CHAPTER THREE
CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY:
STUDY OFCRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
Chapter Objectives
At the end of this chapter, the student
should be able to:
/explain what is Psychological Criminology
and sketch it's basis;
/appreciate the Freudian Approach in
studying criminology
/know the nature of normal and abnormal
behavior in the context of criminal
psychology;.
/comprehend the sources of the sexual
dysfunctions leading to sex crimes
PRELIMINARY
What is Psychological Criminology?
Within the Psychological-psychiatric
perspective, it has been psychiatry, and
primarily psychoanalysis, that has made the
most inroads into criminology. Psychiatry is
the older profession, going back to the
earliest days of medicine in dealing with the
problems of mental disease. Psychoanalysis
emerged out of psychiatry with the work of
Sigmund Freud (See Chapter Two).
Psychology, particularly that branch of it
with the most relevance for criminology,
abnormal psychology has come into its own
during the twentieth century.
What they all have in common is the idea
that the causes of criminal behavior
originate in the personality. Personality is
defined as the complex set of emotional
and behavioral attributes that tend to
remain relatively constant as the individual
moves from situation to situation.
What is called the Freudian Approach?
The central concept of psychoanalysis, and
the one that Freud first put forth, is the
unconscious. The concept had been around
before Freud, but he was the one that made
the most out of it,
arguing that traumatic experiences in early
childhood left their mark on the individual
despite the fact that the individual was not
aware of these experiences. The idea of
unconscious determination of behavior flew
headfirst against the idea of free will, and
was quickly jumped on by positivistic
criminology.
The next most important idea is conflict,
and Freud postulated the experience of a
three-part personality ( an idea going back
to Plato) consisting of id, ego, and superego
(see discussion in chapter two) which
operated in constant conflict with one
another (primarily between the id and
superego) producing the basic problem of
guilt which required the use of one or more
defense mechanisms.
The idea of personality conflict as a cause of
crime became quite popular among both
scientists and the general public.
Guilt is a very common problem because of
all the urges and drives coming from the id
and all the prohibitions and codes in the
superego. There are a variety of ways an
individual handle guilt, and these are called
defense mechanisms (see complete list
below)
Of the defense mechanisms, psychoanalysts
have put forward displacement as their
number one choice for explaining crime. A
few criminologists have explored the others,
most notably reaction formation, but the
list remains largely unexhausted because,
essentially, the ideas are untreatable.
Freud also provided a theory of human
development. These ideas revolved around
his terms for the three stages of early
childhood. The oral stage (age 0-2) is when
a person develops there sense of
satisfaction or satiation, of figuring out how
much is enough (e.g. of food and drink)
which has implications for much of an eater,
drinker or smoker a person is in adulthood.
The anal stage (age 2-3) is when a person
develops their sense of orderliness, of
figuring out their preferred levels of
cleanliness (e.g. as in toilet training).
The genital age (ages 3-4) is when a person
develops their sexuality, of figuring out their
sexual preferences and whether they are
capable of real love or not. Male children go
thus what is called an Oedipus complex
(with a comparable Electra complex in
females). Both complexes involve sexual
feelings for the parent of the opposite sex
(and are called "inverted" complexes in case
of homosexuality), and how these feelings
are resolved determines how capable the
person is of real love later in life.
The primary technique of psychoanalysis is
transference, the process of the patient,
through free association and "talk therapy" ,
re-enacting or reliving their early childhood
experiences with the therapist. The
therapist, in short, becomes a love object,
for the patient, by without the therapist
going too far or becoming too involved,
which is called counter-transference.
Without therapy, a person will engage in
amateur transference with other people, a
process whereby they play out a "script " or
replay the same failed relationships over
and over again.
What is Abnormal Psychology Approach?
While Freudians continued to view criminals
as iddominated individuals, there were not
those in psychology who never accepted
this nor the whole psychodynamic model
that frustrations build up from experiences
in early childhood. The abnormal
psychologists were one such group,
preferring to replace terms like neurosis and
psychosis with various disorders, anxiety
disorders, mood disorders, and conduct
disorders. Abnormal psychology is
concerned with mental health, defined as
the capacities to think rationally, cope
effectively, and demonstrate stability and
growth. Mental disorders exist on a
continuum, like blood pressure or
cholesterol levels. The cutoff between
health and disease is somewhat arbitrary.
CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
In general, psychology is the science of
behavior and mental processes. This means
that psychologists use the method of
science to investigate all kinds of behavior
and mental processes, from the activity of a
single nerve cell to a social conflict in a
complex society (Bernstein, et al, 1991) .
In particular criminal Psychology is a sub-
field of general psychology where criminal
behavior is only, in part by which
phenomena psychologists choose to study.
It may be defined as the study of criminal
behavior, the study of recurrent patterns
and to formulate rules about his behavior.
A major description of criminal psychology
is the word behavior. Behavior refers to
actions or activities (Kahayon, 1985). To the
criminologist, behavior is the observable
actions because he is more interested in
actions and reactions that can be seen and
verified than in concepts, which cannot be
directly verified.
Classification of Behavior
(Atkinson, 1993)
Normal behavior ( adaptive or adjusted
behavior) - the standard behavior, the
totality accepted behavior because they
follow the standard norms of society.
Atkinson (1993) also presented that
understanding criminal behavior include the
idea of knowing what characterized a
normal person from an abnormal one. A
normal person is characterized by:
1. Efficient perception of reality
2. Self-knowledge
3. Ability to exercise voluntary control over
his behavior
4. Self-esteem and acceptance
5. Productivity
6. Ability to form affectionate relationship
with others
Abnormal Behavior ( maladaptive /
maladjusted behavior)
A group of behaviors that deviant from
social expectations because they go against
the norms or standard behavior of society
A maladaptive (abnormal) person maybe
understood by the following definitions:
Abnormal behavior according to deviation
of statistical norms based in statistical
frequency
Many characteristics such as weight, height,
an intelligence cover a range of values
when, measured over a population. For,
instance, a person who is extremely
intelligent or extremely happy would be
classified as abnormal.
Abnormal behavior according to deviation
from social norms
A behavior that deprives from the accepted
norms of society is considered abnormal.
However, it is primarily dependent on the
existing norm of such society.
Behavior as maladaptive
Maladaptive behavior is the effect of a well
being of the individual and or the social
group that some kind of deviant behavior
interferes with the welfare of the individuals
such as a man who fears crowd can't ride a
bus. This means that a person cannot adopt
himself with the situation where in it is
beneficial to him.
Abnormal behavior due to personal
distress
This is abnormally in terms of the individual
subjective feelings of distress rather than
the individual behavior. This includes mental
illness, feeling of miserably, depression, and
loss of appetite or interest, suffering from
insomnia and numerous aches and pains.
Abnormality in its legal point
It declares that a person is insane largely on
the basis of his inability to judge between
tight and wrong or to exert control over his
behavior ( Bartok, 1995).
Views on Normal and Abnormal Behavior
The view that normal and abnormal
behavior is different in kind simply does not
exist. There are not "normal" people on the
one hand and "abnormal" people on the
other. Rather, adjustment seems to follow
what is called Normal Distribution - most
people are moderately well adjusted, the
minor maladaptive patterns, a few at one
other extreme enters mental clinics and a
few at the other extreme lead satisfying and
effective lives (Coleman, 1980).
Another consideration in understanding
normal and abnormal behaviors is that, they
depend relatively on the existing social
practice or culture of people in the society,
since an acceptable behavior to one society
may not be accepted or allowed to other
societies or individuals.
KINDS OF BEHAVIOR
As mentioned earlier the important element
in the definition of psychology is behavior.
As cited by Alicia Kahayon , behavior may
be:
Overt or Covert Behavior
Behaviors that are outwardly manifested or
those that are directly observable are overt
behaviors. On the other hand, covert
behavior is behavior that is hidden – not
visible to the naked eye.
Conscious or Unconscious Behavior
Behavior is conscious when acts are with in
the level of awareness. It is unconscious
when acts are embedded in one’s
subconscious – unaware.
Simple or Complex Behavior
These are acts categorized according to the
number of neurons involved in the process
of behaving. Simple behavior involves less
number of neurons while complex behavior
involved more number of neurons, a
combination of simple behaviors.
Rational or Irrational Behavior
There is rational behavior when a person
acted with sanity or reason and there is
irrational behavior when the person acted
with no apparent reason or explanation- as
when a man loses his sanity and laugh out
loud at nobody or nothing in particular.
Voluntary or Involuntary Behavior
Voluntary behavior is an act done with full
volition or will such as when we
discriminate, decide or choose while
involuntary behaviors refers the bodily
processes that foes on even when we are
awake or asleep like respiration, circulation
and digestion.
ASPECTS OF BEHAVIOR
Intellectual Aspect- this aspect of behavior
pertains to our way of thinking, reasoning,
solving problem, processing info and coping
with the environment.
Emotional Aspect- this pertains to our
feelings, moods, tempers, and strong
motivational force.
Social Aspect- this pertains to how we
interact or relate with other people.
Moral Aspect- this refers to our conscience
and concept on what is good or bad.
Psychosexual Aspect- this pertains to our
being a man or a woman and the expression
of love.
Political Aspect- this pertains to our
ideology towards society / government.
Value/ Attitude- this pertains to our interest
towards something, our likes and dislikes.
Political Aspect- this pertains to our
ideology towards society / government.
Value/ Attitude- this pertains to our interest
towards something, our likes and dislikes.
THE CRIMINAL FORMULA
In explaining the birth of criminal behavior,
we must consider three factors: criminalistic
tendency (T), the total situation (S), and the
person’s mental and emotional resistance to
temptation (R). these factors then can be
put into formula as:
C = �𝑇+𝑆�𝑅�
Where:
C – Crime/ Criminal Behavior (the act)
T – Criminal Tendency
(Desire/Intent)
S – Total Situation
(Opportunity)
R – Resistance to Temptation
(Control)
The formula shows that a person’s criminal
tendency and his resistance to them may
either result in criminal act depending
upon, which of them is stronger. This means
that a crime or criminal behavior exist when
the person’s resistance is insufficient to
withstands the pressure of his desire or
intent and the opportunity (Tradio, 1983).
In understanding this, the environment
factors such as stress and strains are
considered because they contribute in
mobilizing a person’s criminal tendency and
the individual’s psychological state while
resistance temptation arises from the
emotional, intellectual and social upbringing
and is either manifestation of a strong or
weak character.
In another way of understanding how crime
exist in general, there are three elements or
ingredients that must be present at the
same time and place for crime to a happen.
These are the Motive, the Instrumentality
and the Opportunity.
These three elements compose the
Anatomy of Crime.
The Motive refers to the reason or cause
why a person or group of persons will
perpetrate a crime. Examples are dispute,
economic gain, jealousy, revenge, insanity,
thrill, intoxication, drug addiction and many
others.
The Instrumentality is the means or
implement used in the commission of the
crime. Examples are firearms, a bolo, a
knife, poisonous substance, crow bar, motor
vehicle and many others. Both motive and
instrumentality belong to and harbored and
wielded respectively by the criminal.
The opportunity consists of the acts of
omission and/or commission by a person
(the victim), which enables another person
or group of persons (the criminal/s) to
perpetrate the crime. Illustrative examples
include leaving one’s home unattended for
a long period of time, walking alone in a
well-known crime prone alley, wearing
expensive jewelries in crowded areas and
other similar scenarios. Whether a crime
incident would happen or not, it will
depend on the presence and merging of
Motive, Instrumentality and opportunity at
the same time and the same place. The
absence of any of the ingredient will not
suffice for crime to exist.
DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR
The questions why do people become
heterosexual and others homosexual, some
are alcoholics, some are law abiding and
others are criminals, come are well adjusted
and others mentally ill? What will enable us
to understand these extremes of behavior?
The answer to these questions requires the
study and understanding of the influences
of HEREDITY and ENVIRONMENT. As cited
by Tuason:
Heredity (Biological Factors)
This refers to the genetic influences, those
that are explained by heredity, the
characteristics of a person acquired from
birth transferred from one generation to
another. It explains that certain emotional
aggression, our intelligence, ability and
potentials and our physical appearance are
inherited.
It influences all aspects of behavior,
including intellectual capabilities, reactions,
tendencies and stress tolerance. This will
also explain the conditions that genes,
diseases, malnutrition, injuries and other
conditions that interferes with normal
development are potential causes of
abnormal/ criminal behavior.
It is the primary basis of the idea concerning
criminal behavior, the concept that
“criminals are born”.
It also considers the influences of genetic
defects and faulty genes, diseases,
endocrine imbalances, malnutrition and
other physical deprivations that can be
carried out from one generation to another.
Environmental Factors
This refers to anything around the person
that influences his action. James Coleman in
his book mentioned some environmental
factors such as:
Family Background- it is a basic
consideration because it is in the family
whereby an individual first experience how
to relate and interact with another. The
family is said to be the cradle of personality
development as a result of either a close or
harmonious relationship or a pathogenic
family structure: the disturbed family,
broken family, separated or maladjusted
relations.
Childhood Trauma- the experiences, which
affect the feeling of security of a child
undergoing developmental processes. The
development processes are being blocked
sometimes by parental deprivation as a
consequence of parents or lack of adequate
maturing at home because of parental
rejection, overprotection, restrictiveness,
over permissiveness, and faulty discipline.
Pathogenic Family Structure- those families
associated with high frequency of problems
such as:
• The Inadequate Family – people behave criminally, it is important to
characterized by the inability to cope
with the ordinary problems of family
living. It lacks the resources, physical
of psychological, for meeting the
demands of family satisfaction.
b.The anti-social family – those that
espouses unacceptable values as a result of
the influence of parents to their children.
c.The discordant/disturbed family –
characterized by non-satisfaction of one or
both parent from the relationship that may
express feeling of frustration. This is usually
due to value differences as common sources
of conflict and dissatisfaction.
d.The disrupted family- characterized by
the incompleteness whether as a result of
death, divorce, separation or some other
circumstances.
Other Factors
In the environment, the following are also
factors that are influential to one’s behavior:
• Institutional influences such as peer
groups, mass media, church and
school, government institutions,
NGO’s, etc.
• Socio-cultural factors such as war and
violence, group prejudice and
discrimination, economic and
employment problems and other
social changes.
• Nutrition or the quality of food that a
person intake is also a factor that
influence man to commit crime
because poverty is one of the may
reasons to criminal behavior.
OTHER DETERMINANTS OF BEHAVIOR
In order to further understand and provide
answers on the question that why do some
study the other determinants of behavior.
These are needs, drives and motivation.
Needs and Drives
Need, according to a drive reduction theory,
is a biological requirement for well being of
the individual. This need creates drives- a
psychological state of arousal that prompts
someone to take action (Bernstein, et.al,
1991). Drive therefore is an aroused state
that results from some biological needs.
The aroused condition motivates the person
to remedy the need. For example, if you
have no water for some time, the chemical
balance of the body fluids is disturbed,
creating a biological need is a drive- thirst-
that motivates you to find and drink water.
In other words, drives push people to satisfy
needs.
Motivation
Motivation on the other hand refers to the
influences that govern the initiation,
direction, intensity, and persistence of
behavior (Bernstein, et al, 1991). Thus,
motivation refers to the causes and “why’s”
of behavior as required by a need.
Motivation is the hypothetical concept that
stands for the underlying force impelling
behavior and giving it’s direction (Kahayon,
1975).
Drives are states of comfortable tension
that spur activity until a goal is reached.
Drive and motivation are covered in the
world of psychology, for they energize
behavior and give direction to man’s action.
For example, a motivated individual is
engaged in a more active, more vigorous,
and more effective that unmotivated one,
thus a hungry person directs him to look for
food.
The needs can be classified as biological or
psychological needs.
B.Psychological Needs
Psychological needs are
influenced primarily by the kind
of society in which the individual
is raised. Psychological motives
are those related to the
individual happiness and well-
being, but not for his survival ,
unlike the biological motives that
focuses on basic needs- the
primary motives.
Relation among Motives
Bernstein, et al (1991) offered that any
time, many motives might guide a person’s
behavior. What determines which ones will?
Abraham Maslow (1970) have given a
perspective that addresses this question. He
suggested basic classes of needs, or
motives, influencing human behavior. These
motives are organized in a hierarchy.
Abraham Maslow has suggested that
human needs form a hierarchy from the
most basic biological requirements to the
needs for self-actualization- the highest of
all needs.
The pyramidal presentation shows that
from bottom to the top of the hierarchy, the
levels of needs or motive according to
Maslow, are:
• Biological or Psychological Needs-
these motives include the need for
food, water, oxygen, activity, and
sleep.
• Safety Needs- these pertains to the
motives of being cared for and being
secured such as income and place to
live.
• Love/Belongingness- belongingness is
integration into various kinds of social
groups or social organizations. Love
needs means need for affection.

4.Cognitive Needs- our motivation for
learning and exploration.
5.Esteem Needs- our motivation for an
honest, fundamental respect for a person as
a useful and honorable human being.
6.Aesthetic Needs- our motivation for
beauty and order.
7.Self- actualization- pertains to human
total satisfaction, when people are
motivated not so much by unmet needs, as
by the desire to become all they are capable
of (self-realization).
According to the Maslow’s formulation, the
level that commands the individuals’
attention and effort is ordinarily the lowest
one on which there is an unmet need. For
example, unless needs for food and safety
are reasonably well-met behavior will be
dominated by these needs and higher
motives are of little significant. With their
gratification, however, the individual is free
to devote time and effort to meet higher
level. In other words, one level must at least
be partially satisfied before those at the
next level become determiners of action.
Frustration, Conflict and Anxiety
Frustration refers to the unpleasant feelings
that result from the blocking of motive
satisfaction. It is a form of stress, which
results in tension. It is a feeling that is
experienced when something interferes
with our hopes, wishes, plans and
expectations (Coleman, 1980).
The common sources of frustration are:
• Physical obstacles- are physical
barriers or circumstances that
prevents a person from doing his plan
or fulfilling his wishes.
• Social circumstances- are restrictions
or circumstances imposed by other
people and the customs and laws of
social living.
• Personal Shortcoming- such as being
handicapped by diseases, deafness,
paralysis, etc. which serves as a barrier
to the things one ought to do.
• Conflicts between motives.
Conflict refers to the simultaneous arousal
of two or more incompatible motives
resulting to unpleasant emotions. It is a
source of frustration because it is a threat to
normal behavior (Bernstein, et al 1991).
Types of Conflicts
• Double Approach Conflict- a person is
motivated to engage in two desirable
activities that cannot be pursued
simultaneously.
• Double Avoidance Conflict- a person
faces two undesirable situations in
which the avoidance of one is the
exposure to the other resulting to an
intense emotion.
3.Approach-Avoidance Conflict- a person
faces situation having both a desirable and
undesirable feature. It is sometimes called
“dilemma”, because some negative and
some positive features must be accepted
regardless which course of action is chosen.
4.Multiple Approach-Avoidance Conflict – a
situation in which a choice must be made
between two or more alternatives each has
both positive and negatives features. It is
the most difficult to resolve because the
features of each portion are often difficult
to compare.
Anxiety is an intangible feeling that seems
to evade any effort of to resolve it . It is also
called neurotic fear . It could be intense. It
could be low and can be a motivating force
(Coleman, 1980).
Stress is the process of adjusting to or
dealing with circumstances that disrupts, or
threatens to disrupt a person`s physical or
psychological functioning (Bernstine, etal,
1991)
The Ego Defense Mechanisms
As introduced in the preliminary regarding
the Freudian view the defense mechanisms
are the unconscious techniques to prevent a
person`s self image from being damaged.
When stress becomes quite strong, an
individual strives to protect his self-
esteem , avoiding defeat . We all use ego
defense mechanisms to protect us from
anxiety and maintain our feeling of personal
worth. We consider them normal adjustive
reactions when they are use to excess and
threaten self – integrity (Bernstein,et al,
1991).
Robert Wicks (1974) cited the following ego
defense mechanisms :
• Denial of Reality - Protection of one
self unpleasant reality by refusal to
perceive or face it. Simply by avoiding
something that is unpleasant .
• Fantasy- the gratification of frustrations
desires in imaginary achievement.
Paying attention not to what is going on
around him but rather to what is taking
in his thoughts .
• Projection – placing blame for
difficulties upon others or attributing
one`s own unethical desires to others in
an effort to prevent our selves being
blamed.
• Rationalization – the use of excuses an
individual to him and to others .
Attempting to prove that one`s behavior
is justifiable and thus worthy of self and
social approval
• Reaction formation- it occurs when
someone tries to prevent his submission
to unacceptable impulses by taking
opposite stand. Preventing dangerous
desires from being expresses by
exaggerating opposed attitudes and
types of behavior and using them as
barriers.
• Displacement- Discharging pent- up
emotion on objects less dangerous
than those that initially aroused the
emotion .
• Emotional insulation- withdrawal is
passivity to protect self from hurt .
• Isolation/Intellectualization- Series to
cut off the emotion from a situation,
which is normally is full of feeling.
Regression- revert from a past behavior to
retreating to earlier development envolving
less mature responses and usually a lower
level of aspiration .
Sublimation- gratification of frustrated
sexual desire in substitute men sexual
activities
Identification- increasing feeling of worth
by identifying self with person or institution.
The person can associate himself with
something or someone to elevate position
Introjection- incorporating external values
and standards into ego structures so
individual is not at their mercy as external
threats.
The acceptance of other`s values even they
are contrary to one `s own assumption .
Undoing- apologizing for wrongs,
repentance doing penance and undergoing
punishment to negate a dis-approval act .
Symphatism- striving to gain symphaty from
others. The person seek to be praised by
relating faults or problems.
Acting out – reduction of the anxiety
aroused by forbidden desires by permitting
their expression. The individual deals with
all impulse by expressing them.
THE HUMAN VALUES
Human values are relevant in
understanding human behavior. They are
the standards which people use to cognize,
express, and evaluate behavior as right or
wrong, just or unjust, appropriate or
inappropriate. Values are also guide which
people use to evaluate
Their behavior thus give direction to their
lives. They are the enduring preferences for
mode of conduct or state of existence.
How are values acquired? They are acquired
through the influence of the rewards and
punishments meted out by our parents,
teachers and peers. For instance, at home
there is the teaching of control, cleanliness
and good manners, in school there is
competition and learning in conformity with
a bigger group, morality and the teachings
of the church, the exposure to mass media
and the government influences. The
accumulations of these values continue to
change as we continue to face different
experiences.
Feeling, aspirations, attitudes and belief are
also considered values if they are chosen
freely, chosen from alternatives, prized and
cherished, publicly affirmed, and acted
upon repeatedly.
COMMON SENSE
the science of behavior has one of its goals
the elimination of widespread
misconceptions that are now considered
valid such as numerology and palmistry,
although still accepted by some people
today to predict events and conditions
(Wick 1974).
Common sense is a commonly health
notion where truth is not dependent on
judgement which is based purely on
observation, thus it lacks the organization of
thoughts and jumps to conclusion
immediately.
Common sense is worthy of particular
attention. Moreover, a deeper
understanding of the psychological
principles and their application to the field
of law enforcement and in understanding
criminal behavior would indeed be of
assistance to police officers.
Criminal psychology requires the study of
common sense. The development of the
ordinary good senses is important in the
examination of the existence of a fact
before a conclusion is drawn. In psychology,
scientific method must be made and
therefore judgement is suspected until all
facts had been analyzed. This is not true in
the case of common sense. This is to show
that what often passes for a commonsense
conclusion concerning behavior is not
always true, and that the science of
behavior has as one of its goals the
elimination of widespread misconceptions
and wrong judgement. Thus, it is our
responsibility to further advance our
knowledge so that we can replace myths
with facts and learn to recognize errors
(wicks, 1974)
Of course , common sense is useful in
understanding criminal behavior because it
can provide the opportunity to reflect on
how it affects the person’s present view of
life particularly in decision making as in the
case of police use of direction.
PERSPECTIVE ON THE CAUSES OF
CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
The commission of crime may be the result
of complicated factors and causes. The
following are some of the perspective about
the causes of criminal behavior (Coleman,
1980)
1. Anxiety (Psychological Perspective) –
stressful situations that when that when
become extreme may result to maladaptive
behaivior.
2. Faulty Learning (Behavior Perspective) –
the failure to learn the necessary adaptive
behavior due to wrongful development.
This usually result to delinquent behavior
based on the failure to learn the necessary
social values and norms.
3. Blocked of Distorted Personal Growth
(Humanistic Perspective) – presumably,
human nature tends towards cooperation
and constructive activities, however, if we
show aggression, cruelty or other violent
behavior, the result will be an unfavorable
environment.
4.Unsatisfactory Interpersonal Relationship
– self concept in early childhood by over
critical parents or rigid socialization
measures usually causes deviant behaviors
among individuals because they are not
contented and even unhappy to the kind of
social dealings they are facing.
5.Pathological Social Conditions – poverty,
social discrimination, and destructive
violence always results to deviant behavior
Classification of the Causes of Criminal
Behavior
Coleman (1980) stated that regardless of
one's theoretical, orientation, several terms
is in common usage regarding causes of
abnormal or criminal behavior, the
following are used:
1. The primary Cause - used to designate
the condition without which the disorder
would not have occurred. The main reason
of the existence of the disorder.
2. The Predisposing Cause - a condition that
comes before and paves the way for a
possible later occurrence of disorder under
certain conditions.
3. The Precipating Caused - a condition that
proves too much for the individual and
triggers the disorder
4. The Reinforcing Cause - a condition that
tends to maintain maladaptive behavior
that is already occurring.
PATTERNS OF CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
Neurosis and Psychosis are terms used to
describe the mental status of a certain
psychologically unstable person. They are
frequently used in reports and articles and
even in everyday conversation s, so today's
criminologists and law enforcement
personnel are expected to be familiar with
them (Wicks, 1974).
The American Psychiatric Association or APA
as mentioned in the preliminary discussion,
published in 1917 the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders
(DSM) which provided a diagnostic
classification system of disorders. The
system allows the evaluation of disorders on
five dimensions, or axes, which together
provide a picture of a person's problm. In
it's of it's edition, th DSM has included more
categories (Bernstein, et al, 1991).
For the purposes of discussion, the DSM III
has been selected as the reference in
grouping what criminologist call pattern of
criminal behavior.
Criminal behavior may be patterned from
the three main groups of maladaptive/
criminal behavior, which are the Neurotic/
Psychoneurotic Behavior, Psychopathic
Behaviors, and the Psychotic Behavor.
NEUROTIC (Psychoneurotic) BEHAVIORS
Neurotic/Psychoneurotic behavior are
groups of mild functional personality
disorders in which there is no gross
personality disorganization, the inividual
does not lose contact with reality, and
hospitalization is required.
Neurotic embraces a wide range of
behaviors that are the core of most
maladaptive life style. Basic to this neurotic
life style are:
1. Neurotic Nucleus – the faulty evaluation
of reality and thee tendency to avoid rather
that to cope with stress. It is characterized
by anxiety, avoidance instead of coping, and
blocked personal growth.
2. Neurotic Paradox – the tendency to
maintain the life style despite its
maladaptive nature. It is characterized by
unhappiness and dissatisfaction. “The
neuroses” are grouped into the following
disorders:
• Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are commonly known as
“neurotic fear”. When it is occasional but
intense, it is called “panic”. When it is mid
but continuous, its is called “worry” which is
usually accompanied by physiological
symptoms such as sustained muscular
tension, increased blood pressure,
insomnia, etc. they are considered as the
central feature of all neurotic patterns..
These disorders are characterized by mild
depressions , fear and tensions, and mild
stresses.
Classification of Anxiety Disorders
Obsessive – compulsive disorders
Obsessions usually centered on fear that
one will submit to an uncontrollable
impulse to do something wrong.
Compulsion on the other
Hand resulted from repetitive act (wicks,
1974). An obsessive – compulsive disorder
is characterized by the following: when an
individual is compelled to think about
something that he do not want to think
about or carry some actions against his will,
and the experience of persistent thoughts
that we cannot seem to get out of our
minds such as thoughts about haunting
situations.
Asthenic Disorders (Neurasthenia)
An anxiety disorder characterized by chronic
metal and physical fatigue in various aches
and pains. Symptoms include spending too
much sleep to avoid fatigue but no to avail,
even feel worse upon awake, headaches,
indigestion, backpains and dizziness.
Phobic Disorders
This refers to the persistent fear on some
objects or situation that present no actual
danger to the person
There are many phobic disorders of persons
many of us experience fear in different
levels and at different times. Unaware, we
are actually in the state of suffering phobic
disorders.
B.Somatoform Disorders
Complaints of bodily symptoms that suggest
the presence of physical problem but no
organic basis can be found. The individual is
pre – occupied with his state of health or
diseases
Classification of Somatoform Disorders
Hypochondriasis
This refers to the excessive concern about
state of health or physical condition
(multiplicity about illness)
A hypochondriacally person tends to seek
medical advises, but hes fear is not lessened
by his doctor`s reassurances , and he may
be disappointed when no physical problem
is found.
Psychogenic Pain Disorder
It is characterized by the report of sever and
lastingpain. Either no physical basis is
apparent reaction greatly in excess of what
would be expected from the physical
abnormality.
Conversion Disorders (Hysteria)
It is a neurotic pattern in which symptoms
of some physical malfunction or loss of
control without any underlying organic
abnormality.
Sensory Symptoms of Hysteria
1. Anesthesia – loss of sensitivity
2. Hyperesthesia – excessive sensitivity
3. Hypesthesia – partial loss of sensitivity to
pain
4. Analgesia – loss of sensitivity to pain
5. Paresthesia – exceptional sensation
Motor Symptoms of Hysteria
• Paralysis- selective loss of function
• Astasia-abasia- inability to control
leg when standing
• Aphonia- Partial inability to speak
• Mutism-total inability to speak
Visceral Symptoms of Hysteria
1. Choking Sensation
2. Coughing spells
3. Difficulty in Breathing
4. Cold clammy extremities
5. Naurea
C. Dissociative Disorders
A response to obvious stress characterized
by amnesia, multiple personally, and
depersonalization.
Amnesia
The partial or total inability to recall or
identity past experiences following a
traumatic incident.
1. Brain Pathology amnesia – total loss of
memory and it cannot be retrieved by
simple means, it requires long period of
medication.
2. Psychogenic amnesia – failure to recall
stored information and still they are
beneath the level of consciousness but
“forgotten Material.”
Multiple Personality
It is also called “dual personalities.” The
reason manifest two or more symptoms of
personality usually dramatically different.
Depersonalization
The loss of sense of self or the so-called out
of body experience. There is a feeling of
detachment from one’s mental processes or
body being in a dream state. Cases of
somnambulism (sleep walking) may fall
under this disorder.
D. Mood Disorders (Affective Disorders)
Moods disorders often referred to as
affective disorders however the critical
pathology in these disorders is one of the
mood which is the internal state of a
person, and not of affect, the external
expression of emotional content. (Manual
or Mental Disorder).
Mood disorders are group of clinical
condition characterized by a loss of sense of
control their moods and affects, and a
subjective experience of great distress
mood may be elevated on depressed. These
disorders always result in impaired
interpersonal, social and occupational
functioning.
Classification of Mood Disorders • Schizoid Personality Disorder
Depressive Disorders This is characterized by the
Major depressive Disorders –Patients with inability to form social
depressed mood have a loss of energy and relationship and lack of
interest, feeling or guilt, difficulty interest in doing so. The
concentrating, loss of appetite, and person seem to express their
thoughts of death or suiside, they are not feelings, they lack social
affected with manic episode. skills. They are the so-called
Dynamic Disorders – a mind form of major “loners’.
depressive disorder • Schizotypal Personality Disorder
Bipolar Disorders –those experience by It is characterized by
patients with both manic and depressive seclusiveness , over
episodes. sensitivity, avoidance of
Cyclothymic Disorders - a less severe form communication and
of bipolar disorder superstitious thinking is
common.
Psychopathic Behaviors
This pertains to the second group of • Histrionic Personally Disorder
abnormal behaviors, which typically It is characterized by
stemmed from immature and disorders immaturity, excitability
personality development, resulting in emotional instability and self-
persistent maladaptive ways of preceving dramatization.
and thinking. • Narcissistic Personality Disorder
They are generally called “personality or It is characterized by an
character disorders”. These groups of exaggerated sense of self-
disorders are composed of the following: importance and pre-
occupation with receiving
A. Personality Disorders attention. The person usually
The disorder of character, the person is expects and demands special
characterized as a “problematic” without treatment from orders and
psychoses. This disorder characterized disregarding the rights and
disrupted personal relationship, dependent feeling of others
or passive aggressive behavior.
The classifications of personally disorders as • Borderline Personality Disorder
cited by Coleman (1980) are: it is characterized by
Paranoid Personally Disorder instability reflected in drastic
It is characterized by mood shift and behavior
suspicious, rigidity, envy, problem s. the person usually
hypersensitivity, excessive display intense anger
self-importance, with being outburst with little
argumentative and tendency provocation and he is
to blame others of one’s own impulsive, under predictable,
mistakes. and periodically unstable.
• Avoidant Personality Disorder
 It is characterized by
hypersensitivity to rejection
and apprehensive alertness
to any sign of social
derogation. Person is
reluctant to enter into social
interaction.
• Dependent Personality Disorder
It is characterized by extreme
dependence on other people
– there is acute discomfort
and even panic to be alone.
The person lacks confidence
and feels helpless.
• Passive-Aggressive Personality
Disorder
It is characterized by being
hostile expressed in indirect
and non-violent ways. They
are so called “Stubborn”.
• Compulsive Personality Disorder
It is Characterized by excessive
concern with rules, order and
efficiency that everyone does things
their way and an ability to express
warm feeling. The person is over
conscientious, serious and with
difficulty in doing things for
relaxation.
• Anti-social Personality Disorder
It is characterized by
continuing violation of the
rights of others aggressive,
antisocial behavior without
remorse or loyalty to anyone.
Anti-social personality is
actually the “psychopathic
personality disorder”. The
person lacks ethical or moral
development and the
inability to follow approved
models of behavior. They are
the “unsocialized” people
which, often bring them
conflict which the society.
They maybe refer to mixed
groups of individuals such us
unprincipled business
people, crooked politicians,
drug pushers, quack doctors,
prostitutes, etc.
Common Characteristic of Anti-Social
Personalities
1. Inadequate conscience development and
unable to accept ethical values
2. Irresponsible and impulsive behavior; low
frustration tolerance
3. Ability to impress and exploit others;
projecting blame unto others of their own
anti-social acts.
4. Rejection of authority
5. Inability to maintain good interpersonal
relationship.
B. Criminal Behavior
The disorder used to describe the behavior
of a person who commits serious crimes
from individual to property crimes and the
disobedience societal rules in general.
“Dyssocial Personality” is the term used to
refer to these individuals (not anti-social)
but particularly those who violet law and
practice “crime as a profession”. They are
not normally associated with any significant
personality disturbances.
As a study, criminal behavior refers to the
human conduct focused on the mental
processes of the criminal the way he
behaves or acts including this activities and
the causes and influences of his criminal
behavior.
PSYCHOTIC BEHAVIOR
The psychotic behavior are group of
disorders involving gross structural defects
in the brain tissue, severe disorientation of
the mind thus it involves loss of contact
with reality.
A. Organic Mental Disorders
A diagnosis of organic cause, such as
abnormalities of the brain structures. These
are mental disorder that occurs when the
normal brain has been damage resulted
from any interface of the functioning of the
brain.
Types of Organic Mental Disorder
(Coleman, 1980)
Acute Brain Disorder – caused by a diffuse
impairment of the brain function. Its
symptoms range from mild mood changes
to acute delirium.
Chronic brain disorders – the brain disorder
that result from injuries, diseases, drugs and
a variety of other condition, its symptoms
include impairment of orientation (time,
place, and person), impairment of memory,
learning comprehension and judgment,
emotion and self-control.
Groups of Organic Mental Disorders
(Coleman, 1980)
Delirium – the severe impairment of
information processing in the brain affecting
the basic process of attention, perception,
memory and thinking.
Dementia – determination of intellectual
functioning after completing brain
maturation. There is a defect in the process
acquiring or skill, problem solving, and
judgment.
Amnestic Syndrome – the inability to
remember on going events more than a few
minutes after they have taken place.
Hallucinosis – The persistent occurrence of
hallucinations, the false perception that
arise full wakefulness state. This includes
hallucinations on visual hearing or both.
Organic Delusional Syndrome - the false
belief arising in a setting of known or
suspected brain damage.
Organic Affective Syndrome – The
extreme/severe manic or depressive state
with the impairment of the several function.
Organic Personally Syndrome - the general
personally changes following brain damage.
General - also called “dementia paralytic” a
syphilitic infection of the brain and
involving impairment of the CNS
B. Disorders involving Brain Tumor
A tumor is a new growth involving abnormal
enlargement of the body tissue. Brain
tumor can cause a variety of personality
alteration, and it may lead to any neurotic
behavior and consequently psychotic
behavior.
C. Disorders Involving Head Injury
Injury to head as a result of falls blows and
accident causing sensory and motor
disorders; and metal disorder such as:
a. Retrograde Amnesia – the inability to
recall events immediately preceding the
injury
b. Intra cerebral Hemorrhage - gross
bleeding at the site of damage.
c. Petechial Hemorrhage – small spot of
bleeding at the site of damage
These injuries may also impair language and
other related sensory motor functions and
may result to brain damage.
a. Auditory Aphasia – loss of ability to
understand spoken words
b. Expressive Aphasia – loss of ability to
speak required words
c. Nominal Aphasia – loss of ability to recall
names of objects
d. Alexia – loss of ability to read
e. Apraxia – loss of ability to perform simple
voluntary acts.
D. Senile and Presenile Dementia
a. Senile Dementia – mental disorder that
accompanied by brain degeneration due to
old age.
b. Presenile Dementia – mental disorder
associated with earlier degeneration of the
brain
E. Mental Retardation
Mental retardation is a mental characterized
by sub-average general functioning existing
concurrency with deficits in adaptive
behavior. It is a common mental disorder
before the age of 18. The person is suffering
from low I.Q difficulty in focusing attention
and deficiency in fast learning.
Levels of Mental Retardation
1. Mild Mental Retardation
(I.Q. 52-67)- “educable”
2. Moderate Mental Retardation
(I.Q. 36-51)- “trainable”
3. Severe Mental Retardation
(I.Q. 20-35) – “Dependent retarded”
4. Profound Mental Retardation
(I.Q under 20)- “life support Retarded”
F. Schizophrenia and Paranola
Schizophrenia- Refers to the group of
psychotic disorders characterized by gross
distortions of realty withdrawal of social
interaction, disorganization and
fragmentation of perception thoughts and
emotion. It also refers to terms such as
“metal deterioration”, “Dementla praecox,
or “Split mind’’.
Types of Schizophrenia
1. Simple Schizophrenia (Undifferentiated
Type) – the Schizophrenia in which
symptoms are rapidly changing mixture of
all primary indicators of Schizophrenia. The
varying combinations of deluscions,
hallucinations, thought disorders and gross
bizarreness.
2. Paranoid Schizophrenia – it is the illogical
changeable delusions frequently
accompanied Hallucination with a resulting
impairment of critical judgment
unpredictable and occasionally dangerous
behavior.
3. Catatonic Schizophrenia – it is the
alternating period of extreme withdrawal
and extreme excitement the individual may
talk or shout incoherently and engage
uninhibited, impulsive behavior. The person
may be dangerous.
4. Hebephrenic Schizophrenia –
(Disorganized type) – there is a emotional
distortion manifested in inappropriate
laughter, peculiar mannerism and bizarre
behavior.
5. Residual Schizophrenia - it is used for
person who have a prior episode of
Schizophrenia but currently are not
displaying active delucions, or overall
hallucination, or overall disorganization of
behavior.
Paranoia – It is a psychosis characterized by
systemized delusional system. A delusion is
a firm belief opposed to reality but
maintained in spite of strong evidence to
the contrary it also a psychosis
characterized by delusion of the
apprehension following a failure or
frustration
Symptoms of the Disorder includes feeling
of being mistreated ignored, stolen from,
spied upon, and over suspicious.
a. Suspiciousness - The individual mistrust
the motives of others and fear that he will
be taken advantage.
b. Protective thinking- Blame others for
one’s own mistake
c. Hostility – Response to alleged
mistreatment with anger and hostility the
person becomes increasing suspicious.
d. Paranoid illumination – Strange feeling of
events being experienced.
e. Delusion – feeling of persecution.
AFFECTIVE DISORDERS
Psychoactive substance-use disorders such
as alcoholism affects millions of people
addiction and psychological dependence of
the substances create disastrous personal
and social problems (Bernstein 1991)
The Addictive groups of disorders include
substance use, obesity and pathological
gambling
Substance Use
(Alcohol and Drug Abuse)
Alcoholism or “problem drinking” is an
addictive source of human disorders. It is
evident by its general effects as follows:
1. It serves as a depressant
b. It numbs the higher brain center
c. It impairs judgment and other rational
d. it lowers self-control
e. Deterioration of perception
Drug abuse or the inappropriate/misuse is a
threat to normal behavior. It is an addictive
disorder, the fact that causes both physical
and psychological dependency to the drug.
Pathological Gambling
It is an addictive form f disorder, which does
not involve chemically addictive
SEXUAL DISORDERS
Sexual deviation to the impairment to either
the desire for sexual gratification or in the
ability to achieve it. (Coleman, 1980).
The sexual disorders are common causation
of sex crimes Solic (1987) presented the
criminological characteristics of sex crimes
as:
a. an ancient and universal crime.
b. there is a close contract between
offender and victim,
c. it is committed by one sex against the
opposite sex,
d. sex is an invorn,
e. sex as a crime depends on the existing
moral value,
f. many sex crimes are committed and not
reported,
g, it is committed in strict privacy,
h. it is a common crime among the lower
class of society
i. unlike other crimes, sex crimes can be
pardoned by marriage,
j. there is a seasonal variation in the
frequency of its commission,
k. severity of punishment does not deter its
commission,
l. Its consequence (pregnancy) becomes a
legal problem,
m. The usual victims are children,
n. psychic trauma suffered by the victim
varies with the moral standard of the victim.
Those Affecting Males
1. Erectile insufficiency (Impotency) – it is a
sexual disorder characterized by the
inability to achieve or maintain erection for
successful intercourse
2. Pre-mature Ejaculation – it is the
unsatisfactory brief period of sexual
stimulation that results to the failure of the
female partner to achieve satisfaction.
3. Retarded Ejaculation – it is the inability to
ejaculate during intercourse – resulting to
worry between partners.
Those affecting Women
1. Arousal insufficiency (Frigidity) – a sexual
disorders characterized by partial or
complete failure to attain the lubrication or
swelling response of sexual excitement by
the female partner.
2. Organismic Dysfunction – a sexual
disorder characterized by the difficulty in
achieving orgasm
3. Vaginismus – The involuntary spasm of
the muscles at the entrance to the vagina
that prevent penetration of the male sex
organ.
4. Dyspareunia – it is called painful
coitus/painful sexual acts in women
Sexual behavior leading to Sex Crimes
As to Sexual Reversals
Homosexuality – it is a sexual behavior
directed towards the same sex. It also called
“’lesbian/tribadism” for female relationship
Transvestism – refers to the achievement of
sexual excitation by dressing as a member
of the opposite sex such a man who wears
female apparel.
Fetishism –Sexual gratification is obtained
by looking at some body parts, underwear
of the opposite sex or other associated with
the opposite sex.
As to the Choice of Partner
Pedophilia - a sexual prevention where
person has the compulsive desire to have
sexual intercourse with the child or either
sex.
Bestiality – the sexual gratification is
attained by having sexual intercourse
Auto Sexual (self-
gratification/masturbation) – it is also called
self-abuse, sexual satisfaction is carried out
without the cooperation of another.
Gerotophilla – is a sexual desire with an
elder with corpse.
Incest – a sexual relation between the
person who, by reason of blood relationship
cannot legally marry.
As to sexual Urge
Satyriasis – An excessive ( sexual urge)
desire of men to have sexual intercourse
Nymphomania – a strong sexual feeling of
women with an excessive sexual urge.
As os Sexual expression
Oralism – its is a use of mouth or tongue as
a way of sexual satisfaction.
a. Fellatio – male sex organ to the mouth of
the women coupled with the act of sucking
that initiates organism.
b. Cunnilingus- sexual gratification is
attained by licking the eternal female
genitalia.
c. Anilism (annilingus) – licking the anus of
the sexual partner
d. Sado-Masochism (Algolagnia)-
pain/cruelty for sexual gratification.
Sadism – achievement of sexual stimulation
and gratification the infliction of the
physical pain on the sexual partner. It may
also be associated with the animals or
objects instead of human beings.
Masochism - infliction of the pain one self
to achieve sexual pleasure.
As to Part of the body
Sodomy – is a sexual act through the anus
of the sexual partner
Uranism - sexual gratification is attained
through gingering holding the breast of
licking part of the body.
Frottage – the act of rubbing the sex
organs against body parts of another person
Partailism - It refers to the sexual libido on
any part ogf the body of sexual partner.
As to visual stimulus
Voyeurism – the person is commonly called
the peeping Tom, an achievement of sexual
pleasure through clandestine peeping such
as peeping to dressing room, couples room,
toilets etc. and frequently the person
masturbate during the peeping activity.
Scopophilia – the intentional act of
watching people undress or during sexual
intimacies.

As to Number of Participants in the Sexual

Act
Troilism – three person participate in sex
orgy such a s two women versus on man
vice versa
Plarulism – group of people on sexual orgies
such a couple to couple sexual relation, it is
also called “sexual festival”

Other Sexual Abnormalities

Exhibitionism - is called "indecent

exposure" intentional exposure of genitals
to members of the opposite sex under
inappropriate conditions.
Coprolalia - the use of obscene language to
achieve sexual satisfaction
Don Juanism - the act of seducing women
as a career without permanency of sexual
partner or companion.