Psychology and Psychology and CriminalityCriminality

SOC 112SOC 112

Part 18Part 18

CriminalityCriminality1.1. Sociological theoriesSociological theories

- crime rates of groups- crime rates of groups- do not look at individual- do not look at individual

a. a. Cannot explainCannot explain:: - poor area / abuse / discord / drop-out- poor area / abuse / discord / drop-out - resists crime- resists crime

(1) (1) Individual differencesIndividual differences - psychologists / biologists- psychologists / biologists - finding out reasons- finding out reasons

CriminalityCriminality

(2) (2) Affluent neighborhoodAffluent neighborhood

- two parent family- two parent family

- tries to kill president- tries to kill president

b. b. Sociologists:Sociologists: not individual differences not individual differences

- psychologists / biologists: interested- psychologists / biologists: interested

(1) (1) Different theoriesDifferent theories: not competing: not competing

- study same act / status / - study same act / status / charactercharacter

CriminalityCriminality c. c. To understand crimeTo understand crime

- more than one perspective- more than one perspective

(1) (1) SociologicalSociological- ignores personality / human - ignores personality / human

biologybiology

(2) (2) PsychologicalPsychological- focuses on individual- focuses on individual- not interactions- not interactions

Individual differencesIndividual differences

CriminalityCriminality - defective conscience- defective conscience

- emotional immaturity- emotional immaturity

- inadequate childhood socialization- inadequate childhood socialization

- maternal deprivation- maternal deprivation

- poor mental development- poor mental development

a. a. What do criminal psychologist studyWhat do criminal psychologist study??

- why people commit crimes- why people commit crimes

- how aggression learned- how aggression learned

- personal conditions- personal conditions

CriminalityCriminality - abused- abused

b. b. Personality factorsPersonality factors

- introverted / pessimist / smart / - introverted / pessimist / smart / deviantdeviant

c. c. Mental disorders associatedMental disorders associated

- head injury- head injury

- serious illness- serious illness

- lead paint- lead paint

Psychological DevelopmentPsychological Development1.1. Founder of psychoanalysisFounder of psychoanalysis

- Sigmund Freud- Sigmund Freud- researchers referred to- researchers referred to

a. a. Criminality may result fromCriminality may result from:: - overactive superego / conscience- overactive superego / conscience

(1) (1) Unbearable guiltUnbearable guilt - committed crimes- committed crimes - to be apprehended / punished- to be apprehended / punished - then, guilt relieved- then, guilt relieved

PsychologicalPsychological b. b. ExampleExample: Richard: Richard

- anger: father’s death / mother’s abandon- anger: father’s death / mother’s abandon - unconscious feelings of guilt- unconscious feelings of guilt - once punished: relieved- once punished: relieved

(1) (1) Persistent criminal activityPersistent criminal activity - conscience: not too strong / too - conscience: not too strong / too

weakweak - impulses of the Id- impulses of the Id

(2) (2) SuperegoSuperego

- internalized parental image- internalized parental image

PsychologicalPsychological - child assumes attitude / moral value- child assumes attitude / moral value

- without = uncontrolled Id- without = uncontrolled Id - leads to delinquency- leads to delinquency

(2) (2) Analysts viewAnalysts view (delinquents) (delinquents) - unable to give up instant - unable to give up instant

pleasurepleasure

2.2. Psychoanalytical approachPsychoanalytical approach- more prominent explanation- more prominent explanation- normal / asocial functioning- normal / asocial functioning- three basic principles:- three basic principles:

PsychoanalyticalPsychoanalytical a. a. Actions / behaviors of adultActions / behaviors of adult

- childhood development- childhood development

- occurred as a child- occurred as a child

b. b. Behavior / unconscious motivesBehavior / unconscious motives: : intertwinedintertwined

- interaction must be unraveled - interaction must be unraveled

- understand criminality- understand criminality

c. c. CriminalityCriminality

- psychological conflict- psychological conflict

Psychological TheoriesPsychological Theories1.1. Freudian theory: unconsciousFreudian theory: unconscious

- others: conscious- others: conscious

a. a. Classical conditioningClassical conditioning - passive person- passive person - learns what to expect- learns what to expect

(1) (1) Conditioned to respondConditioned to respond- Pavlov- Pavlov- receive pleasure (food / praise)- receive pleasure (food / praise)- expect reward / continue action- expect reward / continue action

TheoriesTheories b. b. Operant conditioningOperant conditioning (B.F. Skinner) (B.F. Skinner)

- foremost behavioral theory- foremost behavioral theory - rewards / punishment = control- rewards / punishment = control - reinforce / curtail behaviors- reinforce / curtail behaviors - associate with own behavior- associate with own behavior

(1) (1) Become criminalBecome criminal - association with act- association with act - receive encouragement- receive encouragement - reinforces behavior- reinforces behavior - see you as / therefore, I am- see you as / therefore, I am

TheoriesTheories3.3. Cognitive theoryCognitive theory

- mental processes- mental processes- perceive the world- perceive the world

a. a. Cognitive development theoryCognitive development theory - organize thoughts into rules / laws- organize thoughts into rules / laws - way organized: criminal / noncriminal - way organized: criminal / noncriminal

(1) (1) Moral vs. legal reasoning Moral vs. legal reasoning (thinking)(thinking)

- organize thoughts = moral- organize thoughts = moral- apply to law = legal- apply to law = legal

TheoriesTheories b. b. Jean PiagetJean Piaget

- stages in development- stages in development - reason through- reason through

c. c. RulesRules: sacred / immutable: sacred / immutable

- what’s considered right- what’s considered right - guide actions- guide actions

d. d. RulesRules: product of humans: product of humans - taught rules- taught rules - must understand to apply- must understand to apply

TheoriesTheories4.4. Lawrence KohlbergLawrence Kohlberg

- pioneered moral development- pioneered moral development

a. a. Categorized into 6 stagesCategorized into 6 stages

(1) (1) Stage 1Stage 1: obedience / punishment: obedience / punishment

- do what you are told- do what you are told

- authority figure- authority figure

(2) (2) Stage 2Stage 2: right behavior: right behavior

TheoriesTheories - acting in one’s own interest - acting in one’s own interest - “- “selflessnessselflessness””

(3) (3) Stage 3Stage 3: Approval of others: Approval of others - what’s expected - what’s expected

(4) (4) Stage 4Stage 4: Abide by law: Abide by law

- obligation of duty- obligation of duty

(5) (5) Stage 5Stage 5: social mutuality : social mutuality - genuine interest = welfare of - genuine interest = welfare of othersothers

TheoriesTheories (6) (6) Stage 6Stage 6: Respect: Respect

- universal principles- universal principles

- individual conscience- individual conscience

b. b. Three levels of reasoningThree levels of reasoning

(1) (1) PreconventionalPreconventional

- from those around us- from those around us

- necessary rules- necessary rules

- leave level 9: to 11 years- leave level 9: to 11 years

TheoriesTheories - - they thinkthey think: : “If I steal, what are my“If I steal, what are my

chances of getting caught and beingchances of getting caught and being punished?”punished?”

(2) (2) ConventionalConventional

- apply moral thinking- apply moral thinking- adopt values / rules to uphold- adopt values / rules to uphold- criminal: not beyond preconventional- criminal: not beyond preconventional- - they thinkthey think: : “It is illegal to steal and“It is illegal to steal and therefore I should not steal under anytherefore I should not steal under any circumstances.”circumstances.”

TheoriesTheories

(3) (3) Post-conventionalPost-conventional- accepted moral reasoning- accepted moral reasoning- apply it = sense of beliefs- apply it = sense of beliefs- human rights / moral principles / - human rights / moral principles /

dutyduty- - they thinkthey think: : “One must live within “One must live within

thethe law, but certain ethical principles dolaw, but certain ethical principles do supersede the written law.”supersede the written law.”- after the age of 20- after the age of 20

c. c. Delinquents / criminalsDelinquents / criminals - preconventional level (Kohlberg)- preconventional level (Kohlberg)

TheoriesTheories d. d. Many believe matter of choiceMany believe matter of choice

- choose behavior- choose behavior

(1) (1) US Penitentiary, US Penitentiary, Leavenworth, KSLeavenworth, KS

- environmental factors- environmental factors- limit one’s choice- limit one’s choice- but do not determine- but do not determine

(2) (2) Way people thinkWay people think- choices made- choices made- root cause: thought / choice- root cause: thought / choice

TheoriesTheories (3) (3) Criminals: confined foreverCriminals: confined forever

- change way of thinking- change way of thinking

5.5. Moral Development TheoryMoral Development Theory- psychometry- psychometry- supersensory powers of unconscious- supersensory powers of unconscious- links intelligence / crime - links intelligence / crime - personality theory- personality theory

a. a. Success in lifeSuccess in life - influenced by intelligence- influenced by intelligence

TheoriesTheories - more intelligent / more successful- more intelligent / more successful

- technology / science / legal / - technology / science / legal / financialfinancial

b. b. Educational levelsEducational levels

- lower inner cities / rural South- lower inner cities / rural South - mental disorders- mental disorders - crime population- crime population

(1) (1) Mental disorder approachMental disorder approach- lower intelligence- lower intelligence- mental illness/crime- mental illness/crime

TheoriesTheories (2) (2) Poor / inner city youthPoor / inner city youth

- no educational advantage- no educational advantage- little family interaction- little family interaction- criminal behavior- criminal behavior

c. c. National Institute of JusticeNational Institute of Justice

- mental disorders: higher among - mental disorders: higher among criminalscriminals

- not necessarily cause crime- not necessarily cause crime

(1) (1) Mental disorders / crimeMental disorders / crime - demographic factors- demographic factors

TheoriesTheories - environment / family / age / gender/ race- environment / family / age / gender/ race

peer grouppeer group

6.6. Personality theoryPersonality theory- emotional conflict / personality deviations- emotional conflict / personality deviations- characterizes many criminals- characterizes many criminals

a. a. Different disordersDifferent disorders - paranoid / schizoid / dependent / - paranoid / schizoid / dependent /

atypicalatypical / avoidant / narcissistic / compulsive / / avoidant / narcissistic / compulsive / passive-aggressive passive-aggressive

TheoriesTheories b. b. Antisocial personality disorderAntisocial personality disorder

- psychopathic / sociopathic behavior- psychopathic / sociopathic behavior - used synonymously - used synonymously - chronic law violator- chronic law violator - lack: guilt feelings / outward charm / - lack: guilt feelings / outward charm / high intelligencehigh intelligence

(1) (1) SociopathSociopath- inability to empathize- inability to empathize- learn from experience- learn from experience- disregard others rights- disregard others rights

TheoriesTheories (2) (2) Disregard: before age 15Disregard: before age 15

- continues into adult life- continues into adult life- diminish: age 30- diminish: age 30

(3) (3) SymptomsSymptoms- lying / stealing / fighting / truancy- lying / stealing / fighting / truancy- sexual behavior / alcohol-drug use- sexual behavior / alcohol-drug use- failure: hold job / stable marriage- failure: hold job / stable marriage

c. c. High risk: deviant behaviorHigh risk: deviant behavior - 3% men / 1% women- 3% men / 1% women

TheoriesTheories (1) No remorse(1) No remorse

- do not learn- do not learn

- imprisonment: no impact- imprisonment: no impact

(2) (2) Explain disorder:Explain disorder:

- biological, psychological, sociological- biological, psychological, sociological

d. d. Criminal personalityCriminal personality

- different frame: reference / language- different frame: reference / language

- treat: change thinking- treat: change thinking

TheoriesTheories (1) Studies show:(1) Studies show:

- preoccupied: fear / death- preoccupied: fear / death- put down / ridiculed / worthless- put down / ridiculed / worthless- better than others- better than others- unique- unique- fantasies: triumph / power / - fantasies: triumph / power /

controlcontrol

7.7. Psychoanalytical: juvenile delinquencyPsychoanalytical: juvenile delinquency- C.J. Schoenfield- C.J. Schoenfield- Freud’s theories- Freud’s theories- founder- founder

TheoriesTheoriesa. a. Id = primary / rash / impulsiveId = primary / rash / impulsive - pleasure / pain- pleasure / pain - hedonistic- hedonistic

b. b. DelinquentsDelinquents - defective superego- defective superego - unconscious: feelings of guilt- unconscious: feelings of guilt - crimes: to be punished- crimes: to be punished

c. c. Inability to controlInability to control - deficiency: ego / superego - deficiency: ego / superego developmentdevelopment

TheoriesTheories (1) (1) Faulty developmentFaulty development

- little capacity to repress- little capacity to repress- pleasure / gratification- pleasure / gratification- defective superego- defective superego

(2) (2) Dominated by IdDominated by Id- become antisocial- become antisocial- disturbed ego development- disturbed ego development- first 3 years- first 3 years

d. d. Overdeveloped superegoOverdeveloped superego

TheoriesTheories - neurotic- neurotic

- low self-esteem / excessive anxiety / - low self-esteem / excessive anxiety /

wide mood swingswide mood swings

(1) (1) PsychoanalystsPsychoanalysts

- normal: control drives- normal: control drives

- socially acceptable outlets- socially acceptable outlets

(2) (2) CriminalCriminal

- cannot control- cannot control

TheoriesTheories8.8. Psychological causationPsychological causation

- error in thinking / new cause- error in thinking / new cause- any behavior / excused- any behavior / excused

a. “a. “Fundamental psycholegal errorFundamental psycholegal error”” - attorneys use- attorneys use - legal defenses- legal defenses

(1) (1) Twinkie defenseTwinkie defense

(2) (2) HypoglycemiaHypoglycemia

TheoriesTheories (3) PMS(3) PMS

(4) Television intoxication(4) Television intoxication

(5) XYY chromosomal defense(5) XYY chromosomal defense

9.9. Mental disorder theoryMental disorder theory- psychosis / neurosis / impulse disorder- psychosis / neurosis / impulse disorder

a. a. PsychosisPsychosis - common category- common category

TheoriesTheories (1) (1) Functional psychosisFunctional psychosis

- no known organic problem- no known organic problem

(2) (2) Organic psychosisOrganic psychosis- traced to physical problem- traced to physical problem- disease / injury / etc.- disease / injury / etc.

- cannot use for all mentally ill- cannot use for all mentally ill - rigid dichotomy: sick / normal - rigid dichotomy: sick / normal criminalcriminal

b. b. NeurosisNeurosis

TheoriesTheories - no demonstrable organic cause- no demonstrable organic cause

(1) (1) Does not violate social normsDoes not violate social norms- on corner / talking to self- on corner / talking to self

c. c. Impulse disorderImpulse disorder - sudden / explosive actions- sudden / explosive actions - do not lose touch with reality- do not lose touch with reality

10.10. Sociopathic personality theorySociopathic personality theory- sociopath / psychopath / antisocial- sociopath / psychopath / antisocial

TheoriesTheories - used interchangeably - used interchangeably - psychopathy / sociopathy / antisocial- psychopathy / sociopathy / antisocial personalitypersonality

a. a. Group of behaviors / attitudesGroup of behaviors / attitudes - Hervey Cleckley- Hervey Cleckley - so broad / applied to any criminal- so broad / applied to any criminal

b. b. Psychopathy: serious illnessPsychopathy: serious illness - may not appear to be ill- may not appear to be ill - excellent mental health- excellent mental health

TheoriesTheories - “- “mask ofmask of insanityinsanity””

(1) (1) Free of mental disorderFree of mental disorder- appear reliable / honest- appear reliable / honest

(2) (2) Becomes clearBecomes clear::- no responsibility- no responsibility- disregard for truth / insincere- disregard for truth / insincere- no shame / guilt / humiliation- no shame / guilt / humiliation- lie / cheat- lie / cheat- verbal / physical abuse- verbal / physical abuse

TheoriesTheories11.11. Emotional problem theoryEmotional problem theory

- inability to cope- inability to cope- psychologically normal- psychologically normal

a. a. Deterioration of coping skillsDeterioration of coping skills - emotional problems- emotional problems

b. Causative factorsb. Causative factors - relationships / finances / - relationships / finances / employmentemployment

c. c. Ability restoredAbility restored: crime unlikely: crime unlikely

TheoriesTheories12.12. Post Traumatic Stress DisorderPost Traumatic Stress Disorder

- 1980s- 1980s

a. a. Brain dysfunctionBrain dysfunction - defense by war veterans- defense by war veterans - nightmares / flashbacks / depression - nightmares / flashbacks / depression // survivor guiltsurvivor guilt

b. b. Lose orientationLose orientation - Viet Nam- Viet Nam - protecting buddies - protecting buddies

TheoriesTheories c. c. Dysfunction realDysfunction real

- inability to distinguish right from - inability to distinguish right from wrongwrong

13.13. Maternal deprivation-attachmentMaternal deprivation-attachment

- important phenomenon- important phenomenon

- social development- social development

- shortly after birth- shortly after birth

a. a. Emotional bondEmotional bond

- “- “attachmentattachment””

TheoriesTheories - form future attachments- form future attachments

b. b. Studies of attachmentStudies of attachment - John Bowlby- John Bowlby - 7 important features- 7 important features

(1) (1) SpecificitySpecificity- selective- selective- one or more individuals- one or more individuals

(2) (2) DurationDuration

TheoriesTheories - endure / persist- endure / persist - throughout life cycle- throughout life cycle

(3) (3) Engagement of emotionEngagement of emotion- intense emotions- intense emotions

(4) (4) OntogenyOntogeny- one primary figure- one primary figure- first 9 months- first 9 months

(5) (5) LearningLearning

TheoriesTheories - not of rewards / reinforcements- not of rewards / reinforcements - basic social interactions- basic social interactions

(6) (6) OrganizationOrganization- follows cognitive development- follows cognitive development- interpersonal maturation- interpersonal maturation

(7) (7) Biological functionBiological function- survival- survival- all species of mammals- all species of mammals- form social bonds - form social bonds

TheoriesTheoriesc. c. Child needsChild needs - warm / intimate / continuing- warm / intimate / continuing - mother / mother substitute- mother / mother substitute - securely attached- securely attached

(1) (1) Separated / rejectedSeparated / rejected- anxious attachment- anxious attachment- effects capacity to be - effects capacity to be

affectionateaffectionate- develop intimate relationships- develop intimate relationships

(2) (2) Habitual criminalsHabitual criminals

TheoriesTheories

d. d. Considerable research Considerable research - anxious attachment: behavioral - anxious attachment: behavioral problemsproblems

(1) (1) 113 middle-class children113 middle-class children- 1 year / again at 6 years- 1 year / again at 6 years- secure: formed close relations- secure: formed close relations- anxious: arguing / yelling / fights- anxious: arguing / yelling / fights

(2) (2) 40 children40 children- 1 year / 18 months- 1 year / 18 months

TheoriesTheories - anxious: less empathetic / - anxious: less empathetic / compliant compliant / independent / / independent / confidentconfident

(3) (3) Quality of attachmentQuality of attachment

- correlates with preschool - correlates with preschool behaviorbehavior

- aggressive / leaving the group - aggressive / leaving the group / etc. / etc.