is practically applied by public services to reduce criminal behaviour
Psychology has played vital role in promoting and advancing the public policy related to
the social issue which support in decreasing the criminal behaviour. Criminal psychology is
applied by the City of London Police department in order to reduce criminal behaviour by
studying the actions, intentions, thoughts, views and reactions of the criminals. The study goes
back into what had made someone to commit a crime but also it is important to analyse the
reactions of the criminal after crime (Hagger, 2016). By studying the criminal psychology can
actually help in decreasing the crime. Once it is understood how a criminal thinks it will be able
to understand why criminals are committing crime and public service will be able to stop the
crimes from happening in the future. Another way is changing the brain of criminal to change its
behaviour, by changing the perception of a criminal can help in reducing the criminal
behaviours. By studying the mind of criminals and understanding their behaviours properly can
help in changing the mind of the criminals in a society it is the best way of reducing the
behaviours by providing proper counselling to the criminals and changing their mind (O'Connor,
2016). When the mind of the criminal has been successfully changed it will positively reduce the

criminal activities and behaviours. A can be made to go under Cognitive behaviour therapy
which will help in changing the unhelpful cognitive behaviours and distortions by improving the
emotional regulation and development of coping strategies which target to solve the current
problems of the criminal (Mackay, 2018). It aims to help to deal with the overwhelming
problems of a criminal in a more positive way by breaking the problems in to smaller parts. It
helps the criminal to deal with the current problems which is practical way of improving the state
of mind of a criminal.
D 3 How psychological perspective is applied to work of a range of public service
Different psychological perspectives are applied by the work of range of public service
like Police department applies different psychological perspectives and Criminal psychologist.
Police department mostly applies the behavioural perspective which help them to understand the
criminal scene. They need to understand what are the reasons of crime or what have indulged a
criminal in a crime. Another psychological perspective which the police department applies is
cognitive perspective which is concerned with the mental functions which includes memory,
perception and have to pay attention each and every aspects of crime (Ogden., 2016). Criminal
psychologist applies various psychological perspectives like behavioural perspective,
psychodynamic perspective, humanism, cognitive philosophy and biological philosophy in order
to study the thoughts, actions, intentions etc of the criminal which helps in depicting the criminal
behaviour. They have four main roles to play such as clinical role where a criminal psychologist
is assessing the police department to provide the criminal judgement. Second role is
experimental role where the psychologist is involved in executing the experimental tests in order
to provide more information. Actuarial role where the physiologist has to provide the probability
of an event occurring and final role is advisory role where the psychologist has to advice the
police how to proceed with the investigation. So, criminal psychologist has to apply different
psychological perspectives.
CONCLUSION
It can be concluded from the report that there are various factors which have an influence
on the criminal activities and there are also various theories which depict the criminal behaviour.
These theories can be helpful in understanding the behaviours of criminals and one can
understand the reasons and factors that exists behind the criminal behaviour. Present report also
concludes that various psychological perspectives can be applied by individuals and the teams in

public services which can help in reducing the criminal behaviours. It can also be concluded that
psychological perspective can be applied in different work range of public service which can
help in addressing the crime issues.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Ajzen, I., 2015. The theory of planned behaviour is alive and well, and not ready to retire: a
commentary on Sniehotta, Presseau, and Araújo-Soares. Health psychology review.
9(2). pp.131-137.
Bomberg, E and et.al., 2017. The financial costs, behaviour and psychology of obesity: a one
health analysis. Journal of comparative pathology. 156(4) pp.310-325.
Brown, S and et.al., 2017. Psychology of Criminal Behaviour: A Canadian Perspective 2nd
edition. Development and Psychopathology. 17. pp.67-84.
Carfora, V and et.al., 2017. Moderating effects of pro-environmental self-identity on pro-
environmental intentions and behaviour: A multi-behaviour study. Journal of
Environmental Psychology. 53. pp.92-99.
Hagger, M. S., 2016. Non-conscious processes and dual-process theories in health psychology.
Hayley, A. C and et.al., 2017. Emotional intelligence and risky driving behaviour in
adults. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour. 49. pp.124-
131.
Lea, S., 2015. Instinct, Environment and Behaviour (Psychology Revivals). Psychology Press.
Mackay, D., 2018. Clinical psychology: theory and therapy. Routledge.
Milne, D., 2015. Training Behaviour Therapists (Psychology Revivals): Methods, Evaluation
and Implementation with Parents, Nurses and Teachers. Routledge.
O'Connor, N. ed., 2016. Recent Soviet Psychology. Elsevier.
Starkey, N. J. and Isler, R. B., 2016. The role of executive function, personality and attitudes to
risks in explaining self-reported driving behaviour in adolescent and adult male
drivers. Transportation research part F: traffic psychology and behaviour. 38. pp.127-
136.
Online
Bowlby's Theory of Maternal Deprivation. 2018. [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.tutor2u.net/psychology/reference/bowlbys-theory-of-maternal-
deprivation>.
Kemdra, C. 2019. Perspectives in Modern Psychology [Online]. Available Through:
<https://www.verywellmind.com/perspectives-in-modern-psychology-2795595>.
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