CC100 Lecture Notes - Lecture 5: Sigmund Freud, Atavism, Renwal
Document Summary
For whatever reason you are born a criminal. Psychological theories focused on the processes of the mind in explaining crime. Crime was seen as externally-caused biological problems (e. g war injury) or internal psychological factors (e. g mental illness) In contrast to the atavistic perspective, the criminal is made, not born. Offenders are seen as sick and treatable. The test of the criminal justice system is to understand the underlying cause of criminality and to develop treatment strategies. Traced to the psychodynamic theories of sigmund freud. Most recent theorists see offending as related to a lack of self control. Childearing is linked to the development of se;f control. Poor childearing (lack of supervision by mother, poor attachment to father) increase the likelihood of criminal offending. Skills gained as part of socialization can help individuals resists criminal opportunities. Personality types are linked to biological predisposed (nature) and developmental experiences (nurture) Hans eysneck suggested criminal behaviour could be explained by two key variables.
