Criminality Psychological Theories of Criminal

Criminality

Psychological theories of criminal behavior are useful in understanding and dealing with criminal behavior in society; however, these theories most likely only offer partial explanations for the etiology and remission of criminality. In general, there are three categories of explanations for criminal behavior in modern society: psychological, sociological, and biological theories (Raine, 2002). The three categories of explanations are rather difficult to separate. For instance, psychological theories often encompass both sociological and biological theoretical constructs in their explanations and the other theories often incorporate psychological principles in their paradigms.

In general psychological theories of criminal conduct follow several general principles: (a) the individual is the primary unit of analysis, (B) the major motivational element directing behavior is personality; (C) society defines what is "normal"; (D) criminal behaviors are the result of dysfunctional mental processes that are part of the individual personality; (E) these dysfunctional mental processes have a number of different causes from improper learning to modeling the behavior of inappropriate role models to a combination of genetic and psychological variables; and (F) these resulting criminal behaviors may serve purposes for the individual by fulfilling specific individual psychological needs (Andrews & Hoge, 1999; Mischel, 1968).

The psychology of criminal conduct is useful in understanding the individual contributions to criminal behavior and also can be useful in developing rehabilitation strategies such as reconditioning, designing programs to reinforce the needs of offenders in a manner more consistent with the goals of society, and in some instances predicting the potential for recidivism in repeat offenders (Andrews & Hoge, 1999); however, statistical predictions based on psychological variables are better applied to specific groups of individuals than predictions for a specific individual (Mischel, 1968).

To deny that the psychology of criminal conflict is not useful for understanding and explaining criminal behaviors is to deny one of the three major theoretical models of behavior. However on the other hand, is important to understand that no theoretical paradigm can predict everything or offer answers for everything. Biological models of criminal behavior typically look at such variables as heredity and genetic contributions to criminality (which are significant in many cases), the contribution of neurotransmitters to behavior, and abnormal or different brain structures and their association with behaviors. Biological models offer treatments such as chemical castration for sex offenders where psychological principles of rehabilitation are not especially effective (Raine, 2002). Sociological theories of criminal behavior are more concerned with how the structure of society and culture historically contribute to criminal behavior. This theory takes the point-of-view that criminality is a social construction (Holmes & Holmes, 2008). Understanding the societal and culture contributions to behavior can also be useful. It would be a mistake to deny that biological and sociological contributions are also useful in explaining and dealing with criminal behavior in society.