Psychology: Criminal Behavior

• We learn criminal behaviours through observing and imitating others, especially role models 

• We are more likely to copy a behaviour if we see it to be rewarding

Vicarious reinforcement - When a persons behaviour is reinforced because they have seen how another person is being rewarded for it

Crime prevention - There are restrictions and bans on media glorifying criminal behaviour to prevent 'copy-cat crimes'

Interventions are in place for people at an early age to discourage criminal behaviour and reinforce co-operative behaviour

Prisons also help prevent crime as people are less likely to commit a crime if there is a negative consequence

Rehabilitation - Punishing criminals for breaking the law is not enough so rehabilitation is put in place to teach and reinforce the appropriate ways in which they should behave

Aim - To investigate if it is nature or nurture that determines a criminal 

Sample - Danish, male adoptees born between 1924 - 1947

Proceedure - The adoptees criminal records were compared to those of their biological and adoptive parents

Results - If both the adoptee's biological and adoptive parents had a criminal record then they were twice as likely to have committed a crime themselves

If their biologial parents had committed a crime but not adoptive then they were more likely to have a criminal record than if their adoptive parents had and not biological

Conclusion - Biology plays a greater part in the development of criminal behaviour than environmental factors

• There can not be one gene that accounts for ALL criminal behaviour - one gene can not account for violent crimes e.g murder as well as itellectual crimes e.g fraud etc 
• Brain dysfunction is not evident in all criminals - can not reliably predict a criminal. Brain dysfunction is not always genetic and can be caused by environmental factors
• Their is no evidence for criminals having set features - society might be prejudice against a certain apperance (racist)
• Ignores the possibility of environmental factors - crime might be learnt through what people see as opposed to genetically inherited

• Criminal behaviour is inherited
• A person is genetically programmed to behave that way (it is in their DNA)
• If a persons parents have a criminal record then they have a higher chance of being a criminal
• The 'criminal gene' effects the brain
• Criminals brains are seen as 'abnormal' (brain dysfunction)

Crime - any act going against the law 

Criminal Personality - a collection of traits that make a person different                                                          from 'normal' law abiding people

Heritability - the proportion of a behaviour that is due to genetic factors

Brain Dysfunction - the idea that the brain is not operating as normal                                                         brain should

Prefrontal Cortex - UNDERACTIVE in criminals. The part of the brain that forms the association between fear and anti-social behaviour.

Limbic System - OVERACTIVE in criminals. Controls aggressive and sexual behaviour. 

Corpus Callosum - UNDERACTIVE in murderers. The bridge between the two hemisperes of the brain allowing the rational side to communicate with the irrational side.

Temporal Lobe - UNDERACTIVE in aggressive psychopaths. Involved in learning, language, emotions, memory.

• Low sloping forehead
• Glassy eyes
• High cheekbones
• Large, handle shaped ears
• Crooked, flat nose
• Fleashy lips
• Strong jaw
• Pominent chin
• Lots of hair

Being overly optermistic

Lacking the feeling of guilt

Impulsiveness 

Pleasure seeking 

Self importance