The psychology of crime

Why do criminal phenomena occur? How is antisocial behavior explained? For years, social psychology has tried to answer these questions. That is why it is born the psychology of crime.

Thus, among the main areas of interest in the psychology of crime are some such as antisocial behaviors, attacks or the study on social bonding and crime. But how do you explain criminal behavior? It seems that, in it, emotions, rewards, personality traits, as well as beliefs and attitudes are involved (1).

Thus, the main objective of the psychology of crime has been, during its short time of existence, understand the reasons for criminal phenomena and behaviors that give rise to these to occur. But how does a person become a criminal? According to researchers Santiago Redondo and Antonio Andrés Pueyo, from the University of Barcelona, ​​there are five propositions that explain it.

Why does crime occur?

The research considers these five propositions as explanations for crime. They are the following (1):

1. Crime is learned

The model that dominates in the explanation of crime is that formulated by Akers (2). This model considers that in learning criminal behavior there is a interrelation between four mechanisms:

The inferential association with people who show criminal habits. The acquisition by the individual of definitions favorable to crime. The differential reinforcement of their criminal behaviors. The imitation of pro-criminal models.

2. There are individual traits and characteristics that predispose to crime

According to biopsychological research, some factors may be involved in antisocial or criminal behavior. Some of these features would be: presence of a cranial injury, low activation of the Autonomous Nervous System or low activity of the frontal lobe.

3. Crimes constitute reactions to individual experiences of stress and tension

Over the years, research into the psychology of crime has focused on experiences of tension as a cause of criminal behavior. (3. 4). Many homicides, assaults or femicides, as well as robberies with intimidation, are perpetrated by individuals who experience strong feelings of revenge, anger, anxiety, or contempt toward others.

The general stress theoryin turn, points out how the direct relationship between the presence of stress in a person and committing a crime (5).

First, it appears that the person may be affected by various sources of tension. Among them, some stand out, such as being subjected to unavoidable aversive situations. As a result of this type of tension, the person could generate negative emotions that energize your behavior with the goal of correcting the situation. An example of these emotions could be anger. Criminal behavior would be a possible corrective action against a source of stress that the person is experiencing. If the source is removed, the tension is relieved. This consolidates the behavioral mechanism that the person uses to relieve tension.

4. Involvement in criminal activities is the result of the breakdown of social ties

Travis Hirschi, an American sociologist and criminologist, established that there are various social contexts in which young people join society: school, family, friendship and others such as sports. The degree to which the person is linked to these contexts is determined by the following: linking mechanisms: attachment, commitment, participation and beliefs.

Thus, Hirschi believes that The appearance of antisocial behavior lies in the breakdown of mechanisms in one or more social contexts..

5. The beginning and maintenance of a criminal career are related to the development of the individual, especially in childhood and adolescence

In the psychology of crime, the developmental criminology. This part of the psychology of crime deals with the study of the evolution of crime.

Prevention and treatment in the psychology of crime

Spain has various types of psychological interventions for criminals, mainly in prisons. These include:

Interventions with institutionalized youth. Interventions with sexual offenders. Interventions with abusers. Interventions with high-risk offenders. Interventions aimed at preventing suicide.

Redondo points out that the big problem facing the application of treatments in Spanish prisons is the large number of people imprisoned. Apparently this increases every day; However, this is not due to a real increase in the number of crimes. The increase in incarcerated people is due, curiously, to a spectacular and systematic tightening of the penal system.

So it seems that they are several factors that come together to cause crime to occur. The field of psychology of crime has tried to explain, prevent and treat criminal behavior for years, counting on some ironclad theories. However, it seems necessary to continue researching, above all, to improve the prevention and treatment of so-called antisocial behavior.

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