History and Culture

Avoid Presentism

Uncritical adherence to present-day attitudes, interpreting past events in modern values.

Biological Theories of Criminal Behaviour

Focus on biological factors as determinants of criminality.

Cesare Lombroso

1876 - Proposed that criminality is inherited and identifiable through physical traits.

Francis Galton

1879 - Introduced facial composites to identify characteristics of criminals.

R v. Hadfield (1800)

James Hadfield acquitted due to insanity after attempting to murder King George III.

R v. McNaughten (1843)

Established the McNaughten Rule for legal insanity.

McNaughten Rule

Not criminally responsible if unable to know the nature of the act or that it was wrong.

Biological Positivism

The belief that criminality can be identified through biological characteristics.

Physical Stigmata

Physical traits identified by Lombroso used to indicate 'born criminals'.

Galton's Face of Crime

Composite photographs of criminals to identify a prototypical criminal appearance.

Lombroso's Social Darwinism

Application of Darwinian ideas to support stereotypes and eugenics movements.

Wilhelm Wundt

Founder of psychology; established the first psychology lab in 1890.

Hugo Munsterberg

Controversial psychologist who promoted the use of psychology in legal settings.

Constitutional Approach (Sheldon 1942)

Theory linking body types with personality characteristics and likelihood of delinquency.

Endomorph

Body type characterized by being pleasure loving and dependent.

Mesomorph

Body type associated with aggression and physical activity.

Ectomorph

Body type characterized by withdrawing and being unsociable.

XYY Syndrome

Chromosomal abnormality associated with increased aggression in males.

Criminal Personality (Eysenck 1977)

Suggests heredity and environment together influence criminal behavior.

Twin Studies

Research showing higher concordance rates of criminal behavior in identical twins.

Adoption Studies

Research indicating children of criminal biological parents are more likely to be criminals.

Social Factors in Criminality

Consideration of societal influences on criminal behavior.

Criminal Profiling

Analyzing the behavior and traits of criminals to predict and analyze criminal actions.

Forensic Psychology

Field combining psychology and law, focusing on criminal behavior and legal processes.

Czech Republic Forensic Psychology

Growth in forensic psychology roles and research since the 1990s.

India's Forensic Psychology

Need for more forensic psychologists in criminal justice and investigations.

Public Anxiety and Crime

The impact of public perception and media on crime and policing practices.

Homicide Patterns

Variances in homicide rates and types of murders across different regions.

Crime Data Analysis

Gathering and analyzing crime statistics to inform legal and psychological practices.

Profile of Criminals

Understanding common characteristics and backgrounds of different types of criminals.

Eysenck's Personality Theory

The theory that identifies personality traits influencing criminal behavior.

Psychological Testing

Methods used to assess psychological attributes relevant to criminal behavior.

Historical Cases in Forensic Psychology

Notable legal cases that influenced the development of forensic psychology.

Victimology

The study of victims and their relationships with offenders.

Impact of Childhood on Criminal Behavior

Influence of early life experiences and traumas on future criminality.

Recidivism

The tendency of a convicted criminal to reoffend.

Restorative Justice

A system of criminal justice that focuses on rehabilitation of offenders through reconciliation.

False Confessions

Involuntary admissions of guilt, often due to stress or coercion during interrogation.

Criminal Justice System

The set of legal and social institutions aimed at controlling crime.

Cybercrime

Crimes committed via the internet or involving computer systems.