Criminal Behaviour Flashcards
Characteristics
SOCIAL CONSTRUCT:
No set characteristics as social construct
E.g. homosexuality (Illegal in Iran but not UK
E.g. abortion (Used to be illegal not now)
TYPES OF CRIME:
Can identify types of crime e.g. Folk/ Order Disruption
Some crime illegal but moral e.g. Suffragettes
CRIMINAL PERSONALITY:
Common personality types for criminals
E.g. Career criminals impulsive and entitled
E.g. Hedonist Killer female + kill for joy
E.g. Mission Oriented Killer have ‘calling’ to kill
Inherited Criminality (Biological)
FAMILY STUDIES:
Osbourne + West 13% non crim fathers compared 40% crim fathers
Rain - concordance 52% MZ 21% DZ (However not 100% MZ so..)
CANDIDATE GENES:
Low MAOA- Disrupt serotonin + dopamine breakdown = link to violence
CDH13- Found low levels in offenders
900 Finnish offenders low MAOA + CDH13, account for 10% violent crimes in Finland
DIATHESIS STRESS:
Env + Gene = Criminality
6/10 have low MAOA + CDH13 but not that many people violent criminals
Role Of Amygdala (Biological)
LINK WITH AGGRESSION:
Intermittent Explosive Disorder patient = High amygdala activity + social cues processed negatively
FEAR CONDITIONING:
Amygdala dysfunction = don’t learn to control aggression
RAINE FINDINGS:
Hemispheric Asymmetry = Reduced fear + empathy
Less scared of consequences so more likely to commit crime
Eysenck’s Personality (Individual Differences)
INTRO:
All 3 linked to criminality + have a bio basis
EXTROVERSION:
Under aroused nervous system = seek stimulation in form of crime (provides adrenaline)
NEUROTICISM:
Overreact to stimuli = commit unplanned violent crime
PSYCHOTICISM:
Aggressive + Impulsive = planned violent crime
SOCIALISATION:
Personality + socialisation = crim behaviour
2000 prisoners given EPQ scored higher all areas than controls
Cognitive Factors (Individual Differences)
KOHLBERG MORAL DEVELOPMENT:
Conventional (Pre and Post)
Pre-conventional criminals as work on reward/ consequence basis
COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS:
Hostile attribution bias - Perceive worst of stimuli, commit crime due to neg interpretations
Minimalisation - Downplay consequences as oppose to maximise like ‘normal’ people
Gender Socialisation (Social Psychological)
SOCIALISATION PATTERNS:
Sutherland- different socialisation encourages criminality in boys (being tough, no emotions, aggression)
Discourages in girls (stricter parents, supervised more)
ROLE MODELS:
Social Learning Theory - Learn observing role models
Trad Households = Mother at home and boys reject their femininity, seek masculinity in peer groups
CONTROL:
Women few crime opportunities as stay at home with children + media reports scare to stay home
Fewer white collar crimes
Girls controlled as children more e.g. stay in at night more
Differential Association (Social Psychological)
OVERVIEW:
Crime learned behaviours, mix with pos attitude to crime = do crime
Groups have own morals give example
WHO LEARNED FROM?
Peer Groups / Families show criminal techniques
+ Learn from neighbourhood
HOW LEARNED?
Direct/Indirect conditioning
Pos Reinforcement - Steal Item = Rewarded with item
Neg Reinforcement - Ridiculed = Steal = No ridiculed
Anger Management (Modification)
COMPONENTS:
Identify anger triggers + develop coping mechanisms
Not prevent anger. but manage it
COGNITIVE ELEMENT:
Novaco - Cog factors trigger anger e.g. Hos Attribution Bias in threatening situations
Form of CBT - Recognise losing control + dev techniques
Short Term Goal (Reduce anger in prison)
Long Term Goal (Reduce Re-Offending)
STRESS INOCULATION MODEL:
Conceptualisation (Learn triggers + work with therapist on rationality)
Skill Acquisition (Stop and Think technique, relaxation skills)
Application (Roleplay- if successful pos reinforcement, must be committed + see roelplay as real situation)
Restorative Justice (Modification)
COMPONENTS:
Empowers victim (Gives them voice)
Positive outcomes for all involved (Offender + Victim + Family)
TWO KEY AIMS:
Rehab of offenders (Criminals accept responsibility + Don’t Re-Offend)
Atonement-
Psychological - guilt = victim feels better
Physical - Money, community service
WHO INVOLVED?
Initially on victim + offender, moves to family of victim after
FLEXIBILITY:
Can be in form of: Letters, Phone Calls, Face to Face
