INTRODUCTION

TO CRIMINOLOGY
AND PSYCHOLOGY
OF CRIMES
Rhea S. Jimlan, RCrim.
Overview of
Criminology
-Chapter 1-

What is Criminology?
Criminology is the scientific study of crimes, criminals,
and criminal behavior. Criminologists scientifically
study the following: the nature and extent of crime;

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

patterns of criminality; explanations and causes of Criminology
crime and criminal behavior; and the control of crime
It is primarily concerned
and criminal behavior (Glick, 1995).
with knowing and
Criminology is the body of knowledge regarding crime
understanding the cause
as a social phenomenon. It includes within its scope
the process of making laws, of breaking laws, and of crime and criminal
reacting toward the breaking of laws. The objective of behavior. It seeks to
criminology is the development of a body of general comprehend the reasons
and verified principles and of other types of knowledge
behind the commission
regarding the process of law, crime, and treatment or
prevention (Sutherland & Cressey as cited by Adler of crime. Furthermore,
Mueller & Laufer, 1995). Criminology is a science

In its broadest meaning, CRIMINOLOGY is the body of in itself. It applies

knowledge regarding crimes, criminals, and the effort scientific methods of
of society to prevent and repress them. This means inquiry to the study of
that criminology is an interdisciplinary field of inquiry
crimes and criminal
– that is, it draws knowledge from other disciplines
such as biology, psychology, psychiatry, sociology, law, behavior. Therefore,
medicine, statistics, economics, and political science Criminology is not
in order to provide an integrated approach in the study common sense nor
of crimes and criminal behaviors.
guesswork, but rather,
In a narrower sense, CRIMINOLOGY is the scientific the scientific study of
study of crimes and criminal behavior. In a key sense, crime. The knowledge
this is the central aspect of the definition of
obtained through
criminology.
criminological research is 1

based on empirical
evidence.
 Principal Divisions of Criminology
Criminology is a broad field of study of crimes and criminals. It covers several
principal areas of divisions:

1. Criminal Etiology – it deals with an attempt at scientific analysis of the

causes of crimes,
2. Sociology of Law – it deals with an attempt at scientific analysis of the
conditions under which penal or criminal laws develop as a process of formal
social control.
3. Penology – concerned with the rehabilitation and treatment of offenders.
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

Accordingly, general propositions of universal validity are the

essence of science; such propositions can be made only regarding
stable and homogenous unit but varies from one time to another;
therefore universal proposition cannot be made regarding crime,
and scientific studies of criminal behavior are impossible.

Criminology cannot be considered a science because it has not yet acquired

universal validity and acceptance. It is not stable, and it varies from one time and
place to another. However, considering that science is the systematic and objective
study of social phenomenon and other bodies of knowledge, criminology is a science
in itself when under the following nature:

1. It is an applied science

The findings or knowledge obtained in the study of crimes and

criminal behaviors is used to resolve the crime problem and
treatment of criminals. In other words, Criminologists investigate
crimes in order to generate practical solutions to the problem.

In the study of the causes of crimes, natural sciences such as

anthropology, psychology, and sociology may be applied. In applied
sciences, like chemistry, medicine, physics, mathematics, ballistics,
polygraphy, legal medicine, and questioned document examination
may be utilized in crime detection.
2
 Applied Science focuses on the practical application of the principles
discovered in basic science.
 Natural Science is concerned with the physical nature or environment.
 2. It is a social science
In as much as crime is a social creation that exists in a society being a social
phenomenon, its study must be considered a part of social science. This means the
study of criminology includes not only the study of crimes and criminal behavior but
also the reaction of society towards crime and criminal behavior.

 Social Science refers to the intellectual and academic disciplines designed to

understand the social world objectively. It is the study of the various
aspects of human society.

3. It is dynamic

Criminology changes as social condition changes. It is related with the advancement

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

of other sciences that have been applied to it.

This further means that criminology is relative. The study of crime varies from place
to place, generation to generation, and from culture to culture. Behaviors that may
be regarded as deviant or crime in one culture may be conformist and highly valued
in another. Also, those acts defined as criminal today may no longer be considered
as criminal acts in the coming years.

The study of crime changes when criminal laws, values, beliefs, social structure, and
other social factors change. Remember that crime is a legal term. A behavior can be
labeled as crime only when it is defined by law as such. Thus, the study of crime
changes when its definition changes.

4. It is interdisciplinary
Many disciplines are involved in the study of crimes and criminal behavior. Among
them are sociology, psychology, psychiatry, economics, political science, and so on.
5. It is nationalistic
The study of crimes must be in relation with the existing criminal law within the
territory with the existing criminal law within the territory or country. Finally, the
question as to whether an act is a crime is dependent on the criminal law of state.

Objective of Criminology
The objective of Criminology is the development of a body of general and verified
principles and other types of knowledge regarding this process of law, crime and its
control, treatment of youthful offenders and prevention of crime in particular. This
knowledge will contribute to the development of other social sciences and through 3
these social sciences, it will contribute to the efficiency in the general social control.
In addition, criminology is concerned with the immediate application of knowledge
to programs of social control of crime, (Tradio, 1992).
 Scope of Criminology
The study of criminology covers the following scope:

1. Study of the origin and development of criminal law or penal law

2. Study of the causes of crimes and development of criminals
3. Study of the different factors that enhance the development of criminal
behavior such as;
a. Criminal Demography – study of the relationship between criminality and
population
b. Criminal Epidemiology – study of the connection between environment
and criminality.
c. Criminal Ecology – study of criminality in relation to special distribution in
a community.
d. Criminal Physical Anthropology – study of criminality in relation to
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

physical construction of man.

e. Criminal Psychiatry – study of human mind in relation to criminality.
f. Criminal Sociology – study of the effects of social conditions on crime and
criminals including the machinery of justice and the evolution of criminal
and punishment.
g. Victimology – study of the role of the victim in the commission of crime.
4. Study of the various measures and methods accepted by society in cases of
violation of criminal law.
____________________________________________________________________

Object of Interest in Criminology

In the study of criminology, four (4) major object of interests are included
such as 1. CRIME (criminal act), 2. CRIMINAL (perpetrator of crime), 3. CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOR, and the 4. STUDY OF VICTIMS.

1. CRIME

In as much as the definition of crime is concerned, many field of study like

law, sociology and psychology have their respective emphasis on what crime
is.

Crime may be defined as;

 An act or omission in violation of a criminal law (legal point).

 An anti-social act; an act that is injurious, detrimental or unacceptable
4
acts (social definition).
 An act, which is considered undesirable due to behavioral
maladjustment of the offender; acts that are causes by maladaptive
or abnormal behavior (psychological perspectives).
Further, crime is likewise a general term that refers to offense, felony, and
delinquency or misdemeanor.

Offense
It is an act or omission that is punishable by special laws. A special law is a
statute enacted by Congress, penal in character, which is not an amendment to the
Revised Penal Code (RPC), such as Republic Acts, Presidential Decrees, Executive
Orders, Memorandum Circulars, Ordinances, and Rules and Regulations.

Felony
It is an act or omission that is punishable by the Revised Penal Code, the

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

criminal law in the Philippines.

Delinquency/Misdemeanor
Acts that are in violation of simple rules and regulations, a minor violation of
law. It usually referring to acts committed by minor offenders such as violations of
city or municipal ordinances (e.g. jaywalking, spitting on the sidewalk, littering, and
certain traffic violations, including failure to wear a seatbelt).

Elements of Crime
Technically and ideally, a crime has not been committed unless all of the
following elements are present:

1. Harm – For crime to occur, there must be an external consequence or harm.

A mental or emotional state is not enough. Thus thinking about committing a
crime or being angry enough to commit a crime, without acting on the
thought or the anger, is not a crime. The harm maybe physical or verbal.

2. Legality – This has two aspects. First, the harm must be legally forbidden for
a behavior to be crime. Thus violations of union rules, or any rules other than
those of a political jurisdiction may be “wrong”, but they are not crimes
unless they are also prohibited by criminal law. Second, a criminal law must
not be retroactive, or ex post facto law: (1) declares criminal act that was not
illegal when it was committed, (2) increases the punishment for a crime after
it is committed, or (3) alters the rules of evidence in a particular case after
the crime is committed.

3. Actus reus – This Latin term refers to criminal conduct – specifically, 5

intentional or criminal negligent (reckless) in action or inaction that causes
harm.
 4. Mens rea – This Latin term refers to a criminal intent or a guilty state of
mind.

5. Causation – This refers to the causal relationship between legally forbidden

harm and the actus reus. In other words, the criminal acts must lead directly
to the harm without a long delay.

6. Concurrence – This means that there should be a concurrence between actus

reus and the mens rea. In other words, the criminal conduct and the criminal
intent must occur together. Suppose you call someone to repair your broken
washing machine, and that person comes to your house, fixes your washing
machine, and on the way out takes your television set. The repair person
cannot be found guilty of entering your home illegally (trespass) because that
was not his/her initial intent. However, the same person can be found guilty
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

of stealing your television set.

7. Punishment – For a behavior to be considered a crime, there must be a

statutory provision for punishment or at least the threat of punishment.
Without the threat of punishment, a law is unenforceable and is therefore
not a criminal law. As the legal maxim goes, “nullum crimen, nulla poena sine
legis,” meaning, there is no crime when there is no law punishing it.

Crimes are classified in order to focus a better understanding on their

existence. Criminologists consider the following as criminological classification of
crimes;

1. As to the result of crimes

a. Acquisitive Crimes – when the offender acquires something as a

consequence of his criminal act.
b. Extinctive Crimes – when the result of a criminal act is destructive.

2. As to the time or period committed

a. Seasonal Crimes – committed only during a certain period of the

year like during election period, Christmas season, etc.
b. Situational Crimes – committed only when given the situation is
conducive to their commission.

3. As to the length of time committed

6
a. Instant Crimes – committed in the shortest possible time.
b. Episodic Crimes – committed by a series of acts in a lengthy space of
time.
 4. As to the location of the commission

a. Static Crimes – committed only in one place.

b. Continuing Crimes – committed in several places.

5. As to the use of mental faculties

a. Rational Crimes – committed with intention and the offender is in

full possession of his sanity.
b. Irrational Crimes – committed by persons who do not know the
nature and quality of their acts on account of a mental disease.

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

6. As to the type of offenders

a. White-collar Crimes – committed by persons of respectability and of

upper socio-economic class in the course of their occupational activities;
also referred to as corporate or occupational crime. (e.g. tax evasion,
plunder, bribery, graft and corruption, insurance fraud, etc.)
b. Blue-collar Crimes- committed by ordinary professional criminals to
maintain their livelihood.

7. As to the standard of living of the criminals

a. Upper world Crimes – committed by individuals belonging to the

upper class of the society. (e.g. falsification cases)
b. Underworld Crimes – committed by members of the under privilege
class of society. (e.g. bag snatching)
Other classes of crimes

 Crimes by Imitation – committed by merely duplicating what was done

by others; based on the explanation of crime as a learned behavior.
 Crimes by Passion – committed at the height of great emotions.
 Service Crimes – committed through rendition of service to satisfy the
desire of another.
 Genocide – committed by a government through mass destruction or
annihilation of human populations.
 Environmental Crimes – acts that breach environmental legislation
and cause significant harm or risk to the environment and human health, e.g.
illegal emission or discharge of substances into air, water or soil, illegal trade
in wildlife.
7
 Cyber Crimes – crimes that involve computers and networks.
 Political Crimes – criminal activities for ideological purposes; also
serious violations of laws that threaten the security or existence of the
government, e.g. terrorism, treason or sedition.
  Patriarchal Crimes – committed against women and children in the
name of traditional male dominance.
2. CRIMINAL

On the basis of the definition of crime, criminal offender may be defined in

three (3) ways:

 A person who committed a crime and has been convicted by a court for the
violation of a criminal law. (legal definition)
 A person who violated a social norm or one who did an anti-social act. (social
definition)
 A person who violated rules of conduct due to behavior maladjustment.
(psychological definition)
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

The following are the criminological classification of criminals:

Based on Etiology
1. Acute Criminals – they commit crimes due to impulses of the moment,
fit of passion, anger, or extreme jealousy.
2. Chronic Criminals – they are those who acted in consonance of
deliberate thinking (he plans the crime ahead of time).
Based on Behavioral System
1. Ordinary Criminals – considered to be the lowest form of criminal in a
criminal career. They only engage in conventional crimes that require limited
skill. They lack organization to help them avoid arrest and conviction.
2. Organized Criminals – they have high degree of organization to enable
them to commit crimes without being detected, with specialized criminal
activities operated in large scale. Force, violence, intimidation, and bribery
are used to gain and maintain control over economic activities that include
various forms of racketeering, gambling, prostitution, and distribution of
prohibited drugs.
3. Professional Criminals – they are highly skilled and able to obtain
considerable amount of money without being detected due to organization
and contact with professional criminals. They are always able to escape
conviction, and they specialize in crimes that require skills.
Based on Activities
1. Accidental Criminals – they commit criminal acts as a result of
8 unanticipated circumstances.
2. Habitual Criminals - they continue to commit crimes due to deficiency
of intelligence and lack of self-control.
 3. Situational Criminals - they are not actually criminals but commit
crimes due to a given situation; sometimes their criminal activities are
intermixed with legitimate activities.

Based on Mental Attitudes

1. Active-aggressive Criminals – they commit crimes in impulsive
manner usually due to their aggressive behavior, as shown in crimes of
passion, resentment, or revenge.
2. Passive-inadequate Criminals – they commit crimes because they
are pushed to do it, by inducement, reward, or promise without considering
the consequences.
3. Socialized Delinquents - they are normal in their conduct and behavior

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

but merely defective in their socialization processes.

3. CRIMINAL BEHAVIOR
Crime in its legal definition may constitute an intentional act violation of the
criminal law and penalized by the state. Criminal behavior therefore is an
intentional behavior that violates a criminal code.

Criminal behavior may also refer to the study of the human conduct focused
on the mental process of the criminal; the way he behaves or acts including
his activities and the causes and influences of his criminal behavior.

4. THE VICTIM
Victimology is a branch of criminology which examines the role played by the
victim in a criminal incident. In simpler terms, it is the study of the victims of
crimes and their contributory role, if any, in crime causation. It is also the
scientific process of gaining substantial amounts of knowledge on offender
characteristics by studying the nature of victims.

General Classes of Victims (by Hans von Hentig)

1. The Young – weak by virtue of age and immaturity
2. The Female – often less physically powerful than the male
3. The Old – incapable of physical defense, and the object of confidence
9
schemes
4. The Mentally Defective – unable to think clearly, e.g. the feeble-minded, the
insane
5. The Immigrants – unsure of the rules of conduct in the surrounding society
 6. The Minorities – racial prejudice may lead to victimization or unequal
treatment by the agencies of justice
7. The Dull Normal – the simple-minded person, the “born victim of swindlers”.

Psychological Types of Victims (by Hans von Hentig)

1. The Depressed – submissive by virtue of emotional condition
2. The Acquisitive or Greedy – always wanting more, looking for quick gains
3. The Wanton or Overly Sensual – ruled by passion and thoughtlessly seeking
pleasure, e.g. promiscuous person
4. The Lonesome – similar to the acquisitive type of victim by virtue of wanting
companionship or affection
5. The Heartbroken – those suffering from heartaches and pain
6. The Tormentor – a victim who asked for it, often from his or her own family
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

and friends
Note: Of course, there is no way that a victim should be blamed for becoming one.
Every individual has the right to live and to be spared from the risks and harms of a
violent crime. Yet, the fact remains that to understand the offender, one must first
understand the victim.

Theories of Victimization
For many years criminological theories focused on the actions of the criminal
offender; the role of the victim was virtually ignored. In contrast, modern
victimization theories already acknowledge that the victim is not a passive target in
crime, but someone whose behavior can influence his or her own fate.
1. Victim Precipitation Theory – According to this view, some people may
actually initiate the confrontation that eventually leads to their injury or
death. Victim precipitation can be either active or passive. Active
precipitation occurs when victims act provocatively, use threats or fighting
words, or even attack first. Passive precipitation, on the other hand, occurs
when the victim exhibits some personal characteristics that unknowingly
threaten or encourage the attacker. The crime can occur because of personal
conflict – for example, when two people compete over a job, promotion, love
interest, or some other scarce and in demand commodity.

2. Lifestyle Theory – According to this theory, people may become crime

victims because their lifestyle increases their exposure to criminal offenders.
Victimization risk is increased by such behaviors as associating with young
10
men, going out in public places late at night, and living in an urban area.
Conversely, one’s chances of victimization can be reduced by staying home at
night, moving to a rural area, staying out of public places, earning more
money, and getting married. People who have high-risk lifestyles – drinking,
 taking drugs, and getting involved in crime – maintain a much greater chance
of victimization. For example, young runaways are at high risk for
victimization; the more time they are exposed to street life, the greater their
risk of becoming crime victims.

During an investigation, victims are classified in three general categories that

describe the level of risk their lifestyle represents in relation to the violent
crime that has been committed. The importance of understanding this in an
investigation is directly related back to the level of risk to the offender during
the commission of the crime. This information is important to the
investigation to better understand the sophistication or possible pathology of
the offender.

 High-risk Victims – Victims in this group have a lifestyle that makes

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

them a higher risk for being a victim of a violent crime. The most
obvious high risk victim is the prostitute. Prostitutes place themselves
at risk every single time they go to work. They are of high risk because
they get into a stranger’s car, go to secluded areas with strangers,
and for the most part, attempt to conceal their actions for legal
reasons. Offenders often rely on all these factors and specifically
target prostitutes because such conditions lower their chances of
becoming suspects in the crime. Therefore, in this example, the
prostitute is a high risk victim creating a lower risk to the offender.

 Moderate-risk Victims – Victims that fall into this category are lower
risk victims, but for some reason were in a situation that placed them
in a greater level of risk. A person that is stranded on a dark, secluded
highway due to a flat tire and accepts a ride from a stranger and is
victimized, would be a good example of this type of victim level risk.

 Low-risk Victims – The lifestyle of these individuals would normally

not place them in any degree of risk for becoming a victim of a violent
crime. These individuals stay out if trouble, do not have peers that are
criminal, are aware of their surroundings, and attempt to take
precautions so as not to be victimized. They lock the doors, do not
use drugs, and do not go into areas that are dark and secluded.

3. Deviant Place Theory – According to this theory, victims do not encourage

crime but are victim-prone because they reside socially disorganized high-
crime areas where they have the greatest risk of coming into contact with
criminal offenders.
11
4. Routine Activity Theory – This theory was first articulated by Lawrence
Cohen and Marcus Felson. They concluded that the volume and distribution
of predatory crimes are closely related to the interaction of three variables
that reflect the routine activities;
  The availability of suitable targets, such as homes containing easily
saleable goods.
 The absence of capable guardians, such as police, homeowners,
neighbors, friends, and relatives.
 The presence of motivated offenders, such as a large number of
unemployed teenagers.

Psychological Effects of Victimization

Research in America suggested that crime victims can suffer any of the following
reactions: (Kahn, 1984 as cited by Ainsworth, 2000)
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

 Depression (Posttraumatic Stress Disorder)

 Anxiety
 Paranoia
 Loss of control
 Shame
 Embarrassment
 Vulnerability
 Helplessness
 Humiliation
 Anger
 Shock
 Feelings of inequity
 Increased awareness of mortality
 Tension
 Fear
Other effects of crime to victims include loss, suffering, fear (fear for others),
obsessive-compulsive disorder (extreme preoccupation with certain thoughts and
compulsive performance of certain behaviors), and antisocial behavior. Also, there is
growing evidence that people who are crime victims also seem more likely to
commit crime themselves.

12
Factors Affecting the
Approaches of Crimes
and Criminality
-Chapter 2-

In dealing with crimes and criminality, some factors

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

need to be considered: Geographical
 Geographical Factors Factors
 Biological Factors ٠ North and South
 Psychoanalytic and Psychiatric Factors Poles
 Sociological Factors ٠ Approach to the
Equator
٠ Season of the Year
٠ Soil Formation
٠ Month of the Year
The Geographical Factors ٠ Temperature
٠ Humidity and
Earlier Criminologists correlated climate, humidity, wind, Atmosphere
velocity, atmosphere pressure, rainfall, nature of soil and Pressure
٠ Wind Velocity
other geographical factors to the existence and
development of crimes and criminality. Following are
some of the explanations formulated by Criminologists Biological Factors
about geography and crimes: ٠ Physiognomy
٠ Phrenology or
 North and South Pole – According to Quetelet, Craniology
٠ Somatotype
“thermic law of delinquency,” crimes against ٠ Physical Defects
person predominate in the South Pole during and Handicapped
warm season while crimes against property in Relation to
predominate in the North Pole and cold countries. Crimes
٠ Heredity as the
Cause of Crimes
 Approach to the Equator – According to
Montesquieu (Spirits of Laws, 1748) criminality
increase in proportion as one approach the Psychoanalytic
equator and drunkenness increases as one and Psychiatric
approaches the North and South Poles. Factors
٠ Human behavior 13
 Season of the Year – Crimes against person are and human mind in
more in summer than in rainy season while crimes relation to the
causes of crimes
against property are more during rainy season.
Climatic conditions directly affect one’s irritability
 and cause criminality. During dry season, people get out of the houses more,
and there is more contact and consequently more probability of personal
violence.

 Soil Formation – More crimes of violence are recorded in fertile level lands
than in hilly rugged terrain. Here is more congregation of people and there
are more irritation. There is also more incidence of rape in level districts.

 Month of the Year – There is more incidence of violent crimes during warm
months from April up to July. Having its peak in May. This is due to May
festivals, excursions, picnics, and other sorts of festivities wherein people
are more in contact with one another.

 Temperature – According to Dexter, the number of arrests increases quite

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

regularly with the increase of temperature. The increase of temperature

affects the emotional state of the individual and leads to fighting. The
influences of temperature upon females are greater than upon males.

 Humidity and Atmosphere Pressure –According to survey, large numbers of

assaults are to be found correlated with low humidity and a small number
high humidity. It was explained that low and high humidity are both vitally
and emotionally depressing to the individual.

 Wind Velocity – Under the same study, it was explained that during high
wind, the number of arrest were less. It may be due to the presence of more
carbon dioxide in the atmosphere that lessen the vitality of men to commit
violence.

The Biological Factors

Man as a living organism has been the object of several studies which has the
purpose of determining the causes of his crimes. Among such studies are the
following:

1. Physiognomy
Physiognomy is the study of facial features of a person in relation to his criminal
behavior. This is done to determine whether the shape of the ears, nose and eyes,
and the distance between them were associated with anti—social behavior. The first
14 to use this approach was Cesare Beccaria in his Crime and Punishment. It was later
revived by Swiss theologian, Johann Kaspar Lavater.
 2. Phrenology or Craniology
This is the study of the external formation of the skull that indicates the
conformation of the brain and the development of its various parts in relation to the
behavior of the criminal. Franz Joseph Christaph Spurzheim claimed in their study
that the shape of the head of the criminals differs from that of the non-criminals.
The theory, however was found without scientific basis.

3. Physiology or Somatotype
It refers to the study of the body built of a person in relation to his temperament
and personality and the type of offense he is most prone to commit. This approach
was originated by Ernst Kretschmer and developed by William Sheldon.

Ernst Kretschmer studied the different body types and presented the relationship

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

between physique and mental illness. He classified the body built into three (3)
distinct types:

1. Pyknic type – persons who are stout and with round bodies. They tend to
commit deception, fraud and violence.
2. Athletic type – persons who are muscular and strong. They usually
connected with crimes of violence.
3. Asthenic type – persons who are skinny and slender. They are prone to
commit theft and fraud.
4. Dysplastic or mixed type – persons who are less clear evident having any
predominant type. Their offenses are against decency and morality.
William Sheldon defined three (3) body types and their corresponding
temperaments:

Body Type Physical Attributes Temperament

tall, thin, delicate Cerebrotonic – full of complaints,

bones, droopy insomniac with chronic fatigue and
Ectomorph sensitive skin, nervous and self-
shoulders, small face,
sharp nose, fine hair conscious, an introvert
Somotonic – active, dynamic;
muscular with athletic walks, talks and gestures
assertively; behaves aggressively;
Mesomorph built, large wrist and
hands dominant; more prone to criminal
activity than the ectomorphs and
endomorphs
Viscerotonic – relaxed, jolly, lazy,
round, fat, short limbs, comfortable, loves luxury, an
Endomorph 15
small bones extrovert
 4. Study of Physical Defects & Handicapped in Relation to
Crimes
Leaders of notorious criminal groups are usually given monikers in accordance with
their physical defects and handicapped such as funny words like “Dorong Pilay”, “Pol
Duling”, and the like. It is very common that these criminals are known by their
physical defects which was the usual source of irritation during their childhood days
wherever they become the subject matter of jokes by others. As a consequence,
they become violent, feel inferior to others and or being ostracized by the society.
The unfavorable results therefore, could be the following:

 Persons who are suffering from physical defects have poor social
relationship and serious emotional disturbances.
 It reduces his capacity to complete occupationally and socially.
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

 It may cause the development of inferiority complex.

 Persons suffering from defects are frequently annoyed or irritated by people
and resort to violent criminal behavior.

5. Study of Heredity as the Causes of Crimes:

The common household expressions like “it is in the blood” and “like father like son”
are usually heard and said whenever there are several members in the family who
are criminals. Accordingly, heredity transmits single traits and characteristics from
parents to offsprings. Criminality of the offspring is used to determine the nature of
the parents and nature of their crimes. Although modern criminologists seem not to
accept the role of heredity in the formation of criminal behavior of men, it cannot be
denied that it is playing a role as a contributory factor in the genesis of criminal
behavior.

The following are some proofs to show the role of heredity in the development of
criminality:

1. Study of Kallikak Family Tree (by Goddard)

Martin Kallikak was a soldier of the American revolutionary war and

while stationed in a small village he met and had an illicit relationship with a
feeble-minded girl. About 489 descendants from this lineage when traced
includes 143 feeble-minded and only 46 were normal. 36 were illegitimate, 3
were epileptics, 3 criminals, 8 kept brothers and 82 died in infancy.

At the end of the war, Martin Kallikak, returned to his home and
married a Quaker of good family. Out of his marriage, 4, 967 of the
16 descendants has been traced and almost all of them were normal, only 2
were known to be an alcoholic. 1 was convicted by religious offense, 15 died
in infancy and no one became criminal or epileptic.
 2. Study of Juke Family Tree (by Dugdale and Estabrook)

The Juke family consists of 6 girls and some of them were illegitimate.
One of the six sisters, Ada Juke who was known as “Margaret” was
considered the mother of criminals. Dugdale traced the 1,200 descendants
for 75 years from its origin and found 280 as paupers, 140 criminals, 50
habitual thieves, 300 infants prematurely born, 7 murderers, 50 prostitutes,
440 contaminated with sexual diseases, and 30 were prosecuted for
bastardies.

3. Study of Sir Jonathan Edwards Family Tree

Sir Jonathan Edwards was a famous preacher during colonial period.

When his family tree was traced, none of the descendants was found to be

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

criminal. On the other hand, many became politicians, members of Supreme
Court, famous writers, preachers and teachers.

The Psychoanalytic and Psychiatric Factors

 Psychoanalytic factors refers to the analysis of human behavior
 Psychiatric factors focuses on the study of human mind
Various studies of human behavior and mind in relation to the
causes of crimes
Several noted Criminologists have advanced the theories that criminal behavior is
developed among individuals consonant with the development of his human mind,
traits and behavior, among them are:
 August Aichorn
In his book entitled Wayward Youth, he said that the cause of crime and
delinquency is the faulty development of the child during the first few years of his
life. As child, the human being normally follows only his pleasure impulses
instinctively. Soon he grew up and found some restrictions to this pleasure impulses
which he must control. Otherwise he will suffer from faulty ego development and
become delinquent.
 Abrahamsen
In his work, Crime and the Human Mind (1945) explained the causes of
crimes by his formula “criminal behavior is a result of criminalistic tendencies plus
crime inducing situation divided by the person’s mental or emotional resistance to
temptation.”
 Cyrill Burt (Young Delinquent, 1925)
He gave the theory of general emotionality. According to him many offenses 17
can be traced to either in excess or a deficiency of a particular instinctive drive. An
excess of the submissive instinct account for the tendency of many criminals to be
weak willed or easily led. Fear and absconding may be due to the impulse of fear.
 Cruel and unsympathetic type of offenders may be due to the deficiency in the
primitive emotion of love and an excuse of the instinct of hate.

 Healy (Individual Delinquency)

Healy claimed that crime is and expression of the mental content of the
individual. The frustration of the individual caused emotional discomfort or anxiety;
personality demands removal of pain and the pain is eliminated by substitute
behavior; that is, crime delinquency of the individual.
 Bromberg (Crime and the Mind, 1946)
He claimed that criminality is the result of emotional immaturity. A person is
deemed emotionally matured when he has learned to control his emotion
affectively and who lives at peace with himself and in harmony with the standards of
conduct which are acceptable to the society. An emotionally immature person rebel
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

against rules and regulations tend to engage in unusual activities and experience a
feeling of guilt due to inferiority complex.

 Sigmund Freud (The Ego and the Id, 1927)

He is the founder of psychoanalysis, viewed criminality as a result of too
much guilt feelings. He noticed that those suffering from unbearable guilt
committed crimes in order to be apprehended and punished. Once they had been
punished, their feelings of guilt were relieved.

In his psychoanalytical theory of human personality and crimes has the

following explanations:
Psychoanalytic theory blames criminal or delinquent behavior to a
conscience that is either so overbearing that it arouses feelings or guilt,
or so weak that it cannot control the individual’s impulses and leads to
a need or immediate gratification.

a. The Id – It is the impulsive part of the personality and unconscious. It

represents the unconscious biological drives for sex, food and other life-
sustaining necessities. The id impulses require instant gratification
without concern for the right of others. Hence, they must be repressed.
It operates according to “pleasure principle”. Selfishness, violence, and
anti-social wishes are part of the original instinct of man.
b. The Ego – This is the objective, rational part of personality, the reality
component. Hence, it considers sensibility and responsibility to others.
The ego compensates for the demands of the id by helping the individual
guide of his actions to remain within the boundaries of righteousness
18 and fairness. It operates according to “reality principle.”
c. The Superego – The superego is the “conscience of man”. It is the moral
aspect of personality. It allows a person to feel pride, shame and guilt.
Thus, it is largely responsible for making a person follow the moral codes
 of society. It helps a person weigh his thoughts and actions. Freud
believed that some people are criminal due to an overdeveloped
superego which leads to guilt, anxiety and a desire to punishment.

To be normal, the above components must be balanced. Imbalance may make the
individual neurotic. If the superego is deficient or improperly developed, then the ego will
dominate, hence the person may become impulsive or aggressive making them more
prone to commit violent acts.

The Gianell Index of Criminality

This criminosynthesis explains the reason why a person may commit a crime or
inhibit himself from doing so under the following conditions:

 Need Frustration

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

The person before committing a crime is likely to feel unhappy,
unsatisfied, resentful, or angry about something in particular about life in
general.
 Internal Inhibition
It refers to all types of internal forces which may prevent a person
from committing a crime. These forces may be the person’s conscience, or
his principles, or his sense of guilt or remorse that he may experience if he
commits a crime. These forces operate from within the person, without any
restrain from outside.
 External Inhibition
This refers to all types of external forces which may prevent an
individual in committing a crime. These forces may be produced by the
thought that the person ay get caught if he commits a crime, or sentenced to
prison for a given number of years, or disgraced in the community, or
punished in some other ways.
 Contact with Reality
This refers to the extent to which person can learn from his past
experiences, especially his past mistakes, as well as to the extent to which he
can evaluate accurately the present situation and foresee the consequences
of his present action in relation to his future.
 Situational Crime Potential
This refers to the cultural opportunity to commit the crime, that is to
the easiness or possibilities to commit a crime offered by a given place,
situation, person, or environment.
 Potential Satisfaction
This refers to the balance of gain and loss that a person may
experience if he commits a given crime. If a person has nothing to lose, he is 19
more likely to commit the crime. If instead, he has great deal of assets in his
life and cares about them, such as love in relation to his parents, his family,
his children, a good reputation, he is not likely to commit certain crimes
because he has too much to lose.
 Criminal
Psychology
-Chapter 3-
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

Views on
Normal and What is Criminal Psychology?
Abnormal
Behavior In general, Criminal Psychology is the science of
behavior and mental process. This means that
The view that normal and
abnormal behavior are psychologists use the methods of science to
different in kind simply investigate all kinds of behavior and mental
does not exist. There are process, from the activity of a single nerve cell to
no abnormal people on
the social conflict in a complex society.
one hand and abnormal
people on the other.
In particular, criminal psychology is a sub-field of
Rather, adjustment seems
to follow what is called general psychology where criminal behavior is only,
normal distribution. Most in part by which phenomena psychologist choose
people are moderately to study, it may be defined as the study of criminal
well adjusted, with minor
behavior, the study of criminal conduct and
maladaptive patterns, a
few extreme lead to activities in an attempt to discover recurrent
satisfying and effective patterns and to formulate rules about his behavior.
lies.
Another consideration in A major description of criminal psychology is the
understanding normal and word behavior. Behavior refers to actions or
abnormal behaviors is
activities. To the criminologists, behavior is the
that, they depend
relatively on the existing observable actions because he is more interested in
social practice or culture actions and reactions that can be seen and verified
of people in the society, than in concepts, which cannot be directly verified.
since an acceptable
behavior to one society
may not be accepted or
allowed to other societies
20 or individuals.
Classification of Behavior (Atkinson, 1993)
 Normal Behavior

The standard behavior; the accepted behavior because they follow the
standard norms of society.

Atkinson also presented that understanding criminal behavior includes the

idea of knowing what characterized a normal behavior from an abnormal
one. A normal person is characterized by:

 Efficient perception of reality

 Self-knowledge
 Ability to exercise voluntary control over his behavior

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

 Self-esteem and acceptance
 Productivity
 Ability to form affectionate relationship with others

 Abnormal Behavior (Maladaptive/Maladjusted

Behavior)
A group of behaviors that are deviant from social expectations because they
go against the norms or standard behavior of society.

A maladaptive (abnormal) person may be understood by the following

definitions:

1. Abnormal behavior according to deviation of statistics norms based on

statistical frequency
Many characteristics such as weight, height, and intelligence, cover a
range of values when, measured over a population. For instance, a
person who is extremely intelligent or extremely happy would be
classified as abnormal.

2. Abnormal behavior according to deviation from social norms

A behavior that deprives from the accepted norms of society is
considered abnormal. However, it is primarily dependent on the existing
norm of such society.

3. Behavior as maladaptive

Maladaptive behavior is the effect of a well-being of the individual and or

21
the social group; that some kind of deviant behavior interferes with the
welfare of the individual such as a man who fears crowd can’t ride a bus.
This means that a person cannot adopt himself with the situation where
in it is beneficial to him.
 4. Abnormal behavior due to personal distress
This is abnormality in terms of the individual’s subjective feelings of
distress rather than the individual behavior. This includes mental illness,
feeling of misery, depression, and loss of appetite or interest, suffering
from insomnia and numerous aches and pains.

5. Abnormality in its legal point

It declares that a person is insane, largely on the basis of his inability to

judge between right and wrong or to the extent controlling over his
behavior.

Kinds of Behavior
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

As mentioned earlier, the important element in the definition of psychology is

behavior. As cited by Alicia Kahayon, behavior may be:

 Overt or Covert Behavior

Behaviors that are outwardly manifested or those that are directly
observable are overt behaviors. On the other hand, covert behaviors are
behaviors that are hidden – not visible to the naked eye.

 Simple or Complex Behavior

These are acts categorized according to the number of neurons involved in
the process of behaving. Simple behavior involves less number of neurons
while complex behavior involves more number of neurons, a combination of
simple behaviors.

 Rational or Irrational Behavior

Voluntary (rational) behavior is an act done with full volition of will as when
we discriminate, decide or choose while involuntary (irrational) behaviors
refer to the bodily process shown on his sanity and the person laugh out loud
at nobody, or nothing in particular.

Mental Disturbances as Causes of Crimes

The following are cases of mental disturbances which are sometimes
the cause of criminality and the development of criminal behavior.
1. MENTAL DEFICIENCY
22 A condition of arrested or incomplete development of the mind
which exists before the age of 18, whether arising from the inherent causes
or induced by disease or injury. Mentally deficient persons are prone to
commit malicious damage to property and unnatural sex. They may commit
violent crimes but definitely not crimes involving the use of mentality.
Classes of Mental Deficiency:

 Idiots – persons with a mental defect to a degree that they are unable to
guard themselves against common physical dangers. Their mentality is
comparable to that of a two-year old child.

 Imbeciles – persons with a mental defect, which though not amounting to

idiocy, is yet so pronounced that they are incapable of managing themselves
or their affairs.

 Feeble-minded – persons with a mental defect, which though not

amounting to imbecility, is yet so pronounced that they require care,
supervision and control for their own or for protection of others, or in the
case of children, they appear to be permanently incapable of receiving

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

proper benefit from instruction in ordinary schools.

 Morally defective – persons with strong vicious or criminal propensities.

They require care and supervision and control for their own or for the
protection of others.

2. PSYCHOSIS
This is a common category of mental disorder among youthful
offenders and habitual criminals. Psychosis can be functional or organic. It is
characterized by infantile level of response, lack of conscience, lack of
affection to others, and aggression to environment and other people.
Psychotic people lose contact with reality and have difficulty distinguishing
reality from fantasy. Most of the time they have severe breakdowns in their
ability to communicate and they become isolated from others.

The most common types of psychoses are the following:

 Schizophrenia – This is manifested by delusions or hallucinations or a

clear-cut thought disorder. This is also known as dementia praecox.
Sometimes schizophrenics are not logical in their thoughts, as shown by
their language. Their personal appearance is dilapidated, and they are
liable to impulsive acts and may commit suicide.

 Paranoia – It is a psychotic delusion characterized by incorrect or

unreasonable ideas which can be seen as truth by people suffering from
this disorder. Paranoia is a Greek term which means “a mind beside
itself”. Paranoid people are suspicious and have that feeling of being
persecuted by others, referred to as psychotic delusion. In the paranoid’s 23
mind the delusion system is firm and is accompanied by clear and orderly
thinking because he or she can give rational, distinct and clear reasons for
his or her thoughts.
 3. NEUROSIS
This is another common type of mental disorder linked to criminal
behavior. Neurotic behaviors are those that do not grossly violate social
norms or represent severely disorganized personalities. Most neurotics are
aware of their problems and may not seek professional help. They do not
require hospitalization but are guilty, unhappy, anxious people.

The most common neuroses with their respective symptoms are the following:

A. Anxiety Disorders
Anxiety disorders are commonly known as “neurotic fear.” When it is
occasional but intense, it is called “panic.” When it is mild but continuous, it
is called “worry,” which is usually accompanied by physiological symptoms
such as sustained muscular tension, increased blood pressure, insomnia, etc.
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

They are considered as the central feature of all neurotic patterns. These
disorders are characterized by mild depressions, fear and tensions, and mild
stresses; It is also known as “anxiety state” or “anxiety reaction”, with the
person feeling anxious, fearful or apprehensive. The person may also be
irritable and restless and has chronic tension, poor concentration and
overreaction to noise.

Classification of Anxiety Disorders:

 Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder – This is the uncontrollable or

irresistible impulse to do something. There may be an active desire to
resist this irrational behavior, but the person is prevented by his
unconscious motives to act out his difficulty or to suffer miserably in his
fear. This neurosis may be any of the following forms:
o Kleptomania – the compulsive desire to steal
o Dipsomania – the compulsive desire to drink alcohol
o Pyromania – the compulsive desire to set fire
o Homicidal compulsion – the irresistible urge to kill somebody
 Neurasthenia – This is a condition of weakened nerves that manifests in
fatigue and nervousness and sometimes in physical symptoms such as
pain.
 Phobia – It is generally called exaggerated fears of things that normal
people fear to some degree, and fears of things that ordinary people do
not fear.

B. Somatoform Disorders
24 Somatology, a branch of anthropology primarily concerned with the
comparative study of human evolution, variation, and classification especially
through measurement and observation.
 Complaints of bodily symptoms suggest the presence of physical
problem but no organic basis can be found. The individual is pre-
occupied with his state of health or diseases.

Classification of Somatoform Disorders:

 Hypochondriasis – It means a morbid concern of one’s health especially

when accompanied by delusions or physical disease. A hypochondriac person
tends to seek medical advice, but his fear is not lessened by his doctor’s
reassurances, and he may be disappointed when no physical problem is
found.
 Psychogenic Pain Disorder – It is characterized by the report of severe and
lasting pain. Either no physical basis is apparent or reaction is greatly in

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

excess of what would be expected from the physical abnormality.
 Conversion Disorder (Hysteria) – it is a neurotic pattern in which
symptoms of some physical malfunction or loss of control without any
underlying organic abnormality.

C. Dissociative Disorders
A person with obvious stress is characterized by amnesia, multiple
personality, and depersonalization.

 Amnesia – The partial or total inability to recall or identify past experiences

following a traumatic incident.

 Brain Pathology Amnesia – The total loss of memory and it

cannot be retrieved by simple means. It requires long period
of medication.

 Psychogenic Amnesia – The failure to recall stored

information and still they are beneath the level of
consciousness but “forgotten material.”

 Multiple Personality – It is also called as “Dual Personality.” The person

manifested two or more symptoms of personality usually dramatically
different from each other.

 Depersonalization – This is the “loss of sense of self’ or the so-called “out

of the body experience.” There is a feeling of detachment from one’s mental
process or body or being in a dream state. Cases of somnambulism (sleep
walking) may fall under this disorder. 25
 D. Mood Disorders
Mood disorders often referred to as affective disorders. Mood
disorders are group of clinical conditions characterized by a loss of sense of
control of person’s moods and a subjective experience of great distress
mood may be elevated to depression. These disorders always result in
impaired interpersonal, social and occupational functioning.

Classification of Mood Disorders

1. Depressive Disorders

 Major Depressive Disorder – Patients with depressed mood have loss

of energy and interest, feeling of guilt, difficulty in concentrating, loss of
appetite, and thoughts of death or suicide. They are affected with manic
INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

episodes.
 Dysthymic Disorder – A mild form of major depressive disorder.
 Bipolar Disorder – Those experienced by patients with both manic and
depressive episodes.
 Cyclothymic disorder – This is a less severe form of bipolar disorder.

E. Personality Disorders
The person with this disorder is characterized as “problematic”
without psychosis. This disorder is characterized with disrupted personal
relationship, dependent or passive aggressive behavior.

Classification of Personality Disorders

 Paranoid Personality Disorder – It is characterized by suspicion, rigidity,

envy, hypersensitivity, excessive self-importance, argumentativeness and
tendency and to blame others for one’s own mistakes.
 Schizoid Personality Disorder– It is characterized by the inability to form
social relationship and lack of interest in doing so. Persons with this kind of
disorder hardly expresses their feelings. They lack social skills. They are the
so-called “loners.”
 Schizotypal Personality Disorder – It is characterized by seclusiveness, over-
sensitivity, avoidance of communication and superstitious thinking.
 Histrionic Personality Disorder – It is characterized by immaturity,
excitability, emotional instability and self-dramatization.
 Narcissistic Personality Disorder – It is characterized by an exaggerated
sense of self-importance and pre-occupation with receiving attention. The
person usually expects and demands special treatment from others and
26 disregarding the rights and feelings of others.
 Borderline Personality Disorder – It is characterized by instability reflected in
drastic mood shifts and behavior problems. The person usually displays
 intense anger outburst with little provocation and he is impulsive,
unpredictable, and periodically unstable.
 Avoidant Personality Disorder – It is characterized by hypersensitivity to
rejection and apprehensive alertness to any sign of social derogation. Person
is reluctant to enter into social interaction.
 Dependent Personality Disorder – It is characterized by extreme dependence
on other people – there is acute discomfort and even panic to be alone. The
person lacks confidence and feels helpless.
 Passive-Aggressive Personality Disorder – It is characterized by being hostile
expressed in indirect and non-violent ways. They are so-called “stubborn.”
 Compulsive Personality Disorder – It is characterized by excessive concern
with rules, order, and efficiency that everyone does things his own way. It is
also characterized by an ability to express warm feelings. The person is over
in

conscientious, serious, and he has difficulty in doing things for relaxation.

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

 Anti-social Personality Disorder – It is characterized by continuing violation
of the rights of others through aggressive, anti-social behavior without
remorse or loyalty to anyone.

4. EPILEPSY
This is a condition characterized by compulsive seizures and a
tendency to mental deterioration. The disease is characterized by reduced
emotional control, stubbornness and irresistibility, impulsiveness,
inconsistency in feeling, irritability manifested either by sudden outburst of
anger and vicious conduct. Just before the convulsion, the epileptic may have
mental confusion, hallucination or delusion, and may commit violent crimes
without provocation. After the attack, he maybe at the state of altered
consciousness and may wonder from one place to another and inflict bodily
harm. In the course of mild attack, he may unconsciously perform indecent
acts, breach of the peace, and varying degree of crime of violence.

Types of Epilepsy:
a. Grand Mal – where there is complete loss of consciousness and
general contraction of the muscles.
b. Petit Mal – it may be evident by mild or complete loss of
consciousness and contraction of muscles.
c. Jackonism type – there is localized contraction of muscles with or
without loss of consciousness.

5. ALCOHOLISM
It is a condition wherein a person is under the influence of intoxicating
liquor or alcohol. His physical state and conduct has been adapted to a
certain extent by the effects of alcohol. The drunkard habitually consumes or
27
uses intoxicating alcoholic liquor and once under the influence of liquor
becomes dangerous to himself or others. He may perpetrate violent crimes
and inflict physical injuries. Habitual drunkards may commit suicide, sexual
offenses and other acquisitive crimes.
 6. DRUG ADDICTION
A form of vice abuse which causes strong mental uproar. It is the
state of intermittent or chronic intoxication produced by the
repeated intake or consumption of natural or synthetic drugs. A drug
dependent may commit crimes against property once he has no more
money to purchase the drugs. A woman may become prostitute just
to get money to buy drugs. An addict during withdrawal syndrome
may commit violent crimes and commit suicide due to extreme
suffering. The addict is lazy. Unsanitary and turn out to be less
dependable.

Psychological Classification of Criminals

1. Passion Criminals – Persons who are hot-tempered. Under ordinary

INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIMES

routines of life they are not a problem, but under pressure, they go to
pieces. (e.g. highly irritable and aggressive individuals)
2. Algolagnic Criminals – Those who have abnormal sexual urges towards
the opposite sex with physical pain as the source of sexual stimulus.
3. Environment Thwarted Criminals – Those who are frustrated by their
physical surroundings. Since they hate their environment, they are the
malicious destroyers of properties. (e.g. pyromaniacs)
4. Sex Perverts – People who are really obsessed with sex. Occasionally,
they become dangerous in the society. (e.g. sex maniacs, homosexuals,
exhibitionists, pedophiles, necrophilia, peeping tom, etc.)
5. Neurotic Criminals – Those who are suffering from neurosis or mild
insanity. (e.g. those who cannot adjust to their marital life, social life,
etc.)
6. Psychotic Criminals – They are usually referred as insane criminals;
psycho-killers.
7. Psychopathic Criminals – Persons with antisocial personality. They are
characterized by having no sense of guilt or humiliation and shame.
8. Paranoid Criminals – Refers to mentally-ill persons with delusions,
hallucinations and persecutory reactions.
9. Compulsive Criminals – This refers to persons suffering from compulsion.
10. Organic Criminals – This refers to individuals having mental illness with
organic cause. (e.g. epileptic)

Sociological Causes of Crimes

1. Lack of parental guidance
2. Broken homes and family
3. Poor status of neighborhood
4. Bad association with criminal groups
28
5. Lack of recreational facilities for proper use of leisure time
6. Lack of employment opportunities
7. Failure of the school in character development of the children or the youth
8. Influence of mass media