Psychology & Criminal Behaviour (PSY005-1) Referral Assignment Sample

What is the link between Psychopathy and criminal behaviour?

Understanding psychopathy is challenging, both in terms of its theoretical underpinnings and in terms of the actual scientific repercussions that might result from it. As a notion, it is likewise difficult to explain.

Despite the fact that it has garnered significant attention across the fields of psychology and psychiatry, as well as in other domains such as criminology and sociology, it is still recognised as a mental disorder that has not yet been thoroughly researched. For as long as we can comprehend psychopathy at a higher level than we now do, we will be able to show a relationship between psychopathy scores and criminal behaviour far more easily in the future.

The theoretical roots of psychopathy, as well as modern refinements and critiques of the term, will be investigated in this research with the goal of acquiring a deeper understanding of the condition. What psychopathic characteristics are and how they relate to criminal behaviour in general will be discussed, with an emphasis on the fact that they are more indicative than determinative of the effect, but that they are more accurate when used to predict future recidivism rates in specific situations, as will be demonstrated in this section, will be stressed.Psychology & Criminal Behaviour (PSY005-1) Referral

As a foundation for their findings, the researchers drew on a bioethical and philosophical framework, as well as newly available evidence, to reach their conclusions on psychopathy and criminal behaviour. Additionally, academics and policymakers may use the information gleaned from their study to develop more reliable risk assessment systems for future criminal activity, as well as to apply psychopathic measurements and analogous instruments to improve current crime prevention methods, according to the authors. As a consequence of the fact that crime and psychopathy are not synonymous, as well as the fact that the vast majority of criminals who attempt to prey on the general public fail miserably, it is possible to infer that psychopathy is not a prerequisite for criminal behaviour.

Researchers have discovered that psychopaths in both the criminal and noncriminal realms have a number of similar personality traits. However, psychopaths are more likely than noncriminals to participate in unethical behaviour. 39 Think on the following statements given by Silver and colleagues, as an illustration. 40

Due to the specific qualities of psychopathy, such as impulsivity, criminal hostility, callousness, and a lack of empathy or regret, it is clear that violence and psychopathy are conceptually related. Individuals who suffer from psychopathology may exhibit any or all of these traits. 41 More research is needed, despite the statistical evidence, in order to conclusively demonstrate a link between psychopathy and criminal behaviour, which is currently lacking in the scientific literature.

In Cleckley’s opinion, psychopaths perform acts that have no evident reason for their occurrence, whereas criminals commit crimes with a consistent sense of purpose, as proven by Cleckley’s studies. In spite of the absence of a formal diagnosis, research has revealed that criminals and violent offenders are statistically more likely than the general public to be suffering from significant mental diseases than the general public. As opposed to what is often believed, this is incorrect.  A major rise in the number of studies undertaken on mentally ill individuals who have been discharged into the community has occurred during the last several years, according to the National Institute of Health. Major depressive symptoms were examined in this group in order to identify the prevalence of major depressive symptoms, which was one of the key objectives of our research.