ABSTRACT

The Psychology of Criminal Conduct, Fifth Edition, discusses the psychology of criminal behavior, drawing upon general personality, as well as cognitive-behavioral and cognitive social learning perspectives. The book consists of 15 chapters, which are organized into four sections. Part 1 provides an overview of theoretical context and major knowledge base of the psychology of criminal conduct. Part 2 discusses the eight major risk/need factors of criminal conduct. Part 3 examines the prediction and classification of criminal behavior, along with prevention and rehabilitation. Part 4 summarizes the major issues in understanding criminal conduct.


In addition to senior undergraduate students, graduate students, and professionals in psychology, this book may be helpful to students and practitioners in the fields of social work, sociology, education, health, youth and family studies, criminology, and youth and adult justice. The book is also accessible to members of the general public who are interested in understanding antisocial behavior.

Resource notes throughout explain important concepts. Technical notes at the back of the book allow the advanced student to explore complex research without distracting readers from the main points. An acronym index is also provided.

Part 1: The Theoretical Context and Knowledge Base to the Psychology of Criminal Conduct 1. An Overview of the Psychology of Criminal Conduct 2. The Empirical Base of PCC and the RNR Model of Assessment and Crime Prevention Through Human Services 3. Understanding Through Theory: Psychopathological, Psychodynamic, Social Location, and Differential Association Perspectives 4. A General Personality and Cognitive Social Learning Approach: The Personal, Interpersonal, and Community-Reinforcement (PIC-R) Perspective Part 2: The Major Risk/Need Factors of Criminal Conduct 5. Biological, Personal, and Social Origins of the Major Risk/NeedFactors and Personal Strengths 6. Antisocial Personality Pattern 7. The Role of Antisocial Associates and Attitudesin Criminal Conduct 8. The Person in Social Context: Family, School, Work, Leisure/Recreation, Marital Attachments, and Neighborhood 9. Substance Abuse Part 3: Applications 10. Prediction of Criminal Behavior and Classifi cation of Offenders 11. Prevention and Rehabilitation 12. Creating and Maintaining RNR Adherence: A Real-World Challenge 13. Getting Mean, Getting Even, Getting Justice: Punishment and a Search for Alternatives 14. Criminal Subtypes: From the Common to the Exceptional Part 4: Summary and Conclusions 15. A General Personality and Social Psychology of Criminal Conduct: Summary and Conclusions