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]

History

Sigmund Freud published Criminality from a Sense of Guilt in 1916 in which, according to Belser, "[Freud] maintains that crime is committed by individuals with tremendous unconscious guilt and overdeveloped superegos who seek to be caught and punished".[2] Psychoanalytic criminology was further developed by August Aichhorn, Melanie Klein, Fritz Redl, and David Wineman.[2]

References

  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. http://bjc.oxfordjournals.org. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  2. ^ a b c Belser, Alex. "The Re-emergence of Psychoanalytical Criminology". Cambridge Institute of Criminology. http://www.alexbelser.com/documents/belser-psychoanalytical-criminology.pdf. Retrieved 2008-02-09. 
  3. ^ Hall, Prentice. "Glossary - P". Criminology Today, 4ed. Pearson Education Company. http://www.prenhall.com/cjcentral/crimtoday4e/glossary/p.html. Retrieved 2008-01-09.