Criminal Psychology – The Five Criminal Psychology – The Five Psychological PerspectivesPsychological Perspectives

BehaviourismBehaviourism Emerged through the belief that for Emerged through the belief that for

psychology to be a science it must psychology to be a science it must deal with what is OBSERVABLE and deal with what is OBSERVABLE and MEASURABLE – Human behaviour.MEASURABLE – Human behaviour.

The goal of behaviourism is the The goal of behaviourism is the prediction and control of behaviour.prediction and control of behaviour.

BehaviourismBehaviourism No fundamental distinction between No fundamental distinction between

human and animal behaviour.human and animal behaviour. Conducted experiments on rats, cats, Conducted experiments on rats, cats,

dogs, pigeons, etc.dogs, pigeons, etc. John Watson John Watson

Classical Conditioning Classical Conditioning PAVLOV’S DOGSPAVLOV’S DOGS Developed a technique where dogs’ Developed a technique where dogs’

saliva could be collected in a tube saliva could be collected in a tube outside its cheek – could be easily outside its cheek – could be easily measured.measured.

Discovered dogs salivated before Discovered dogs salivated before seeing food, eg, if they saw feeding seeing food, eg, if they saw feeding bucket or heard staff’s footsteps.bucket or heard staff’s footsteps.

Pavlov’s DogsPavlov’s DogsStage 1Stage 1FoodFood SalivationSalivation((unconditioned stimulus)unconditioned stimulus) (unconditioned(unconditioned response)response)

Stage 2Stage 2BellBell FoodFood SalivationSalivation(Conditioned stimulus) (unconditioned stimulus) (Conditioned stimulus) (unconditioned stimulus)

(unconditioned (unconditioned response)response)

Stage 3Stage 3BellBell Salivation Salivation ((Conditioned stimulus)Conditioned stimulus) (conditioned Response)(conditioned Response)

Operant Conditioning Operant Conditioning (Skinner)(Skinner)

Believed learning more active than Believed learning more active than classical conditioning determined.classical conditioning determined.

Believed behaviour more voluntary- Believed behaviour more voluntary- likelihood of behaviour being likelihood of behaviour being repeated is a function of past repeated is a function of past consequences of behaviour. consequences of behaviour.

Thorndike Box Experiment Thorndike Box Experiment Cats were deprived of food before Cats were deprived of food before

experimentexperiment Each time cat opened door – given Each time cat opened door – given

piece of fish and then put back in box.piece of fish and then put back in box. More cats returned to box the less More cats returned to box the less

time it took them to operate latch.time it took them to operate latch. Learning essentially random – a Learning essentially random – a

gradual reduction in number of errors gradual reduction in number of errors made reduced the escape time.made reduced the escape time.

BehaviourismBehaviourism Popular until 1950s.Popular until 1950s. Responses that bring about pleasure Responses that bring about pleasure

are likely to be repeated.are likely to be repeated. Responses that bring about discomfort Responses that bring about discomfort

are likely not to be repeated.are likely not to be repeated. Cause of criminal behaviour – result of Cause of criminal behaviour – result of

learning maladaptive responses or the learning maladaptive responses or the failure of learning adaptive ones in first failure of learning adaptive ones in first place.place.

Psychoanalytic Psychology Psychoanalytic Psychology Freud - most influential psychologist Freud - most influential psychologist

of all time.of all time. Unconscious mind – central concept – Unconscious mind – central concept –

individuals are unaware of many individuals are unaware of many factors that cause their behaviour factors that cause their behaviour and emotions.and emotions.

Sexual instinct known as the libido.Sexual instinct known as the libido. ID, EGO, SUPEREGO.ID, EGO, SUPEREGO.

Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of Freud’s Psychosexual Stages of DevelopmentDevelopment

Oral phaseOral phase Sadistic anal phaseSadistic anal phase Phallic phasePhallic phase Genital phaseGenital phase Freud believed criminals had Freud believed criminals had

disturbances of the ego which disturbances of the ego which resulted in inability to be honest.resulted in inability to be honest.

Psychodynamic Theories of Psychodynamic Theories of CrimeCrime

Proposed two different models of Proposed two different models of criminal behaviour.criminal behaviour.

Caused by particular mental Caused by particular mental disturbance/illness, neuroses due to disturbance/illness, neuroses due to disruption at stage of psychosexual disruption at stage of psychosexual development, childhood trauma, etc.development, childhood trauma, etc.

Criminal possesses weak conscience.Criminal possesses weak conscience.

Psychodynamic theories of Psychodynamic theories of CrimeCrime

Aichorn (1925) Aichorn (1925) Offenders have underdeveloped ego – Offenders have underdeveloped ego –

caused by absent or problematic caused by absent or problematic attachment with parents in childhood.attachment with parents in childhood.

Two categories of criminal:Two categories of criminal:1.1. Those with fully developed consciences Those with fully developed consciences

but identified with criminal parents.but identified with criminal parents.2.2. Those who had been able to do whatever Those who had been able to do whatever

they liked by over-indulgent parents.they liked by over-indulgent parents.

Humanistic Psychology - Carl Humanistic Psychology - Carl Rogers (1902-1987)Rogers (1902-1987)

Founder of person-centred therapy Founder of person-centred therapy (1947)(1947)

Basic assumptionsBasic assumptions People are naturally trustworthy & People are naturally trustworthy &

goodgood People are able to understand their People are able to understand their

own problems.own problems. People are capable of self-growth.People are capable of self-growth. People are capable of living effective People are capable of living effective

and productive lives.and productive lives.

Positive regardPositive regard Rogers believed that humans NEED:Rogers believed that humans NEED: Positive regardPositive regard Positive self-regardPositive self-regard..

Person centred therapyPerson centred therapy Therapist Therapist mustmust show these three show these three

qualities:qualities: EmpathyEmpathy CongruenceCongruence Unconditional positive regardUnconditional positive regard::

Humanism cont/d Maslow’s Humanism cont/d Maslow’s Hierarchy of NeedsHierarchy of Needs

Biological PerspectivesBiological Perspectives Interested in the physical basis for Interested in the physical basis for

human behaviour. human behaviour. How the functions of the nervous How the functions of the nervous

system, endocrine system, etc affect system, endocrine system, etc affect behaviour and mental processes.behaviour and mental processes.

Biopsychology inc. – neuro-anatomy, Biopsychology inc. – neuro-anatomy, developmental neurobiology, developmental neurobiology, neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, neurochemistry, neuroendocrinology, etc.etc.

Biological PerspectivesBiological Perspectives Includes study of localisation of brain Includes study of localisation of brain

function, sleep studies & physical function, sleep studies & physical changes in brain associated with changes in brain associated with learning, memory, motivation and learning, memory, motivation and stress.stress.

Also relevant to area of head injuries.Also relevant to area of head injuries.

Biological TheoriesBiological Theories Crime – biological theorists might try Crime – biological theorists might try

to identify particular characteristics to identify particular characteristics of offender, eg. Genetic make-up, of offender, eg. Genetic make-up, brain activity, hormonal imbalances, brain activity, hormonal imbalances, etc.etc.

Cognitive PsychologyCognitive Psychology Looks at the mind like a computer.Looks at the mind like a computer. Cognitive processesCognitive processes – our thoughts, – our thoughts,

including ideas, beliefs and mental including ideas, beliefs and mental images.images.

Examines internal mental processes Examines internal mental processes like memory, problem solving, like memory, problem solving, language.language.

Looks at the way people Looks at the way people understand, understand, diagnose diagnose and and solve problemssolve problems..

Cognitive PsychologyCognitive PsychologyWithin criminal psychology v. Within criminal psychology v. important for things such as important for things such as understanding the memory understanding the memory

processes in eyewitness processes in eyewitness testimony.testimony.

Cognitive TherapyCognitive TherapyNegative thinking can trigger certain Negative thinking can trigger certain

health problems – eg anxiety, health problems – eg anxiety, depression, phobias, etc.depression, phobias, etc.

Therapist to help you to understand Therapist to help you to understand your current thought patterns – to your current thought patterns – to identify any “false” ideas or thoughts identify any “false” ideas or thoughts which can trigger your health which can trigger your health problem or make it worse.problem or make it worse.

Behaviour therapyBehaviour therapy Aims to change any unhealthy behaviours.Aims to change any unhealthy behaviours. Eg. Teaches someone to avoid situations Eg. Teaches someone to avoid situations

that can make them anxious, or encourage that can make them anxious, or encourage them to engage in unhealthy behaviour.them to engage in unhealthy behaviour.

Exposure therapy for treatment of Exposure therapy for treatment of phobias. Therapist teaches you to control phobias. Therapist teaches you to control and cope with anxiety, eg deep breathing, and cope with anxiety, eg deep breathing, etc.etc.