Different Theories of Why People Commit Crimes

Module 3 Discussion - Crime Theories
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Module 3 Discussion - Crime Theories
There are different reasons for the criminal intent of a crime. One of the main reasons leading to this element of a crime is based on psychological theories. These demonstrate that criminals may suffer from a psychological abnormality or stress that causes them to commit crimes. Psychological theories are usually developmental and attempt to indicate the development of offending from childhood to adulthood (Juon, Doherty & Ensminger, 2006). The psychological theories emphasize continuity, as opposed to discontinuity, from childhood to adulthood. Psychological theories are the strongest to explain criminality because they consider the complex factors that may contribute to criminal activities. For instance, they consider internal unconscious factors like repressed desires, unresolved childhood traumas, and other unconscious motivations (Moore, 2011). The theories allow an examination of these complex factors to offer insights and motivations into criminality. Additionally, psychological theories consider a broad range of factors like mental health and cognitive processes in criminal behavior. Crime results from various factors, and psychological theories attempt to include them.
The psychodynamic theory is the strongest sub theory to explain criminality within the psychologi...