Criminal Psychology

positive punishment

receiving something unpleasant for a behaviour, so we do not do it again

negative punishment

removing something pleasant so we do not repeat the behaviour again

primary reinforcer

a reinforcer that satisfies a biological need

secondary reinforcer

a reinforcer of no survival value

operant conditioning

learning from the consequences of actions

positive reinforcement

receiving something pleasant for a behaviour, so we repeat it

negative reinforcement

the avoidance of something unpleasant, so we do it again

social learning theory

behaviour is learned through the observation and imitation of role models

identification

temporarily adopting the behaviour of a role model or group

monozygotic twins

twins that are genetically identical

dizygotic twins

twins that are not genetically identical

extraversion

outgoing, sociable

introversion

reserved, calm, quiet

unstable neuroticism

over-reactive in stressful situations, overemotional and anxious

stable neuroticism

unreactive in stressful situations and emotionally unaffected

psychoticism

cold, lacks empathy, antisocial and can be aggressive

holism

the theory of explaining something as a whole

recidivism

when an offender is punished for their crime but commits another crime when released

humanitarian

a concern with the welfare of humans

restorative justice

a process used to help a victim recover and make an offender understand the impact of their crime

token economy programme

prisoners collect tokens that can be exchanged for privileges

anger management programme

cognitive behavioural treatment for violent offenders to help them control their anger