Module 7: Psychological theories of Crime Flashcards
General theories
provide explanations for most crime, committed by most people, most of the time. these theories often argue that despite variations in who commits crime and when there is an underlying general cause
Typological theories
premised on there being different precursors and pathways to offending, leads to development of typologies for offenders, offences and victims
Criminology theory development
single factor reductionism
multiple factor approaches
systemic reductionism
integrated and interdisplinary apporaches
Single factor reductionism (1876 - mid 1920)
commenced with lombroso’s criminal man and emphasised how internal characteristics caused criminal behaviour
Multiple factor approach (1940-1960)
somewhat atheorectical in approach
focussed on discovering what factor predicted offending
systemic reductionism (1950 - today)
refers to attempts to reduce explanations for crime to a single disciplinary system largely dominated by sociological explanations
integrated or mutlidisciplinary theories
dominates current thinking
recognises that crime is diverse and requires input from multiple disciplines to understand it
Heredity: central premise
genetic variations are linked to criminality
based on twin and adoption studies, that found that monozygotic twins are very likely to have the same traits and behaviours
Neurobiological development
neurobiological changes which occur over the life course may increase or decrease risk for involvement in crime
Neurological impariment
may result from many environmental factors including alcohol and drug consumption , exposure to toxins, acquired brain injuries, that can heighten risk of offending
Damage to brain
particular area damage can may result in significant changes that can increase risk of offending
evolution - central premise
members of a species are designed to ensure theri genes survive
R/K theory
describes 2 different reproduction
R strategists
possess characteristic correlated with antisocial behaviour, males with multiple partners to produce multiple offspring
K Strategists
characteristics are cooperative, self controlled, have fewer partners and are more invested in offspring
Behavioural theories of crime
focuses on how behaviour is learnt
2 main theories
classical conditioning
operant conditioning
Classical conditioning
explains how accidental or unplanned associations between 2 stimuli results in learned associations
- occur by chance and outside conscious awareness
- results in powerful emotions and behaviours we cant always explain
How classical conditioning works
an unconditioned stimulus produces an unconditioned response
Neutral stimulus: Classical conditioning
produces no special response
Neutral stimulus pair with unconditioned stimulus: Classical Conditioning
neutral stimulus elicits unconditioned response in absence of unconditioned stimulus
conditioned stimulus: Classical Conditioning
a neutral stimulus that by itself produces a response
Conditioned response: Classical Conditioning
when an unconditioned response occurs in response to conditioning stimulus
Operant Conditioning
explains how behaviour is shaped by receiving reinforcments and punishments
reinforcements increase likelihood that behaviour is repeated
punishment serve to decrease behaviour repeating
can be positive or negative
Positive reinforcement: Operant Conditioning
positive or pleasurable stimulus received in response to performing the behaviour (receiving praise for a good job)
Negative reinforcement: Operant Conditioning
removal of an aversive stimulus in response to performing a behaviour (example: putting on sunscreen to avoid getting sunburnt)
Positive and Negative reinforcements
serve to increase behaviour repeating
Positive punishment: Operant Conditioning
unpleasant or aversive stimulus received after performing the behaviour (example: you are late for work so you speed, and because of this you get a speeding ticket)
Negative Punishment: Operant conditioning
removal of a positive stimulus in response to behaviour (example: two children fight over toy so teacher takes toy away)
Social Learning theory
combines learning from behavioural theories with cognitive psychology
behavioural theories are stimulus - response explanations
Modelling: Social Learning theory
key component of social learning theory
people model a range of behaviours
Vicarious learning: social Learning theory
people pay attention to consequences that a model incurs for performing a behaviour
linked to operant conditioning
anticipated consequences can be internalised become self reinforcing
Situational theories
behaviour is a function of individual characteristics interacting with the situation.
focus on situations within which people find themselves
Rational Choice Theory
see people as rational decision makers that acts on the basis of calculated costs and benefits
situation provides valuable info about the likely benefits and costs of engaging in criminal behaviour
- believes that offending is more likely to occur when perceived benefits outweights perceived costs
situational precipitators
situations exert pressure on people to non consciously behave in particular ways.
the 4 ways in which situations exert their influence upon behaviour are:
prompts
pressure
Permit
Provoke
Prompts: Situational Precipitators
situations can present prompts to engage in particular behaviour
Pressure: Situational Precipitators
situations can exert social pressures upon people to act in a particular way
Permit: Situational Precipitators
situations can provide permissions to people to act illegally because they weaken moral controls
Provoke: Situational Precipitators
situations changed with emotions can arouse and provoke people to respond in illegal ways
Person-Situation typologies
situational theories generally ignore individual differences within people which may serve to increase or decrease likelihood that situational factors will effect behaviour
3 types of individuals which environment will differently exert an influence
antisocial predators
mundane offenders
provoked offenders
Antisocial predators
actively seek opportunities to offend and are continually weighing costs and benefits of offending in situations
Mundane offenders
generally resist temptations to offend but will occasionally take criminal opportunities when they are present
Provoked offenders
commit crime in response to a situational provocation such as frustration.
social ecological theory
behaviour can be influenced by the multiple systems within which people are located
- individual ecosystems
- family
- friends
- community
each system exerts influence over the persons behavior
ecological systems
risk factors for delinquency can occur in each system
mental illness and crime
people with mental illness are more likely to be victims or be of risk to themselves than others
hallucinations
hallucinations have been linked to a increased risk of offending
Behavioural features of psychopathy
antisocial
parasitic lifestyle
pathological lying
Personality features of psychopathy
callousness
lack of empathy
lack of remorse
psychopathy criteria
only a small amount of offenders meet diagnostic criteria for psychopathy
profiling
try to determine likely characteristics of offenders from scene and behaviour
interpersonal circle
theory of behaviour in social interactions
describes behaviour in 2 dimensions : control and affiliation
a person is either dominant or submissive and is either cooperative or hostile
