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SCHMALLEGER: CHAPTER 6 - Psychological Roots
Psychological theories focus on the relationship between our "minds"
(broadly defined) and behavior. We can understand crime by examining the
factors that shape psychology, how we perceive, relate to others, learn,
and control ourselves, among other factors. Forensic psychology
(also called criminal pyschology) examines many of these issues.
EARLY THEORIES
--Operant conditioning: Stimulus/response. We behave in ways that have
a positive stimulus (or at least one giving us more rewards than the opposite).
a) Psychopaths/sociopaths (terms now synomous in DSM IV - social
personality disorders): Lack of ability to connect with others, feel
guilt, or adjust to or respect social normas
b) Personality types (See DSM IV) - some "personalities" are more
likely to enage in criminal behavior (frustration, stress, anger management,
risk-taking)
--Early psychiatry (freud, others)
IS CRIME A FORM OF ADAPTIVE BEHAVIOR? (see Donald Black/self-help)
MODELLING: We model our behaviors, or "train," or slip into patterns
of consistency (do violent video games lead to crime?) - it reduces our
self-regulatory mechanisms
BEHAVIOR THEORY: A more recent, sophisticated form of "stimulus-response"
approaches. Postive rewards are weighed against "punishments," and we
are "conditioned" to continue the behavior, especially "if we can get
away with it."
ATTACHMENT THEORY: Behavior is shaped by attachments to others and
crime tends to occure whenver nonsecure attachments are created, and this
inability to attach continues through life.
SELF-CONTROL THEORY: We don't control impulses. Lots of reasons (explain)
INSANITY: Mental Illness (eg, Son of Sam, Lorena Bobbit, some domestic
violence).
a) Note M'Naughten rule (people are less cuplable if incapaticated)
b) "Irresistible impulse" -
CRIMINAL PROFILING
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