CJ400 Criminal Psychology Report: Biological Factors & Learning

This report examines key concepts in criminal psychology, drawing upon the Stanford Prison Experiment to illustrate the impact of situational variables on human behavior. The report explores the experiment's methodology, findings, and ethical considerations, highlighting the roles of deindividuation and the 'Lucifer Effect' in shaping behavior. Furthermore, the report delves into biological and learning factors that influence criminal behavior, including trait theory, sociobiology, and social learning theories such as those of Skinner, Bandura, Sutherland, and Akers. It provides a comprehensive overview of how both innate characteristics and environmental influences contribute to the development of antisocial behavior, emphasizing the importance of understanding individuals as active problem solvers within their environments. The report also references the course material from CJ400, including the discussion of criminal behavior from the perspective of social process and the concepts of positive and negative reinforcement, vicarious reinforcement, and punishment.

Running head: CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
Name of Student
Name of University
Author Note

1CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
In the year 1971 an experiment was set out by psychologist Philip Zimbardo for
observing the impact which becoming a prisoner or prison guard has on any individual. The
experiment was conducted for the investigation of the impact of situational variables on
human behaviour. In the experiment 24 volunteers were chosen who had no criminal
background or any kind of psychological issues or any other medical conditions. The
volunteers were kept in three simulated prisons in the basement of the Stanford University
psychology building (Zimbardo, 2011). The prisoners had to remain in the prison for 24
hours and the guards had to work in 8 hour shifts and all actions were monitored. However
the experiment was stopped after 6 days because of the change in the behaviour of the guards,
who became abusive and the prisoners, who started to become stressed and anxious. Even
Zimbardo, playing the role of the jail warden, was seen as overlooking the abusive behaviour
that the guards were showing towards the prisoners. According to Zimbardo only a few
individuals could resist the temptations of power and resistance raised by the situation
(Zimbardo, 2016).
Deindividuation can be described as a perception in social psychology which pertains the loss
in the self awareness in the people in groups. By way of the Stanford Prison Experiment the
powerful role of the situational temptation in human behaviour has been demonstrated.
Although highly criticized because of its failure to meet the ethical standards set by the
American Psychological Association, yet the study remains important till date for the
describing the context of deindividuation in different situations (Woodward, 2017).

2CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
Reference
Woodward, V. (2017). Stanford Prison Experiment. The Encyclopedia of Corrections, 1-3.
Zimbardo, P. (2016). Revisiting the Stanford prison experiment: A lesson in the power of
situation. Perspectives on Contemporary Issues, 309-317.
Zimbardo, P. G. (2011). Lucifer effect. The Encyclopedia of Peace Psychology.