Psychoanalytic criminology

Psychoanalytic criminology is a method of studying crime and criminal behaviour that draws from Freudian psychoanalysis. This school of thought examines personality and the psyche (particularly the unconscious) for motive in crime.[1] Other areas of interest are the fear of crime and the act of punishment.[2]

Criminal behaviour is attributed to maladjustment[1] and dysfunctional personality.[3] According to Buhagiar, "psychoanalytic criminologists were not adverse to the principle of confinement, and often favored increased penality".[1]

When looking at a specific crime, like sexually motivated serial killers, for example, this psychoanalytic perspective can be very helpful. This lens allows for exploring the link between evil and aggression. In this paper that looks at the aggression of evil, and aggression through this perspective allows for the introduction of what 'evil' actually means. Looking at this crime psychoanalytically allowed the author to define evil as destructive aggression that is innate and reactive; as a result, he came to the conclusion that everyone has the capacity for evil and can be viewed as a reaction to threat or sense of endearment.[4]

  1. ^ a b c Buhagiar, Lawrence (2006-07-01). "Criminals and their Scientists: The History of Criminology in International Perspective. By Peter Becker and Richard Wetzell (eds.) (Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, 2005, 492pp, {pound}60 hb)". Br J Criminol. 46 (4): 766–769. doi:10.1093/bjc/azl046. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  2. ^ Belser, Alex. "The Re-emergence of Psychoanalytical Criminology" (PDF). Cambridge Institute of Criminology. Retrieved 2008-02-09.
  3. ^ Hall, Prentice. "Glossary - P". Criminology Today, 4ed. Pearson Education Company. Archived from the original on 2012-12-23. Retrieved 2008-01-09.
  4. ^ Knight, Zelda G. (March 2007). "Sexually motivated serial killers and the psychology of aggression and "evil" within a contemporary psychoanalytical perspective". Journal of Sexual Aggression. 13 (1): 21–35. doi:10.1080/13552600701365597. ISSN 1355-2600.