NCJ Number
39728
Date Published
1977
Length
346 pages
Annotation
SYNTHESIS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL, BIOLOGICAL, AND SOCIAL APPROACHES TO THE STUDY AND CONTROL OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR.
Abstract
THE BOOK BEGINS WITH DEFINITIONS AND DESCRIPTIVE FEATURES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR CONCERNING BOTH OFFENSES AND OFFENDERS. PROBLEMS RELATED TO STRATEGIES OF RESEARCH INTO THE EXPLANATION AND CONTROL OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR ARE DISCUSSED. THE NEXT CHAPTER CONCERNS LEARNING NOT TO OFFEND. IT INCLUDES THE TWO MAJOR APPROACHES, THE COGNITIVE-DEVELOPMENTAL VIEW, WHICH EMPHASIZES MATURATION RATHER THAN EXPERIENCE, AND THE LEARNING VIEW, WHICH ASSERTS AND DETAILS THE IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL EXPERIENCES AND SOCIAL TRAINING, PARTICULARLY IN CHILDHOOD. THE THEORY OF CHILDHOOD DEPRIVATION IS ALSO REVIEWED. THE THIRD CHAPTER APPLIES LEARNING PRINCIPLES TO THE ACQUISITION, PERFORMANCE, AND MAINTENANCE OF THE TWO BROAD CLASSES OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR - CRIMES AGAINST PROPERTY AND AGAINST THE PERSON. THE POSSIBILITY FOR LIMITING CRIMES BY HELP GIVEN TO THE VICTIM OR TO THE POLICE IS CONSIDERED IN CHAPTER FOUR, WHICH CONCERNS PRO-SOCIAL BEHAVIOR. THE NEXT THREE DIVISIONS ALL DEAL WITH SOME ASPECT OF INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCES, SUCH AS GENETIC INHERITANCE AND PERSONALITY. ANOTHER CHAPTER DESCRIBES THE LEGAL APPROACH TO THE MENTALLY DISORDERED OFFENDER (SEX OFFENDERS AND PSYCHOPATHS), AND CRITICALLY ASSESSES EXPLANATORY STUDIES OF PSYCHOPATHIC BEHAVIOR. FURTHER DETAILED ARE THE SOCIOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO CRIME, EMPHASIZING THE LABELLING THEORY IN COMPLEMENTING, RATHER THAN COMPETING WITH THE LEARNING AND INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE APPROACHES TO EXPLANATION. CHAPTERS NINE AND TEN CONSIDER THE NATURE AND EFFECTIVENESS OF METHODS THAT HAVE BEEN USED TO CONTROL CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR. THE CURRENT PENAL SYSTEM IS COVERED AS WELL AS THE NEGATIVE CONSEQUENCES THAT ACCOMPANY IMPRISONMENT. THEN, THE MORE RECENT PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACH TO CONTROL IS REVIEWED, INCLUDING BOTH PSYCHOTHERAPEUTIC AND BEHAVIORAL METHODS. CONSIDERED IN ANOTHER SECTION IS THE SOCIAL CONTEXT OF CONTROL. FINALLY, A SUMMARY STATEMENT OF THE MAJOR CONCLUSIONS IS GIVEN, AND THE LEARNING, INDIVIDUAL DIFFERENCE, AND LABELLING APPROACHES TO EXPLANATION AND CONTROL ARE INTEGRATED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...KAP