Criminal Behaviour in Psychology

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Criminal behaviour- Delinquency and Crime

One of the most troublesome and widespread problems in childhood and adolescence is delinquent behaviour, especially that involving juvenile violence.

Criminal Behaviour in Psychology

What is Delinquent Behaviour?

This behaviour includes such acts as destruction of property, violence against other people, gambling, cheating, pick-pocketing, murder, robbery, dacoity, assault, intoxication, vagrancy, begging, kidnapping, abduction, sexual offences and various behaviour contrary to the needs and rights of others and in violation of society's laws.

Juvenile delinquency

The term juvenile delinquency is a legal one that refers to illegal acts committed by individuals between the ages of 8 and 18 .

(It is not recognised in the DSM as a disorder).

• About one in five adolescents entering the juvenile justice system suffers from a mental health condition.
• A significant research literature shows that adolescents detained in adult correctional facilities have a high rate of suicide or are likely to commit more crimes when they are released.
• Although most juvenile crime is committed by males, the rate has also risen for females. Female delinquents are commonly apprehended for drug use, sex offences, running away from home.

Causes of delinquency

• Learned and acquired in social and economic conditions:-

1. Broken home- Incomplete family due to death, desertion, separation or divorce. Delinquency appears to be much more common among youths from homes in which parents have separated or divorced than among those from homes in which a parent has died, shows that parental conflict may be a key element in causing delinquency.
2. Parental rejection and faulty discipline- in many cases, one or both parents reject a child. When father is the rejecting parent, it is difficult for a boy to identify with him and use him as a model for his own development.
3. Unusual jealousy and rivalry for other members.
4. Economic difficulties and poverty of the family.
5. Dull, monotonous and uninteresting home environment.

6. The delinquent and criminal behaviour of the parents or other members.

   Maltreatment and injustice, and lack of proper physical and emotional security.

7. Denial of reasonable freedom and independence to the youngsters.

   Child's basic needs and emotional problems like inferiority, insecurity, jealous make him maladjusted and turn him into a hostile, antisocial and delinquent personality.

8. Acts of peer group, neighbours, mass-media, newspaper, books, magazines and cinema that acquaint children with immortal and antisocial acts.

9. Maladjustment in school- defective curriculum, improper teaching methods, lack of cocurricular activities, slackness in administration and organization, antisocial/ undesirable behaviour of teachers, maltreatment and injustice done to the child.

10. Failure or backwardness.

• Genetic determinants:-

1. Although the research on genetic determinants of antisocial behaviour is far from conclusive, some evidence suggests possible hereditary contributions to criminality.
2. Brain damage and learning disability- brain pathalogy results in lowered inhibitory controls and a tendency towards episodes of violent behaviour. Such adolescents are often hyperactive, impulsive, emotionally unstable and unable to inhibit themselves when strongly stimulated.

• Psychological disorders:-

1. Some delinquent acts appear to be directly associated with behaviour disorders such as hyperactivity. One study reported that over half of Delinquents show evidence of mental disorders and 14 % are judged to have mental disorder with substantial impairment that requires a highly restrictive environment.

• Antisocial traits:- Many habitual delinquents appear to share the traits typical of antisocial personalities like - impulsive, resentful, defiant, devoid of feelings of remorse or guilt, incapable of establishing and maintaining close interpersonal ties and seemingly unable to profit from experience.
• Drug abuse:- Many delinquent acts- particularly theft, prostitution and assault- are directly associated with alcohol or drug use. Most adolescents who abuse hard drugs such as heroin are forced to steal to maintain their habit.

How to deal with it

• Parental education,and good parenting methods can applied on child and can treat and handle child's basic needs and urges.
•  Attempts to save the child from bad company.
• If juvenile institutions have adequate facilities and personnel, they can be of great help to youth who need to be removed from aversive environments. These institutions can give adolescents a chance to learn about themselves and their world, to further their education and develop needed skills for self expression, recreation, manual work and learning of useful crafts, and to find purpose and meaning in their lives and learn moral and social values.
• In such settings, young people may also have the opportunity to receive psychological counseling and group therapy.
• Establishment of special schools, remand homes and special juvenile courts with trained magistrate.
• Taking help from clinical psychologist and psychiatrists.
• Behaviour therapy techniques:- mostly used based on the assumption that delinquent behaviour is learned, maintained and changed according to the some principles as other learned behaviour have shown promise in the rehabilitation of juvenile offenders who require institutionalisation.
• Counselling with parents and related environmental changes are generally of vital importance in a total rehabilitation program, but it is often difficult to get parents involved with incarcerated delinquents.
• Provision to satisfy basic needs and help in their social and emotional readjustment.