Your local community news network has approached you to write a news article on the guestlecture in theme three. The article should include:
An outline of the social issue discussed during the guest lectures.- Current strategies being implemented to address the issue (including identifying the relevant multidisciplinary stakeholders). - The need for a more decolonised approach to addressing the issue.- Ways in which young people can get involved in addressing the issue. In detail use the information provided below to complete it
1. Social criminology suggests that criminals may act the way they do due to external social factors such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and exposure to crime in their environment. These individuals may turn to criminal behavior as a way to survive or to feel a sense of belonging in their community.
2. Psychocriminology, on the other hand, focuses on the psychological factors that may influence criminal behavior. These individuals may have personality traits such as impulsivity, aggression, lack of empathy, or a history of abuse or trauma that contribute to their criminal actions. They may also have cognitive distortions or irrational beliefs that justify their behaviour.
3. Psychiatric criminology looks at the role of mental illness in criminal behavior. Some criminals may have psychiatric disorders such as schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, or antisocial personality disorder that impair their ability to make rational decisions or control their impulses. These individuals may commit crimes due to their mental illness rather than intentional malice.
Contributing factors in society that can lead people to commit crimes and offenses include:
1. Poverty and socioeconomic disparities: Individuals living in poverty may resort to criminal activities in order to survive or improve their circumstances.
2. Lack of educational opportunities: Limited access to education and job opportunities can lead individuals to turn to criminal behavior as a means of making a living.
3. Drug and alcohol abuse: Substance abuse can impair a person's judgment and lead to impulsive or reckless behavior that may result in criminal activity.
4. Peer pressure and social influences: Individuals may be influenced by their peers or social circles to engage in criminal behavior as a way to fit in or gain acceptance.
5. Family dysfunction and trauma: Individuals who have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect in their upbringing may be more prone to engaging in criminal behavior as a result of their adverse experiences.
6. Cultural factors: Some cultures may have norms or values that condone or justify criminal behavior, leading individuals to commit crimes within their community.
7. Lack of access to mental health services: Individuals with mental health issues may be more susceptible to engaging in criminal behavior if they do not have access to proper treatment and support services.
Intersection of psychology and criminology: Psychocriminology is a field that examines the intersection of psychology and criminology. It looks at how psychological principles and theories can inform our understanding of criminal behavior and the criminal justice system.
Use psychological knowledge to explain, describe, understand and prevent offending behavior: Psychocriminology utilizes psychological knowledge to explain, describe, understand, and prevent offending behavior. This can involve studying factors such as cognitive processes, personality traits, development, and social influences that contribute to criminal behavior.
Science of behavior and mental processes of offenders: Psychocriminology is concerned with studying the behavior and mental processes of offenders. This includes understanding the thoughts, emotions, motivations, and decision-making processes that may lead individuals to engage in criminal behavior.
Causes of offending behavior (i.e., social, cognitive, personality, developmental): Psychocriminology examines various causes of offending behavior, including social factors (such as poverty or peer influence), cognitive factors (such as irrational thinking or impulsivity), personality traits (such as aggression or sensation-seeking), and developmental factors (such as childhood trauma or disruptions in attachment).
Interplay between mental health (mental illness) and offending behavior: Psychocriminology also explores the interplay between mental health issues (such as mental illness) and offending behavior. This includes examining how mental health conditions can impact criminal behavior and how individuals with mental health issues are treated within the criminal justice system.
Wellbeing of offenders in the correctional environment and offender rehabilitation: Lastly, psychocriminology also focuses on the wellbeing of offenders in the correctional environment and how to effectively rehabilitate offenders. This can involve implementing mental health interventions, addressing criminogenic needs, and promoting positive outcomes for individuals who have engaged in criminal behavior.
Not a conductive environment: This refers to a correctional environment that is not conducive to rehabilitation and positive change for offenders. This could be due to factors such as overcrowding, lack of resources, poor staff-inmate relationships, or a punitive rather than rehabilitative approach to corrections. A non-conducive environment can hinder an offender's ability to make positive changes and successfully reintegrate into society upon release.
- Negatively impact the wellbeing and mental health of offenders: A correctional environment that is not conducive can have a detrimental effect on the wellbeing and mental health of offenders. Factors such as isolation, lack of access to mental health treatment, violence, and lack of programming can exacerbate existing mental health issues or create new ones. This can lead to increased levels of stress, anxiety, depression, and even self-harm among offenders.
- Coping adjustment, control over aggression, and preventing reoffending is important: In order to address the negative effects of a non-conducive correctional environment, it is essential for offenders to develop coping mechanisms, learn how to control their aggression, and receive the necessary support to prevent reoffending. This can be achieved through therapy, cognitive-behavioral interventions, anger management programs, and other forms of rehabilitation that help offenders address the underlying issues that led to their criminal behavior. By focusing on these areas, offenders can develop healthier ways of dealing with stress and conflict, reduce the likelihood of reoffending, and ultimately improve their chances of successful reintegration into society.
To understand offending behaviour: Social learning theory suggests that individuals learn criminal behavior through observing and imitating the actions of others. By understanding this theory, we can gain insight into why individuals engage in offending behavior and how these behaviors are perpetuated through social interactions.
Observation and learned behavior: This subheading refers to the process in which individuals observe the behavior of others and learn from it. In the context of social learning theory, individuals may observe criminal behavior and then imitate it based on what they have learned. This can contribute to the development of offending behavior in individuals.
Training school: In the context of social learning theory, a training school can be a setting in which individuals are exposed to criminal behavior and may learn and internalize these behaviors. This can lead to the individuals engaging in offending behavior themselves, as they have been trained or conditioned to do so through their environment.
Rewarded: In social learning theory, behavior that is rewarded is more likely to be repeated. If individuals engage in offending behavior and are rewarded for it, they may be more likely to continue engaging in this behavior in the future. This can further perpetuate criminal behavior within a social group or community.
Cycle of violence: The cycle of violence refers to the pattern in which individuals who are exposed to violence or criminal behavior may be more likely to engage in similar behaviors themselves. This can create a cycle of violence where individuals perpetuate criminal behavior through observation and imitation, leading to further instances of offending behavior in the future.
In a recent guest lecture focusing on the intersection of psychology and criminology, several social issues were discussed that contribute to criminal behavior in individuals. Social criminology was highlighted as a field that suggests criminals may turn to illegal activities due to external social factors such as poverty, lack of education, unemployment, and exposure to crime in their environment. Psychocriminology, on the other hand, focuses on the psychological factors that may influence criminal behavior, including personality traits, cognitive distortions, and history of abuse.
Psychiatric criminology was also discussed, emphasizing the role of mental illness in criminal behavior, with individuals possibly committing crimes due to their mental health disorders. Contributing factors in society that can lead individuals to commit crimes and offenses were identified as poverty, lack of educational opportunities, drug and alcohol abuse, peer pressure, family dysfunction, trauma, and cultural factors.
It was emphasized that a more decolonized approach is needed to address these issues, taking into account the diverse backgrounds and experiences of individuals involved in criminal behavior. Current strategies being implemented to address these issues include multidisciplinary stakeholders such as psychologists, social workers, law enforcement, mental health professionals, and community organizations working together to provide support and resources to those at risk of criminal behavior.
Young people were encouraged to get involved in addressing these social issues by promoting awareness, advocating for policy changes, volunteering with community organizations, and promoting mental health and well-being initiatives. By understanding the causes of offending behavior and the impact of social and psychological factors, young people can play a role in preventing crime and promoting positive outcomes for individuals in their communities.
Overall, the guest lecture highlighted the importance of addressing the underlying issues that contribute to criminal behavior through a multidisciplinary and decolonized approach, as well as the need for young people to be actively engaged in addressing these social issues to create a safer and more inclusive community.