2. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc. 6 - 1 Chapter 6 Psychology-Based Perspectives of Criminal Behaviour Does a poet create, originate, initiate the thing called a poem, or is his behavior merely the product of his genetic and environmental histories? - B. F. Skinner(1904 - 1990)

3. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 2 Learning Objectives n Recognize and appreciate the impact psychology has had on the understanding of criminal behaviour. n Appreciate the complexity of human behaviour. n Be familiar with the major psychology-based theories of criminal behaviour. n Recognize and be familiar with some of the important methods of treatment advocated by therapists. n Appreciate the importance of the learning theory for understanding criminal behaviour.

4. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 3 Introduction n Focus on identifying individual factors as the primary cause of criminality n 5 major psychological theories Psychodynamic Behavioural Personality Cognition Moral development

5. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 4 The Legacy n Lombroso’s notions of born criminal –Possessed by evil spirits; ritual abuse; rationale for punishment –Positivism and demonology & ‘bad seed’ concept n Hillman argues those born without a soul n Faith & constructs difficult to prove, subjective n Metaphysical basis n Role of individual factors –Work of James Hillman ’96 –Modern day versions and the role of religion

6. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 5 Psychology & Criminality n Aschaffenburg: role of heredity n Maudsley: “moral degeneracy” n Ray: moral insanity n Yochelson & Samenow: “criminal personality” n Intrapsychic Explanations (next slide)

7. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 6 Freud: Psychodynamic Theory n Internal conflicts (id, ego, & superego) n Crime and the uncontrolled ID –Unconscious need to express guilt –Early childhood experiences –Repressed memories and act out n Importance of dreams and messages n Endured years of skepticism and critique n Neurological & biological links n Interdisciplinary in many respects

8. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 7 Learned Behaviour - Cognition n Environment > Mind > Behaviour –Frustration-aggression model n Road rage –consequence of frustration –degree of interference –risk of apprehension –cathartic n “copy cat”- idols? (Box 6.6)

9. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 8 Moral Development “no one with a conscience or moral fibre would…” n Sense of morality & responsibility n Piaget: 4 stages of development n Kohlberg: 3 levels & 6 stages of do’s & don’ts n societal values; universal rights How does one measure objectively?

10. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 9 Behavioural Explanations Environment > Brain processing > Behaviour response n Pavlov: classical conditioning –US + CS > CR = UCR n Simultaneous, delayed, trace, backward n Avoidance & aversion therapies –Psychopaths

11. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 10 Behavioural Explanations n Skinner: Operant / Instrumental conditioning n Conditioning vs. free-will n Behaviour and reinforcement n Paraphilias –“abnormal” sexual practices with those that can’t consent (pedophilia, nonhuman objects, animals) –linked to what legally defined (historical evolution) –muddled with value judgments

12. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 11 Behavioural Explanations n Token economy: positive vs. negative n Schedules –ratio; interval –behaviour modification n Restorative Justice and Behaviour Modification programs

13. Copyright © 2006 Pearson Education Canada Inc.6 - 12 Summary n Examine the roots of behaviour n Objectifying attitudes (evil) n Crime a product of internal conflict n Behaviour is cognitive based n Medical analogy n But behaviour is more complex?