$1,892 $2,142
Your upfront cost: $0
Duration
13 weeks
Study method
100% Online
Available loans
- HECS-HELP
- FEE-HELP
Assessments
100% online
Prior study
Not required
Start dates
- 29 May 2023
- 27 Nov 2023
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
Learn more about Griffith.
Explore Griffith courses.
QS Ranking 2023
19
Times Higher Education Ranking 2023
16
Need help?
Our student advisors are here to guide you with:
- Enrolling and eligibility
- Fee and loan information
- Credit and recognition for prior learning
Subject details
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
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
- GRF-CCJ20-Psychology of Crime (No longer available)
Others
This is not an introductory subject, it is a second year subject. You must have a basic understanding of the first year criminology subjects. Students who have completed more than 2 OUA units (GPA 4.0+) and are planning on completing the Bachelor of Criminology and Criminal Justice are strongly encouraged to enrol in the degree. Part of this process will involve registering your study plan with Griffith University, which will help to ensure that you are studying the required units.
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
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 unit examines criminal behaviour in terms of nine theoretical perspectives: evolutionary theories, genetic theories, biobehavioural theories, psychodynamic theories, trait theories, behavioural theories, social learning theories, development theories, and environmental theories. The unit 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%)
- Final Exam (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).