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When examining psychological theories of crime, one must be cognizant of the three major theories. The first is psychodynamic theory, which is centered on the notion that an individual’s early childhood experience influences his or her likelihood for committing future crimes.
The Psychology of Crime. Psychologically-based criminologists explain criminal behavior as the consequence of individual factors, such as negative early childhood experiences, and inadequate socialization, which results in criminal thinking patterns and/or incomplete cognitive development.
Major psychological theories of crime include the trait theory of personality and theories of psychoanalysis, behaviorism, and cognitive psychology. Psychoanalysis emphasizes motivation and evil human nature, and holds that sexual and aggressive instincts are the fundamental causes of crime.
Psychological theories of crime focus on the association among intelligence, personality, learning, and criminal behavior. Psychodynamic theory suggests that criminal behavior is influenced by unconscious mental processes, early childhood experiences, and the id, ego, and superego.
Theories of making and enforcing criminal law (also herein referred to as theories of law and criminal justice) offer answers to questions of how or why certain behavior and people become defined and are dealt with as criminal in society.
This chapter outlines two contemporary psychological theories of crime: moral reasoning theory; and the social information-processing approach to explaining crime. It considers theories of three types of serious offending: interpersonal violence, sexual offending and arson.
Several psychological theories have been used to understand crime and delinquency. This literature review categorizes these perspectives into five areas, provides a brief overview of each, and analyzes and synthesizes the relevant, elements within each area.
Major psychological theories of crime include the trait theory of personality and theories of psycho-analysis, behaviorism, and cognitive psychology. Psychoanalysis emphasizes motivation and evil human nature, and holds that sexual and aggres-sive instincts are the fundamental causes of crime.
The various theories that make up the psychological approach to explaining crime begin with the assumption that individual differences in personality, biology, or social interactions predispose certain people to criminal acts.
Psychological perspectives and theories on criminal behavior are numerous and distinct. They include, but are not limited to, biological, neurological, cognitive, developmental, personality, and integrated approaches.