biological theories criticisms
Post on 13-Feb-2016
85 Views
Preview:
DESCRIPTION
TRANSCRIPT
Biological Theories Criticisms
▪ Ignores some types of crimes▪ White-collar▪ Organized▪ Political crime
▪ Focuses on aggression or antisocial behavior in children and street crime in adults
Policy Implications (1 of 2)
▪ Still fear of ethical problems▪ Biology not necessarily destiny▪ Provide unsound justifications for the control
of minority populations ▪ New eugenics ▪ Gene therapy ▪ Discrimination based on presence of
biological risk indicators
Policy Implications (2 of 2)
▪ The upside? Criminality as a public health problem▪ Prenatal care for at-risk mothers▪ Strengthen environmental counterbalances
for children with biological risk indicators
Psychology and Crime
▪ How does a psychologist or psychiatrist develop and understand the criminal mind?
▪ What does psychology contribute to the study of the criminal mind?
▪ What is the psychological approach to the study of crime?
Psychoanalytic Theory
▪ Sigmund Freud ▪ 1856–1939▪ Psychic Determinism
A CIGAR IS NEVER JUST A CIGAR
Freudian Elements of Personality
▪ Conscious vs. Unconscious Mind▪ Id: “If it feels good, do it!”▪ Superego: conscience
—“Stealing is wrong.” ▪ Ego: psychological
thermostat that regulates the wishes of the id with the social restrictions of the superego
Defense Mechanisms
▪ Used to reduce anxiety REPRESSION RATIONALIZATION DENIAL PROJECTION
Freudian Explanations of Delinquency
▪ Overactive Id▪ Delinquent Superego▪ Delinquent Ego
Crimes with “special meaning” Translating psychoanalysis into rehabilitation?
Works for articulate adult neurotics who can talk out their problems…
Policy Implications of Freudian Theory
▪ Drawbacks▪ Almost impossible to test empirically (Cannot
be directly observed and measured)▪ Still maintains a place in psychology of
criminal behavior Many concepts from Freud used in modern theory
– LOW SELF CONTROL– PRO-CRIMINAL ATTITUDES
Principles of Learning
▪ Three types of learning▪ Classical conditioning▪ Operant conditioning▪ Observational (vicarious) learning
Classical Conditioning
Principles of Learning
▪ Positive reinforcement: increases the target behavior by rewarding the individual
▪ Negative reinforcement: increases the target behavior by removing an unpleasant stimulus
▪ Punishment: reduces the odds of the target behavior being repeated
Principles of Learning
▪ Delinquency tied to parents’ failure to effectively condition their children away from bad behavior
Inconsistent and harsh punishment (Glueck and Glueck).
▪ Effective parenting (monitoring, punishing, and reinforcing behavior)nondeliquent children (Patterson).
▪ Parental behaviors may have few effects on the child’s long-term development (Harris).
Principles of Learning
GERALD PATTERSON AND FRIENDS
Observational Learning
▪ Albert Bandura (Bobo doll experiments): most human learning is not based on trial and error (operant conditioning).
▪ Effects on criminal behaviors are difficult to determine.
Media and Crime
▪ Does media (TV and movies) influence aggression, violence, and criminal behavior?
▪ Conducive to role modeling▪ Perpetrators not punished▪ Targets of violence show little pain▪ Few long-term negative consequences
Some evidence (but still debate)—reducing exposure may reduce aggression
Policy Implications of Behaviorism
▪ Criminals can learn pro-social behaviors to replace criminal actions.▪ Classical Conditioning Aversion therapy▪ Operant Conditioning Token economy
Cognitive Psychology
▪ Humans’ ability to engage in complex thoughts influences behavior.
▪ Cognitions (like behaviors) can be learned.
▪ Focus on:▪ Cognitive structure (how people think)▪ Cognitive content (what people think)
Cognitive Structure
▪ Kohlberg's theory of moral reasoning: humans advance through predictable stages of moral reasoning
▪ Self-control▪ Ability to empathize▪ Ability to anticipate consequences▪ Ability to control anger
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development (1 of 2)
▪ Stage 1▪ Right is blindly obeying those with power and
authority.▪ Emphasis is on avoiding punishment.▪ Interests of others are not considered.
▪ Stage 2▪ Right is furthering one’s own interests.▪ Interests of others are important only as a way to
satisfy self-interests.▪ Stage 3
▪ Moral reasoning is motivated by loyalties to others and a desire to live up to other’s standards.
▪ Stage 4▪ Right is following the rules of society and maintaining
important social institutions (e.g., family, community).
▪ Stage 5▪ Moral decisions are made by weighing individual rights
against legal principles and the common good.▪ Stage 6
▪ Moral decisions are based on universal principles (e.g., human dignity, desire for justice).
▪ Principles are considered across different contexts and are independent of the law.
Kohlberg’s Stages of Moral Development (2 of 2)
Cognitive Content
▪ Rationalizations or denials that support criminal behavior▪ For example, a criminal thinks, “I’m not really
hurting anyone.” Extremely common for sex offenders
▪ Criminals are more likely to express such thoughts Sociologists are often skeptical (time-ordering) Psychologists: NEGATIVE REINFORCEMENT
▪
Policy Implications of Cognitive Psychology
▪ Cognitive theory translates easily into practice. Cognitive skills programs teach offenders
cognitive skills like moral reasoning, anger management, or self-control.
Cognitive restructuring attempts to change the content of an individual’s thoughts.
▪ Combination cognitive-behavioral have track record of success
Theory in Action
▪ Multisystematic therapy (MST)▪ Creator Scott Henggeler and associates▪ Reduces criminal behavior▪ Comprehensive approach▪ Targets many areas for change ▪ Uses many different techniques (not just
cognitive-behavioral programs)
Personality and Crime
▪ Crime and delinquency related to the presence of some personality trait
▪ Personality trait: a characteristic of an individual that is stable over time and across different social circumstances
▪ Personality: the sum of personality traits that define a person
Personality Traits and Crime (1 of 3)
▪ A number of related traits combine to form super factors
▪ Several different models▪ Five-factor model▪ Tellegen’s personality model
▪ Recent studies use the Multidimensional Personality Questionnaire (MPQ)
Personality Traits and Crime (2 of 3)
▪ Personality dimensions in the MPQ▪ Constraint
▪ Traditionalism▪ Harm avoidance▪ Control
▪ Negative emotionality▪ Aggression▪ Alienation▪ Stress reaction
Personality Traits and Crime (3 of 3)
▪ Personality dimensions in the MPQ▪ Positive emotionality
▪ Achievement▪ Social potency▪ Well-being▪ Social closeness
Criminal Personality:The Psychopath
▪ A distinct “criminal personality”▪ One of the oldest concepts in criminology
“MORAL INSANITY”
Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD) from DSM-IV
1. Disregard for the rights of others. At least three of the following:
behaves in a way that is grounds for arrest, deceitful and manipulative, impulsive, aggressive, irresponsible, lack of remorse
2. Age 18 or older3. A history of child conduct disorder4. Antisocial behavior not a product of
schizophrenic episode
“Psychopath” is narrower concept
Hervey Cleckley’s (1957) The Mask of Sanity
Key features: Manipulative, Superficial charm, Above-average intelligence, Absence of psychotic symptoms, Absence of anxiety, Lack of remorse, Failure to learn from experience, Egocentric, Lack of emotional depth
Other Characteristics: Trivial Sex life, Unreliable, Failure to follow a life plan, Untruthful, Suicide attempts rarely genuine, Impulsive, Antisocial behavior
HARE PCL
The Psychopathy Checklist Interview Measures different aspects of psychopathy
(each scored on a 0-2 scale) Has produced very interesting studies
(difference between psychopath and non-psychopath inmates)
Policy Implications of Personality Theory
▪ Personality traits consistently predict delinquency and crime.
▪ Criticisms: Personality traits are often portrayed as impossible
to change (See, Psychopathy) What causes personality traits?
Intelligence and Crime
▪ “Feeblemindedness” was once thought to be a cause of crime.
▪ What exactly is IQ and how does it relate to criminal behavior?
A Brief History of Intelligence Testing
▪ Binet started out like his peers: Measuring people’s skull size Not much difference—worried about bias in the tests Developed a “hodgepodge” of tests measure identify
learning disabled children Not meant to be a measuring device for intelligence in
“normal” students
Translated to English, used to identify “morons” and “low grade defectives” as part of eugenics
IQ and Crime
▪ There is an IQ gap of 8–10 points between criminals and noncriminals, even when statistically controlled for race and social class.
▪ IQ is not a very strong indicator of criminal behavior. But, it does consistently predict
IQ and Crime
▪ Travis Hirschi and Michael Hindelang▪ The Bell Curve▪Direct effect
▪ Most criminologists find evidence of indirect effects
IQ School, Peers, etc. Crime
▪ The common emphasis of all psychological theories is on the individual.
▪ Modern Theory LEARNING COGNITION and IQ PERSONALITY
▪ Many psychological theories translate well into treatment programs.
Conclusion
top related