Psychological explanations for offending behaviour focus on the idea that crime is the result of innate factors, whereby an individual has dysfunctional mental processes within their personality. These abnormalities could be the result of a diseased mind (Tetlock 1995). However, there are other ways of understanding crime such as sociological explanations. Sociological explanations focus on the idea that crime is a product of parental influences and inadequate socialisation (Downes and Rock 1983).
The perspectives for understanding offending behaviour have developed independently throughout history by different theorists. However, there is always room for criticism in any theory. Therefore, in this essay I will be examining the strengths and …show more content…
Psychology has put forward many explanations for crime. However, here I will discuss three that I think are important: Psychoanalytical theory, Personality theory and Cognitive theory. I will also draw on sociological factors such as parental influences and socialisation within the psychological theories and show how they contribute in presenting a complete picture of offending behaviour. Throughout this essay I will outline the gaps in the psychological explanations. I will therefore conclude that psychological criminology cannot fully account for offending behaviour because sociological factors play a key role in explaining …show more content…
Therefore, this emphasises that a high rate of offending behaviour came from individuals who lived in a dual parent family, whereas less offenders came from a separated family. Furthermore, Hollin (1989) suggests that we do need to take sociological factors, such as parental influences and socialisation into account. Finally, psychoanalytical theory cannot explain the age distribution or ethical makeup of offenders (Blackburn 1993).
The second psychological perspective I will examine is personality theory, developed by Hans Eyseneck. Eyseneck (1977) defines criminality as trait-based and integrates social, biological and individual factors to explain offending behaviour. He claims that individuals are born with autonomic and cortical nervous systems which affect their ability to appropriately react to sociological factors such as parental guidance. Therefore, sociological and biological factors interact and define a person’s
The perspectives for understanding offending behaviour have developed independently throughout history by different theorists. However, there is always room for criticism in any theory. Therefore, in this essay I will be examining the strengths and …show more content…
Psychology has put forward many explanations for crime. However, here I will discuss three that I think are important: Psychoanalytical theory, Personality theory and Cognitive theory. I will also draw on sociological factors such as parental influences and socialisation within the psychological theories and show how they contribute in presenting a complete picture of offending behaviour. Throughout this essay I will outline the gaps in the psychological explanations. I will therefore conclude that psychological criminology cannot fully account for offending behaviour because sociological factors play a key role in explaining …show more content…
Therefore, this emphasises that a high rate of offending behaviour came from individuals who lived in a dual parent family, whereas less offenders came from a separated family. Furthermore, Hollin (1989) suggests that we do need to take sociological factors, such as parental influences and socialisation into account. Finally, psychoanalytical theory cannot explain the age distribution or ethical makeup of offenders (Blackburn 1993).
The second psychological perspective I will examine is personality theory, developed by Hans Eyseneck. Eyseneck (1977) defines criminality as trait-based and integrates social, biological and individual factors to explain offending behaviour. He claims that individuals are born with autonomic and cortical nervous systems which affect their ability to appropriately react to sociological factors such as parental guidance. Therefore, sociological and biological factors interact and define a person’s