Outline and Discuss in Detail the Various Theories Used by Psychologists to Explain Criminal Behaviour. by Applying Evidence to Support Your Argument, How Relevant Do You Consider These to Be?

Each of these theories had led to many new theories used today, such as the Rational Choice theory, Biosocial and Psychological Theory, Critical Theory, Cultural Deviance Theory, Life Course Theory, and many more. The one thing in common with every theory is that they all explain at least one behavioral factor that leads to crime. Today, all these theories, and more, are researched and taken into account when trying to understand why a criminal does what they do.

I believe the theory that best explains why crime happens is the psychoanalytic perspective. I believe this is the best theory because it focuses more on the wants and acts of the criminal rather an their personality or lack of control. The psychoanalytic perspective more accurately describes a reason to why people commit crimes. Not all individuals could be identified from a personality trait or low levels of self control. Therefore, the psychoanalytic perspective would give the best explanation to why crime happens.

(Torrence, 2016) "The psychological theory uses the biology of the brain to explain the intelligence, in large measures, which determines an individual’s ability to control or restrain their impulses; therefore, most crime is caused by individuals unable to control their impulses" (Bohm & Vogel, 2011, p. 53). The psychological theory assumes that crimes are the result of abnormal, dysfunctional, or inappropriate mental processes within the personality of the individual. (Seiken, 2016) "Therefore, it is believed that criminal behavior may be purposeful for the individual because it addresses individual felt needs" (Torrence, 2016, para. 27).

Psychological theories attempt to look deep into the mind of the individual Akers et al., (2013). Psychological theories cover a broad range of approaches as to why crime is committed and what the causal factors are. Lam, Salkovskis and Warwick (2005) support this and found psychological theories refers to psychological reactions to stressors, negative beliefs and meanings and feedback loops, focused on information processing and the mind.

First, psychological theory suggests that a person’s environment and past can influence their ability and desire to commit crime while biological theory suggest a person’s DNA makeup could influence their ability to commit crime. “Biological theories within the field of criminology attempt to explain behaviors contrary to societal expectations through examination of

There are various theories within the biological explanation as to why individuals commit criminal behaviour, these include:

There are many reasons as to why someone may commit crimes. No two people are exactly alike so I don’t believe there is a “one size fits all” theory of crime. You have to assess people on a case by case basis to really understand why each person commits crime. There may be more than one factor in some person’s case that contributes to why they committed a crime; Factors such as, peer influence, family situations, financial situations, mental disorders, and sometimes religious beliefs or cultural differences. These to me are categories most reasons people commit crimes may fall under.

There are five theories relating to an individual’s propensity to engage in criminal activity. There are a few of these theories that are farther reaching than individual choice and genetic makeup. These three theories indicate that people can literally be a product of their environment.

Psychological theory is described as an underlying set of information that is used as a model to understand human behaviour, thoughts and emotion. The use of some psychological theories therefore can be used to help in the prevention or reduction of criminal behaviour and recidivism due to the ability to understand why criminality occurs. This essay will develop upon this argument and explain how psychological theories that target individuals before committing a crime, can aid in the prevention of criminal behaviour all together. Alongside the discussion of other psychological methods, of which are more commonly used with prisoners or patients in secure units, can reduce the likelihood of reoffending. Criminal behaviour, similarly to the definition of crime itself, is hard to define.

After carefully conducting research to find information about theoretical perspectives, I have found many articles that carry well noted information about each perspective; however there is one research paper that presented really good information. I have seen that many of us have only found 3 theoretical perspectives, but this research paper that I found have 4 perspective in full disclosure. After spending time dissecting the information, I came to conclusion that the Psychological theory gives a much better comprehensive approach when it comes to explain crime.

This week our focus is on theories of criminal behavior and why people choose the behavior they do. According to (Adler, Mueller, & Laufer, 2012), there are three main criminal behavior theories; Labeling theory, Conflict theory and the Radical theory. Each theory outlines different perspectives on why an individual engages in criminal activity along with the public’s reaction.

Criminals are born not made is the discussion of this essay, it will explore the theories that attempt to explain criminal behavior. Psychologists have come up with various theories and reasons as to why individuals commit crimes. These theories represent part of the classic psychological debate, nature versus nurture. Are individuals predisposed to becoming a criminal or are they made through their environment. There are various theories within the biological explanation as to why individuals commit criminal behavior, these include: genetic theory, hereditary theory,.

There are also psychological explanations for crime, these say that criminals have different minds to regular people, different personalities can be more likely to be involved in the deviant behaviour which causes problems in society. It also says that certain childhood experiences and the influences they have had

What makes a criminal a criminal? Can anyone become a criminal? Answering and understanding these questions is the core work of criminologists as most criminologists attempt to make sense of why people do certain things (Garland, Sparks 2000). This essay will consider the notion that any person could become a criminal and in so doing consider the initial question. This essay will outline a range of theories that attempt to describe human behavior in relation to criminal behavior given the complexities of behaviour. Several theories will be considered as no single theory of behavior can account fully for the complexities and range in criminal behaviour. The theories range from social-control, to classical, to biological, to personality

Psychology displays a number of different perspectives on the causes of crime. The two dominant theories are psycho- dynamic and behavioral theory. Psycho dynamic theory suggest "that an individuals personality is controlled by unconscious mental