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Psychological theories of crime see crime as the result of psychodynamic and cognitive factors, such as moral reasoning and differential association. According to this approach, crime is not the result of behavioural learning or biological vulnerabilities but early life experiences and thought patterns.
Psychodynamic and cognitive factors lead to crime, KG - StudySmarter Originals (Created using Canva, Image from Flaticon)
In Eysenck’s (1964) personality theory, three different components can predict criminality. A personality questionnaire can measure them, and a criminal personality is likely to score high on these components:
People with a high level of extraversion need more stimulation from the environment because they are less naturally aroused, which means they are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour to get aroused. They tend to be more outgoing, talkative, and energetic.
For instance, so-called ‘thrill seekers’ may fit into this category. They seek arousal from external sources such as rollercoasters, skydives, extreme sports etc. In a criminal sense, people who steal small items from shops may fit into this category as they do not need to commit a crime but do so because it is ‘fun’.
Neuroticism indicates how stable a person’s personality is. A high neuroticism score would mean that someone is more reactive and volatile, i.e., more impulsive and aggressive and more likely to engage in criminal behaviour.
Violent criminals, for example, often fall into this category because they resort to violence as a quick reaction to stress or anger.
Neuroticism, Yzabelle Bostyn - StudySmarter Originals (Created in Canva)
Psychoticism is the degree to which someone is antisocial, aggressive, and uncaring. If a person has a higher level of psychoticism, they are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour.
A famous example of a psychopath is Ted Bundy. Ted Bundy confessed to murdering 30 women in the 1970s. Many attribute his crimes to a lack of emotion combined with intelligence and charm for luring his victims. He was defined as a psychopath because he lacked emotion and empathy while being antisocial and aggressive.
Eysenck’s (1964) personality theory, Yzabelle Bostyn - StudySmarter Originals (Created in Canva)
Cognitive theories of crime, including differential association theory, focus on faulty thinking and reasoning patterns on behaviour.
Sutherland proposed the differential association theory in 1939. The theory states that people learn to become criminals through interactions with other delinquents or criminals (friends, peers, family members). Motives for criminal behaviour are learned through the values, attitudes, and methods of others. Sutherland’s theory attempted to explain all types of crime, from burglaries to middle-class ‘white-collar’ crime.
Sutherland’s differential association theory proposes nine key factors that determine how a person becomes an offender:
Criminal behaviour is learned.
Criminal behaviour is learned from interactions with others (communication).
This communication occurs in intimate personal groups, typically in smaller groups for closer interactions (the most influential kind).
The person learns motives, drives, rationalisations, and attitudes.
The person’s interpretation of the law influences learning or accepting criminal behaviour. They know what is right and wrong and decide whether the crime is favourable or unfavourable.
When the number of interpretations favourable to breaking the law exceeds the number of interpretations unfavourable to it (through more contact with people favourable to crime), a person becomes a criminal. Repeated exposure essentially encourages people to commit crimes themselves.
Differential associations may vary in frequency, duration, priority, and intensity.
Learning criminal behaviour through interactions with others is the same as any other behaviour. Anyone can become a criminal, regardless of background, ethnicity, etc.
Criminal behaviour is an expression of general needs and values.
Two girls talking about taking drugs, Yzabelle Bostyn - StudySmarter Originals
In the interaction above, the girl on the right is considering criminal activity due to her interaction with the girl on the left. This interaction is an example of differential association theory because she learns the criminal behaviour of ‘doing drugs’ and gets the motivation for it from her friend’s experience.
The psychodynamic theory focuses on the influence of early life experiences and their impact on adult development and criminal behaviour. Freud’s theory explains criminality as the result of an unbalanced personality (ego, superego, and id).
Blackburn (1993) suggests that a weak, deviant, or overly strong superego leads to criminal behaviour. An inability to distinguish between right and wrong, internalisation of deviant values, or a desire for punishment can all be the cause. According to Freud, the superego no longer keeps in check the id, which an instinctive drive stimulates to commit a crime.
Bowlby’s maternal deprivation hypothesis also supports this theory, stating that children deprived of maternal attachment in childhood suffer from mental abnormalities, delinquency, affectionless psychopathology, depression, and even dwarfism.
Freud also offered the defence mechanism theory in the sense that they all can explain deviant behaviour ( displacement, repression, and denial).
There are three dimensions to Eysenck’s personality theory: neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion.
If someone has high levels of neuroticism, psychoticism, and extraversion, they are more likely to engage in criminal behaviour. Differential association theory states that criminal behaviour is learned through interactions with others.
According to Sutherland’s differential association theory, nine key factors influence whether someone commits criminal acts.
Psychodynamic explanations of criminality suggest that early life experiences and imbalanced personalities shape criminals. The id, ego, and superego abnormalities are associated with criminal behaviour. Blackburn indicates that results from the weak, deviant, or over-hardened superego, as it fails to keep the instinctual, criminal urges of the id in check.
Psychological, biological, and social.
Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Ecological, Humanism, and Evolutionary.
This theory views crime as the result of psychological characteristics such as personality, early life experiences, ego and thought patterns.
Psychological theories of crime see crime as the result of psychodynamic and cognitive factors, such as moral reasoning and differential association. According to this approach, crime is not the result of behavioural learning or biological vulnerabilities but early life experiences and thought patterns.
Psychoanalysis, Behaviorism, Cognitivism, Ecological, Humanism, and Evolutionary.
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