Essay Compare Contrast 3 Psychological Approaches To The Study Of Criminal Behaviour
Compare and contrast 3 psychological approaches to the study of criminal behaviour
Tim Booth
Crime has been defined as 'acts attracting legal punishment' (Blackburn, 1993; p.5) and it can fall within numerous legal categories, ranging from crimes against persons, against property, white collar crimes and so on. However, offences such as
'moral crime', where no law has been broken, also need to be considered, especially when studying the cause and prevention through psychology. Just as the types of crime can vary, so can the psychological approach used to study it. Here the distinctions between three of the main perspectives adopted; Psychodynamic,
Behavioural and Biological, will be examined to identify where they vary or overlap.
The Biological approach came to prominence when 'Cesare Lomboso' published his theories of criminal behaviour in 1876 (L’uomo Deliquente) suggesting that people inherited criminal tendencies rather than developed them. His ‘atavistic’ theory stated that criminal types could be identified by specific physical traits that were throw backs to primitive times. This was added to by American psychologist Dr William
Sheldon, who developed his Somatotypes theory (1949) identifying that out of three main body shapes, a person who had one shape in particular (mesomorpic muscular) was more likely to lean towards criminal behaviour (Sammons,
Physiological theories of offending) . Although this concept is considered flawed today, misconceptions of physical stereotypes amongst the public are still common, largely fuelled by media portrayal. Peter Ainsworth (‘Psychology and Crime: Myths and Reality, 2000) states that actors are chosen to portray the criminal roles because they “conform to the stereotype”.
The more modern biological perspective has moved on from the earlier physiological theories and instead focuses on chemical, neurological and genetic characteristics, studying medical conditions such as brain damage, hypoglycaemia, drug and alcohol
Tim Booth
Crime has been defined as 'acts attracting legal punishment' (Blackburn, 1993; p.5) and it can fall within numerous legal categories, ranging from crimes against persons, against property, white collar crimes and so on. However, offences such as
'moral crime', where no law has been broken, also need to be considered, especially when studying the cause and prevention through psychology. Just as the types of crime can vary, so can the psychological approach used to study it. Here the distinctions between three of the main perspectives adopted; Psychodynamic,
Behavioural and Biological, will be examined to identify where they vary or overlap.
The Biological approach came to prominence when 'Cesare Lomboso' published his theories of criminal behaviour in 1876 (L’uomo Deliquente) suggesting that people inherited criminal tendencies rather than developed them. His ‘atavistic’ theory stated that criminal types could be identified by specific physical traits that were throw backs to primitive times. This was added to by American psychologist Dr William
Sheldon, who developed his Somatotypes theory (1949) identifying that out of three main body shapes, a person who had one shape in particular (mesomorpic muscular) was more likely to lean towards criminal behaviour (Sammons,
Physiological theories of offending) . Although this concept is considered flawed today, misconceptions of physical stereotypes amongst the public are still common, largely fuelled by media portrayal. Peter Ainsworth (‘Psychology and Crime: Myths and Reality, 2000) states that actors are chosen to portray the criminal roles because they “conform to the stereotype”.
The more modern biological perspective has moved on from the earlier physiological theories and instead focuses on chemical, neurological and genetic characteristics, studying medical conditions such as brain damage, hypoglycaemia, drug and alcohol
References: Blackburn, R. (1993) The Psychology of Criminal Conduct: Theory, Research and Practice. Heer, J. (2008). The Caped Crusader. Available at: http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/culturebox/2008/04/the_caped_crusader.html. Accessed on 04.10.14 McLeod, S.A (2007)