Psychology of Criminal Behaviors

Catalog description

This course explores the intersection of psychology, crime, and the criminal justice system, emphasizing three main areas of focus: (1) Predictors of criminal behavior; (2) Psychopathology and crime; and (3) the connection between the broader social and systemic contexts that contribute to criminal behavior. Overall, the course aims to address the interaction of biological, psychological, and environmental factors. Students will examine theories of crime, individual and social predictors of offending, different types of crime, and how the media has shaped an understanding of criminal behaviors. Applications include forensic psychology, the juvenile justice system, corrections, rehabilitation, and contemporary issues such as cybercrime, terrorism, and media portrayals of crime.