Chapter 16: Criminality & Delinquency

Criminality & Delinquency overview explores the psychological and sociological foundations of criminality and delinquency, examining why individuals engage in antisocial behavior ranging from school-based disruptions to violent adult offenses. Researchers traditionally investigate these behaviors by comparing convicted individuals with the general population, though this method is complicated by undetected crimes and the psychological effects of incarceration. Social factors are a major area of focus; longitudinal research, such as the Cambridge Study, indicates that early childhood conduct is a powerful predictor of future misconduct, especially when paired with social handicaps like family instability, neglect, and poverty. The quality of parental discipline and domestic affection also serves as a critical indicator for identifying potential juvenile delinquency. Beyond environmental influences, the chapter delves into individual personality traits and clinical assessments like the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), which distinguishes between excitatory traits that encourage delinquency and inhibitory traits that suppress it. Physical constitution is also considered through somatotyping, which suggests a statistical correlation between athletic, muscular body builds and criminal tendencies. A central theoretical framework provided by H. J. Eysenck posits that criminality is linked to high levels of extroversion, neuroticism, and psychoticism, driven by physiological differences in how individuals respond to social conditioning. Learning theories further explain these patterns, suggesting that criminal behavior is often acquired through intimate social interactions or a failure in passive avoidance conditioning, where an individual does not develop a typical "conscience" or fear-based response to prohibited acts. Finally, the text addresses the significant role of heredity, supported by twin studies, while highlighting the notable yet under-researched sex differences in crime rates. By integrating genetic predispositions with social and personality factors, the field aims to move toward more effective prevention strategies and behavioral therapies.