PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME

• NCJ Number: 50819
• Journal: BULLETIN BRITISH PSYCHOLOGICAL SOCIETY Volume: 30 Dated: (AUGUST 1977) Pages: -280-283
• Author(s): R V CLARKE
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 4 pages
• Corporate Author: British Psychological Soc
• Sale Source: Home Office Research Unit
• Language: English
• Country: United Kingdom
• Note: ARTICLE BASED ON A PAPER DELIVERED AT THE FIRST SCIENTIFIC MEETING OF THE DIVISION OF LEGAL AND CRIMINOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY ON MARCH 18, 1977

Annotation

A SUGGESTED APPROACH THAT CONSIDERS SOCIAL AND SITUATIONAL FACTORS IN THE STUDY AND PREVENTION OF CRIME IS EXAMINED.

Abstract

TRADITIONAL TRAIT THEORIES OF CRIME VIEW PARTICULAR INDIVIDUALS AS BEING GENERALLY DISPOSED BY PERSONALITY TO BREAK THE LAW. HOWEVER, AS A DISPOSITION TO OFFEND MUST VARY WITH THE NATURE OF THE OFFENSE FOR ANY INDIVIDUAL, PERSONALITY TRAITS CANNOT BE THE SOLE DETERMINING FACTOR FOR CRIMINAL OFFENSES. THE INFLUENCE ON BEHAVIOR OF THE TYPE OF CRIME AND OF PARTICULAR SITUATIONAL CONTEXTS IS STRESSED. ELEMENTS CONTRIBUTING TO THE OCCURRENCE OF A CRIME BEGIN WITH EARLY ENVIRONMENT, UPBRINGING AND HEREDITY. LIVING CIRCUMSTANCES, ASSOCIATED WITH SOCIOECONOMIC/DEMOGRAPHIC STATUS AND CRISES OR EVENTS, EXPOSE SOME PERSONS MORE FREQUENTLY TO PARTICULAR TYPES OF CRIMINOGENIC SITUATIONS; E.G., THE INNER-CITY RESIDENT WHO IS UNSKILLED AND LOSES HIS JOB MAY BE MOVED TO EXECUTE A ROBBERY. A PERSON'S COGNITIVE AND PERCEPTUAL PROCESSES CAN ALSO INTERACT WITH OTHER ELEMENTS TO SET THE SCENE FOR A CRIME; MOTIVATIONAL STATES (BOREDOM, ANGER, ETC.) MAY ALSO AFFECT THE DECISION TO COMMIT A CRIMINAL ACT. THE EXISTING SITUATION CAN ENCOURAGE THE DEVELOPMENT AND IMPLEMENTATION OF A CRIMINAL PLAN: A POORLY LIT STREET, AN UNLOCKED CAR, OR A SELF-SERVICE STORE CAN PROVIDE AN APPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY FOR A PROSPECTIVE CRIMINAL. THESE ELEMENTS PROVIDE A FRAMEWORK FOR EXPLAINING THE OCCURRENCE OF CRIMINAL EVENTS AS DISTINCT FROM THE DEVELOPMENT OF PERSISTENT OFFENDING. EXISTING EVIDENCE OF THE INEFFECTIVENESS OF PENAL TREATMENT HAS CAUSED ATTENTION TO FOCUS ON CRIME PREVENTION. MOST OF THE ELEMENTS IN THE SUGGESTED FRAMEWORK PRESENT LIMITED POSSIBILITIES FOR INTERVENTION; HOWEVER, SITUATIONS MAY BE MODIFIED BY REDUCING THE OPPORTUNITIES FOR CRIME; E.G., COMPULSORY STEERING LOCKS ON ALL AUTOMOBILES CAN ELIMINATE SOME OPPORTUNITIES FOR CAR THEFT. ALTHOUGH THIS TECHNIQUE MAY NOT MAKE IT POSSIBLE TO CUT EVERY CATEGORY OF CRIME, PARTICULAR OFFENSES CAN BE REDUCED. A DIAGRAM OF THE FRAMEWORK IS PROVIDED. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (JCP)