Psychology and Criminality SOC 112 Part 18

Criminality 1. Sociological theories - crime rates of groups - do not look at individual a. Cannot explain: - poor area / abuse / discord / drop-out - poor area / abuse / discord / drop-out - resists crime - resists crime (1) Individual differences (1) Individual differences - psychologists / biologists - psychologists / biologists - finding out reasons - finding out reasons

Criminality (2) Affluent neighborhood (2) Affluent neighborhood - two parent family - two parent family - tries to kill president b. Sociologists: not individual differences b. Sociologists: not individual differences - psychologists / biologists: interested - psychologists / biologists: interested (1) Different theories: not competing (1) Different theories: not competing - study same act / status / character

Criminality c. To understand crime c. To understand crime - more than one perspective - more than one perspective (1) Sociological (1) Sociological - ignores personality / human biology (2) Psychological (2) Psychological - focuses on individual - not interactions Individual differences Individual differences

Criminality - defective conscience - defective conscience - emotional immaturity - emotional immaturity - inadequate childhood socialization - inadequate childhood socialization - maternal deprivation - maternal deprivation - poor mental development - poor mental development a. What do criminal psychologist study? a. What do criminal psychologist study? - why people commit crimes - why people commit crimes - how aggression learned - how aggression learned - personal conditions

Criminality - abused - abused b. Personality factors b. Personality factors - introverted / pessimist / smart / deviant - introverted / pessimist / smart / deviant c. Mental disorders associated c. Mental disorders associated - head injury - head injury - serious illness - serious illness - lead paint - lead paint

Psychological Development 1. Founder of psychoanalysis - Sigmund Freud - researchers referred to a. Criminality may result from: - overactive superego / conscience - overactive superego / conscience (1) Unbearable guilt (1) Unbearable guilt - committed crimes - committed crimes - to be apprehended / punished - to be apprehended / punished - then, guilt relieved - then, guilt relieved

Psychological b. Example: Richard b. Example: Richard - anger: father’s death / mother’s abandon - anger: father’s death / mother’s abandon - unconscious feelings of guilt - unconscious feelings of guilt - once punished: relieved - once punished: relieved (1) Persistent criminal activity (1) Persistent criminal activity - conscience: not too strong / too weak - conscience: not too strong / too weak - impulses of the Id - impulses of the Id (2) Superego (2) Superego - internalized parental image - internalized parental image

Psychological - child assumes attitude / moral value - child assumes attitude / moral value - without = uncontrolled Id - without = uncontrolled Id - leads to delinquency - leads to delinquency (2) Analysts view (delinquents) (2) Analysts view (delinquents) - unable to give up instant pleasure - unable to give up instant pleasure 2. Psychoanalytical approach - more prominent explanation - normal / asocial functioning - three basic principles:

Psychoanalytical a. Actions / behaviors of adult a. Actions / behaviors of adult - childhood development - childhood development - occurred as a child - occurred as a child b. Behavior / unconscious motives: intertwined b. Behavior / unconscious motives: intertwined - interaction must be unraveled - interaction must be unraveled - understand criminality - understand criminality c. Criminality c. Criminality - psychological conflict - psychological conflict

Psychological Theories 1. Freudian theory: unconscious - others: conscious a. Classical conditioning - passive person - passive person - learns what to expect - learns what to expect (1) Conditioned to respond (1) Conditioned to respond - Pavlov - receive pleasure (food / praise) - expect reward / continue action

Theories b. Operant conditioning (B.F. Skinner) b. Operant conditioning (B.F. Skinner) - foremost behavioral theory - foremost behavioral theory - rewards / punishment = control - rewards / punishment = control - reinforce / curtail behaviors - reinforce / curtail behaviors - associate with own behavior - associate with own behavior (1) Become criminal (1) Become criminal - association with act - association with act - receive encouragement - receive encouragement - reinforces behavior - reinforces behavior - see you as / therefore, I am - see you as / therefore, I am

Theories 3. Cognitive theory - mental processes - perceive the world a. Cognitive development theory - organize thoughts into rules / laws - organize thoughts into rules / laws - way organized: criminal / noncriminal - way organized: criminal / noncriminal (1) Moral vs. legal reasoning (thinking) (1) Moral vs. legal reasoning (thinking) - organize thoughts = moral - organize thoughts = moral - apply to law = legal

Theories b. Jean Piaget b. Jean Piaget - stages in development - stages in development - reason through - reason through c. Rules: sacred / immutable c. Rules: sacred / immutable - what’s considered right - what’s considered right - guide actions - guide actions d. Rules: product of humans d. Rules: product of humans - taught rules - taught rules - must understand to apply - must understand to apply

Theories 4. Lawrence Kohlberg - pioneered moral development a. Categorized into 6 stages (1) Stage 1: obedience / punishment (1) Stage 1: obedience / punishment - do what you are told - do what you are told - authority figure - authority figure (2) Stage 2: right behavior (2) Stage 2: right behavior

Theories - acting in one’s own interest - acting in one’s own interest - “selflessness” - “selflessness” (3) Stage 3: Approval of others (3) Stage 3: Approval of others - what’s expected - what’s expected (4) Stage 4: Abide by law (4) Stage 4: Abide by law - obligation of duty - obligation of duty (5) Stage 5: social mutuality (5) Stage 5: social mutuality - genuine interest = welfare of others - genuine interest = welfare of others

Theories (6) Stage 6: Respect (6) Stage 6: Respect - universal principles - universal principles - individual conscience - individual conscience b. Three levels of reasoning b. Three levels of reasoning (1) Preconventional (1) Preconventional - from those around us - necessary rules - leave level 9: to 11 years

Theories - they think: “If I steal, what are my - they think: “If I steal, what are my chances of getting caught and being chances of getting caught and being punished?” punished?” (2) Conventional (2) Conventional - apply moral thinking - adopt values / rules to uphold - criminal: not beyond preconventional - they think: “It is illegal to steal and therefore I should not steal under any therefore I should not steal under any circumstances.” circumstances.”

Theories (3) Post-conventional (3) Post-conventional - accepted moral reasoning - apply it = sense of beliefs - human rights / moral principles / duty - they think: “One must live within the law, but certain ethical principles do law, but certain ethical principles do supersede the written law.” supersede the written law.” - after the age of 20 c. Delinquents / criminals c. Delinquents / criminals - preconventional level (Kohlberg) - preconventional level (Kohlberg)

Theories d. Many believe matter of choice d. Many believe matter of choice - choose behavior - choose behavior (1) US Penitentiary, Leavenworth, KS (1) US Penitentiary, Leavenworth, KS - environmental factors - limit one’s choice - but do not determine (2) Way people think (2) Way people think - choices made - root cause: thought / choice

Theories (3) Criminals: confined forever (3) Criminals: confined forever - change way of thinking 5. Moral Development Theory - psychometry - supersensory powers of unconscious - links intelligence / crime - personality theory a. Success in life - influenced by intelligence - influenced by intelligence

Theories - more intelligent / more successful - more intelligent / more successful - technology / science / legal / financial - technology / science / legal / financial b. Educational levels b. Educational levels - lower inner cities / rural South - lower inner cities / rural South - mental disorders - mental disorders - crime population - crime population (1) Mental disorder approach (1) Mental disorder approach - lower intelligence - mental illness/crime

Theories (2) Poor / inner city youth (2) Poor / inner city youth - no educational advantage - little family interaction - criminal behavior c. National Institute of Justice c. National Institute of Justice - mental disorders: higher among criminals - mental disorders: higher among criminals - not necessarily cause crime - not necessarily cause crime (1) Mental disorders / crime (1) Mental disorders / crime - demographic factors - demographic factors

Theories - environment / family / age / gender/ race - environment / family / age / gender/ race peer group peer group 6. Personality theory - emotional conflict / personality deviations - characterizes many criminals a. Different disorders - paranoid / schizoid / dependent / atypical - paranoid / schizoid / dependent / atypical / avoidant / narcissistic / compulsive / / avoidant / narcissistic / compulsive / passive-aggressive passive-aggressive

Theories b. Antisocial personality disorder b. Antisocial personality disorder - psychopathic / sociopathic behavior - psychopathic / sociopathic behavior - used synonymously - used synonymously - chronic law violator - chronic law violator - lack: guilt feelings / outward charm / - lack: guilt feelings / outward charm / high intelligence high intelligence (1) Sociopath (1) Sociopath - inability to empathize - learn from experience - disregard others rights

Theories (2) Disregard: before age 15 (2) Disregard: before age 15 - continues into adult life - diminish: age 30 (3) Symptoms (3) Symptoms - lying / stealing / fighting / truancy - sexual behavior / alcohol-drug use - failure: hold job / stable marriage c. High risk: deviant behavior c. High risk: deviant behavior - 3% men / 1% women - 3% men / 1% women

Theories (1) No remorse (1) No remorse - do not learn - imprisonment: no impact (2) Explain disorder: (2) Explain disorder: - biological, psychological, sociological d. Criminal personality d. Criminal personality - different frame: reference / language - different frame: reference / language - treat: change thinking - treat: change thinking

Theories (1) Studies show: (1) Studies show: - preoccupied: fear / death - put down / ridiculed / worthless - better than others - unique - fantasies: triumph / power / control 7. Psychoanalytical: juvenile delinquency - C.J. Schoenfield - Freud’s theories - founder

Theories a. Id = primary / rash / impulsive - pleasure / pain - pleasure / pain - hedonistic - hedonistic b. Delinquents - defective superego - defective superego - unconscious: feelings of guilt - unconscious: feelings of guilt - crimes: to be punished - crimes: to be punished c. Inability to control - deficiency: ego / superego development - deficiency: ego / superego development

Theories (1) Faulty development (1) Faulty development - little capacity to repress - pleasure / gratification - defective superego (2) Dominated by Id (2) Dominated by Id - become antisocial - disturbed ego development - first 3 years d. Overdeveloped superego d. Overdeveloped superego

Theories - neurotic - neurotic - low self-esteem / excessive anxiety / - low self-esteem / excessive anxiety / wide mood swings wide mood swings (1) Psychoanalysts (1) Psychoanalysts - normal: control drives - socially acceptable outlets (2) Criminal (2) Criminal - cannot control

Theories 8. Psychological causation - error in thinking / new cause - any behavior / excused a. “Fundamental psycholegal error” - attorneys use - attorneys use - legal defenses - legal defenses (1) Twinkie defense (1) Twinkie defense (2) Hypoglycemia (2) Hypoglycemia

Theories (3) PMS (3) PMS (4) Television intoxication (4) Television intoxication (5) XYY chromosomal defense (5) XYY chromosomal defense 9. Mental disorder theory - psychosis / neurosis / impulse disorder a. Psychosis - common category - common category

Theories (1) Functional psychosis (1) Functional psychosis - no known organic problem (2) Organic psychosis (2) Organic psychosis - traced to physical problem - disease / injury / etc. - cannot use for all mentally ill - cannot use for all mentally ill - rigid dichotomy: sick / normal criminal - rigid dichotomy: sick / normal criminal b. Neurosis

Theories - no demonstrable organic cause - no demonstrable organic cause (1) Does not violate social norms (1) Does not violate social norms - on corner / talking to self c. Impulse disorder - sudden / explosive actions - sudden / explosive actions - do not lose touch with reality - do not lose touch with reality 10. Sociopathic personality theory - sociopath / psychopath / antisocial

Theories - used interchangeably - used interchangeably - psychopathy / sociopathy / antisocial - psychopathy / sociopathy / antisocial personality personality a. Group of behaviors / attitudes - Hervey Cleckley - Hervey Cleckley - so broad / applied to any criminal - so broad / applied to any criminal b. Psychopathy: serious illness - may not appear to be ill - may not appear to be ill - excellent mental health - excellent mental health

Theories - “mask of insanity” - “mask of insanity” (1) Free of mental disorder (1) Free of mental disorder - appear reliable / honest (2) Becomes clear: (2) Becomes clear: - no responsibility - disregard for truth / insincere - no shame / guilt / humiliation - lie / cheat - verbal / physical abuse

Theories 11. Emotional problem theory - inability to cope - psychologically normal a. Deterioration of coping skills - emotional problems - emotional problems b. Causative factors - relationships / finances / employment - relationships / finances / employment c. Ability restored: crime unlikely

Theories 12. Post Traumatic Stress Disorder s a. Brain dysfunction - defense by war veterans - defense by war veterans - nightmares / flashbacks / depression / - nightmares / flashbacks / depression / survivor guilt survivor guilt b. Lose orientation - Viet Nam - Viet Nam - protecting buddies - protecting buddies

Theories c. Dysfunction real c. Dysfunction real - inability to distinguish right from wrong - inability to distinguish right from wrong 13. Maternal deprivation-attachment - important phenomenon - social development - shortly after birth a. Emotional bond - “attachment” - “attachment”

Theories - form future attachments - form future attachments b. Studies of attachment - John Bowlby - John Bowlby - 7 important features - 7 important features (1) Specificity (1) Specificity - selective - one or more individuals (2) Duration (2) Duration

Theories - endure / persist - endure / persist - throughout life cycle - throughout life cycle (3) Engagement of emotion (3) Engagement of emotion - intense emotions (4) Ontogeny (4) Ontogeny - one primary figure - first 9 months (5) Learning (5) Learning

Theories - not of rewards / reinforcements - not of rewards / reinforcements - basic social interactions - basic social interactions (6) Organization (6) Organization - follows cognitive development - interpersonal maturation (7) Biological function (7) Biological function - survival - all species of mammals - form social bonds

Theories c. Child needs - warm / intimate / continuing - warm / intimate / continuing - mother / mother substitute - mother / mother substitute - securely attached - securely attached (1) Separated / rejected (1) Separated / rejected - anxious attachment - effects capacity to be affectionate - develop intimate relationships (2) Habitual criminals (2) Habitual criminals

Theories d. Considerable research - anxious attachment: behavioral problems - anxious attachment: behavioral problems (1) 113 middle-class children (1) 113 middle-class children - 1 year / again at 6 years - secure: formed close relations - anxious: arguing / yelling / fights (2) 40 children (2) 40 children - 1 year / 18 months

Theories - anxious: less empathetic / compliant / independent / confident - anxious: less empathetic / compliant / independent / confident (3) Quality of attachment (3) Quality of attachment - correlates with preschool behavior - aggressive / leaving the group / etc.