Psychological Theories Of Crime ✓ Solved

Psychological Theories Of Crime

The question of why people commit a crime has puzzled criminologists and scholars for decades as they try to understand crime. The question is complex, and scholars and criminologists have, over the years, come up with several theories to explain why crime is committed. These theories act as explanations to the question. These theories include psychological, biological, and social theories. Psychological theories of crime focus on the personality of those who commit a crime.

This paper looks at the psychological theories of crime and delinquency.

Sample Paper For Above instruction

Introduction

Understanding the root causes of criminal behavior has been a central concern in criminology and psychology. Theories explaining criminality range from biological to social to psychological perspectives, each offering unique insights. Psychological theories, in particular, focus on the individual’s mental state, personality traits, and learned behaviors as determinants of criminal activity. Over the years, scholars have developed various psychological frameworks to elucidate why individuals engage in crime, emphasizing elements such as personality development, mental health, cognition, and social learning.

Historical and Theoretical Background

Psychological theories of crime have their roots in early psychoanalytic thought, behavioral learning, and cognitive psychology. These perspectives examine internal mental processes, childhood experiences, and learned behaviors that may predispose an individual to criminal conduct. Key among these theories are psychodynamic approaches, behavioral models, cognitive theories, personality traits, and intelligence-based explanations.

Psychodynamic Theories

Emerging from the work of Sigmund Freud, psychodynamic theory posits that unconscious conflicts and unresolved childhood issues significantly influence behavior. In the context of crime, this approach suggests that criminal acts result from internal psychological conflicts, often rooted in trauma, neglect, or repressed emotions. For example, cases of school violence and shootings have been interpreted through a psychodynamic lens, emphasizing early childhood experiences and unresolved trauma or mental illness (Moore, 2011). The structure of personality—comprising the id, ego, and superego—can be disrupted or imbalanced, leading to antisocial or criminal behavior. Individuals with weak ego functioning, possibly due to neglect or trauma, may exhibit impulsivity and aggression, contributing to criminal actions.

Behavioral Theories

Behavioral theories suggest that criminal behavior is learned through interactions with the environment. This perspective emphasizes that behaviors are acquired via conditioning, observation, and reinforcement. The differential association theory, articulated by Sutherland, argues that individuals learn criminal behaviors through their associations with others involved in criminal activity (Jeffery, 1965). If a person is exposed to more pro-criminal influences and receives reinforcement for deviant behavior, they are more likely to engage in such acts themselves.

Bandura’s social learning theory further supports this idea, asserting that individuals imitate behaviors observed in their environment, especially if such behaviors are rewarded. In real-world scenarios such as school shootings or juvenile delinquency, children exposed to violent environments or media are more likely to imitate aggressive behaviors, especially without effective social sanctions (Ilhan & Walter, 2017). Reinforcement mechanisms, including rewards and punishments, play critical roles in either encouraging or discouraging criminal conduct.

Cognitive Theories

Cognitive theories explore how individuals perceive, interpret, and mentally process the world around them and how these mental processes influence behavior. These theories suggest that distortions or abnormalities in cognitive functioning can lead to antisocial conduct. For instance, a child or adolescent with perceptual biases, aggressive schemas, or poor problem-solving skills may be more susceptible to engaging in criminal acts.

For example, antisocial behavior during early developmental stages might persist into adolescence and adulthood if cognitive distortions such as hostility, entitlement, or justification of violence are reinforced (Moore, 2011). Understanding how individuals interpret social cues and assign blame or responsibility can offer insights into criminal behavior and inform intervention strategies.

Personality Theories

Personality traits significantly influence tendencies toward criminality. Personality theories focus on individual differences and characteristics that predispose a person to criminal or antisocial behavior. The Five-Factor Model (or Big Five) identifies traits such as neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness as key dimensions influencing behavior (Larry, 2000).

For instance, high neuroticism may lead to impulsivity and emotional instability, increasing the likelihood of aggressive acts. Low agreeableness and conscientiousness are associated with a lack of empathy and poor impulse control, which can facilitate criminal acts. Studies have shown that certain personality profiles are more prevalent among offenders; however, the causal relationship remains complex and multifaceted (Rocque, 2012).

Intelligence and Crime

The relationship between intelligence and criminality has been extensively explored. Historically, it was believed that individuals with lower IQs were more prone to criminal behavior. Nonetheless, empirical evidence is mixed. While some research indicates a correlation between low intelligence and delinquency, particularly in juvenile offenders (Schmalleger, 2008), other studies highlight that white-collar criminals, who often possess high intelligence, also commit criminal acts.

Research suggests that intelligence interacts with environmental factors, such as education and family background, influencing criminality. Low IQ may contribute to poor decision-making and difficulties with impulse control, increasing the risk for criminal conduct, especially when coupled with adverse childhood experiences (Moore, 2011).

Personality and Criminal Behavior

Personality factors such as lack of remorse, empathy, or emotional regulation are pertinent to explaining criminal behavior. For example, individuals like Andrew Golden involved in school shootings have demonstrated significant emotional detachment, enjoyment of torturing animals, or hatred expressed in journals—traits linked to antisocial personality tendencies (Rocque, 2012). The Five-Factor Model can be employed to interpret these traits, where high neuroticism, low agreeableness, and low conscientiousness may underlie violent or criminal tendencies.

Relating Personality and Intelligence to Crime

While linking personality and intelligence directly to criminality remains challenging due to overlapping factors, these theories contribute to understanding individual differences among offenders. They also inform risk assessments and intervention programs aimed at personality development and cognitive training.

Impact of Religious and Cultural Factors

Religion and culture serve as social influences that can mitigate or exacerbate criminal tendencies. Religious teachings, such as the Ten Commandments in Christianity, promote moral behavior and social order. Studies suggest that religiosity correlates with lower levels of violence and delinquency, especially when individuals participate actively in religious activities like church attendance or Bible studies (Adamczyk et al., 2017; Salas-Wright et al., 2014).

Religious beliefs may foster moral convictions, social bonds, and a sense of accountability, which act as deterrents against crime (Salvatore & Rubin, 2018). Conversely, lack of religious engagement or moral decline could lead to increased susceptibility to criminal behaviors.

Conclusion

Psychological theories provide valuable insights into the internal mechanisms that influence criminal behavior. By analyzing mental processes, personality traits, learned behaviors, and cognitive perceptions, these frameworks offer comprehensive understandings of why individuals commit crimes, including acts of violence like school shootings. Interventions based on these theories can promote mental health, positive socialization, and moral development to reduce criminal tendencies. Nevertheless, integrating psychological theories with biological, social, and environmental perspectives yields the most robust explanations and effective prevention strategies.

References

  • Adamczyk, A., Freilich, J. D., & Kim, C. (2017). Religion and Crime: A Systematic Review and Assessment of Next Steps. Sociology of Religion, 78(2), 192–232.
  • Ilan, J., & Walter, D. (2017). Biological theories of crime versus psychological theories of crime — Comparison and evaluation of their contributions to our understanding of crime and/or criminal justice. Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.13140/RG.2.2.14740.14726
  • Jeffery, C. R. (1965). Criminal Behavior and Learning Theory. Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology &Police Science, 56, 294.
  • Jones, S. (2015). Psychological Theories of Crime. Wiley Encyclopedia of Crime, Delinquency, and Justice. DOI: 10.1002/.wbecpx142.
  • Larry J. Siegel. (2000). Trait Theories. In Criminology (7th ed.).
  • Meneses, R. A., & Akers, R. L. (2011). A Comparison of Four General Theories of Crime and Deviance: Marijuana Use Among American and Bolivian University Students. International Criminal Justice Review, 21(4). DOI: 10.1177/
  • Moore, M. (2011). Psychological Theories of Crime and Delinquency. Journal of Human Behavior in the Social Environment, 21(3). DOI: 10.1080/.2011.564552.
  • Rocque, M. (2012). Exploring school rampage shootings: research, theory, and policy. The Social Science Journal, 49(3), 345–362.
  • Salas-Wright, C., Vaughn, M. G., & Maynard, B. R. (2014). Buffering Effects of Religiosity on Crime. Criminal Justice and Behavior, 41, 673–690.
  • Salvatore, C., & Rubin, G. (2018). The Influence of Religion on the Criminal Behavior of Emerging Adults. Department of Justice Studies, Montclair State University.

Related Assignments