What compels someone to commit a violent crime—or repeatedly break the law? Is it a mental illness, unresolved childhood trauma, or something else entirely?
The FBI reported that in 2017, violent crimes occurred every 24.6 seconds in the United States, including a murder every 30.5 minutes, a rape every 3.9 minutes, and a robbery every 1.7 minutes. Meanwhile, property crimes were happening at an astonishingly rapid rate—every 4.1 seconds.
To truly understand what motivates this kind of behavior, we have to go beyond the surface. Instead of just asking why people commit crimes, psychology encourages us to ask what’s happening inside the mind of the offender.
How Psychology Helps Us Understand Criminal Behavior
Psychology is the study of the human mind: how we think, feel, and behave. It also plays a critical role in criminology. Whether it’s through profiling offenders, conducting forensic assessments, or supporting rehabilitation efforts, psychology professionals play an essential role in understanding and addressing the root causes of crime.
Psychology graduates can explore various career paths related to criminal behavior, including roles in forensic psychology, correctional counseling, and victim advocacy. And for those who want to take it a step further, a psychology degree can be a strong foundation for a graduate program in social work, opening the door to licensed counseling or therapy careers.
Common Psychological Factors Behind Criminal Behavior
When someone commits a crime, there are often one or more psychological factors contributing to their negative behavior. Below, we’ll explore some common psychological elements associated with criminal offenders:
Personality Disorders
In 2017, researchers conducted a study involving a random sampling of 228 prisoners, composed of 114 women and 114 men. Among the test subjects, 87.3% of the women and 83.3% of the men had a personality disorder at the time they committed their crime.
While numerous personality disorders can impact a person’s likelihood of committing a crime, the following disorders are most often seen in convicted criminals:
- Major depressive disorder
- Dependent personality disorder
- Antisocial personality disorder
- Borderline personality disorder
These conditions can alter how individuals perceive consequences, relate to others, and manage emotions, all of which may influence criminal behavior.
Trauma
Is there a direct correlation between childhood trauma and criminal behavior? Studies show that when a child undergoes a life-altering experience, such as physical abuse, neglect, or witnessing the death of a friend or family member at the hands of another, the repercussions can be long-lasting.
Sometimes, symptoms of trauma such as hostility and paranoid thoughts persist into adulthood and can lead victims to engage in criminal activities. The likelihood increases with continued traumas, such as when an adolescent experiences repeated violence in their community.
The National Institute of Justice states that individuals are more likely to become repeat criminal offenders if they’ve experienced prolonged trauma and have adopted emotional detachment as a coping mechanism. By disconnecting from their emotions, they may be able to intentionally disconnect from the emotional impact of past traumas as well as the feelings associated with committing a crime.
Substance Abuse and Addiction
In 2015, there were approximately 1.3 million individuals behind bars in the United States. A significant proportion of that number were serving sentences primarily for non-violent crimes and drug-related offenses.
So, why are so many people with substance abuse issues getting incarcerated?
Addiction affects the brain and changes its functionality, causing people to change how they think, perceive the world, and behave. Sometimes a person’s addiction leads them to committing harmful and illegal actions, such as domestic violence and theft.
Explore a Psychology Degree at UTPB
Psychology provides critical insight into the behaviors and motivations that drive criminal acts. And if you’re fascinated by the connection between mental health and criminal justice, a psychology degree can help you turn that curiosity into a meaningful career.
At The University of Texas Permian Basin, our online Bachelor of Arts in Psychology program allows you to:
- Explore topics like abnormal psychology, developmental psychology, and behavioral science
- Learn from experienced faculty who understand both clinical practice and research
- Prepare for careers in mental health, social services, rehabilitation, or graduate studies
Want to work more directly with individuals as a counselor or therapist someday? Many students use their psychology degree as a launchpad into a Master of Social Work (MSW)* or a related graduate program in counseling or clinical psychology.
Whether you’re drawn to understanding what drives criminal behavior or passionate about helping others heal and find purpose, psychology is a powerful place to begin.
Ready to explore your path? Learn more about UTPB’s online psychology program—and when you’re ready, your application is only a click away.
*Currently engaged in the accreditation process.
Sources:
https://ucr.fbi.gov/crime-in-the-u.s/2017/crime-in-the-u.s.-2017/topic-pages/crime-clock
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-41488081
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5742412
https://nij.ojp.gov/topics/articles/examining-relationship-between-childhood-trauma-and-involvement-justice-system
https://www.addictionhelp.com/addiction/crime/#
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