CHAPTER IV

Psychological Theories
• Are systems of ideas that can explain certain aspects
of human thoughts, behaviors and emotions.
Three Major Theories
1. Psychodynamic theory
- which is centered on the notion that an individual’s early
childhood experience influences his or her likelihood for
committing future crimes.
2. Behavioral theory
- behavioral theorist have expanded the work of Gabriel
Tarde through behavior modeling and social learning.
3. Cognitive theory
- the major premise of which suggests that an individuals
perception and how it is manifested (Jacoby, 2004) affect his or her
potential to commit a crime.
5 Characteristics of Psychological theories
 Psychodynamic
 Cognitive
 Behavioral
 Personality
 Intelligence
 Psychodynamic Theory
Psychodynamic theory- is focus on the psychological drives and forces
within individuals that explain human
behaviour and personality.

Jointness- is defined as a dynamic process representing an emotional system for

attachment and for communication between separate
individuals who jointly approach each other in a third join,
virtual space.

Psychotherapy- is the use of psychological methods, particularly when based on

regular personal interaction, to help a person change and
overcome problems in desired ways.
 Behavioral Theory
Behavioral theory- the second major psychological theory is behaviorism. This
theory maintains that human behavior is develop through
learning experiences.

3 Primary sources of Aggression acts

 family interaction
 Environmental experiences
 The mass media

The second source of the behavioral problems, environmental

experiences, suggests that individuals who reside in areas that are crime
prone are more likely to display aggressive behavior than those who reside in
low-crime areas (Shelden, 2006).

The third sources of behavioral problems are the mass media.

 Cognitive Theory
• A third major psychological theory is cognitive theory.
• In recent years, significant gains have been made in explaining
criminal behavior within the cognitive theory framework.

2 Sub discipline of cognitive theory

 Moral development branch
 Information processing

• Another pioneer of cognitive theory is Lawrence Kohlberg (1927-1987),

who applied the concept of moral development to criminological
theory.

• Kohlberg (1984) believed that individuals pass through stages of moral

development.
 Personality and Crime
 Personality can be defined as something that us what we are
and also that which makes us different from others (Clark,
Boccaccine, Chaplin, 2007).

5 Personality
 Neuroticism
 Extraversion
 Openness
 Agreeableness
 Conscientiousness
Neuroticism- involves emotional stability.

Extraversion- is characterized by sociability, excitement and stimulation.

Openness- referring to individuals who have an active imagination, find

pleasure in beauty are attentive to their inner feelings, have a preference
for variety and are intellectually curious.

Agreeableness- this domain is related to interpersonal tendencies.

Conscientiousness- focuses on a persons ability to control impulses and

exercise self-control.
 Psychopathic Personality
 Antisocial Personality, psychopathy, or sociopath is terms used
interchangeably.

 The origin may include traumatic socialization, neurological

disorder and brain abnormality. Other dynamics that may
contribute to the psychopathic personality is a parent with
pathologic tendencies, childhood traumatic events, or
inconsistent discipline.
 Antisocial Personality – Is characterized by low levels of guilt,
superficial charm, above, average intelligence, persistent violations of
the rights of others, incapacity to form enduring relationship,
impulsivity, risk taking, egocentricity, manipulativeness, force
fullness and cold-heartedness and shallow emotions.

 Sociopaths are often a product of a destructive home environment.

 Psychopaths are a product of a detect or aberration within

themselves.
 Intelligence and Crime
 Criminologists have suggested for centuries that there exists a
link between intelligence and crime. Some common beliefs are
the criminals and delinquents process low intelligence and that
this low intelligence causes criminality.

 The ability to predict criminals from noncriminal is the ultimate

goal. The ideology or concept of IQ and crime has crystallized
into the nature-versus-nurture depate.
 Freudan – Psychoanalyutic Theory

Sigmund Freud (6 May 1856-23 September 1939) is

considered to be the founder of the psychodynamic approach to
psychology which looks closely at the unconscious drives that
motivate people to act in certain ways.
 Psychoanalytic Theory
Proponents of psychodynamic theory suggest that an
individual personality is controlled by unconscious mental
processes that are grounded in early childhood. This theory was
originated by Sigmund Freud (1856- 1939).

There are three elements or structures that makeup the human

personality:
o ID
o EGO
o SUPEREGO
ID – the Id is as the primitive part of a person’s mental make up that
is present at birth. Freud (1933) believed the Id
represents the unconscious biological drives for food,
sex and other necessities. Over the life span.

EGO – this people to maintain a realistic sense here on earth the ego
is responsible for creating balance between pleasure and pain.

SUPEREGO – which develop around age four or five incorporates the

morals of society. Freud believed that the superego is what
allows our mind to control its impulses that are looked down upon
morally.
 Anxiety and Defense Mechanisms
Anxiety – a common human emotion characterized by feeling
unease, worry and fear. It can arise in response to
various stressors or perceived threats and can vary
intensity from mild to severe. Anxiety is natural response
that helps prepare the body with potential
dangers or challenges.

Defense Mechanics – are psychological strategies that individuals

protect themselves from anxiety or distress. Defense
mechanisms can provide temporary relief
from anxiety, but also interfere with healthy coping and
problem solving if overused or relied upon excessively.
Six defense mechanisms that individuals may employ
1. Denial – refusing to acknowledge or accept a reality or situation that
cause anxiety.
2. Repression – pushing distressing thoughts or memories into the
unconscious mind.
3. Projection – attributing one’s own unacceptable thoughts or feelings to
others.
4. Rationalization – creating logical or plausible explanations to justify or
minimize anxiety-provoking situations or behaviors.
5. Displacement – redirecting emotions or impulses from their original
source to a less threatening target.
6. Sublimation – channelling potentially harmful or unacceptable
impulses into socially acceptable activities or outlets.
 Low IQ Theory

IQ (intelligence quotient) – refers to a measure of intelligence

base on standardized tests. IQ tests primarily assess cognitive
abilities such as problem-solving, logical reasoning and verbal and
mathematical skills. However other important aspect of
intelligence, such as emotional intelligence, creativity, social skills,
or practical intelligence. Its important to value and appreciate the
diverse talents and skills that individuals possess.
 Attention – Deficit – Hyperactivity Theory
Attention – Deficit/Hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) – is a
neurodevelopmental disorder that affects both children
and adults. ADHD is not fully understood, but research suggests
that is likely to be a combination of genetic, environmental
and neurological factors.

Theory behind ADHD, suggests that individuals with ADHD

have difficulties with executive function, which are cognitive processes
that help with self-regulation, attention and impulse control.
 4 Types of ADHD

1. Genetics – ADHD tends to run in families, suggesting a genetic

component related to brain development and neurotransmitter
regulation may play a role in the development of ADHD.

2. Brain structure and function – studies have shown that

individuals with ADHD may have differences in brain structure
and function particularly in areas related to attention, impulse
control, and the regulation of activity levels.
3. Neurotransmitters imbalances – neurotransmitters, such as
dopamine and norepinephrine, play a role in regulating
attention and impulse control. Imbalances in these
neurotransmitters are thought to contribute to the symptoms of
ADHD.

4. Environmental factors – certain environmental factors, such as

prenatal exposure to tobacco smoke, alcohol, or drugs,
premature birth, low birth weight and exposure to lead may
increase the risk of developing ADHD.
 Frustration – Aggression Theory

According to this theory, Frustration creates a state of

psychological tension, can increase the likelihood of aggressive
behaviour as a way to express or alleviate the frustration. The
theory was proposed by Dollard, Doob, Miller, Mowrer and Sears in
1939. The frustration caused by external factors or internal
conflicts can trigger aggression as an instinctive response to reduce
the frustration and restore a sense of control. However, it is
important to note that not all frustration leads to aggression and
aggression can influenced by various other factors.
sohitado
 Inferiority Complex and Alfred Adler’s Theory
 Alfred Adler, a psychoanalyst and founder of individual
psychology, proposed the concept of an inferiority complex.
According to Adler, individuals may develop feelings of inferiority
due to perceived shortcomings or weaknesses. These feelings
can drive them to strive for superiority and success as a way to
compensate. Adler believed that a healthy response to inferiority
involves overcoming challenges and contributing positively to
society, while an unhealthy response may lead to
overcompensation or withdrawal.
 Delinquent Subculture Theory
 The delinquent subculture theory, associated with Albert Cohen,
suggests that delinquency can arise from lower-class youths’
frustration with their inability to achieve mainstream success.
They may form subcultures with alternative values, providing a
sense of belonging and status within their own social group.
This theory emphasizes the role of social structure and status
frustration in delinquent behaviour.
 Rational Choice Theory
 Rational choice theory is an economic and social theory that
posits individuals make decisions based on rational
calculations, aiming to maximize their self-interest or utility. It
assumes individuals weigh costs and benefits to make choices
that align with their preferences and goals.
 Choice Theory
 Choice theory, developed by William Glasser, posits that
individuals make choices to fulfil their basic psychological
needs. These needs include love and belonging, power, freedom,
and fun. The theory focuses on personal responsibility and
advocates for making positive choices to improve one’s life.
 Strain Theory

 State that certain strains or stressors increase the likelihood of

crime. These strains lead to negative emotions, such as
frustration and anger. These emotions create pressure for
corrective action, and crime is one of the possible response.

For example: Individuals experiencing chronic unemployment may

engage in theft or drug selling to obtain money, seek
revenge against the person who fired them or take illicit
drugs in an effort to feel better.
Major versions of Strain Theory describe:
1) The particular strains most likely to lead to crime
2) Why strains increase crime, and
3) The factors that lead a person to or dissuade a person from
responding to strains with crime.

All strain theories acknowledge that only a minority of strained

individuals turn to crime. It has also been applied to many types of
crime and deviance, including corporate crime, police deviance,
bullying, suicide, terrorism, and eating disorders.
 Social Learning Theory
 Is a theory of learning process social behavior which proposes
that new behaviors can be acquired by observing and imitating
others. It can also be learned.

 The basis behind social learning theory is that people observe

the behavior, attitudes and consequences of others and then use
that information to form their own actions.
For example: Children and adults often exhibit learning for things
with which they have no direct experience. Even if
you have never swung a baseball bat in your life, you
would probably know what to do if someone handed
you a bat and told you to try to hit a baseball. This is
because you have seen others perform
this action either in person or on television.
 Routine Activity Theory
Routine activity theory is a criminology theory that explains how patterns
of people’s routine activities create opportunities for criminal activity.

For example: A person’s routine activity of leaving home at 8:45 am and

returning home at 5pm means their home will predictably be
vulnerable from 8:45am to 5pm every day.

Lack of Security Guards: A bank has a clear absence of security guards and
police officers, making them a target for potential crime.
Here, there is ‘absence of capable guardians’.
 Utilitarianism
 is an ethical theory that determines right from wrong by focusing on
outcomes. It is a form of consequentialism. Utilitarianism holds that
the most ethical choice is the one that will produce the greatest good
for the greatest number.

 Utilitarianism is a theory of morality that advocates actions that

foster happiness and oppose actions that cause unhappiness.
Utilitarianism promotes “the greatest amount of good for the greatest
number of people”.
 So, the morally right action is, according to utilitarian's, the
action that produces the most good. Examples of utilitarianism
include effective altruism, bulldozing someone’s home for a highway
and redistribution of excess money from the rich to the poor.(Nov. 26,
2022)

For example: If you are choosing ice cream for yourself, the
utilitarian view is that you should choose the
flavour that will give you the most pleasure. If you
enjoy chocolate but hate vanilla, you should choose
chocolate for the pleasure it will bring and avoid vanilla
because it will bring displeasure.
 Differential Association Theory
 Differential Association Theory is one of many sociological
theories that aims to explain why people commit deviant acts.
Differential Association Theory was proposed and developed by
Edwin Sutherland in the late 1930s and early 1940s, in
response to a critique of criminology by Michael and Adler
(Laub, 2006). In developing the theory, Sutherland dismissed
the notion that individual variants such as age and gender
adequately explained criminal involvement. Differential
Association Theory stresses the impact that others have on one’s
view of deviant behavior and the law.
 Containment Theory
 Social control theories posit that crime and delinquency occur
among in society because an individual’s behavior is not well
regulated. Recent control theories have emphasized the
importance of high self-control and strong bonds tto society in
deterring criminal behavior. However, one of the original
theories of self-control has been largely ignored among scholars.
Developed by Walter Reckless in the 1960s, containment theory
suggests that individuals are pushed and pulled into crime.
Pushes are elements that pressure individuals to engage in
delinquency while pulls draw individuals away from accepted
forms of behavior.
 Reckless-Containment Theory
 Reckless realized that urban life contained many temptations to
commit crime. He suggested that to commit crime the individual
must break through a combination of outer and inner
containment. We could probably accept that inner containment
is in reference to self-control and outer containment is social
control(s). His main focus of concern, however, was on inner
containment.
 Social Control Theory/Social Bond Theory
 The social bond theory was created by Travis Hirschi in 1969.
Social Bond Theory, that later developed into the Social Control
Theory, has historically been an interesting way of approaching
social problems and how we in turn explain them. Before one
can apply the Social Bond theory, they must first have a firm
understanding of its definition, which can be accurately
described by Hirschi (1969).
 Life-Course Theory
 The life course perspective is a broad approach that can be used
in a variety of subject matters such as psychology, biology,
history, and criminology. As a theory, the denotation establishes
the connection between a pattern of life events and the actions
that humans perform.

 In the criminology field, life-course theory is used as a backbone

(or a starting branch) for an assortment of other theories that
are less broad and more specific.
 Durkheim’s Anomie Theory
 Crime is necessary; it serves a function in society. Although it is
not preferable, with the progression and evolution of modernity
and emphasis on monetary success, crime is inevitable because
a perfectly stable, uniform, and able society is impossible. As the
father of sociology and a functionalist, Emile Durkheim provides
a variety of explanations of society’s ills, like crime and
deviance, and accounts for the punishments and repercussions
that follow.
 Interactional Theory
 Offers a board explanation for the causes and consequences of
involvement in anti-social behavior. It primarily focused on
delinquency and drug use during adolescene and early
adulthood.(Thornberry 1987)

 Proposes that the fundamental or primary cause of delinquent

behavior is a weakening of bonds to conventional society.
 Self Control Theory
 Self control theory of crime often referred to us the general
theory of crime is a criminological theory about the lack of
individual self-control as the main factor behind criminal
behaviour.

 Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990 argued that lack of self control is

not only “the” cause of crime but that lack of self-control also
causes other “analogous” behavior.
 Culture Deviance Theory
 Charlene is experiencing what sociologists Clifford Shaw and
Henry McKay called cultural deviance theory. The theory states
that the individual is not responsible for their deviance as much
as the community within which they reside. People are
influenced by the place, people and social structure of the
community in which they reside.

 Members of the working class commits crimes as they responds

to the cultural norms of their own class in an effort to deal with
the problems of social-middle class-adjustment.
 The Theory of Feminism
1. Feminism on Crime Causation and Deviance

Advocates of this theory react and highly criticize

the male dominance explanation of crime causation and deviancy.
It holds that crime causation and explanation of deviancy centered
mainly on male offender; thereby, leaving a gap and void as to the
study and understanding of female offender and deviancy.

the perspective of this theory is women’s

victimization, delinquency, and gender inequality.
2. Feminist School of Thought

There are three (3) feminist school of thought that

emerged regarding deviance:

(1) Liberal Feminism- simply the idea that those liberal ideals of
equality and rights of liberties apply to women.

(2) Radical Feminism- according to this school of thought

particularly, meaning that male domination over males keeps
women more attached to the family, children and home.

(3) Social Feminism- the school of thought argues that women

deviancy is the by-product of exploitation of capitalism and
patriarchy.
 Distinction between Liberal and Radical Feminism

- Radical feminist accept the structural sexualisation differences

between man and woman but seeks to reserve the valuation of
such variance.

Steven Box and Chris hale female liberation and Criminality

- Steven Box and Chris hale debunk the theory as claimed by many
scholars in the field of criminology which support the theory that
women liberation and emancipation leads to the increase of female
offending.
 Female Criminality
 Freda Adler (sister in Crime The Rise of female Criminal) published in 1935. Adler
wanted to debunk the stereotypical view of society to women and female criminals as
genetically passive.

 The theory of Adler on access and opportunity which leads to female criminality to
typical female crimes.

1. Prostitution- women have bodies to market so in order to feed their needs they
become prostitutes.

2. Shoplifting- women love shopping if not shopaholic so when women do not have the
means to buy her stuff she loves shopping provides her straightforward opportunity.

3. Murder- this crime that female many commit usually involve with someone with
whom she had relationship.
 Differential Oppression Theory
 Development ecological perspective a means for understanding
how to oppression of children occurs within multiple social
context to the theory of differential oppression leads to adaptive
reaction by children.

 Prevalence of juvenile delinquency and other problem behaviors

consistent with the developmental ecological perspective.

 Beverly Kingston Et Al- experience falls on a continuum urging

from simple demands for obedience to rules designed for
convenience of adults to the physical, sexual, and emotional
abused children.