The Psychology of Crime A Social Science Textbook [Paperback]

An introductory textbook on criminal behaviour: its identification, cause and control.What is criminal behavior? How is it identified? Representing a systematic application of contemporary psychology to the study of crime, this text attempts to analyze criminal behavior within the context of biological, developmental and social learning factors.What is criminal behavior? How is it identified? Representing a systematic application of contemporary psychology to the study of crime, this text attempts to analyze criminal behavior within the context of biological, developmental and social learning factors.What is criminal behavior? How is it identified? What is the role of the police and the courts? What is the evidence for hopes of controlling and changing criminal behavior? This book represents the systematic application of contemporary psychology to the study of crime, from biological factors, through child development to social learning. Feldman's work includes systematic contributions from sociology. The breadth of coverage and the firm base in psychology are unique in the current literature.Part I. Description: 1. Offences; 2. Offenders; 3. Courts; 4. Police; Part II. Explanation: 5. Biological factors; 6. Individual differences; 7. Childhood development; 8. Economic and social factors; 9. Cognitive-behavioural approaches; Part III. Control: 10. The penal system; 11. Intervention; 12. Prevention; Part IV. Summary: 13. Summary; References; Indices. Feldman's focus on the cognitive-behavioral approach makes for interesting and informative reading, and will engage those who do not share his position, such as this reviewer, with challenging analyses of the weakness of psychotherapy in modifying the offender's behavior. Philip Bonifacio, International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology