Criminal Psychology
| Course Code | BPS308 |
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| Fee Code | S3 |
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| Number of Modules | 10 |
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| Number of Assignments | 10 |
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| Duration (approx) | 100 hours |
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Course Aim
Develop your understanding of criminal psychology and how psychology is used in law enforcement and crime prevention.
Course Content
There are ten lessons consisting of -
- Introduction to Criminal Psychology
- Psychological approaches to understanding crime
- Psychology and understanding serious crimes
- Mental disorder and crime 1 – Learning disabilities and crime
- Mental Disorder and Crime 2 - Psychopathy
- Gender and Crime
- Youth and Crime
- Psychology and the Police
- Psychology in the Courtroom
- Psychology and Crime Prevention
In psychology, there are many theories to define crime but this course will focus on three of the most widely held and accepted theories, The Consensus View, The Conflict View and the Interactionist View.
The Consensus View
This view stems from the sociological theories of J Shepherd (1981). This school of thought holds that society functions as an integrated structure, the stability of which is dependent on consensus or agreement by its members, so that the rules, values and norms are respected by all. Therefore, the legal system of the society is a reflection of what is considered tolerable and intolerable behaviour within that particular society i.e. intolerable behaviour is disapproved of by the majority.
Before a crime can be said to have occurred, it has to be committed. So without an action, there can be no crime.
The Conflict View
The Conflict View is the direct opposite of the Consensus View.
The Interactionist View
The Interactionist View falls between the Consensus and Conflict View. It began as a field of thought within sociology called symbolic interactionism.
Lesson Aims
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define crime and criminal psychology.
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discuss psychological theories and approaches to understanding crime.
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define serious crimes and explain the involvement of psychology.
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discuss the relationship between a person having a learning disability and committing crime.
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define psychopathy and discuss psychological theories relating to psychopathy.
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discuss gender differences associated with crime.
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discuss the psychological theories relating to youth and crime.
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discuss how psychology is used by the police.
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discuss how psychology is used in the court room.
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discuss the use of psychology in crime prevention.
In psychology, there are many theories to define crime but this course will focus on three of the most widely held and accepted theories - The Consensus View, The Conflict View and the Interactionist View.
The Consensus view holds that society functions as an integrated structure, the stability of which is dependent on consensus or agreement by its members, so that the rules, values and norms are respected by all. The Conflict View is the total opposite, while the Interactionist View falls between Consensus and Conflict views.
Criminal Psychology will also develop your understanding of how psychology is used in law enforcement and crime prevention.
Learn more about these theories and much more through this course!
Who might want to study criminal psychology?
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Legal secrataries, office staff who work in the legal community
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Welfare officers, youth workers, and any other support service staff who may be working with disfunctional people
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Anyone with an interest in the psychology behind criminal activity and how it is utilised by the police to identify, contain and/or prevent crime.