Criminal Psychology Revision Notes
1. Criminal Psychology Notes
Defining Crime
Criminal behaviour is an act that is against the law. There are many different types of crime.
Criminal behaviour ranges from minor crimes (e.g. motoring offences) to more serious crimes
(e.g. murder)
Offences can be violent, drug-related, acquisitive, sexual or anti-social
Different societies consider different things to be a crime, meaning that crime is often a social
construct. E.g. euthanasia is legal in some countries, but is illegal in the UK.
How societies decide what is criminal behaviour and what is not is often decided by the norms
of the society.
Therefore culture is important in defining criminal and anti-social behaviours
Explanations of why criminal behaviour occurs: Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory (SLT) proposes that we learn all our behaviour from others
SLT starts with role models, who are people we look up to and respect. We go through a
process of identification where we decide we want to be like them and try to copy them. This
is observation and imitation and can be applied to criminal behaviour
According to SLT, we learn through vicarious reinforcement. This is when we see someone
rewarded for their behaviour and so we copy it to get the same rewards
If a behaviour is strengthened through continual reinforcement it becomes internalised. This
means the behaviour becomes ‘a part of’ the person. This can lead to learnt criminal
behaviours.
Criticisms of Social Learning Theory
Social Learning Theory only focuses on the role of nurture, and ignores the role of nature.
Some people have argued that there is a ‘criminal gene’ or that some people are born more
likely to commit crimes than others.
The theory does not explain how criminal behaviour starts in the first place. It doesn’t explain
how the ‘first wave’ of crimes came about.
The theory does not account for people who turn to crime, even though they have not been
exposed to criminal role models.
If SLT is correct, it should be easier to reduce crime. If criminal behaviour is strengthened
through rewards then is should be reduced by receiving punishment or seeing others being
punished. However many people still commit crimes after being punished.
Explanations of why criminal behaviour occurs: Eysenck’s Criminal Personality Theory
Eysenck’s criminal personality theory views criminal behaviour as being more fixed and
suggests that the impulse to behave in a criminal way is something people are born with
Eysenck identified three traits, which are all measured on a scale (i.e. everyone has them in
varying degrees).
Extraversion: people who score highly are out-going, sociable and confident. The opposite
end of the scale is introversion which is where people are more quiet and shy.
Neuroticism: people who score highly on this are anxious, angry and often have mood swings.
The opposite end of the scale is stability which is when people are more calm and even-
tempered.
Psychoticism: people who score highly tend to be impulsive, aggressive and selfish. The
opposite end of the scale is high impulse control.
According to Eysenck, people who score highly on extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism
have a criminal personality and are the most likely to engage in criminal behaviour.
Criminals are often extraverted as people with this trait need stimulation from the environment
often in the form of thrill seeking.
Criminals are often neurotic as they can get stuck in certain patterns of behaviour to relieve
their anxiety.
Criminals are often psychotic as impulsiveness and selfishness are traits linked to crime.
Eysenck argued there is a biological element to criminal behaviour and linked it to the central
nervous system (CNS). According to Eysenck, criminal behaviour is linked to under-arousal of
the CNS (people engage in criminal behaviour to increase arousal)
The reticular activating system (RAS) links the brain and spinal cord and regulates stimuli sent
to the cerebral cortex. Eysenck argued that the cerebral cortex is under-aroused in extraverts
because the RAS restricts stimuli. The cerebral cortex is therefore ‘hungry’ for stimulation
which was be achieved through criminal behaviour
Neuroticism is related to the activity of the autonomic nervous system (ANS) which is
activated during emotion-inducing situations and regulates the activity of the limbic system
(responsible for emotion). Eysenck argued that the ANS becomes over-aroused in neurotics
which leads to high levels of violence.
Eysenck suggested that psychoticism is the result of excess dopaminergic neurons leading to
an over-production of dopamine.
High levels of extraversion and neuroticism makes people harder to condition to conform to
norms. They are also more resistant to early socialisation
Criticisms of Eysenck’s criminal personality theory
The theory ignores individual differences by placing people into broad categories
With such a large range of crimes, it is unlikely that criminals all share a similar personality
The theory is too deterministic as it suggests that people born with certain traits will become
criminals and this is not in their control.
Some say that the concept of psychoticism is not useful and that the trait does not cause
criminal behaviour.
There is not enough emphasis on nurture in the theory
Application: the effects of punishment on reducing criminal/anti-social behaviour
Punishment is a negative consequence which follows a behaviour which reduces the chance
of that behaviour being repeated. According to Social Learning Theory, punishment should
reduce criminal behaviour.
Prisons have been used as punishment for criminals for a long time, by taking away freedom,
rights and privileges.
Fines can also be used as punishment. These are usually used for more minor crimes as a
disincentive to prevent the offence being repeated.
Community service is also used as a punishment. This is when a person has to do unpaid work
in the community to give back. This is often made very obvious to the public to bring shame
and guilt to the person as a psychological punishment.
Application: the role of rehabilitation in reducing criminal/anti-social behaviour
Punishment is not enough to reduce crime, as many people reoffend after getting out of
prison.
Offenders need to unlearn their criminal ways and learn positive behaviours.
Rehabilitation aims to promote pro-social behaviour
Restorative justice involves the offender meeting the victim of the crime to see how their
crime has affected the victim. This helps the offender take responsibility for their actions and
makes them less likely to reoffend.
Positive role models can also be used to rehabilitate. This involves the offender observing pro-
social behaviour in others to imitate themselves.
