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Biological, sociological and psychological explanations of criminal behaviour
Socio-psychological theories of crime
Biological, sociological and psychological explanations of criminal behaviour
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Katherine Jaros Dr. Ann Burgess FORS5317.01 4/19/2023 Understanding Andrea Yates: Mental Health and its Relationship to Violent Crime INTRODUCTION Mental health in criminal offenders is a highly complex and controversial issue that plays a critical role in determining how we understand and evaluate violent crimes. A significant number of offenders who commit violent crimes have some form of mental illness or disorder, which drives interest in studying such cases. Furthermore, during the legal process, there are always two sides that approach mental health in criminals and put it in consideration differently as they argue for opposite outcomes in the courtroom. Defense lawyers seek to emphasize the role that the illness or disorder
However, research has consistently found that certain mental health disorders, such as antisocial personality disorder and psychosis, are associated with an increased risk of violent behavior (Monahan, 1992).Studies of the relationship between mental health issues and antisocial behavior typically examine a range of behaviors, including violent crime, aggression, and substance abuse. For example, a study by Swanson and colleagues (2006) found that individuals with serious mental illness were no more likely to commit violent crimes than individuals without mental illness, but were more likely to be victims of violent crime. However, other research has found that individuals with certain mental health disorders, such as schizophrenia, are at increased risk of violent behavior (Fazel et al.,
The documentary I choose is called Crime after Crime, and I felt it demonstrated the sociological themes we have discussed and how the system can be for us or against us. It was a documentary about a lady name Deborah Peagler who was convicted to 25 years to life. She had married a man by the name of Oliver Wilson, who use to beat on her and abuse her. She felt as though it was no way out of the relationship and she even go the police involved. She got a couple of guys around the neighborhood to try to beat him up a little bit but he ended up dying.
It cannot be overlooked that developmental issues and life experiences play a major role as well. In the modern world, these issues and experiences are analyzed and studied by prevalent criminality and psychopathology fields within the criminal justice system. After all, trying to understand why individuals chose to commit crimes and break the law is necessary to prevent them and rehabilitate criminals. Since the nineteenth century, criminal defendants have used mental incapacity and insanity to excuse their criminal activity. This has resulted in the study of psychopathology and crime causation being of significant importance to criminal justice.
The theory used in this journal pertains to the race, age, and gender of a serial killer; how they kill, the race, age, and gender of the victim; and how the killer lived before and during the killings. Before beginning his own study, Pakhomou (2004) found that “Serial (sexual killers are believed to be mostly white males in their twenties and thirties (at the time of the crimes) with above-average intelligence who commit intra-racial (within the same racial group) murders of strangers” (p. 220). Approximately half of them never had consensual sex with another adult, some joining the military, about half did not finish high school, and they had a history of burglary and sexual offenses prior to murders. There is no set reason or evidence that explains why people commit sexual homicide; however, there are many theories. One set factor that all researchers agree on is that “the most monstrous and most perverse sexual acts are usually committed by persons of sound mind, who are functionally rigid (in terms of a number of activities that they carry on), obsessed with fantasy and who have a determination to do what they want” (Pakhomou, 2004, p. 221).
The Mental illness: These offenders suffer from a wide variety of mental illness from depression
Edwin Sutherland Aaron Walker Georgia Gwinnett College Sutherland considered differential association to be a general sociological theory of criminal behavior. Sutherland became suspicious of theories that related poverty to crime, believing that police statistics were biased when they showed that most crimes occurred in poor and lower-class neighborhoods in the city. After 20 years of grueling research, Sutherland finally completed a book reporting his findings. The finalized version of White Collar Crime appeared in 1949; a restored edition was not published until 1983. Sutherland came to believe that numerous factors like race, age, and gender cannot in themselves explain criminal behavior.
It is thought that some people become addicted to the sense of power they get from taking someone's life, which leads them to continue killing or committing other criminal acts, even if it is not for financial gain. Mental illness can also play a crucial role in why someone becomes a serial killer. For instance, between 50-80% of the serial killer population is diagnosed with some form of personality disorder. In addition, research indicates that many previous serial killers suffered from head injuries or brain defects, which could contribute to their eventual decline into extreme violence or fixations with sadism or violent sex. Ultimately, a combination of genetics and environmental factors contributes to someone becoming a serial killer.
Criminal theory: Lifestyle theory This theory implies that people are focused on in view of their way of life decisions and that these way of life decisions open them to criminal guilty parties and circumstances in which wrongdoings might be carried out (Jennifer Truman, 2014). Victimization risk is increased by behaviours such as associating with young men, going out in public places like club or pub at night, and living in an urban area (Michael R. Gottfredson and James Garofalo, 1978). Lifestyle theory is a theory of victimization that acknowledges that not everyone has the same lifestyle and that some lifestyles expose people to more risks than do other lifestyles (Jensen & Brownfield, 1986).
My paper aims to discuss the three different factors of criminal behaviour, what causes it and why. My essay will examine and focus mainly on the genetic makeup of a person, the environment in which they are raised in and gender differences.
Furthermore, the psychology of criminal behavior, psychology, and criminology all have a primary objective of achieving an understanding of the variation in the criminal behavior of individuals (Andrews and Bonta , 2010). Empirically, the study of variation in criminal behavior is done by the studying of covariates (Andrews and Bonta , 2010). The primary covariates that PCC studies are biological, social, and psychological (Andrews and Bonta , 2010). Although, criminology tends to assess criminality at an aggregate level, in comparison to the psychology of criminal conduct’s focus on an individual level. Additionally, a psychology of criminal conduct involves applying what is learned by the studying of psychological information and methods to the predicting and influencing the propensity of criminal behavior on an individual
The emphasis of socioeconomic status in capital punishment cases plays a critical role in the evaluation of an inmate’s disposition and the biases that occur from the impacts of wealth. Economic standing impacts an individual to be drawn to or propelled from crime, dependent on the influence from the surrounding community. The initial socioeconomic influence on destitute areas provokes individuals to live a life of crime, which ultimately brings many crimes to be charged with capital punishment convictions. Occupational prestige and education stand amongst several other factors that account into the economic evaluation of death row inmates and the social impact left on an individual. In addition to the initial impact from socioeconomic upbringing, the decision-making in court can result in juror bias against the defendant.
Task 1; In your own words define the term criminal psychology There are many reasons for the disagreement and unofficial definition of the term ‘’Criminal Psychology’’. If I asked a stranger on the street to give me their definition of the topic, they would more than likely say ‘’someone who deals with catching criminals’’ or ‘’them people from criminal minds’’. In my opinion it’s much more than that. Criminal Psychology is the finding, studying and understanding of people who disobey the legal system.
This essay will discuss crime as both a social problem and a sociological problem. Crime is seen as a typical function of society. Crime doesn’t happen without society. It is created and determined by the surrounding society. According to the CSO, the number of dangerous and negligent acts committed between the years of 2008 and 2012 rose from 238’000 in 2008 to 257’000 in 2012.
Every day on the news there are all kinds of reports. Crime reports are a major part of today's events. Almost every day there are posts about crimes. The level of crime has risen immensely in every corner of the world. People have tried to understand the causes of crime, but if we look around the world we can see that many of the crimes are caused by people who abuse drugs and alcohol, people who think negatively towards others, and poverty.
