L11 - An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Question 1

Define forensic psychology

Answer 1

The application of psychological knowledge and theories to all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems, including the processes and the people

Question 2

What are the 4 main types of modern theories of crime?

Answer 2

1. Sociological theories
2. Biological theories
3. Psychological theories
4. Social-Psychological theories

Question 3

Describe SOCIOLOGICAL THEORIES of crime

What are the two types of sociological theories?

Cons of Sociological Theories

Answer 3

Explain crime as the result of social or cultural forces that are external to any specific individual, that exist prior to any criminal act, and that emerge from social class, political, ecological, or physical structures affecting large groups of people

A) Structural explanations
o People have similar interests and motivations, but differ dramatically in opportunities to employ their talents in socially legitimate ways
 Some people don’t have the means to achieve things legitimately
o Dysfunctional social arrangements and differential opportunity thwart people from legitimate attainment
o Discrepancies between aspirations and means create strains that lead to crime

B) Subcultural explanations
o People have similar interests and motivations, but differ dramatically in opportunities to employ their talents in socially legitimate ways
 Some people don’t have the means to achieve things legitimately
o Dysfunctional social arrangements and differential opportunity thwart people from legitimate attainment
o Discrepancies between aspirations and means create strains that lead to crime

Cons
• Crimes are often committed by people who have never been denied opportunities
o E.g. Lindsey Lohan steals things even though should could afford to pay for it
• Applies only to certain offences
• Does not explain why some people offend and others do not; doesn’t focus on individual differences

Question 4

Describe BIOLOGICAL THEORIES of crime

What are the 2 types of biological theories?

Cons of biological theories

Answer 4

 Stress genetic influences, chromosomal abnormalities, biochemical irregularities, or physical (body type) factors as causes of crime
 Theorists usually also respect social and environmental influences as well
 Biology predisposes us but they say we also need to consider the environmental factors

A) Constitutional theories
o Sheldon suggested 3 somatotypes (body builds)
 Endomorph
 Ectomorph
 Mesomorph
o Sheldon compared 200 delinquent and non-delinquent men and suggested that mesomorph most suited to criminal behaviour
o Sheldon believed that mesomorphs exposed to wrong influences and environment would engage in more aggressive crimes

Cons
 Few all-or-none categories oversimplify; you cannot categorise people into these categories, there is more to consider
 Correlation between physique and behaviour does not mean causation

B) Genetic theories
o Early studies looked at genealogy, but this method does not tell us what the family transmits
o Adoption studies:

Cons
 Fear that if we attribute crime even partly to genetic factors, then social and environmental causes will be neglected
 Concern that it will lead to some people being designated genetically “inferior” and this could lead to forced sterilisation, genocide
 The extent to which any behaviour is inheritable within one group of people cannot explain differences between groups of people
 It is unclear what exactly is inherited
 Need to consider base rates aswell, consider those who don’t actually commit crimes

Question 5

Describe PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES of crime

What are the 3 types of psychological theories?

Cons

Answer 5

 Crime results from personality attributes possessed by the potential criminal
 Emphasise individual differences about the way people think or feel about behaviour

A) Psychoanalytic theories (Freud)
o A weak ego and superego that cannot restrain the anti-social instincts of the id
o A means of obtaining substitute gratification (sublimation) of basic needs that have not been satisfied
o Theories are no longer favoured in modern criminology because research doesn’t support

B) Personality traits
 Extraversion: active, assertive, creative, carefree, lively, sensation-seeking, venturesome
 Neuroticism: anxious, depressed, emotional, guilt feelings, irrational, low self-esteem, moody, shy, tense
 Psychoticism: aggressive, antisocial, cold, creative, egocentric, impersonal, impulsive, tough-minded, lacking empathy
o According to Eysenck, criminals show higher levels of all of these traits

C) Personality disorder
o Antisocial personality disorder
 Patten of disregard for and violation of others’ rights, occurring since age 15
o Psychopathy:
 Focuses more on callous traits
 May engage in frequent criminal activity for which they feel little or no remorse
 Psychopaths account for a small percentage of law violators (10-25%), but they commit a disproportionately large percentage of violent crimes
o Disadvantages
 Focus too much on the individual and not enough on external factors

Question 6

Describe SOCIAL-PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES of crime

What are the 3 types of social-psychological theories?

Cons

Answer 6

Bridges gap between environmentalism of sociology and individualism of psychological or biological theories

A) Control theories
o People will behave antisocially unless they learn, through a combination of inner controls and external constraints on behaviour, not to offend
o It is largely external containment (e.g. social pressure and institutionalised rules) that controls crime, but if these controls weaken, control of crime must depend on internal restraints

B) Learning theory
o People directly acquire specific criminal behaviours through different forms of learning
o Operant learning: a person behaves criminally when such behaviour is favoured by reinforcement that outweighs punishment
o Social learning theory: behaviour is learned by observation through modelling

C) Social-labelling
o Deviance is created by the labels that society assigns to certain acts
o Stigma of being branded a deviant can create a self-fulfilling prophecy (a prediction that comes true because it has been made)

Cons
Little research due to ethical considerations