Psychology of Behaviour: Social Impact and Criminality

This report provides a comprehensive overview of the psychology of behavior, exploring the influence of social factors on individual actions. It delves into two key psychological approaches: behavioral and cognitive, comparing their similarities and differences. The report examines conformity and obedience, analyzing the consequences of prejudice and discrimination. Furthermore, it investigates various theories of criminal behavior, including classical biological and social learning theories, and identifies factors contributing to criminal activity, such as anti-social values, criminal peers, dysfunctional families, and low self-control. The report also assesses the application of psychological perspectives within public services, evaluating their effectiveness in reducing criminal behavior and promoting positive outcomes. The analysis includes real-world examples and case studies to illustrate the concepts discussed.

Psychology of Behaviour
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Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
TASK...............................................................................................................................................3
1. Psychological perspective and Identification of the effect of social impact on behaviour..........3
1. Two approaches used in psychology.......................................................................................3
2. Conformity and obedience.......................................................................................................5
3. Analysis of consequence of prejudice and discrimination......................................................5
2. Investigation of theories of criminal behaviour and factors........................................................6
1. Theories of criminal behaviour and causal factors..................................................................6
2. Influence and factors that contribute to criminal activity........................................................7
3. Analysis of real-world crime by using psychological theory..................................................8
3. Assessment of psychological perspective applied in public services..........................................8
1. Psychological perspective applied by individual and team.....................................................8
2. Assessement of psychology to reduce criminal behaviour......................................................9
3. Evaluating the psychological perspective in public services.................................................10
CONCLUSION..............................................................................................................................11
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................12
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INTRODUCTION
Psychology is basically termed as a scientific analysis of the human mind as well as
behaviour towards any other person. In fact, it is actively consists of studying mental processes,
brain functions and attitude. The field of human psychology is interconnected to a medical
science, education and social activities. However, human nature is full of various complexes and
critical actions that are been seek to determine their behaviour by the scientific study of human
mentality (Furnham, 2012). Moreover, it has been further examine that personality traits are
usually varies from one person to another as well as could provide various actions from each
individual. Therefore, this project tends to highlight specific information regarding the
psychological perspectives and its effects of social influence on the human behaviour. Apart
from this, different types of theories or criminal behaviour along with the causal factors are also
been taken into account. Further assessment is based on the psychological perspectives role in
public services.
TASK
1. Psychological perspective and Identification of the effect of social impact on
behaviour
1. Two approaches used in psychology
In the modern era, psychology is more effectively determine by both human as well as
non-human behaviour. Generally, it tends to analyse the mental state, thoughts, feelings and
attitude of people towards any activity. It would also consist of relevant discipline that consists
of scientific experiment of mind, functions and behaviours (Cassidy, 2013). It could be further
analyse by the help of effective approaches such as:
Behavioural approach: It particular theory is based upon observed behaviour along with
the actions of human being. It does not pay maximum attention to cognitive processes because
they are not observable. However, it explain attitude on a specific condition such as classical
situation or operant. By the help of this approach, researcher can easily be able to determine the
introverted behaviour from present rewards or punished for in the past. This theory of learning is
relies upon the idea that all behaviour are attain by a significant conditioning. It occurs by proper
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interaction toward the environments as well as it believe that people tends to respond to such
environment stimuli actions (Pearce, 2013).
Cognitive approach: It happens to be the scientific study of mental condition such as
attention, language, perception, creativity and thinking ability of the human. It tends to be very
important because it could be applied to various areas in psychology such as attention, child care,
and eyewitness and gender development role. In case an individual with having introverted
behaviour, a cognitive approach will look at it as the decision made by the human during any
social situation. They could be asking simple questions regarding their life as that they are
considered as more judgemental, therefore chances of withdraw from the social interaction is
quite high.
Similarities between two approaches
Behavioural theory Cognitive theory
It would determine which cues bring out the
desired results from the people.
It mainly focus on the mental condition of the
learner
This will helps in arrangement of effective
practice session so that they will prompt elicit
outcome in the natural situation.
It acknowledges the processes of mental
planning, objective-setting and developing
strategies to deal with a situation.
The studies reveal the each behaviour so that it
would remain unchanged from the external
stimuli.
It studies as well as discusses the behaviour
pattern those are divided by the internal
process of mind.
Difference
Behavioural theory Cognitive theory
It is a learning theory that helps to identify the
mental state of any human behaviour.
It usually based on people thinking ability not
a theory that provide right to people to take
their own decision.
There is need of practice on constant basis to
reach at a reliable solution.
In this approach, learner tends to gain
knowledge from their internal activity such as
mental processes.
It tends to teach, plan and represent language
item that make people to take decision more
effectively in any situation.
There is need of regular practice which is key
to rote to learning as well as avoids repetition.
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2. Conformity and obedience
Group influence tends to influence effective decision-making process in a wide range of
ways such as group thinking, shift and de-individuation. In fact, people used to join a large group
for a multipurpose reason that is most frequently related to fulfil the requirements of an
individual. It could provide various facilities such as security, power & control, survival and
attainment. Conformity is a kind of social impact that consists of a change in belief in respect to
fit in with a group. This modification is in respect to a real or imagined into a group pressure.
There are various factors those are related to increasing conformity such as large population size,
high group cohesion as well as perceived good status of the group. However, there are certain
other factors like culture; gender and age are key aspects of these stimuli (O'Connor and Nock,
2014). It has been examine that the large majority of group is having more conformed, but only
up to a specific level. It generally acts as matching behaviour to a group norm. Maximum
number of group does not understand regarding the impact of human behaviour, but they could
know that to deal with the people in effective manner will lead to resolve various problems.
Obedience tends to arise in case a person used to perform something. It involves a
powerful hierarchy or status. Henceforth, the individual used to provide the order has a superior
level other than the person that like to receive the order. However, the individual behaviour as
well as decision could be impacted because of the presence. Thus, the influence of group on each
individual would also incur negative attitude towards their other employees (Holt and et.al.,
2012). It usually related to the change in human nature that is developed by the commands made
by higher authority to their staffs. The social influence under which the less capable human being
in an unequal right used to submits to the demand of the more experienced person.
3. Analysis of consequence of prejudice and discrimination
It has been seen that prejudice basically makes the victim feel less than the capable
human. In case people are undervalued by other, their self-esteem suffers as well as they
discontinue trying to modify themselves. It can often tend to create bullying and some kind of
discrimination within an organization. In fact, certain consequences such as racism, sexual
orientation are two major forms of marginalization. Thus, it would lead to impact the people
condition, lack of education and unemployment problems. Prejudice and discrimination will lead
to undermine the self-esteem as well as confidence of those people that are being ridiculed. At
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the workplace, it has been seen that consequence would lead to create various impact such as
anxiety, sadness, feeling of emptiness and sometimes depression. These are basically translated
into loss of interest, eating disorder and other mental related problems (Cantillo, Arellana and
Rolong, 2015). However the understanding or knowledge of psychological theories as well as
social impact will lead to recognize the fact underlying to every formal business organization. It
is entirely related to the human behaviour regarding the decision to face various problems that
occurs within an organization. However, social and psychological analyses had leaded to impact
the effective health intervention that is based on the attitude of the people. The people need to
have proper knowledge of psychological approaches so that they can easily deal with all kind of
discrimination that tends to impact the mental condition of the other employees.
2. Investigation of theories of criminal behaviour and factors
1. Theories of criminal behaviour and causal factors
Criminal behaviour is basically termed as any overt or breach of conduct within a given
nation or state. In fact, it is the conduct of an offender that consists of charges of an unlawful act.
The criminal minded aspects are related to a specific views, actions, and intentions of conducting
a criminal offense as well as that partakes in the criminal attitude. According to the case of James
Patrick Bulger murder case, it has been seen that there is clear criminal psychological that results
in brutal murder of 2 year old James (Joffe, 2013). The reason behind there misconduct was
related to their mental condition which was clear seen from their early school time. It can further
analyzed through the understanding of below mentioned theories:
Classical biological theories: According to this particular theory of crime the people
those are born criminals are not deter from committing crime. These are arises because of mental
or physical problem that the people could control themselves. It would develop a linked between
a specific biological situation as well as a growing tendency to engage in any criminal attitude.
These are basically attempts to determine behaviour related to society expectation by evaluating
an individual characteristic. However, some causal factors are inclusive, biochemical and genetic
factors (Eysenck and Rachman, 2013).
Social learning theory: This is associated with either criminal or non-criminal attitude
that are based on the social atmosphere. As per this theory, the criminal attitude are learned as
well as could be counteracted by creating a social network in which such type of people can be
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normalized. However, it is reinforced for a specific crime they generally belief more favourable
situation for a crime. Robert and Jon Venable are two normal boys usually carry a record of
absenteeism in school and petty thieving activity from their social. In the absence of having
proper guidance they are not able to transform their behaviour according to the society. Some
causal factor associated with this theory tends to create social conflict, stress and negative mental
growth that will lead to impact the thinking ability of the person.
2. Influence and factors that contribute to criminal activity
There are various key harmful intoxicants like cocaine, alcohol and drugs tend to create
negative impact on the decision-making and self-control over the human minds, therefore this
will results in some kind of criminal activity. Apart from this, some other factors that influence
the crime are:
 Anti-social values: This is termed as criminal thinking ability of an individual. It consists
of crime rationalization as well as belief that its criminal attitude was justified. They
always blame other for their illegal activities and present a lack of regret (Kinateder and
et.al., 2013).
 Criminal peers: All those individual that carry criminal thinking will always tried to
draw the attention of normal person. Mostly they are often associated with substance such
as drugs and alcohol.
 Dysfunctional family: One of the most general impact includes lack of family support
and emotional towards their close members. As, it was seen in case of both Robert and
James Venable that they belong to very poor family and have not that much of facilities
to get proper learning. That results them to move toward the criminal activity.
 Low self-control: It consists of individual ability to control their behaviour and
temperament. However, it has been seen that people that used to carry this type of ability
often does things that they cannot even planned.
The major theory of criminal behaviour is termed as biological theory that is related to
the basic determinants of human behaviour. These may be passed from one generation to another
along with the criminal perception. It simply consists of trauma to the mental ability, exposure to
drugs as well as consumption of drugs. However, it can be overcome with the identification of
genetic defects that have been sterilized, while they need to provide proper guidance and
direction to social environmental. The nature of criminal minded person is determined
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effectively so that chances of crime can be controlled up to a level. The characteristics of human
being are needed to be examining on regular basis in order to provide them a proper platform to
overcome their mental problems.
3. Analysis of real-world crime by using psychological theory
According to the mentioned case study, it has been clearly identify that two boys Rober
and Jon Venables was involve in a murder of a 2 year old boy James. It was examine that a total
of 42 injuries has made to his face, head and body respectively. The condition of James was very
miserable at the crime scene. James was half-naked and mutilated body was exposed on the track
two day after his murder. As per the psychological theory of crime, the criminal behaviour is a
outcome of an individual difference in the people thinking ability. There are various person
scholars’ reviews, but they all believe that it is an individual thought as well as feelings that is
related to their entire action. However, some causal factors involve in this situation are:
Failure in psychological growth and development: It has been seen that some people tend to
operate into difficult situation because they do not have develop or grow according to the other
people (Havard and Willis, 2012).
Learning ability of aggression and violence: In case people tend to surrounded by
violence and other criminal activities, they used to show huge amount of aggression.
Inherent personality traits: It is common that various people are having their own
characteristics that usually criminal tend to share with other people. The psychologists believe
that they are certain traits that influence other towards some kind of criminal activity.
However, some other contributory factors that impact the people are contributed to the
occurrence of any crime. They might be positive and sometime negative influence on the mental
condition of the people. Henceforth, it is important to determine the key factors such as neglect,
drug consumption and poverty. These are required to be analysed effectively so that chances of
mistake can be avoided in the future.
3. Assessment of psychological perspective applied in public services
1. Psychological perspective applied by individual and team
It has been seen that psychology is considered as study of human nature and behaviour
towards the society, whereas public management is processes of human action. In fact,
psychology seeks to determine individual and team by establishing a common principles as well
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as researching a particular cases. It is works as guide of public services, while it carries to design
a public strategy. Action is always motivated by an individual psychological behaviour.
However, the most attractive impact on human attitude is occurring because of not having proper
knowledge regarding the good and bad activity. In case a regulatory body wants to provide any
decision on the impact of their laws, they traditionally turn into the economists. The government
officials are recognize that their policy that might lies on social and emotional factors. The
psychology of individual is the analysis of either affective representation or people ability or the
experience they gain from their overall career (Haybatollahi and et.al., 2015). It has been seen
that psychological perspective is the outcome of a synthesis of cognitive and behavioural theory
of psychology. It will further increase various awareness among the individual to transform their
mental states towards serving the society not to become a criminal. For instance, it has been
found in the case of James murders that both Jon and Venable are belong to a Dysfunctional
family because of which they are not able to control their psychological perspectives.
In case of a team that consists of two or more people that are independently seeks to work
on a common objective. They often have to deal with the various problems that are related to a
crime. The psychological perspective can assist them to collaborative with the each group
member to provide a well organize training and learning to the criminal minded people. It will
help to increase their ability to perform more effectively towards the society.
2. Assessement of psychology to reduce criminal behaviour
Theories of psychology believe that human beings really exist in this world but every
individual processed information independently. In this modern world, psychologists believe that
there is an absence of single path for understanding the cognitive mind of individuals and its
behaviour. For instance; few psychologists thought that specific behaviour of individual occurs
due to their biological factors like; genetics or influence of ancestors. Just like, in a given a case
scenario, both the criminal activist is encouraged towards wrongful doings because of their
mother as she has also follow the same path in her previous life time. Hence, it’s a very common
thing that behaviour of kids is change according to their parents past actions because of genetic
connectivity. Therefore, number of psychologist came across with distinct perceptive which are
differ from each other for applying it on public services such as; Biological perceptive,
psychodynamic, humanism, social, cognitive and evolutionary perspectives. From all these
psychology, social one is a most appropriate one which will help in controlling the criminal
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behaviour of an individual. Public services need to use the social concepts on criminals for
enforcing them towards corrective path such as; showing affection, love, care towards criminals
so that he/she get involved in social feelings which automatically influence their mind while
conducting wrongful conducts. Moreover, try to encourage them to take part in social activities
such as; participating into sports games for knowing the importance of togetherness while
playing in a team (Scott-Parker, 2017). Therefore, this practical implication affects the way of
thinking as involving with various person really feel good and very special because every
individual whose are playing as a team are taking care of each other. Apart from this, public
services can also have an opportunity to play with their cognitive functions by enforcing them to
take part in various spiritual acts in order to get aware about the struggles which are done by
fighters of country. Along with this, explain them about the social situations and persons whose
are suffering from health issues in order to enforce them to get aware about emotional feelings.
3. Evaluating the psychological perspective in public services
There are number of psychological perspectives which applied on work activities from
the side of public services as it helps individuals or employees to perform their business roles in
corrective way by following set norms, provisions, social rules and regulations. Humanistic
perceptive plays a very significant role in work related task as this psychology has set a suitable
characteristic for human beings and actions which are free from wrongful conducts. Main
objective of this framework is to concentrate more on potentiality of individuals and attainment
instead of psychoses or symptoms of disorder. Abraham Maslow who is seen as founder of
humanistic psychology and believes that every individual is having a strong desire for realising
his/her overall potentiality or know how to reach towards self-actualization (Andrewes, Walker
and O’Neill, 2014). On the other hand, Roger’s Person centred therapy is also best theory in
which connectivity between therapist and client is going to utilized for supporting the patient for
reaching at the stage of realization in order to make them understand about their personal or
professional target. Main objective of therapist in this approach is to promote the person to share
their feelings at workplace while performing work activities so that other members come to
know about it and direct towards corrective path if there is a need. Hence, these two approaches
really play a very significant role in managing the psychology of individual whose are working.
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CONCLUSION
From the above project report, it has been concluded that psychology is a state of human
mind that make people to conduct any ethical or unethical activity. However, it has been seen
that people have to deal with various field like HR development, health, social behaviour and
cognitive study of human being. Moreover, it is important to make use of effective strategy that
can provide a clear idea regarding any kind of criminal accidents. Therefore, psychological
perspective is also being applied in public services so that chances crime can be controlled in the
future.
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REFERENCES
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O'Connor, R.C. and Nock, M.K., 2014. The psychology of suicidal behaviour. The Lancet
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Pearce, P.L., 2013. The social psychology of tourist behaviour: International series in
experimental social psychology (Vol. 3). Elsevier.
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