Theories of Criminal Behaviour

what is Andrews and Bontas Definition of Criminal behaviour

Acts that are injurious and prohibited under the law and render the actor subject to intervention by justice professionals

Differential Association

A criminological theory of crime

Criminal behaviour is learned in interaction with others. The psychology of action is based on a person’s immediate situation.

Decisions are influenced by what a person has learnt; social learning theory

A bridge between criminological and psychological theories

Fundamental causal chain

What is the fundamental causal chain?

In the differential association theory of crime

states that the immediate situation (facilitators, inhibitors and stressors) > signalled outcomes favourable to criminal activity > criminal acts

Crime increases if exposed to more social acceptance of crime than opposition

What are the psychological theories of crime?

Biological (importance of inheretence, hormones (testosterone), cortical arousal, stress, self regulation, substances, brain injury. - may provide predispositions

Trait: predispositions i.e., low conscientiousness, low agreeableness linked to crime, heritable

Psychodynamic: Freud, human behaviour as a function of the ID, Ego, Superego and situation of action

Gluek and Gluek: weak internal controls + temperamental predispositions

Recklass: Inner containment - 5 indicators. positive self concept, commitment, seeking realisitc objectives, high tolerance for frustration, identification with lawfulness

Hirschis social control: 4 moral ties, attachment, commitment, involvement, belief in validity of the law

• Updates: self control as major constuct

• 1. not delay gratification 2. lack dilligence and persistence, 3. adventurous, 4. unstable commitments, 5. minimal skill, 6. indifference to others

Radical behavioural theory

Sociocultural: effects of peers, family, community

Humanistic/ existential: free choice and personal responsibility

Social learning / cognitive-behavioural (bandura

What are the Key theories that influenced Andrews and Bonta GPCL model

Differential association

Psychodynamic

Radical behavioural theory

Social learning / Cognitive behavioural

What are Criminological theories of crime?

Anomie / strain theory: inovative means of pursuing blocked goals

Subculture: Cohen and miller. Crime = conformity to norms and values in opposition to mainstream society

Labelling: Beca. Crime = Self fufilling prophecy, primary vs secondary deviance - focus on maintenance of criminality

Conflict: Marx. Result of tensions between working class and exploitative ruling class.

Differential association: criminal behaviour is learnt

What is freuds psychodynamic theory

Psychological theory of criminal behaviour.

Human behaviour as a function of:

• Id, Ego, Superego and situation of action

• all have the same drives for crime, those who engage lack a control mechanism

• not about differences in motivation but rather differences in external realities and ability to control egos

• motivators for all behaviour reflect sexual and aggressive forces of the Id

What is radical behavioural theory

Psychological theory of crime

Crime influenced by contingencys in environment

• how does environment punish / reinforce or act neutrally towards things - commit crimes because of reinforcement

Features strongly in Andrews and Bonta

What is social learning / cognitive behavioural model

Bandura.

Most behaviour is learned and then coded in memory which serves to guide our action.

Prominant in Andrews and bonta

What does PCC stand for?

Psychology of criminal conduct

What does the PCC posit

• based on individual differences, multifactorial

• provides a general set of assumptions for explanation and modification of criminal conduct

Assumptions

• individuals vary in their predisposition to commit criminal acts

• need to take into account individual differences when coming up with rehabilitation plans

Assumptions

• crime caused by distinct patterns of social and psychological factors that increase the chances an individual will break the law. - once identified they can be targeted

What does GPCSL stand for

General personality and cognitive social learning perspective

What sort of perspective is the GPCSL?

Primarily a personality and social learning perspective, draws heabily on radical behaviourism and cog soc learning theory

What are the central 8

Best-established risk factors for criminality - included in GPCSL

• Procriminal attitudes

• Procriminal associates

• Criminal history

• antisocial personality pattern (imulse, poor prob. solving, hostility)

• family / marital relationships and expectations

• school / work performance / satisfaction

• substance abuse

• leisure and recreation

what does the GPCSL posit

Multifactorial perspective of criminal behaviour

Criminal behaviour is acquired and maintained through a combination of operant, classical conditioning and observational learning (radical behaviourist)

Fundamental principle that factors responsible for functioning differences are the rewards and costs for particular acts

Crime is understood based on whether personal, interpersonal, and community supports for human behaviour are favourable or unfavourable to crime - these factors need to be altered in treatment otherwise, change is unlikely

Immediate sits > signalled outcomes to crime > criminal acts

If signalled rewards and costs are decided as favourable based on their experience, then crime will be committed ( a bunch of things play into this)

What are the psychologically meaningful risk factors of sexual reoffending (supported)

Specific to sexual offending

• sexual preoccupation

• any deviant sexual interest

• offence supportive attitudes

• emotional congruence with children

• lack of adult relationships

General crime risk factors also apply

• Impulsivity

• general self regulation problems

• poor problem solving

• resistance to rules

• Grievance / hostility

• negative social influences

“promising” psychologically meaningful risk factors for sexual offending

Hostility towards women*

Machiavellianism (cunning)

Sexualised coping*

Externalised coping*

*now supported with additional research

Protective factors for sexual reoffending

Much less evidence than risk

positive social support the only dynamic protective factor

What are the single factor theories of sexual crime

Deviant sexual preferences: used to be the key risk factor

Aquisition theories:

• basic learning principles, paired sexual arousal with child, abuse histories, vicarious learning through pornography. Treatment focus on reducing associative learning

• Neurobiology: modulate and moderate goal motivated behaviour

Intimacy deficts: attachment styles in adulthood, model of self and others

What are the reconditioning techniques used for deviant sexual preference risk factor

Aversive conditioning: pair deviant fantasy with aversive stimuli

Covert sensitisation: imagined target behaviour with imagined unpleasant outcome

Masturbatory reconditioning: thematic shift > deviant theme and then switch to non-deviant theme before orgasm - not well supported

Directed masturbation: masturbate solely to non-deviant themes

Verbal satiation: verbalise fantasies in absence of reinforcement

Programs that incorporate arousal reconditioning have lower reoffence rates.

What are the four adult attachments for intimacy deficit theory

Secure = Positive view of self, positive view of others

Dismissing = self positive, others negative - one night stands - hostility and violent offending

Preoccupied = self negative, other positive = possessive, unmet sexual needs - sexualise attachment relationships , engage in contact with children

unresolved / disorganised = self + others negative; seek impersonal sex - use sexual offending as one way to gain control + regulate negative emotions

Insecure adult attachments relate to different sexual offending

What are some multifactorial theories of offending

Finkelhors precondition model: acknowledges complexity + encorporates situaltional and contextual variables. Individualised treatment

Ward and Siegerts Pathways: theory knitting approach

Ward and Beech, integrated theory of sexual offending: Broad view, incorporates biological, ecological and their interaction

Setos motivational-facilitation model: identifies primary motivations for sexual offending, as well as state and trait factors that facilitate acting on these.

Finkelhors Precondition Model

Consistent underlying factors: Emotional satisfaction, sexually aroused by children, unable to meet sexual needs appropriately, disinhibited

Four preconditions

1. motivation to sexually abuse

   1. emotional congruence

   2. sexual arousal

   3. blockage

2. Overcoming internal inhibitors

   1. i.e., intoxication, poor impulse control, senility, psychosis

   2. Alcohol present for like 40

3. Overcoming external inhibitors

   1. garnering caregiver trust

   2. child alone

   3. limited sup.

   4. lack of social supports

4. Overcoming victim resistance

   1. gifts

   2. gradual sexual desensitisation

   3. encouraging

   4. emotional dependence

   5. threats

What are ward and Seigerts five pathways

1. Intimacy deficits

2. Deviant sexual scripts

3. Emotional dysregulation

4. Antisocial Cognitions

5. Multiple dysfunctional mechanisms

Each pathway associated with different psyc / behavioural profiles, separate etiologies

All stem from common clusters (deviant sexual arousal, intimacy deficits, innapropriate emotions and cognitive distortions) that lead to vulnerability

Also take into account family environmet, learning history, biological factors, cultural issues

Ward and seigerts intimacy deficit pathway

normal sexual scripts

insecure attachment > problems with adult relationships

Maladaptive coping strategy = unsuccessful adult relationships = lonely

Substitutes child as surrogate partner

Ward and seigerts Deviant sexual scripts pathway

Distorted scripts interact with dysfunctional relationship schema

premature sexualisation

Sex / intimacy confusion

Vulnerability > sexual need

Relationships percieved in sexual terms

Periods of rejection / unsatisfying relationships

Ward and seigert’s emotional dysregulation pathway

normal scripts

Problems with emotional regulation

early established link with sex and emotional wellbeing

unable to utilise social support

increased anger and dysregulation

child used to satisfy need and punish partner

Ward and seigerts antisocial cognitions pathway

normal sexual scripts

procriminal attitudes/beliefs

patriarchal attitudes and sense of own superiority

general antisocial tendency

disregard of social norms re children and sex

exploit opportunities to self gratify

Ward and seigerts multiple dysfunctional mechanisms pathway

distorted scripts

idealised realtionships

dysfunctional ideas about childrens sexuality

deviant sexual arousal

What does ward and beech ITSO model posit

Brain development and social learning interact to establish psychological functioning

Functioning may be compromised in some way (genes, adversity), causing difficulties with adaptive functioning, leading to problematic functioning and clinical symptomatology

sexual offending can result

consequences of offending can serve to maintain and or escalate further harmful sexual behaviour

Define Setos motivational-facilitation model

identifies primary motivations for sexual offences

as well as trait / state factors that facilitate acting when their are opportunities

influenced by finkelhor and self control based general theory of crime

Define motivation in Setos M-F model

Motivation is a process that energises and directs behaviour can influence other psychological phenomena but is distinct

3 primary sexual motivations:

1. paraphilias

2. high sex drive

3. intense mating effort

Define facilitation Setos M-F model

Factors that overcome any trait or state inhibitions against acting upon motivatiors

State: Negative affect, alcohol, high sexual arousal

Trait: self reg problems, hostile masculinity

Situational factors: state facilitation factors that exist outside of the person and interact with personal faciliation factors - sexual crimes cannot occur without opportunity