Feminist Theories of Crime and Deviance

Obsessive-Compulsive Personality Disorder (OCPD)

• Difficulty making decisions without seeking excessive advice and reassurance.
• Characterized by psychological inflexibility, rigid adherence to rules, perfectionism, and excessive orderliness.
• Preoccupation with perfectionism leads to anxiety when things are perceived as "not right."

Causes of Personality Disorders

• Personality is shaped by a combination of thoughts, emotions, behaviors, genetics, and environment.
• Genetic inheritance can influence personality traits and vulnerability to disorders.
• Environmental factors include upbringing, life events, and relationships.

Schizoid Personality Disorder

• Individuals prefer solitude and avoid relationships, showing little emotion.
• They seek jobs with minimal social interaction and do not desire attention or acceptance.
• Often perceived as humorless and distant, classified as "loners."
• Distinction exists between schizoid personality disorder and schizophrenia; the latter is a thought disorder, while schizoid individuals are aware of their behavior.

Antisocial Personality Disorder

• Characterized by a lack of conscience; individuals may exhibit criminal behavior and view victims as weak.
• Tendencies to lie, steal, and show carelessness with money; impulsive actions without contemplating consequences.
• Often aggressive and self-centered, prioritizing their own needs over others.

Feminist Theory on Gender Roles and Crime

• Changes in traditional gender roles due to the women's movement have resulted in more involvement in deviance and crime among women.
• Women’s victimization, often ignored, can contribute to deviancy; victimization is linked to male abuse and violence.
• Male dominance in society is reflected in mainstream crime theories, often sidelining the experiences of women.

Paranoid Personality Disorder

• Characterized by a pervasive distrust of others and constant suspicion of sinister motives.
• Affects interpersonal relationships and can lead to social isolation.

General Characteristics of Personality Disorders

• Personality disorders involve maladaptive traits causing significant distress or difficulty in relationships.
• They manifest as an enduring and inflexible pattern of behavior that diverges from cultural expectations, typically emerging in adolescence or early adulthood.
• Can lead to chronic impairments in functioning and quality of life.

Explore the impact of the women's movement on traditional gender roles and its unintended consequences on female deviance and crime. Learn how feminists view victimization and its relation to male abuse and violence.