EDUCATIONAL AID FOR THE CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER - SOME SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGICAL STRATEGIES FOR DEALING WITH THE VIOLENT CRIMINAL

• NCJ Number: 49637
• Journal: CRIME PREVENTION REVIEW Volume: 5 Issue: 4 Dated: (JULY 1978) Pages: 25-34
• Author(s): W B HOWARD
• Date Published: 1978
• Length: 10 pages
• Corporate Author: California Office of the Attorney General
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

STRATEGIES BASED ON KNOWLEDGE OF THE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES OF PERSONS WHO COMMIT CRIMES AGAINST STRANGERS AND TO BE USED BY POTENTIAL VICTIMS TO REDUCE THE LIKELIHOOD OF VICTIMIZATION OR VIOLENCE ARE DESCRIBED.

Abstract

IT IS HYPOTHESIZED THAT ONE OF FIVE PSYCHOLOGICAL PROCESSES MUST NECESSARILY PRECEDE THE COMMISSION OF A VIOLENT CRIME, AND THAT INTERFERENCE WITH ANY ONE OF THEM IS SUFFICIENT TO PREVENT OR MITIGATE VICTIMIZATION. THESE PROCESSES LEAD TO THE TEMPORARY DEACTIVATION OF THE NORMS OF LAWFUL BEHAVIOR INTROJECTED BY MOST PEOPLE, EVEN OFFENDERS, AT AN EARLY AGE. IT IS INDICATED THAT A VERY SMALL PERCENTAGE OF CRIMINALS ARE SOCIOPATHS TO THE EXTENT THAT MORAL SENSITIVITIES ARE TOTALLY ABSENT: THEREFORE, IMMEDIATELY PRIOR TO OR IN THE COURSE OF THE COMMISSION OF A CRIME, AN OFFENDER NEUTRALIZES HIS MORAL SENSITIVITIES IN THE FOLLOWING WAYS: (1) THE DEINDIVIDUATION OF HIMSELF BY MOMENTARILY DISREGARDING NORMALLY OPERATIVE INHIBITIONS AGAINST CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR OR BY DENYING PERSONAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE BEHAVIORAL INFRACTIONS THAT OCCUR; (2) THE DEHUMANIZATION OF THE VICTIM IN THE OFFENDER'S MIND; (3) THE DENIAL OF THE DESTRUCTIVE CONSEQUENCES OF HIS BEHAVIOR TOWARD THE VICTIM; (4) THE EXISTENCE OF AMBIGUITY REGARDING THE VICTIM'S INTENTIONS AND HIS SUFFERING; AND (5) THE CONVICTION BY THE OFFENDER THAT THE BENEFITS OF HIS BEHAVIOR EXCEED THE COSTS. HIGH-RISK PERSONS, IDENTIFIED AS THOSE PHYSICALLY WEAKER THAN THE AVERAGE PERSON OR LESS CAUTIOUS IN PROTECTING THEIR PERSONAL WELFARE, ARE PROVIDED WITH INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO BEHAVE IN FIVE SEPARATE STAGES OF INTERACTION BETWEEN THE CRIMINAL AND HIS VICTIM. TECHNIQUES ARE DESCRIBED FOR AVOIDING DANGEROUS SITUATIONS; PROPER GENERAL COMPORTMENT; CONVERSATION; SHORT-CIRCUITING A VIOLENT ATTACK; AND FIGHTING BACK. WAYS IN WHICH THE CRIME PREVENTION OFFICER MAY PRESENT THIS INFORMATION TO THE PUBLIC, PARTICULARLY TO HIGH-RISK PERSONS, ARE BRIEFLY SUGGESTED. (RCB)