KRM 310 PSYCHOCRIMINOLOGY ©WM Moagi
UNIT 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL BEHAVIOUR
Just-world hypothesis
• It`s a variety of proposed and tested hypothesis which identifies people looking at their scale
score to favour capital punishment and their non-support towards social programs.
TRACK OF A JUST-WORLD HYPOTHESIS
Beliefs in General Just-world Believe that the world is just & people get what they deserve
▪ Burglary deserves a severe penalty & victims didn’t protect their property.
▪ If a spouse is beaten, she proposed the beating.
Beliefs in Personal Just-world Their beliefs are problematic, less associated with others & derogation to victim.
They believe that ‘they usually get what they deserve’
Adaptive helping in coping with a dire circumstance in one`s life.
▪ Prisoner ended up in prison and sees it as where he belongs.
“Scientific theory” of crime
• It`s a set of interrelated concepts, definitions and prepositions presenting a systematic
phenomenon.
• It explains and connect social, economic, and psychological variables to crime.
• Theory verification is a process of testing theory.
• Theory falsification is the end result of theory testing proposition not verified.
“Model” in Criminology theory
• It`s a graphic representation of a theory designed to enhance its understanding.
Classical Theory Theory of human behaviour that emphasizes free will as a hallmark/ core.
Individuals are their own masters of their fate, free will & freedom of choice.
▪ Elizabeth thinks of stealing.
Deterrence Theory Modern version of classical theory that proposes that people will avoid
committing crime if punishment of committing crime is great enough.
Even if people are not deterred by getting caught or being sentenced, they
will be punished because crime is an expression of their will.
▪ Jay doesn’t participate in crime due to the risk of being caught.
Positivist Theory Theory aligning with the idea of determinism.
Free will is not explanation for crime.
Prior influence of criminals influences their criminality.
▪ E.g., Sam commits crime due to poverty & education failure.
, KRM 310 PSYCHOCRIMINOLOGY ©WM Moagi
Theoretical Perspectives on Human Nature
Conformity Humans are good people willing to do the right thing (positive psychology).
Humans are Influenced by values and attitudes of society.
• Strain theory (Merton)
• General Strain (Agnew).
Nonconformist Humans are undisciplined, individual`s social ties are weak.
Humans are innated controlled by society, lacks self-control and not at fault.
• Social control theory (Hirschi), Biological theories of crime,
• General theory of crime (Hirschi & Gottfredson)
Social learning Humans are born neutral, & their behaviour is learned through social interactions with other people.
Change in humans affect human`s criminality.
• Social learning theory
• Differential association (Bandura & Sutherland) & Social learning theory (Rotter, Bandura).
Disciplinary Perspectives in Criminology
• Criminology = The multidisciplinary study of crime
3 Disciplinary Perspective in Criminology
Sociological Criminology It examines the relationship of demographic & group variable & crime.
• Age, race, gender, status, etc.
Focuses on the structure of society & culture of group & they influence crime
• Unemployment, disorganisation, poor infrastructure, illegal activities.
Disciplinarily Influenced by Sociology
Psychological Criminology Focuses on individual`s factors lead to acquisition and maintenance of crime.
It looks at the scientific behaviour, emotional, psycho, and mental process of offender.
Disciplinarily Influenced by Psychology.
• Cognitive Approach
▪ It`s internal process that enables humans to imagine, reason & evaluate.
▪ Attitudes, beliefs, values, etc.
▪ It involves prejudice & cognitive distortion believing that victims deserve it.
▪ E.g., Hate Crime or Bias Crime, Serial rapist
• Biological/Neurological Approach
▪ Biological, genetic and neuro related issues can cause aggression.
▪ E.g., Trauma.
• Developmental approach
▪ Examines the change & influence in people`s lifetime contributing to crime.
▪ E.g., Poor nutrition, loss of parent, academic failure, or inadequate housing.
• Dispositions or Traits; Profiling
▪ Examines certain behaviour pattern in humans(traits).
▪ E.g., Extrovert, Introvert, Psychopathic behaviours.
Psychiatric Criminology focuses on individual aspects of behaviour (internal forces & unconscious drives).
Examines the relation between psychoneurological determinants and the society.
Disciplinarily Influenced by Psychiatry
▪ Ego can drive for crime & results from use of drugs, trauma.
Psychology (1 year internship & focus on cognitive, developmental & neuro)
Psychiatry (4 years & must 1ST earn MD/ DO & Focus on diagnosis in forensic settings)
