What does psychology have to offer criminology?

Question

I have a criminology exam on April 24th. One of the questions is 'What does psychology have to offer criminology?' I've searched loads of books and website but have so far found nothing that gives enough information to allow me to wite an exam-length question. Can anyone help? Thanks!

Answer 1

It has much to offer, Criminal psychologists can profile criminals based on the information available (age, gender, they way the crime was committed, where, what time, how often, what time of the year etc.) which is helpfull with criminals that repeat their crimes( serial killers, pedofiles...) as well as with catching criminals that a lot infomation is available on (like missing persons). With psychological thinking some behavioural patterns can be predicted or presented as possibilities. It has also given much information on the minds of criminals, for example psychopaths are currently studied in many places and valuable information gathered ( try googling: adrian raine on this subject, he also has some books). Also in the policework psychology has a great part in the upkeep of personels mental healt and ability to work. Therapy is also given to many criminals. Social psychology helps explain the way a person acts in a group, therefore aiding interrogation techniques and tactics in general. Psychology offers much information on such things as fear, emotions, human development, aggression etc. which is all valuable knowledge to criminology.

This is all I can think of, but I bet there is plenty more to know. Most people think of psychology as only therapy, or empathy, where as it is a science of the human mind, applied in many fields. It has very strict ways of research,for example aiming to find out what part of your brain handels fear and what way, can not be executed with question forms or interviews...
Hope this helps, from the internet you might find it usefull to use names you pick up from other web-pages. This way it is easier to keep in the subject and find specific information. Try atleast these as guides to more relevant names: PCL( not a name, but might find it interesting),
Le Doux (fear), Bard (aggression),
Bandura (model learning),
Dencik (violence)
and Loftus (eye-witnes stuff, this one is really quite scary pehenomenon, thinking our current system of judgement)

Anyway, hope this helps, and good luck for the test.

Answer 2

I don't usually advise when it is to do with homework or an exam but in this case I feel thus:

Psychology can offer an insight into the character of the criminal and depending on the 'said type' an estimated behaviour pattern and thought pattern which may help in the process of aiding the police or the criminology department thereof.

Good Luck and Happy Day -
PS Can you give me a freebee session when you qualify!

Answer 3

No person will become criminal by birth, they were forced to make crimes, due to internal and external pressure or circumstances, so they become criminals.

Study of criminals is directly related to the psychology, hence criminology is a part of psychology. Psychologist will interact with them and try to find the reasons how he become a criminal. They take several sessions with him, some time they may have to hypnotise him or even they have to take " narcoanalysis " tests by injecting certain chemicals to them. In these semi conscious state, they will disclose all the details. Which will be helpful both to cops and the psychologist to know the reasons, why people get in to crimes.

This study results will help to understand a criminals mind, and to avoid such crimes in future.

Answer 4

Have you even earned your bachelor's degree yet? Since you mention "majoring" and "minoring," which you don't do on the graduate level, I have to wonder. And I hope you know how long it takes to earn a PhD and what the requirements will be. However, many, many universities offer PhD programs in the fields you mention. -- so many that I can't list them all here. Simply type the name of a university into Google and add "Psychology" or "Sociology". You'll be taken to the departmental website, and it will tell you whether they offer a doctoral program. Click on "graduate or "graduate program" if there's one listed. And look for universities. Colleges don't normally offer graduate programs, because they focus on undergraduate education. See below for an example of the type of website I mean:

Answer 5

This may help-

www.forensicmed.co.uk/psychology.htm

Good luck with the Exam x

Answer 6

If a psychologist can get into the mind of a criminal they can build a profile of that person. eg; lifestyle, habits, behaviours, this can then assisit police in possibly narrowing down their search for a criminal or maybe get one step ahead of them to catch them

Answer 7

Personality profiling, in order to study the effects and causes of criminal behavior....plus to ensure proper rehabilitation for said criminal behavior...as well as proper punishment or laws pertaining to said crimes.