chapter 4 psychological theories

California Psychological Inventory (CPI).

A test designed to measure personality traits such as dominance, tolerance, and sociability.

Oedipus complex :

: Ages 3-6 a boy develops a desire to possess his mother and hatred of his father.

Personality Trait theory :

1. Depression 2. Hysteria 3. Paranoia 4. Psychopathology 5. Compulsive

Psychoanalytic Theory.

A general perspective stating that the causes of criminal behavior can be found in the mind of the individual.

Psychological Theory.

A general perspective that looks to the psychological functioning, development, and adjustment of an individual in explaining criminal or deviant acts. Under this approach, the criminal act itself is important only in that it highlights an underlying mental issue.

Psychopathic.

A general term referring to a variety of antisocial personality disorders.

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

A test designed to use different scales of questions to measure abnormal personality traits, such as depression, hysteria, paranoia, psychopathology, and compulsiveness.

• Electra complex :

Ages 3-6 a girl develops a desire to possess her father an hatred of her mother

____anti_____Personality Disorder (APD)

Behavior patterns of unsocialized individuals bring them into repeated conflicts with society

personality theory

Belief that crimes are committed as a result of a deviant nonconforming individual's personality.

Psychopathy Checklist (PCL-R)

Developed by Hare, this is a tool comprised of a checklist that is designed to measure the feeling and relationships of an individual, along with the social deviance of an individual. This tool is the main one used in the measurement of a psychopathic personality.

Characteristics of ASPD

Incapable of loyalty Grossly selfish Callous Irresponsible Impulsive Lack of guilt Inability to learn from experience Easily frustrated Blames others for consequences

psychological theories Crimes result from abnormal, dysfunctional, or inappropriate mental processes within the personality Psychoanalytic Theory Personality Traits

Looks deeper into the mind of the individual.

•MMPI :Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory :

Measures abnormal personality traits (depression, hysteria, paranoia)

Ego.

One of the three components of Freudian personality development. The ego is referred to as the executive or rational part of the personality, and it acts to keep the id in check.

Id.

One of the three components of Freudian personality development. The id contains basic instincts and drives, such as the need for food, water, sex, and pleasure.

Superego.

One of the three components of Freudian personality development. This part of the personality contains the conscience of the individual.

Psychological theories are difficult if not impossible to test. One cannot see, identify, or measure the id, ego, or superego. As a result, testing these theories becomes virtually impossible. Similar difficulties are faced when trying to test personality theories, and tautological issues remain a problem.

Programs that offer therapy and counseling in attempts to reduce delinquency have not been shown to be particularly effective. While the role of psychology in criminal justice and criminology is indeed important, we have not yet reached a place where the key concepts of psychological and personality theories, along with their recommended treatments, have had a measured impact on criminal activity

Crimes result from abnormal, dysfunctional, or inappropriate mental processes within the personality

Psychoanalytic Theory Personality Traits

Freud, Sigmund: (1856-1939)

Psychologist, pioneer of psychoanalysis and psychological theory, theorized the Oedipus complex and the Electra complex, coined the terms id, superego, ego, sex drive, and libido.

• Personality Traits :

Psychopaths are known for manipulation of other and having little to no conscience. They are also known for having multiple antisocial personality disorders.

• Personality :

Refers to specific psychological disorder marked by anti social behavior and lack of affect

• Psychopathology • Psychopath checklist was developed by • PCL R INSTRUMENT INCLUDES (factor 1 : aggressive narcissism. Factor 2 : social deviant lifestyle) • Psychological theories : are very similar to biological theories in individuals in that individuals

Robert hare to measure psychopath behaviors ( 20 item list)

Psychological Counseling.

The process by which an underlying mental issue can be addressed. The assumptions are that only by treating an individual who has committed a criminal act as someone who is sick and in need of treatment can the problem truly be addressed; punishing the criminal act without addressing the root mental cause is of little or no value; and counseling is the only way in which the root mental cause can be dealt with adequately.

Oedipus Complex.

This occurs at the beginning of the phallic stage (around ages 3 to 6) in which a boy develops a desire to possess his mother and a hatred and fear of his father.

Electra Complex.

This occurs at the beginning of the phallic stage (around ages 3 to 6) in which a girl develops a desire to possess her father and a hatred and fear of her mother.

Personality Theory.

This theory believes that criminal activity is the result of a defective, deviant, or inadequate personality. Examples of deviant personality traits include hostility, impulsiveness, aggression, and sensation-seeking.

Freudian.

This view of behavior focuses on early childhood This view of behavior focuses on early childhood development. It claims that criminal activity is the result of a conflict between the id, ego, and superego, which can be traced back to a conflict in early childhood.

Personality theorists believe that criminal behavior is the result of an improper or defective personality or personality traits. Instead of developing a conforming appropriate-social personality, the criminal has developed a personality based upon conflict, impulsiveness, and aggression. The criminal does not have the ability to feel empathy, remorse, or guilt for his or her actions, and has not developed a sense of right and wrong.

Under both of these approaches, the criminal act is not important, in that it is only one of many symptoms of the underlying psychological or personality disorder. Both approaches recommend various forms of therapy and treatment to fix the disorder. When the underlying psychological or personality disorder is addressed, the criminal and deviant acts should cease.

Friedlander, Kate:

Wrote The Psychoanalytic Approach to Juvenile Delinquency (194

The individual is the unit of analysis, specifically

_____personality___

Psychopaths are

asocial, self-centered, dangerously aggressive, and feel little guilt

id

basic instincts (the need for food, water, sex, and pleasure).

Psychological theories are very similar to

biological theories in that individuals commit crime because of internal factors (not choice).

superego

conscience of the individual (moralizing part)

Individuals cannot be

deterred

Psychoanalytic theorists believe that criminal behavior is the result of a mental disturbance. From a Freudian perspective, this may have been caused by a conflict between the id, ego, and superego, or it may be the result of an improper fixation during a stage of

emotional development.

CPI : California Psychological Inventory

examines around 20 different personality traits ( dominance, sociability, self control, tolerance, empathy)

PCL R INSTRUMENT INCLUDES

factor 1 : aggressive narcissism. Factor 2 : social deviant lifestyle)

The pcl defines 20% of criminals as psychopaths. These criminals (20%) is responsible for

half of all serious crimes.

Freudian personality development:

id superego ego

psychological theories are NOT seen as

inherited or biological. Psychological theories focus on different mental disturbances.

ego

rational part of the personality ( it acts to keep the id in check).