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Undergraduate | GRF-CCJ20 | 2023
Psychology of Crime
Address the question, ‘what is it about individuals and their experiences that produce criminal behaviour?’ Explore 9 theories: evolutionary, genetic, biobehavioural, psychodynamic, trait, behavioural, social learning, moral development and environmental.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Prior study needed
- Duration
- 13 weeks
HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Demonstrate an understanding of the relationship between individual-level and society-level explanations of criminal behaviour.
- Understand the major debates about the nature of criminal behaviour, for example, the nature/nurture debate, the free-will/ determinism debate, and the person/situation debate.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the major individual-level theoretical explanations of criminal behaviour, and be able to apply these theories to individual cases.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the practical and policy implications of the theories of criminal behaviour.
- Understand how scientific theories can be tested using psychological experiments.
- Demonstrate an understanding of the ethical concerns with individual-level explanations of criminal behaviour.
- Introduction
- Evolutionary Theory
- Crime and Genetics
- Bio-behavioural Theories
- Trait Theories
- Developmental Theories
- Social Learning Theories
- Social Cognitive Theories
- Environmental Theories
- Implications for the Criminal Justice System
- Implications for Prevention and Rehabilitation
- First Nations SEWB
This subject addresses the question "What is it about individuals and their experiences that produce criminal behaviour?". Psychologists are concerned with how an individual’s biological make-up, personality, upbringing, current circumstances and so forth produce criminal behaviour. The subject examines criminal behaviour in terms of nine theoretical perspectives: evolutionary theories, genetic theories, biobehavioural theories, psychodynamic theories, trait theories, behavioural theories, social learning theories, moral development theories, and environmental theories. The subject also examines the implications of these theories for three areas criminology: the functioning of the criminal justice system, crime prevention, and the rehabilitation of offenders.
- Online Quiz (10%)
- Case Study (50%)
- Online Exam (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- QS Ranking 2023:
- 19
- Times Higher Education Ranking 2023:
- 12
Entry requirements
Others
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
0.125 EFTSL
This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Student feedback
9 student respondents between: 20 Feb - 09 Mar 2023.
88%of students felt the study load was manageable
88%of students felt this subject helped them gain relevant skills
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