Exploring Criminal Psychology: Theories and Case Studies

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Contents
TASK 2....................................................................................................................................................2
INTRODUCTION.................................................................................................................................2
P3.......................................................................................................................................................3
M 3....................................................................................................................................................4
D3......................................................................................................................................................5
TASK 3....................................................................................................................................................6
P4.......................................................................................................................................................6
P 5......................................................................................................................................................7
M 4 and D3........................................................................................................................................8
CONCLUSION.........................................................................................................................................9
REFERENCES........................................................................................................................................10
1

TASK 2
INTRODUCTION
This essay is chiefly aiming at providing an understanding to the psychology of crime and criminal
behavior. Elaborating the behavior psychology this essay tries to highlight the effects of changing
behavior on the cause of crime in the community. It discusses the general factors and causative
factors of crime as well as helps in the correlation of the general behavioral theories to crime
psychology. It also uses the theories of criminal psychology for better understanding of the crime
and allow introduction of better strategies to avoid and reduce the rate of crime.
2

P3
Various factors are investigated and identified to be causative factors of crime in this contemporary
society. It may be anything affecting mental health of an individual from being unemployed to
having interest for such an action. Unemployment is one of the leading factors of crime where the
inability to achieve basic necessities of life such as food and shelter gives the individual a concept to
commit crime (Edmark., 2005). These deprived life status may lead the individual to commit crime
and modify that thought process (Bushway., 2011). According to Maslow’s theory the basic and
necessary requirements of life are the crucial ones to lad a life and breathe in this world including
food, water, shelter and safety (Hoffmann and Bahr., 2006). In order to achieve these basic needs
an individual can be indulged in committing crimes and can perceive crime as right way to act. Drug
addict and substance abusers are another class of people who have high prevalence rate towards
committing a crime as they are so indulged psychologically for their obsession of drugs that they
commit crimes to achieve more drugs and substances (Christie., 2016). Upbringing is another factor
that is responsible for the crime psychology of the individual. It is seen that no one is a born criminal
but the environment the person is exposed to and the upbringing he is raised in affects his
psychology and behavior towards this. Undesirable circumstances such as change of life due to
sudden death of family members or loss of something or someone may lead a person to have
disturbed thoughts and enhanced criminal behavior. Stereotyping is another cause of criminal
behavior where people discriminate on basis of sex, gender, religion and race and the victims are
prone to be directed to the criminal behavior and activities known as hate crime Hoffmann and
Bahr., 2006).
It is seen that the society we live in have many influencers who can promote or influence crime from
these psychologically challenged individuals. Youngsters and teenagers get into peer pressure to use
drugs and get pressurized by them to follow the trends and get into such criminal activities (Costello
and Hope., 2016). Hatred for a particular group of people or being victimized on basis of religion or
race increases the hatred in an individual that derives them to such behavior. Cybercrimes being a
common trend nowadays is also a result of disturbed psychology with intellectual abilities (Taylor,
Fritsch and Liederbach., 2014).
3

M 3
Several theories of criminal behavior are introduced throughout decades to understand the criminal
psychology in a better way. Some of the theories of criminal behavior are explained below
Cognitive theory
Kohlberg’s stages are the frame for this theory and are well and successfully introduced to
understand criminal psychology. It is based on the theory of moral development. The theory explains
that if a person is at a lower level of moral development they are more vulnerable to commit crime.
People with such tendency follow that they need to obey laws or they will be the ones to get
punished. This is the base of criminal psychology that derives them to commit crime (Welsh and
Farrington., 2007). On the contrary the people who have keen knowledge of laws are less likely to
commit crimes. This theory explains how the higher level of moral development correlates to crime.
Eysenck’s Bio social theory
This theory is based on the physiological principles and working of the human body functioning. It is
stated that if a person requires higher levels of external stimuli to be aroused for his central or
peripheral nervous senses than that person is identified to have potential criminal behavior likely as
an environmental stimulator (Congdon and Canli., 2008). The criminals with offensive and volatile
behavior are likely to suffer from neuroticism. On contrary people with aggression and high level of
anti-social behavior are prone to have psychoticism (Bennett et al., 2005).
Social learning theory
This theory is based on fact that an individual learns everything from the environment surrounding h
and crime is also a learned asset. It is seen that people sometimes find criminal role models who are
doing some criminal activity with portrayal of humanity and they feel that they are correct
irrespective and overshadowing the intensity and nature of crime (Akers., 2017). This kind of
behavior and learning from the environment and such people makes them believe what they are
doing is morally correct. This theory objects all other concepts of criminal behavior that states that
criminal psychology is a learned and acquired trait and is result of environmental stimulus.
Bowlby and Maternal Deprivation theory
The theory by Bowlby here explained how the effects of attachment from the maternal figure in
childhood and throughout years are influencing the criminal behavior of an individual. It states that
if the person is deprived of motherly love and affection in the initial formative stages of life than the
individual may develop psychopathic issues including attachment deficit. It may also lead to
cognitive developmental issues, development issues, psychological issues, and behavioral issues
later in life (Nygaard Christoffersen, Soothill and Francis., 2007.). This theory helps in assessing
the initiation of a criminal behavior and it explains how a person provided with motherly love and
affection as a child connect well with others and are less likely to commit crime.
4

D3
Rea life crime is defined as the crimes that take place in real world today. The study of investigating
the reason and motive behind this crime is known as criminal psychology (Dixon., 2006). It is seen
that people think how can one even want to commit a crime? And this question itself is the root for
criminal activities at times. As explained the psychology of a person committing crime can be
understood in different ways by different influencing factors. True life crime stories are trending all
over the internet and television nowadays giving the psychological base to the criminal minds.
According to Vicary the social psychologist at Illinois identified that true crime devotees are mostly
women (Dixon., 2006). She found that women were more likely to read and watch regarding
survival that is either preventing or surviving a crime. The real life crime stories provides base to
psychological minds who are already challenged and provides them with better base to commit
crimes. It is stated that true crime is fascinating because it provides an insight into the psychology of
the human behavior (Dixon., 2006).
For example if we concentrate on cybercrime that involves masked hackers with intellectual ability
to perform technologically enact crime (Taylor, Fritsch and Liederbach., 2014). Cybercrime refers
to any activity happening online that has negative consequences on the targeted population. As
today’s society is leading towards technological advancements and revolution and this has led to
online transactions, business and dependency. Cybercrime is a criminal activity that knows no
geographical boundaries ad worlds is getting to have a grip onto this (Taylor, Fritsch and
Liederbach., 2014). This can be well explained by the positivist theory that states that the actions
of a criminal are outside the notion of free will and influenced by other factors. As per Freud’s
psychoanalytical theory the inner moral governing ability of the individual is based on the
psychological wellbeing as a child and his relationship with his parents. Inadequate superego
formation results in the production of a criminal behavior.
5

TASK 3
P4
Psychological perspectives are crucial and can be well incorporated in public help and services
The very first perspective is based on the learning styles of an individual that are divided into major
four types including, 1. Activists: learners who learn by performing an action, 2. Pragmatists:
individual who learns by conceptual ideas and activities under action. 3. Reflectors: person who
learns by reflecting on own practices and observing others and 4. Theorists: learner who develop
hypothesis and ideas behind every action. These learning styles differentiate individuals learning
ability and can be used differently in the public services. It can be used to improve the promotional
and delivery of services, spread better awareness among individual, training programmes as per
abilities, and development of skills regarding work (Kolb and Kolb., 2005).
Leadership styles and Motivation
Maslow and Roger both placed crucial role in enhancing the humanism concept in psychology. Both
the theories are implicated in establishment of the leadership styles and roles in society. The
motivational steps and aspects are also being influenced and explained by these theories that help
the leaders to influence their employees and individual in the work setting (Sy, Côté and
Saavedra., 2005). It is simply explained that a leader who motivates his employees is more
successful than one who do not influence others. This is also crucial for the psychological
development of tea working.
Style of communication is another aspect that can be used to enhance the use of psychology in
public services. Communication is held to be important aspects in any organization and public
working. There are three styles of communication that are identified to be used in public services
including passive, aggressive and assertive (Giles and Ogay., 2007). Passive communication is
mostly involved in requesting or own needs or demands; it is seen with the public servants and
officials with the higher designation of the services who use this kind of approach to communicate
with the population. Aggressive style is mostly used by police and intelligence officials at times to
bring out the criminal motive from the accused. This is helpful as it provides base for better
functioning of the individual’s power and identity as a public official (Giles and Ogay., 2007).
Assertive image is defined as neither being aggressive and nor being passive but openly
communicating their thoughts. This kind of communication is used by the public speakers and
motivators who use assertive thoughts to reach to human psychology.
6

P 5
Other than applying psychological perspective to individuals it is also helpful in application to the
teams. As in health and social care even the team work and partnership working is a crucial part of
functioning and service delivery. Use of the perspective like conformity, group influence and
obedience are essential in such setting where the team members have to be trained to obey a
superior authority and work effectively in order to achieve common goals. Similarly in their
professions also targeting human psychology using these theories is essential as it allows better
recollection of their nature and helps achieve positive outcomes (Welsh and Farrington., 2007).
Use of psychological interventions to treat the criminal minds is essential and one of the most
important implications in human psychology. It allows the individual and the service providers to
target the causative factors of the crime psychology and treat it through addressing the
requirements of the individual committing it.
Group psychodynamics
Anxiety and stress are the common aspects that are identified in the individuals working in a group.
In order to ensure proper functioning of the group it is essential for the management to keep a
check on the factors such as anxiety in the members of the group. This can be done by using Freud’s
psychodynamic theory (Dodds., 2009).
Improving group or team performance
The teams are formed to bring out the best efficacy of every individual and cumulate them together.
Group performance should be evaluated regularly to enhance the quality of function. This can be
possible by implementing better strategies of conflict resolution (Dodds., 2009).
Studies of “in” and “out” group
The process where the members of group start comparing themselves on basis of their similarities it
is called “in group” and the groups where people have conflicts due to their difference are called
“out group” (Himes., 2008). Here the use of proper conflict management is essential to apply better
service base and provide better delivery of services (Bohner et al., 2010).
7

M 4 and D3
The use of psychology and application in different public services is described below
Education
Psychology is and effective tool to enhance the education and curriculum for growing minds in
today’s world. It helps in development of social, cognitive and emotional aspects of child’s growth
with applying effective psychological theories and aspects (de Vries et al., 2015). As in criminal
psychology the juvenile criminals are subjected to attend the psychotherapy in detention centers
where they are educated well and provided better opportunities to modify their behavior. This helps
them to get well educated and achieve success in later life and without deteriorating their remaining
life (Fleming., 2013).
Employment
Psychological perspectives can be applied to educate the employees and employers both to provide
better opportunities for working and functioning in the sector. This helps in improving productivity,
satisfaction and safety in the organizations. Also the individual suffering sentence in prison due to
criminal action is provided proper jobs if their motive for crime was employment and money.
Providing them this opportunity reduces their chances to get back to their criminal behavior.
Health
Psychology is very much applicable in health and social care and is an integral part of it. The health
industry nowadays focuses on parity between physical and mental health and psychology plays
essential role in it. Even the health and wellbeing of the offender should be kept in check while in
detention or prison (Stafford, Chandola and Marmot., 2007).
Society
Psychology helps society to understand the nature of certain behavior and relate and explain why
the person behaves in a particular manner. It also helps the society to accept the criminal after they
serves their sentence and punishment as a normal human being and allows them to lead a normal
life (Farrington., 2011).
Drug and alcohol
Other than finances and unemployment, drug use is one of the basic causes of crime in society
today. The focus of the services to prevent excessive drug abuse by the vulnerable groups may
provide better and reduced rates for crime (Miller and Hendrie., 2009). This can be done by
applying psychological intervention to treat the drug addicts and aware the vulnerable groups such
as school and college children and teenagers to prevent use of drugs (Fazel et al., 2015). It is also
seen that even after the person being punished for the crimes done for drugs if not treated through
psychological interventions can get involved in similar crimes again.
8

CONCLUSION
Human behavior and psychology are complex aspect of human life and are difficult to understand
with help of single phenomenon. It is necessary for the individual to understand the human
psychology with help of different theories to be able to apply them effectively for public services.
Various theories define psychology as a concept or phenomenon to learn things some supports the
learning by nature while other supports the learning by environment. Hence it can be concluded that
learning of certain traits is influenced by both nature and environment. Both the theories hold their
part and successfully describe the motive for human behavior. Criminal behavior on the other hand
is seen as a straying element but is a result of disturbed psychology or inability to achieve basic
requirements of life. Hence it can be concluded that psychology in today’s world is an important
aspect of life and has to be well researched and understood to apply logical interventions for public
services.
9

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