Criminal Psych key concepts*

• Types of Crime:

• • Violent
  • Drug-related
  • Acquisitive
  • Sexual
  • Anti-social offences
• Criminal Behaviour as a Social Construct:

• • Deviation from norms
  • Role of culture in defining criminal/anti-social behaviour
• Measurement of Crime:

• • Official statistics
  • Self-report
• Theories/Explanations of Criminal/Anti-Social Behaviour:

• • Social Learning Theory:
    • Identification with role models
    • Observation and imitation
    • Vicarious reinforcement
    • Direct reinforcement and internalisation
    • Criticisms including the nature/nurture debate
  • Eysenck’s Criminal Personality Theory:
    • Extraversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism in relation to criminal behaviour
    • Biological basis of personality
    • Role of central nervous system, brain functions, synapses, and dopamine reward systems
    • Role of autonomic nervous system and limbic system
    • Role of early socialisation and conditioning in children
    • Criticisms including individual differences
• Research Studies:

• • Cooper and Mackie (1986): Study on video games and aggression in children
  • Heaven (1996): Study on delinquency, extroversion, psychoticism, and self-esteem
• Application: The Changing Nature of Punishment:

• • Role of rehabilitation in reducing criminal/anti-social behaviour and increasing pro-social behaviour
  • Restorative justice and use of positive role models
  • Effects of punishment and deterrents in reducing criminal/anti-social behaviour, including prisons, community sentences, and fines.