Psychological Theories A Criminal Mind?

IQ What is IQ? What is IQ? Alfred Binet developed the first intelligence test but it was really W. Stren who created a general test and came up with the IQ (intelligence quotient) How has IQ been used to explain Crime? How has IQ been used to explain Crime? Henry Goddard revised the test and used it to look at delinquency, He came up with the notion that feeblemindedness was linked to criminality and that feeblemindedness was hereditary. This has turned out to be bunk but it did lead to mass serialization… Mich. In the 1970s

Mental age of 13 is cut off Found that about 70% of criminals were feebleminded Found that about 70% of criminals were feebleminded Whole families, Kallikaks Whole families, Kallikaks Union between a bar wench and good man = host of bad kids Union between a bar wench and good man = host of bad kids Same man and Quaker woman = good kids Same man and Quaker woman = good kids

Policy Institutionalization Institutionalization Colonies Colonies Sterilization Sterilization Eugenics Eugenics

Hirschi and Hindelanga maintained that low IQ was mediated by negative school experiences, family etc. thus low IQ itself was not the cause directly There may be some connection but not likely direct, some even question how much IQ taps into innate intelligence

Criticisms Bell Curve, social class Bell Curve, social class Poor women should not breed Poor women should not breed Blacks have lower IQ’s Blacks have lower IQ’s Is IQ hereditary? Is IQ hereditary? Does test measure innate intelligence? Does test measure innate intelligence? Do different racial/ethnic groups have different IQ levels? Do different racial/ethnic groups have different IQ levels?

Criminal Personality Freud Freud Id – present at birth; the unconscious composed of drives and instincts Id – present at birth; the unconscious composed of drives and instincts Eros – sex Eros – sex Thanatos -- aggression Thanatos -- aggression Ego – develops between 6 and 8 months Ego – develops between 6 and 8 months This is reality principle - satisfies needs of ID This is reality principle - satisfies needs of ID How we try to satisfy needs in socially acceptable ways How we try to satisfy needs in socially acceptable ways

Superego – between 3 to 5 years it emerges Superego – between 3 to 5 years it emerges Embodies social values, norms etc. and allows us many things such as feeling guilt Embodies social values, norms etc. and allows us many things such as feeling guilt Crime can result from Crime can result from An underdeveloped superego An underdeveloped superego Parental neglect can lead to norms not being adequately internalized which leads to unregulated ID Parental neglect can lead to norms not being adequately internalized which leads to unregulated ID An overdeveloped superego – how? An overdeveloped superego – how? Wanting to be punished - guilt Wanting to be punished - guilt

How does underdeveloped ego impact deviance? How does underdeveloped ego impact deviance? Penis envy – what is that all about? Penis envy – what is that all about? Ego defense mechanisms Ego defense mechanisms Displacement - transfer to someone else Displacement - transfer to someone else Reaction-formation - take on opposite reaction Reaction-formation - take on opposite reaction Psychoanalytical theories see crime as an outcome of a messed up ego or superego.

Mental Illness MMPI personality traits seem to have some connection, maybe, but criminals by and large seem to be normal Psychopath - selfish, callous, unreliable, impulsive, lack of guilt, unable to learn from past or punishment; no evidence that home life or childhood produce this Psychopath - selfish, callous, unreliable, impulsive, lack of guilt, unable to learn from past or punishment; no evidence that home life or childhood produce this Schizophrenia - irrational, break with reality, delusions, etc. few criminals have this disorder Schizophrenia - irrational, break with reality, delusions, etc. few criminals have this disorder Multiple personality disorder - multiple selves, very coherent and independent Multiple personality disorder - multiple selves, very coherent and independent The connection between mental health and crime my be there, but again, it is only a very small portion of arrests for violent crime.