Psychological Development of criminal behaviour

Actus Reus

The Latin term for guilty act. Refers to the external conduct of an individual

Mens Rea

Refers to the internal state of mind of an individual. The person must exhibit a guilty or wrongful state of mind to be applied

Crime

The intentional commission of an act deemed socially harmful or dangerous and specifically defined by common agreements like laws

Development Criminal Psychology

The science that seeks to understand the ways in which people change and stay the same as they grow older when it comes to criminal behaviour

Roles of Developmental Criminal Psychologists

Identify the common stages of life that everyone experiences, describe the changes that all humans undergo throughout their lives, focus on the life trajectories of criminals

Cumulative Risk Model

The accumulation of risk factors in the absence of protective factors, which results in negative behavioural outcomes

Developmental Cascade Model

Similar to the Cumulative Risk Model, but it adds that the risk factors interact with one another

Erikson’s Psychosocial Development Theory

Emphasizes the role of social forces on human development

Stage 1 of Psychosocial Development

Ranges from birth to 18 months of age. Compares the notions of trusting and mistrusting behaviour of an infant. Positive outcomes include an optimistic and trusting attitude towards the world. Negative outcomes include distrusting behaviour towards the caregivers and an insecure personality

Stage 2 of Psychosocial Development

Ranges from 18 months to 3 years of age. Compares the notions of autonomy and shame and doubt in a toddler. Positive outcomes include self-sufficiency and negative outcomes include self-doubt and shame

Stage 3 of Psychosocial Development

Ranges from 3 to 6 years of age. Compares the notions of initiative and guilt in a child. Positive outcomes include a sense of initiative and ambition. Negative outcomes include being overly dependent on others, feelings of shame, and guilt

Stage 3 of Psychosocial Development is Key Because…

A sense of guilt is necessary although too much is damaging. Guilt prevents children (and adults) from being manipulative and egocentric

Insecure resistant attachment style

The child is in distress while separated from their caregiver, but clingy and rejecting upon reunion. The child feels angry and confused due to a fear of abandonment

Insecure avoidant attachment style

The child is unconcerned with the departure of the caregiver and unresponsive upon reunion. The child feels unloved and rejected, so they do not portray any feelings of sadness upon reunion with the caregiver, as they do not expect to be comforted

Disorganized/Disoriented attachment style

It is a combination of resistant and avoidant attachment styles. The child feels confused, as the caregiver is a source of comfort and fear

Insecure attachment styles and antisocial behaviour/criminality

As adults, the individual will not trust others and will believe that close and affectionate bonds aren’t enduring. If the individual has grown exhibiting avoidant attachment, they will find it difficult to form close relationships. If the individual has grown exhibiting resistant attachment, they will be obsessive and preoccupied with their partner

Disorganized attachment style and criminality

As adults, the individual will be more egocentric than other attachment styles. They will avoid intimacy out of disinterest and not out of fear. There is also a possibility that they will suffer from mental illness

Acceptance/responsiveness parenting dimension

Refers to the amount of support and affection a parent displays

Demandingness/control parental dimension

Refers to the amount of restriction parents place on their children

Authoritative parenting

These parents will exhibit high levels of warmth and control towards their children. They will be controlling yet flexible, warm and nurturing, and will use inductive discipline

Authoritarian parenting

Classic strict parents. Exhibit low levels of warmth and high levels of control. They will use power assertion and love withdrawal as means to control their child’s behaviour via emotional manipulation or physical violence

Neglectful parenting

Exhibit low levels of warmth and control. They are indifferent to their children’s behaviours and could be linked to insecure attachment. It is the most detrimental parenting style

Permissive parenting and criminality

Their children will often lack social skills. They will grow to be impulsive, aggressive, immature, self-centred, and are more likely to abuse drugs

Authoritarian parenting and criminality

The child will grow with poor social skills and is more likely to rebel due to the many restrictions put on them. They will be self-absorbed and are more likely to be violent and abuse drugs

Neglectful parenting and criminality

The child will adopt antisocial attitudes and exhibit inappropriate behaviours like bullying and teasing

Life-course persistent offenders (LCP)

Will begin showing antisocial behaviour very early in life and will continue this behaviour into adulthood. These individuals become entrapped in a deviant lifestyle early on and are embedded in social contexts that increase their risk

Adolescent-limited offenders (AL)

These individuals begin offending during adolescence and stop at around 18 years old. They do not show early, persistent antisocial behaviour. Comprised of a majority of delinquents. They engage in behaviours that symbolize adult privilege and autonomy from parental control like drug abuse and status offenses

Status offenses

Crimes that depend on the age of the individual, like running away from home or underage drinking

Attention-Deficit Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD)

Chronic neurological condition for which the main symptoms are hyperactivity, impulsivity and inattention. It must cause impairment in 2 or more settings and must be diagnosed before age 12

Hyperactivity

Includes restlessness, fidgeting when sitting, excessive talking and climbing/running in inappropriate places

Impulsivity

Includes blurting out answers in class and interrupting others

Conduct Disorder (CD)

A repetitive and persistent pattern of aggressive and disobedient (rule-breaking) behaviour and disregard for the basic rights of others. Main symptoms include aggression towards people and animals, destruction of property, deceitfulness or theft and serious violations of rules