Criminal Psychology Knowledge Organiser

These flashcards cover various theories and concepts related to criminal psychology, focusing on learning theories, biological explanations, personality traits, recidivism, and rehabilitation treatments.

Positive reinforcement

Adding a reward to increase likelihood of a behaviour being repeated

Negative reinforcement

Removing an unpleasant consequence to increase likelihood of a behaviour being repeated

What is a primary reinforcer

Meets a biological need, such as food or water.

What is a secondary reinforcer?

Does not meet a biological need.

What does Social Learning Theory propose?

Behavior is learned through observing and imitating role models.

What is vicarious reinforcement?

Occurs when we copy someone else's behavior after seeing them rewarded.

Strengths of SocialLearningTheory

Evidence from Bandura supports it such as Banduras Doll Study

Weaknesses of SocialLearningTheory

It cannot explain all types of crime, such as murder.

Evidence that supports genetic explanations of criminality

35% of identical twins were both criminals.

Findings Medick's study that explain understanding biological explanations of crime?

21% of adopted children with a criminal biological father committed crime themselves.

Personality traits that Eysenck's theory associate with criminal behavior?

High levels of neuroticism, extraversion, and psychoticism increase the likelihood of committing crime.

Psychoticism definition

Cold, lack of empathy

Neuroticism definition

Overreact in stressful situations

Extroversion definition

Outgoing and sensation seeking

What is recidivism?

Recidivism occurs when an offender is punished but continues to commit more crime.

Strength of prison as punishment

Public safety as offenders are incarcerated.

Weakness of prison as a punishment

25% reoffend within the first year after release.

What is community sentencing?

Community sentencing allows offenders to serve their sentence while contributing to the community.

Strengths of restorative justice?

Reduces recidivism by 14%.

Weakness of restorative justice

It is time-consuming and expensive.

Bandura's 1961 study investigate?

Bandura's study explored whether children would imitate aggression.

Findings of Bandura study

• More imitation of aggression than no aggression

• Boys are more likely to copy male model

Strength of Bandura study

Controlled environment which make it reliable and increases internal validity

Weakness of Banduras study

Artificial environment so it could have demand characteristics and lower ecological validity

What were the findings of Charlton's study on TV's effect on children's behavior?

Charlton found little effect of TV on antisocial behavior; some prosocial behaviors declined.

What is a token economy program?

Rewards prisoners with tokens for prosocial behaviors that can be exchanged for privileges.

Strength of token economy programme

It is cheap and can be run by prism staff with no extra training making it easy to implement in prisons

Weakness of token economy programme

It doesn’t reduce reoffending as tokens aren’t given in real life

Strengths of anger management programs?

Supported by research showing reduced reoffending

Weakness of anger management programmes

Only effective if offenders are highly motivated.

Bandura et al method

36 boys, 36 girls (3-5 years old)

Aggressive male + female, Non aggressive male +

female

Criminal psychology definition

Study of why people commit crime, how criminals think/behave, and how crime can be reduced.

Frontal lobe definition

Part of the brain that controls behaviour, decision-making and self-control.

Outcome of lobe damage

can cause impulsivity, aggression and poor decision-making.

Neurotransmitters

Chemical messengers that send signals between brain cells.

Serotonin definition

A neurotransmitter that regulates mood and behaviour. Low levels = aggression and impulsivity.

Modelling definition

paying attention to a role model, remembering then repeating their behaviour

Operant conditioning

Learning through consequences

Hormone linked to aggression

Testosterone