Psychological Theories of Crime
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Questions and Answers

What is the primary focus of psychological theories of crime?

  • The legal frameworks surrounding criminal acts
  • The personality and learning theories related to behavior (correct)
  • Sociocultural influences on criminality
  • Biological factors affecting behavior

Which assumption suggests that offenders possess psychological deficiencies?

  • Assumption of personal choice
  • Assumption of environmental influence
  • Assumption of victimization
  • Assumption of offender deficit (correct)

What characteristic do offenders commonly differ from non-offenders according to psychological theories?

  • Impulsivity and aggression (correct)
  • Intellect and creativity
  • Cultural background
  • Socioeconomic status

In discussing antisocial personality, which of the following is emphasized?

<p>Behavior patterns that violate social norms (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

How do Antisocial Personality Disorder and psychopathy primarily differ?

<p>Psychopathy is more associated with manipulative behaviors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is NOT a psychological theory used to explain criminal behavior?

<p>Cognitive behavioral theory (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is primarily assessed when evaluating the assumption of discriminating traits in offenders?

<p>Differences in personality traits (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What connection is explored between crime and mental illness in contemporary theories?

<p>Certain mental illnesses may correlate with an increased risk of criminal behavior (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What characterizes a preconventional person?

<p>They see social expectations as external to themselves. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

At what stage does a person define their values through self-chosen principles?

<p>Postconventional (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following best describes the conventional level of moral development?

<p>A person upholds values without questioning their validity. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What criticism is made about Kohlberg's theory?

<p>It overly generalizes moral development across genders. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is suggested about the moral development of delinquents compared to non-delinquents?

<p>Delinquents have a less advanced moral development. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the criticisms of the link between moral development and delinquency?

<p>It may not apply equally across different populations. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a postconventional individual?

<p>They evaluate customs against universal moral principles. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is typically true about individuals at the postconventional level?

<p>Few individuals reach this level of moral development. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant critique of the psychological approach to understanding criminal behaviour?

<p>It ignores positive characteristics of offenders. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to recent research, what factor plays a critical role in influencing individual behaviour?

<p>Situational and environmental factors. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

In the context of criminality, what is emphasized about the differences between offenders and non-offenders?

<p>Different social and psychological risk factors are involved. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What motivation might drive individuals to commit delinquent acts?

<p>Need for excitement or material goods. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which level of analysis does community psychology use to assess social problems?

<p>Levels of analysis perspective including organizational and institutional levels. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

When assessing addiction at the individual level in community psychology, what is the focus?

<p>Specific psychological problems of the individual. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What role do peer influences play at the small group level according to community psychology?

<p>They can exacerbate individual psychological problems. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following statements is true regarding the criminal vs. non-criminal binary?

<p>It overlooks the spectrum of behaviour individuals may exhibit. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of operant conditioning in shaping behavior?

<p>Using rewards to reinforce behavior and punishments to weaken behavior. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following is an indicator of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) during childhood?

<p>Lying, stealing, and fighting. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

The Psychopathy Checklist developed by Hare is used primarily for what purpose?

<p>Assessing traits and behaviors associated with psychopathy. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What percentage of the prison inmate population in North America is estimated to have Antisocial Personality Disorder?

<p>15-25% (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which method can be used to reward positive behavior in delinquent youth?

<p>Implementing a token economy system. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What behavior might indicate a risk for psychopathy in adolescents?

<p>Aggressive sexual behavior and substance abuse. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Legal, social, and self-sanctions are types of which deterrent?

<p>Fear of punishment. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes the outcome of applying consistent punishments to behavior according to operant conditioning?

<p>This will eliminate the behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a key principle of Eysenck’s Theory of Crime and Personality?

<p>Conditioning through experiences is vital for reducing deviant behavior. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which personality dimension is characterized by sociability and impulsiveness?

<p>Extraversion (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which group of personality traits is less likely to respond positively to conditioning?

<p>Neurotic extroverts (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Social Learning Theory, which source is NOT considered a way for individuals to learn aggressive behavior?

<p>Supervised training sessions (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a potential effect of watching violent television on a person's reaction to real-life aggression?

<p>Desensitization to aggression (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which personality dimension includes traits like hostility and lack of sympathy?

<p>Psychoticism (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one of the main criticisms of the relationship between watching television violence and aggression?

<p>The direction of causation is uncertain. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What type of individuals are more likely to exhibit delinquent behavior according to Eysenck’s Theory?

<p>Extroverted and psychotic individuals (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is true regarding recidivism among mentally disordered offenders compared to those without a history of mental illness?

<p>Mentally disordered offenders show lower recidivism rates. (A)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which factor is considered a risk for predicting violent recidivism according to the content?

<p>Mental disorder (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

According to Desmarais et al. (2014), most mentally disordered offenders are characterized by which of the following?

<p>A decreased risk of general recidivism (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is a common misperception about the population of mentally ill persons in relation to crime?

<p>Mentally ill persons commit a majority of crimes. (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is one reason psychological theories are criticized in relation to criminal behavior?

<p>They do not emphasize environmental factors enough. (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is the primary focus of evolutionary theory in understanding criminal behavior?

<p>Survival and reproductive value of such behaviors (B)</p> Signup and view all the answers

What is an example of a theory that combines psychological and sociological approaches?

<p>Conger's integration of social control and social learning theory (C)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Which statement best describes the training police receive to handle mentally ill individuals?

<p>It varies widely but is generally minimal. (D)</p> Signup and view all the answers

Flashcards

Psychological Theories of Crime

A psychological approach to understanding criminal behavior that focuses on examining personality or learning processes that contribute to an individual's actions.

Assumption of Offender Deficit

An assumption within psychological theories of crime that proposes a psychological deficiency in offenders, suggesting they lack something needed to behave appropriately.

Assumption of Discriminating Traits

An assumption within psychological theories of crime that suggests offenders differ from non-offenders in specific traits like impulsivity and aggression.

Traditional Psychological Approach to Crime

Focuses on individual deficits, overlooking positive aspects of offenders.

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Criminal vs. Non-Criminal Binary

The idea that criminals are fundamentally different from non-criminals. This binary view is often criticized.

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Farrington's Approach

Examines the influence of social and psychological risk factors in explaining why individuals commit crimes.

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Situational and Environmental Factors

Highlights the significance of environmental factors, including social and situational influences, in shaping individual behavior.

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Community Psychology Perspective

Views social problems as a product of various levels of societal structure, from individual to community.

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Individual Level of Analysis

Defines social problems as individual shortcomings, focusing on internal factors.

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Small Group Level of Analysis

Attributes social problems to dysfunctional group dynamics and their impact on individuals.

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Institutional or Community Level of Analysis

Identifies social problems arising from the shortcomings of societal institutions.

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Operant Conditioning

A theory that explains behavior as a result of rewards and punishments. Behavior is strengthened by positive reinforcement and weakened by punishment.

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Token Economy

A type of treatment program for delinquent youth that involves earning points for positive behaviors and losing points for negative behaviors.

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Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)

A mental disorder characterized by a disregard for the rights of others, impulsive behavior, irresponsibility, and aggression.

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Psychopathy Checklist

A checklist used to assess psychopathy, which includes twenty traits and behaviors associated with this disorder.

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Recidivism

The likelihood of re-offending after a period of punishment.

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Sanctions

Actions that can be used to deter criminal behavior, including legal sanctions, social disapproval, and self-blame.

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Legal Sanctions

A type of sanction where consequences are imposed by the legal system, such as fines, imprisonment, or probation.

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Social Sanctions

A type of sanction that involves disapproval or rejection by individuals or social groups.

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Conventional Level of Moral Development

Individuals at this stage understand and uphold societal values and rules. They identify with the expectations of others, particularly authority figures.

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Postconventional Level of Moral Development

Individuals at this stage critically examine customs and prioritize universal rights, duties, and moral principles. They define their values independently from societal norms.

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Preconventional Level of Moral Development

Individuals at this stage lack a strong sense of self and view societal rules as external forces, not internalized values.

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Gender Bias in Kohlberg's Theory

This criticism states that Kohlberg's theory might favor men over women. The theory suggests that women are less likely to reach the highest stage of moral development due to their focus on care and relationships.

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Inverse Relationship between Moral Development and Delinquency

Kohlberg's theory proposes that as individuals progress in moral development, their likelihood of engaging in criminal behavior decreases.

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Delinquents and Moral Development

Kohlberg's theory suggests delinquents often show less advanced moral development compared to non-delinquents.

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Moral Development and Adult Criminality

Research suggests a strong connection between lack of moral development and adult criminal behavior.

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Cultural Bias in Kohlberg's Theory

This criticism highlights that Kohlberg's theory is biased in favor of Western individualism, potentially neglecting the importance of community values and collectivism in some cultures.

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Eysenck's Theory of Crime and Personality

A psychological theory that explains criminal behavior through personality characteristics. It suggests that individuals with certain personality traits, like extroversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, are more prone to engaging in criminal activities.

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Classical Conditioning in Eysenck's Theory

The idea that delinquent behavior is inherently reinforcing and only stopped by punishments. Basically, a lack of fear/punishment leads to continuous deviant actions.

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Extraversion in Eysenck's Theory

A personality dimension characterized by sociability, impulsivity, and aggression. Extroverts tend to seek excitement and have a weaker conscience.

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Neuroticism in Eysenck's Theory

A personality dimension marked by anxiety, restlessness, and emotional reactivity. Neurotic extroverts are often difficult to condition positively, making them more prone to criminal behavior.

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Psychoticism in Eysenck's Theory

A personality dimension associated with coldness, hostility, and lack of empathy. These individuals may have a higher propensity for violence due to their detachment from others.

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Social Learning Theory of Crime

The theory that criminal behavior is learned through observation and interaction with others. This learning can occur through family, peers, or even through media like television.

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Modeling in Social Learning Theory

The process of learning new behaviors through direct experience or by observing others. It plays a key role in how individuals acquire criminal behavior.

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Desensitization in Social Learning Theory

The notion that exposure to violent media, like television shows, can desensitize individuals to real-life violence, leading to an increased tolerance for aggression.

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Mental Illness and Recidivism

Mentally ill individuals are arrested more frequently than others, even after considering the type of crime committed. However, they are less likely to repeat criminal behavior compared to offenders without mental illness.

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Police Training for Mental Illness

Police training on how to handle mentally ill individuals varies significantly across different locations, but often falls short in providing adequate instruction.

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Mental Illness and Arrest Probability

The presence of mental illness symptoms impacts the probability of being arrested, even when considering factors like the type of crime committed.

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Recidivism Rates in Mentally Ill Offenders

Mentally disordered offenders tend to show lower rates of repeat offenses (recidivism) compared to other offenders, contradicting the notion that mental illness inherently leads to criminal behavior.

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Mental Illness as a Risk Factor for Violent Recidivism

Studies indicate that mental disorders are a significant risk factor for predicting violent repeat offenses, suggesting a potential connection between certain mental states and violent behavior.

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Mental Illness and Violent Offending

While mental illness can be a risk factor for certain types of re-offense, most mentally disordered offenders do not engage in violence and actually have a lower risk of general recidivism.

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Limitations of Mental Illness Theories in Crime

Theories of criminal behavior that mainly focus on mental illness models fail to adequately explain the behavior of most criminals, suggesting the need to incorporate broader perspectives.

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Mental Illness and Victimization

People with mental illness are more likely to be the victims of crime rather than the perpetrators, highlighting the vulnerability of individuals with mental health issues.

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Study Notes

Chapter 9: Psychological Perspectives on Criminality

  • This chapter explores psychological theories explaining criminal behavior.
  • Psychological theories often focus on individual factors, but recent research emphasizes situational and environmental factors.
  • Theories often assume either an "offender deficit" (something psychologically wrong with the offender) or "discriminating traits" (offenders differ from non-offenders).

Learning Objectives

  • Describe and analyze various psychological theories related to criminal behavior.
  • Examine psychoanalytic theory, Eysenck's theory, social learning theory, operant conditioning theory, moral development theory, and evolutionary theory.
  • Understand the concept of antisocial personality disorder and psychopathy.
  • Evaluate current theories linking crime and mental illness.

Psychological Theories of Crime

  • Examines criminality through personality or learning.
  • Most of these theories revolve around two main assumptions: offender deficit and discriminating traits (that is, offenders differ, especially in impulsivity and aggression).
  • There are critiques of the psychological approach: emphasis on offender deficits, ignoring the role of situational and environmental factors, and unreliability of a "criminal vs. non-criminal" binary.

Community Psychology

  • While the individual perspective is dominant, community psychology suggests viewing social problems from levels of analysis.
  • Levels of analysis include individual deficits, small group functioning deficits, organizational issues, and institutional or community-level problems.

Psychoanalytic Theory

  • Freud's personality is composed of the id (biological drives), ego (reality tester), and superego (conscience).
  • Criminality results from the ego and superego's failure to control primitive id instincts.
  • Criminality stems from inadequate development in early stages.
  • This theory is often criticized as untestable and tautological.

Evolutionary Theory

  • Based on Darwinian principles, the theory explains criminal behavior through natural selection and reproductive fitness.
  • Men generally commit more crime, particularly violent crime.
  • The theory relates high offending rates in young men to reproductive strategies and opportunities.

Theories of Moral Development

  • Kohlberg's theory postulates stages of moral development, and everyone goes through them, though pace varies.
  • Preconventional level focuses on punishment/reward.
  • Conventional level focuses on social expectations.
  • Postconventional level centers on self-chosen principles.
  • Piaget's theory suggests moral reasoning develops from egocentrism to cooperation.
  • Kohlberg's theory is also criticized for potential bias towards male perspectives.

Eysenck's Theory

  • This theory explores how personality characteristics relate to criminal behavior, drawing on classical conditioning and learning.
  • Extroversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism are crucial personality dimensions.
  • Delinquents and criminals are less easily conditioned, possibly due to limited exposure to conditioning practices.

Social Learning Theory

  • Individuals learn behavior through direct experience or observation.
  • Aggression is learned from family, subculture, and symbolic models (media).
  • Studies suggest a possible correlation between violence viewing and aggression; however, it's not confirmed.
  • Negative reinforcement (fear, or legal/social sanctions) can deter behavior.

Operant Conditioning

  • BF Skinner's theory of how rewards and punishments influence behaviors.
  • Used to change antisocial or delinquent behaviors.
  • A token economy is an example of this type of program.

Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)

  • Key indicator: disregard for the rights of others, impulsiveness, irresponsibility, and aggression.
  • Signs start in childhood, continue through adolescence and adulthood
  • Psychopathy checklist (Hare 1991) measures traits and behaviors associated with psychopathy. This checklist is a useful tool.
  • Extroverts, who don't learn fear responses, and have neuroanatomical abnormalities may display APD traits.

Crime and Mental Illness

  • While some consider crime a symptom of mental illness, many now reject this simplistic view.
  • Prevalence of mental disorders is higher among prison inmates than the general population.
  • Many inmates have mental health needs, particularly substance abuse disorders or co-occurring disorders (like schizophrenia).
  • There's been an increase in police involvement with mentally ill individuals, which is linked to deinstitutionalization of people with mental illness.
  • Persons with mental illness are less likely to re-offend, compared to others, though this can vary across jurisdictions and training.

Chapter Summary

  • Various psychological theories, while useful for understanding criminal behavior, need integration with sociological approaches.
  • Understanding individual-level factors and acknowledging mental health needs of inmates for better treatment, prevention, and outcomes.

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Chapter 9: Psychological Perspectives on Criminality PDF

Description

Explore the intricacies of psychological theories surrounding criminal behavior in this quiz. It covers concepts such as antisocial personality, moral development, and the relationship between mental illness and crime. Test your understanding of key assumptions and characteristics of offenders as defined by psychological perspectives.

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