Criminal Behavior: The Key Factors
The study of factors that influence human behavior as a multifaceted process is complicated by many aspects that must be considered. A wide range of factors, such as social environment, genetics, and cultural environment, can shape behavior. Thus, what a person constantly observes in front of him in childhood can develop in their perception as a behavioral norm. In addition, many factors also affect the justification of the crime committed. The way a person thinks at such moments can be unique and also depend on specific circumstances. In this regard, it can be said that psychological health has a strong influence on criminal behavior. This paper will explore the influence of various factors on the emergence of criminal behavior of a person.
Early childhood experience can be called the period when the child first begins to interact with the environment and people. The most common time period for such formative behavior is from birth to five years of age (Jæger and Blaabæk 2). During this period of time, children rapidly develop brains and functions that can contribute to thought processes. Accordingly, this stage also affects the formation of cognitive, social, and emotional skills in children. An environment in which a child receives a lot of attention and care can positively affect the further development of the child and influence the formation of a stable psyche (Liu et al. 2). However, in some cases, severe problematic aspects may be present in childhood experiences, such as abuse and neglect, which can affect the formation of the worldview. Subsequently, this can result in the fact that a person begins to abuse psychoactive substances and alcohol, and they may develop mental problems.
The experience of early childhood has a strong influence on the formation of the human psyche, which at the same time can affect the possibility of committing a crime. Alternatively, child abuse and mistreat may result in them accepting this behavior as usual. In addition, such treatment can also influence the formation of inappropriate coping strategies such as increased aggressiveness, drug addiction, and impulsivity (Watts et al. 20). In this regard, the likelihood that such a person will resort to violence increases under the influence of incorrect coping strategies.
Experiences gained in early childhood can have a significant impact on the formation and development of the brain. Children who are frequently exposed to abuse or negative attitudes early in life may have smaller brain sizes and lower IQs (Mackes et al. 641). This can lead to a deficit in executive functions that can affect the ability to make the right decisions and respond to the criminal acts of others. In addition to such factors, the social environment that was formed in early childhood also has a strong influence. A person’s relationship with other people can often become a prerequisite for specific actions, and in some cases, they can be criminal. The reason for this is that children who have been abused may struggle to form positive connections and interactions with their peers and adults (Bartlett and Smith 7). Such disruptions in communication and relationships can further increase the risk of developing psychological problems such as depression or anxiety, which can affect criminal behavior.
In the case of a negative influence, childhood experience can lead to someone’s death due to the behavior of a person who is not aware of the norms of law and morality. This is the most severe type of crime in the criminal justice system. However, for such an act, a person can find multiple justifications. One of the most common ways is to use moral justification for this purpose, which means that the offender begins to think that their action was ethically correct (Dedios and Jovchelovitch 124). Such moral justification can often take the form of fair justice when a person tends to think that what kills people who, in his value system, did not deserve to live. This can lead to the fact that the offender becomes a serial killer because he sees in his actions appropriate actions that benefit society.
Another way a person can use to justify murder is through cognitive dissonance. This condition can be described as the psychological discomfort that a person experiences when they experience several conflicting feelings at the same time (Yahya and Sukmayadi 480). In the case of a murder, there may be feelings of wrongness committed and, at the same time, also a desire to justify one’s actions in some way. A person may change their beliefs about the victim, themselves, or the circumstances in order to make the crime more justified in their value system. An example of such a murder would be the commission of a crime in a fit of rage, where the perpetrator convinces himself that the victim is responsible for angering them.
Another way to justify cognitive dissonance in committing a murder is to use the method of social comparison. This is done to establish a sense of superiority or justification for the act (Monckton 8). This can be explained by the example of when a person kills people who have some kind of shortcomings. In such cases, the killer can find this common factor and justify himself by saying that he is better than them and therefore has the right to take their lives. At the same time, the context of the situation in which the crime occurred can also play an essential role in justifying the murder. Thus, if the murder occurred as a consequence of domestic violence, then the perpetrator may be justified by the fact that the victim did not respect them or did something wrong.
When justifying murder, an important aspect is the psychological state of the person who committed the crime. Not all people with mental disorders are prone to illegal activities, however, there are certain risk factors that may contribute to such behavior. One disease that can have a significant impact on criminal behavior is antisocial personality disorder (ASPD) (Azevedo et al. 2). Many mental disorders have several signs due to which a person cannot consistently behave adequately in society and, as a result, criminal acts occur. For example, ASPD can often manifest itself as a disregard for the rights of others, a tendency to aggressive behavior, and a lack of empathy (Azevedo et al. 2). These manifestations of a psychological disorder can become the reasons due to which a person will not be fully aware of reality and, as a result, will not be able to fully make responsible decisions.
In addition, it is also important to consider mental disorders that may develop in connection with the use of alcohol or drugs. Under the influence of these elements, a person can perform various actions unconsciously, which in some cases can lead to death (Zgoba et al. 2). The negative consequences of the use of psychoactive substances can have a serious impact on a person’s behavior, which in turn can cause uncontrollable actions. Theft, assault, or drug dealing may be the result of a disorder caused by addiction to certain drugs.
Schizophrenia is another mental state that may be associated with criminal activity. Although this disorder is much more harmless to others than ASPD or drug addiction, it can still cause harm. People suffering from schizophrenia may experience hallucinations or delusions, which in rare cases may lead to aggressive behavior (Dellazizzo et al. 1). However, a greater likelihood of committing a criminal act is not inherent in a specific mental disorder, but as a result of childhood trauma or poor parenting. This may be the reason why a person who has grown up does not understand that some actions are undesirable and are of a negative nature.
In conclusion, it is essential to say that criminal acts can arise from a variety of reasons, the main ones being maltreatment in childhood or the presence of psychological trauma and disorders. Thus, people can find different excuses for their illegal actions. This is explained by the fact that some individuals cannot understand what they are doing wrong actions. In other cases, such actions are committed intentionally, but the offender, on the contrary, may think that he is doing the right thing. Psychological disorders and illnesses also have a significant impact on how people can behave in society. A predisposition to specific actions may be due to the fact that a person is not able to control his actions and instincts. In such cases, disorders become a catalyst that enhances the action.
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