// Criminological approach
Psychological and psychiatric theories of crime
The mind, personality and cognitive processes. The 15 theories of the psychological and psychiatric approach, illustrated with pop-culture villains and explained with rigor.
15 theories15 with a case file
25Criminological PsychoanalysisCrime as a scream from the unconscious: repressed desires, a mother who won't let go and a guilt only punishment can soothe.Norman Bates · Psycho26Criminal Personality TheoryToo impulsive, too unstable, too cold: a mix of traits that not even punishment can tame.Alex DeLarge · A Clockwork Orange27Moral Development TheorySome never got past a child's morality: "it's fine if I don't get caught." Adults trapped in schoolyard ethics.Joffrey Baratheon · Game of Thrones28Psychopathy and CrimeCharm, intelligence and zero remorse. The predator who smiles at you while calmly calculating how much you're worth.Hannibal Lecter · Hannibal29Social Learning TheoryEvil is learned by watching. A child who sees violence rewarded takes note... and repeats the lesson as an adult.Zé Pequeño · City of God30Frustration-Aggression TheoryBlock what someone wants most and frustration will find an outlet: it erupts in violence against the first person to pass by.D-Fens · Falling Down31Attachment TheoryA child who was never loved becomes an adult incapable of love. The crime that begins in a cold crib.Voldemort · Harry Potter32Cognitive CriminologyIt's not that they think differently sometimes: they think differently always. Thinking errors that justify any crime as something logical.Mr. Glass · Unbreakable33Operant Conditioning TheoryReward a behavior and it repeats; punish it and it fades. Even crime obeys the carrot and the stick.Frank Abagnale · Catch Me If You Can34Social Information Processing ModelFor some, a casual bump is a declaration of war. They see threats where there are none and strike first.Mickey Knox · Natural Born Killers35Self-Regulation Deficit TheoryWant something and take it, now, without braking. Those who can't delay pleasure collide with the law sooner or later.Yosemite Sam · Looney Tunes36Intelligence (IQ) and Crime TheoryA low IQ doesn't manufacture criminals... but the school failure it drags along pushes some toward the only place where they finally stand out.Moriarty · Sherlock Holmes37Antisocial Personality DisorderThe modern clinical name for utter contempt of others. They lie, use and destroy without a flinch.Cersei Lannister · Game of Thrones38Cognitive Scripts TheoryThey've rehearsed the scene a thousand times in their head. When the moment comes, violence runs on autopilot, like a learned script.Travis Bickle · Taxi Driver39Moral Disengagement TheoryHow ordinary people commit atrocities without feeling guilt: dehumanize the victim, slap on a euphemism and the conscience goes quiet.Amon Göth · Schindler's List
Frequently asked questions
What are psychological and psychiatric theories of crime?
The mind, personality and cognitive processes. They bring together 15 criminological theories, 15 of them with a full case file on KRIMINIS.
Which theories does the psychological and psychiatric approach include?
Criminological Psychoanalysis, Criminal Personality Theory, Moral Development Theory, Psychopathy and Crime, Social Learning Theory, Frustration-Aggression Theory, Attachment Theory, Cognitive Criminology, Operant Conditioning Theory, Social Information Processing Model…