Understanding psychology and crime : perspectives on theory and action

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Title:

Author:

McGuire, James, 1948-

ISBN:

9780335211203

9780335211197

Personal Author:

McGuire, James, 1948-

Publication Information:

Maidenhead, England : Open University Press, 2004.

Physical Description:

xv, 280 p. : ill. ; 24 cm.

Series:

Crime and justice

Series Title:

Crime and justice

Contents:

1. Why psychology? -- Defining crime -- Ordinary crime -- Criminology : the case of the missing person -- The scientific approach -- The assumed philosophical basis of psychology -- Psychology's task -- 2. Accounting for crime -- Main concepts in criminological theory -- Levels of description -- Psychological processes in sociological models -- Theory integration -- Orgins of (cognitive) social learning theory -- 3. Psychological processes in crime -- Basic processes -- Ordinary behaviour -- Psychological processes and individual differences -- 4. Pathways to offending behaviour -- Property offences -- Personal violence -- Substance use and social learning -- Sexual offending -- 5. Individual factors in crime -- Longitudinal studies -- Discovering risk factors through meta-analysis -- Identifying risk factors through evaluation of outcomes -- Offenders with mental disorders -- Individual differences : practical implications -- A framework for crime prevention -- 6. Preventing and reducing crime -- Background to the debate -- Patterns in effect sizes -- Methods of working -- 7. Crime and punishment : a psychological view -- Key concepts in sentencing and punishment -- Evidence for deterrence effects -- The failure of punishment -- Ineffective - but indispensable -- 8. Applications and values -- Psychology and the criminal justice process -- Psychology and crime : the social context -- Psychology, science and politics.þ́

Subject Term:

Criminal psychology.

Copies:

Available:*

Library	Material Type	Item Barcode	Shelf Number	Copy	Status
Searching... 1:IIEMSA	1:GEN-BOOK	33168015764737	364.3 M148U 2004	1	Searching... Unknown

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Summary

*What contributions can psychology make to the understanding of crime?
*How can theories of crime that focus on the individual be integrated in a wider social perspective?
*How can psychological models and research be applied in crime prevention and the reduction of repeat offending?
This book bridges the gap between criminology and psychological perspectives and ideas concerning crime. It sets this in historical context and provides an outline of the contributions that psychological approaches can make understanding crime and how to respond to it. It is argued that some objections to the use of psychology within criminology are based on outdated or erroneous conceptions about psychology itself. Throughout the book there is an emphasis on the close relationships between theory, research and practice, and a central part of this is to demonstrate how a methodical approach to the study of criminal behaviour can generate both systematic findings and practical solutions to problems. This authoritative and stimulating text provides essential reading for courses in criminology and psychology alike, moving from theory and research to how such ideas can be applied in crime prevention and reduction, and concluding with discussion of the ethical and political implications.