Criminal Psychology Assignment: Theories, Crimes, and Legal Aspects

This assignment delves into various aspects of criminal psychology, starting with an exploration of the role of criminal psychologists in Australia, including their tasks and work environments. It defines crime and discusses euthanasia, covering different viewpoints. The nature-nurture debate concerning crime is examined, along with the importance of twin and adoption studies in understanding the relationship between genetics, environment, and criminal behavior. A summary of Jeffrey Dahmer's life and crimes is provided, followed by explanations of his behavior using biological and environmental theories. The assignment also addresses serious crimes, stalking, the Kallikak family, learning disabilities, IQ tests, psychopathology, personality disorders, and antisocial personality disorder. Further topics include differences in shoplifting between males and females, sexual assaults, criminal behavior among young people in Australia, the use of psychology by the police, the social construction of crime, the reliability of eyewitness testimonies, stereotyping in the courtroom, juror authoritarianism, belief in a just world, punishment, and different models of punishment. The assignment is available on Desklib, which provides various AI-based study tools and solved assignments for students.

CRIMINOLOGY

Table of Contents
QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS.....................................................................................................1
1: Research the role of Criminal Psychology in Australia – on what a criminal psychologist
does, where they will work, and what sort of tasks they have concerning their job?............1
2: Define crime – on how do we define crime?......................................................................1
3: Write on euthanasia following:..........................................................................................2
4: Explain the nature-nurture debate concerning crime?........................................................2
5: A) Why are twin studies and adoption studies important when studying crime?..............2
B) What do twin studies and adoption studies tell us about how crime is related to nature and
the environment?....................................................................................................................3
6: Write a summary of Jeffrey Dahmer - who they were, what they did, their crimes, their
childhood, and so on?.............................................................................................................3
7: A) Using the biological and environmental theories to explain crime, explain why you think
the person you discussed in question 6 became a criminal?..................................................4
B) Overall, that model/explanation do you think most accurately explains why the person you
mentioned in questions 6 & 7 became a criminal? There is no “right” answer here but explain
why you have come to your conclusion.................................................................................4
8: Define serious crime?.........................................................................................................5
9: Give five examples of serious crimes?...............................................................................5
10: Imagine you are giving a lecture to adults about the murder that is a two-page handout on
the topic covers.......................................................................................................................5
11: Do you think this behavior is stalking, or could it be regarded as “normal” pursuit
behavior that follows after a relationship has broken down?.................................................6
12: Carry out more research on this family and write a one-page essay on the Kallikak family.
................................................................................................................................................6
13: Define learning disabilities...............................................................................................7
14: Explain in about half a page why people with learning disabilities may not fully
understand that their behaviour is a crime..............................................................................7
15: Outline three criticisms of IQ tests...................................................................................8
16: Define psychopathology...................................................................................................8

17: Define personality disorder. List four examples of personality disorders.......................8
18: Write an essay on the personality disorder - Narcissistic – exaggerated self-worth, need
for admiration, grandiose........................................................................................................8
19: List four signs that shown in childhood that may indicate a child has the potential to
develop an antisocial personality disorder.............................................................................9
20: What is the prognosis for individuals with an antisocial personality disorder or
psychopathy............................................................................................................................9
21: Carry out library or internet research on the differences between females and males
committing the crime of shoplifting. Submit an essay on the findings from your set task. .10
22: Following on from question 21, why do you think these differences have occurred.....10
23: Write an information leaflet about sexual assaults in men and women that could be
provided to victims of assault. In your document address the following.............................10
24: Briefly explain how misunderstandings can arise because of how society and people
individually view sexual assault on men and women?.........................................................11
25: In Australia find out the rates of criminal behavior among young people. Submit your
findings.................................................................................................................................11
26: Define the term “young offender”..................................................................................11
27: What are the differences in offending between male and female young people............11
28: What factors are thought to influence whether a young person becomes an offender...12
29: Write an essay on how the police use psychology in their work. You may look at this topic
generally or focus on a particular area, such as eyewitness testimonies, criminal profiling, and
so on......................................................................................................................................12
30: Why is crime thought to be socially constructed?..........................................................12
31: Why are eyewitness testimonies not always considered to be reliable? Use relevant
psychological theory and research to support your answer..................................................12
32: Show two or three people you know a photograph/short video of a random person for five
seconds. Then take the image away. An hour later, ask them to describe the person or what
happened. Write down what they say. Then look at how accurate they were. If it is not
possible to ask other people to do this, carry out the test on yourself, perhaps looking at a
random face in the newspaper or online. Write a short report on your findings from the set
task........................................................................................................................................13

33: Write an essay (up to 2 pages or 500 words) on the impact of stereotyping in the
courtroom. First, carry out library or internet research into stereotyping in the courtroom and
use these findings.................................................................................................................13
34: Define juror authoritarianism.........................................................................................14
35: Define juror locus of control..........................................................................................14
36: A: Explain in one paragraph the idea of “belief in a just world”...................................14
B: How could “belief in a just world” affect how we view people on trial?........................14
37: Define punishment.........................................................................................................14
38: Explain the difference between punishment and negative reinforcement......................15
39: Write an essay on the type of punishments used in Australia. Research the means of
punishment used within Australia. Consider what model of punishment it is. Give examples
..............................................................................................................................................15
40: Define, in a paragraph or two for each, the following terms: Rehabilitation model of
punishment, Education model of punishment, An eye for an eye, and mirror punishment?16
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................18

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS
1: Research the role of Criminal Psychology in Australia – on what a criminal psychologist does,
where they will work, and what sort of tasks they have concerning their job?
Criminal psychologists used to study the behavior and motivation of criminals inspire them to
commit crimes. As per this, they are usually researched to understand the psychology of
criminals and their behavior before committing any crime. Moreover, they used to determine
why crimes are occurring, and they are usually consulting with the policy authority and
department to identify the suspects or to provide expert testimony that is major associated with
court cases, moreover, the criminal psychologist also may be engaging and indulge with the
criminal profiling. Moreover, as criminal psychologists usually analyze the criminal after or
before committing a crime, they used to evaluate the motive of the crime and what are the
rationale and significance allow a criminal to commit a crime on such a level may render create
destruction of ethics and humanity. While taking the contrast of purpose and their role in generic
to specific, it is evaluated criminal psychologist helps to look into thoughts, intent, purpose and
the action is based on the felons and all that builds the criminals behavior. In this, they can reveal
the important facts are stated about the criminal to help in such as breakthrough that is based on
cases. They play a vital role in making understanding criminals and their behavior may be
helpful to demise their brain activity is become psychologically criminals (Barrio and et. al.,
2022).
2: Define crime – on how do we define crime?
In simple language, a crime is defined as an act that is unlawful in the manner and has some of
the certain punishment by the authority that is based on state and other major regulatory law
based department. In this, the term crime has a simple and accepted definition that is conducted
with a motive that is unethical for the human right and breaks the law that has standard and
formulated to maintain the social and community balance. In other words, the crime is also
defined as an act that is maybe transgression and omission that is a breach of the law that is
usually because it has aggressive behavior for the society is punishable by the law of the state of
authority. Crime is usually considered and stealing something, harming some with an intention or
creating such condition may harm someone in such a level maybe die. Moreover, crime has no
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standard definition but it is completely an unethical approach that is used to violate the law and
harm the right of humans, and their rights come under the progression of law.
3: Write on euthanasia following:
 Explain what it is.
 Explain why it is thought to be a crime.
 Explain why others consider it not to be a crime.
 Explain your viewpoint.
Moreover, the euthanasia of this is to describe that the crime is done by criminals have their
motive may be money or something and it is done to harm someone. These all phenomena are
violating the law due to the behavior that is based on unethical manner. To implement such kind
of law within community and society is to create and formulate quality of life and people need to
under their boundaries and they do not harm someone in such intention to kill and violate their
rights. This is thought to be a crime because they are violating the rules and regulations that may
create harm with the number of people norms and their values and the societal moral and norms
is conducted to preserve the humanity among people for others. In this, the other is considered to
be a crime because every single lane of ethics and morality have their values. These values and
ethics and their rationale and significance that is mentioned in such a way that provides the
aspect and generate right for the people who live in community and social group (Brisman and
et. al., 2018).
4: Explain the nature-nurture debate concerning crime?
They are involving with the belief that the social environment is act as the main reason why
people or any individual commit crime. In other hand, crime occurs and is fostered by the
biological traits that is eventually lead to develop behaviour associated with criminal activity.
5: A) Why are twin studies and adoption studies important when studying crime?
The twin, adoption, and family studies are defined as the most appropriate and common method
that is helpful to test on criminals to identify if there is any type of correlation is demonstrated.
As per this, while analyzing the criminal behavior that there is adopted children, their biological
and adoptive parents are usually used that is used to recommend for this experiment. Twin
studies are helping to support the contention that based on heritable traits may enhance the risk
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for criminal behavior. In context with crime, the extension is similarly observed in MZ twins is
greater than in DZ twins, a genetic hindrance that may be implicated (Clarke and et. al., 2018).
B) What do twin studies and adoption studies tell us about how crime is related to nature and the
environment?
Twin studies and adoption studies are defined as the way that helps to investigate the effect of
nature and nurture. Moreover, nature is completely referring to some elaborated discussion that is
based on biological causes for the rationale behavior. This is defined as the means that help to
influence the gene that has been inherited from the source or the aspect from the biological
parents. However, the twins offer some glimpse to share with family and allow scientists to
decipher to what extent is caused by genes and how much this is shared with the environment.
However, the adoption is usually helped scientists to evaluate the impact that is based on two
identical individuals raised in various aspects of the environment.
6: Write a summary of Jeffrey Dahmer - who they were, what they did, their crimes, their
childhood, and so on?
Jeffrey Dahmer was an American serial killer who usually took the lives of 17 males between the
years 1978 and 1991. Moreover, Dahmer sought the men are mostly from the region of African
and American at the gay bar, mall, and nearby bust stop, lured with the promise of money or sex
and offer them alcohol that is laced before the strangling them to the position of death. As per
this, they are indulging in a sex act with the corpses before that are dismembering them and they
are disposing of them. Moreover, keeping the skull or the genital as souvenirs. However, they are
frequently taking photos of the victim at the process on the murder, so Dahmer could recollect
each act afterward and relive the experience. In this, Dahmer was captured in 1991 and sentenced
to the proposition of 16 words. Moreover, he was killed by the inmate Christopher in 1994 at the
prison (Cullen and et. al., 2018).
The childhood history of Dahmer was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin on May 21, 1960. He was
elaborated as an energetic and happy child until the age of 4 when the surgery is held for the
double hernia seemed to change the boy. He became withdrawn based on following the birth of
his younger brother and the family show frequent moves. Moreover, he was completely
disengaged, tense, and largely friendless during their teenage. He also claims that his compulsion
towards necrophilia and murder started at the age of 14 and this is appearing due to the
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breakdown of parent marriage and their acrimonious divorce a few years this triggered and
transform the thought into action.
7: A) Using the biological and environmental theories to explain crime, explain why you think
the person you discussed in question 6 became a criminal?
Biological theories of crime are referring to the linkage between the certain biological condition
and an increased tendency that is engaged in criminal behavior. Moreover, the fact that is
identical twins that is more similar with the phase genetically than the fraternal twins are
recommended that the existence of the genetic hindrance on the criminal behavior is analyzed.
Whereas, the environmental theory of crime is defined as environmental criminology that has
basic to study about the crime occurs within the geographical area and it is also approaching a
positivist approach that recommended crime is influenced if not caused by a person spatial
environment (Herzog-Evans and et. al., 2021).
As per this, Dahmer has accepted through the biological and environment both because the
separation of their parent’s acts as a catalyst forces Dahmer to commit a crime and after a while,
he has biologically accepted the truth to commit a crime with himself due to change in nature and
factor render. The environment theory is also evaluated that the Dahmer make their region in
brain that aspires them to commit a crime and kill others for the inner peace. This phenomenon is
gone for a prolonged time and that change the nature and nurture of killers.
B) Overall, that model/explanation do you think most accurately explains why the person you
mentioned in questions 6 & 7 became a criminal? There is no “right” answer here but
explain why you have come to your conclusion.
Moreover, the above-stated model is a biological model of crime indicates that the Dahmer have
weak mental strength from their childhood due to the uncertain activity is abnormal at such age.
Moreover, after a long time, he completely suffers that condition is not appropriate at such ages
and this occurrence of a situation change their thinking pattern and behavior, he was partially
suffering from the mental disease, and after a prolonged time, when Dahmer reach up to the age
of 14, he was previously gone through the high range of situation makes them strong and he is
also thinking that the life is bias. With this contrast, the Dahmer face the separation of their
parents due to the factor of divorce, and this encounter and acts as a catalyst that process the
action of committing a crime. This all stage of development for crime happens due to change the
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thought process. It is also analyzing that the process is biological and creates a scenario that
makes Dahmer a serial killer (Hillyard and et. al., 2021).
8: Define serious crime?
Serious crime is defined as an offense that is an indictable offense that can be brutal. If a person
who is over the age of 18 and more is charged with a serious offense, as per this, it can be taken
or dealt with the proper summarise way and in the case of a person under the age of 18 years are
further included any indictable offense is the person has been detained. Felonies is defined as the
most serious type of crime and they are often classified with the degree, with the first degree that
have felony being the most serious. They are majorly including terrorism, treason, murder,
robbery, and others.
9: Give five examples of serious crimes?
Some examples are based on serious crime are murder and negligent manslaughter, rape,
robbery, aggravated assault, and gang violence, property crime usually consists of burglary,
larceny, motor vehicle theft, and arson, and so on (Howes and et. al., 2017).
10: Imagine you are giving a lecture to adults about the murder that is a two-page handout on the
topic covers
 How you can define murder
 Statistics of victims (male/female)
 Reporting behavior (whether the crime is reported or if not, why not)
 Other information related to murder.
Make it clear, use bullet points, define special terms, etc.
 Murder is defined as the killing of another human with any justification or any valid
excuse that is unlawful for humanity and society as well. This state of mind may depend
upon the jurisdiction, distinguishing murder from the other form is based in homicide
such as manslaughter.
 The major of the victim is divided into their age group compiles male and female.
Moreover, with the contrast of age group, the 15 percent is from the age 12 to 17.
However, from the age group of 18 to 34, 54 percent. As per this from the age 35 and 64,
the percentage is about 28 and last is more than the age of 64 have 3 percent.
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 As per this, the major of murder reports are mentioned and with this, the authority takes
action against this by getting punished by the criminal with based law. In this, some of
the cases are not listed or reported due to the personal factor where people compromise
by hiding the crime from the authority.
 The additional information is related to the murder is usually based on five elements. This
includes that a person was killed, accused killed him, the killing was attended by any of
the qualifying circumstances that are mentioned in Art 248, and the killing of the
individual did not base on the parricide and infanticide (Kort-Butler and et. al., 2021).
11: Do you think this behavior is stalking, or could it be regarded as “normal” pursuit behavior
that follows after a relationship has broken down?
With the aspect of psychology, the behavior of stalking is normal because when two people
are connected emotionally, then this acts as normal behavior for the people to stalk. While on the
level of jurisdiction, this is unlawful behavior because breaching someone's privacy is a
punishable act as per the law. In the contrast to the case study, the behavior that is analyzed is
unlawful and this requires strict action to prevent such kind of behavior. Whereas, Jane continues
to stalk and follow Andrew that is not appropriate as per the rule and regulations. Moreover, as
above mentioned, this is defined as the people may also understand that the mutual broke up
means a clear understanding for the getting separated from the each other. As per this, after a
time while people are usually stalking one another on different platforms such as social media
and so on. In the context of the case study, when Jane is getting drunk then called Andrew and
shares their though and cries and continuously want that Andrew back in her life where Andrew
already state that he is not interested. So, behavior from Jane's side is unethical.
12: Carry out more research on this family and write a one-page essay on the Kallikak family.
As per the contrast of genealogy, Goddard's claim about the Deborah Kallikak family that
have tree bore a curious and surprising moral tale. Moreover, the book follows the genealogy of
Martin Kallikak, Deborah's grandfather, who married with Quaker woman. During the
completion of the war, normally morally upright Martin dallied one time with a feeble-minded
barmaid. He impregnated her and then abandoned her. Moreover, the young Martin reformed and
they went upright life and became a respected New England citizen. All of the children are
coming with the factor of relationship where the identification is taken that there is no sign of
developmental disabilities. With the vision of Goddard, the child was born with a dalliance with
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the nameless feeble-minded girl. This is a single child and a male called Martin Kallikak (Lynch
and et. al., 2018).
With this all, there is another perspective that is associated with the Kallikaks that they
never diagnosed for the fetal alcohol syndrome. In terms of poverty and malnourishment,
prenatal alcohol exposure helps to create craniofacial and other physical anomalies that show the
account for their peculiar facial feature. Moreover, prenatal alcohol exposure may help to
damage the central nervous system that may result in reduced cognitive and behavioral
functioning that is parallel to the defined by Goddard.
13: Define learning disabilities
The concept of learning disability is generally a childhood disorder which is characterized by the
difficulty among certain skills such as writing as well as reading among people having normal
intelligence. The disability in learning can simply influences the capability to interpret such as
what an individual can see or hears or the capability to associate the relevant information from
various different parts of the brain. The disabilities in the learning can generally impact over the
person’s capability to solve the problems, plan as well as execute the task, effective
communication and can affect the management of everyday task (Pridemore and et. al., 2018).
14: Explain in about half a page why people with learning disabilities may not fully understand
that their behaviour is a crime.
People with learning disabilities may not understand the behavior of crime because due to the
low intelligence and hindrance in the activity of the brain. Some people with the disability may
be incapable of forming an intention that used to commit a crime that is based on the disability.
As per this, there is another criminal cat that is categorized as an assault that does not require that
the person is usually committing the offense that may be based on such intention. In addition to
this, the disability of intellectual can generally acknowledged by a particular damage among the
intellectual functioning alongside the difficulties in their daily tasks, an effective communication,
and the personal concern. In this, the routine activities theory can conceptualise the victimisation
in relation with an interaction among available victim, the absence of a capable guardian and a
motivated offender. In this, they are not enough capable to have a analyse themselves in such a
way which create a behaviour that acknowledge their crime. The people with the learning
disabilities could not recognise value beliefs and morals. As per this, they usually not make a
difference between ethical and unethical scenario due to the difference between perspective and
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perception. The people with the learning disability not fully understand the unethical behaviour
is comes under the act of crime.
15: Outline three criticisms of IQ tests
This is analysing that the IQ has several critics who argue that the test fails to assess many of
essential domains of the psychological functioning that they are often pointing to the non-
cognitive domain that particularly includes social-emotional abilities, motivation, empathy,
morality, and interpersonal skills (Pycroft and et. al., 2018).
16: Define psychopathology
Psychopathology is defined as the study of abnormal cognition that is based on behavior and
experience that may differ according to the social norms and rest that related with a construct
that is dimmed to the social norms with the set of a particular time. Moreover, in simpler words,
it is defined as the study of psychological and behavioral dysfunction is occurring in the presence
of mental illness or the pattern of social disorganization. In this, psychotherapy refers to the use
of a psychological method that is based on routine interaction and communication that help to
change individual behavior and enhance wellbeing and resilience.
17: Define personality disorder. List four examples of personality disorders
A personality disorder is defined as the way of thinking, feeling, and behaving that influences the
individual from the expectation of the culture that majorly causes distress or problem functioning
and is associated with last over time. The other definition of personality disorder state that it is a
type of mental disorder in that the rigid and unhealthy behavior of an individual that shows
abnormal thinking, functioning, and behavior is analyzed.
Examples of personality disorders are Antisocial personality disorder, borderline personality
disorder, histrionic personality disorder, and narcissistic personality disorder (Rafter and et. al.,
2018).
18: Write an essay on the personality disorder - Narcissistic – exaggerated self-worth, need for
admiration, grandiose
In this, the individual with the Narcissistic personality disorder usually greatly shows a lacking
of empathy that is based on the recognition that is helpful to determine the feeling that is
associated with the need of others. They are overconfident and they look at themselves as an
extraordinary individual and they feel a strong sense of entitlement and that based on admiration.
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