Investigating Criminal Psychology

Paper Summary:

The paper discusses criminal psychology's study that has explored criminals' biological characteristics, the mental states of criminals and victims, the motivation of criminals and how criminals' brains are different from other people. The paper explains that the ultimate goal of this study is to understand criminals and prevent similar cases of crime and criminal behavior from happening in the future. The position of a criminal psychologist, the training necessary, the work involved and the options for employment are also outlined in the paper.

From the Paper:

"Criminal psychology is the study of criminal behavior and the mental state of criminals and the victims as well. It also studies society's response to the crime. This study is one of the most important subdivisions of criminology. It is a social science rather than a branch of law whereby criminal psychologists research the incidents and patterns of crimes, its causes and consequences. They also study social and government regulations and reactions of these rules and laws to certain crimes. The advent of this study represents that law prosecutors know preventing crime is possible by studying previous cases of crimes and criminals. A major part of Criminal psychology, known as offender profiling, began in the 1940s."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Schmalleger, Frank. Criminology Today: An Integrative Introduction, (4th edition). Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005.
• Howitt, Dennis. Forensic and Criminal Psychology. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 2005.
• Murray, Raymond C. and John C.F. Tedrow. Forensic Geology: Earth Sciences and Criminal Investigation. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1975.

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