Beyond Crime and Punishment: A Comprehensive Psychological Study of Motives, Mental Health, and Social Influence in Shaping Criminal Behaviour in India

This comprehensive study investigates the intricate psychological and social determinants of criminal behaviour in India by analyzing official crime data from 2019 to 2025.Moving beyond a purely legalistic or punitive framework, this research interprets temporal and categorical crime trends through established criminological and psychological theories, including Merton's Strain Theory, Bandura's Social Learning Theory, and psychodynamic approaches.The analysis of data from the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) and Data.gov.inreveals significant insights: a persistent high volume of theft/robbery and crimes against women, significant interstate variations in psychological crime burden, and evolving trends in cybercrime.The findings underscore that criminal behaviour is not an isolated phenomenon but is deeply embedded in a complex matrix of socio-economic strain, mental health challenges, and learned social behaviours.The paper concludes with evidence-based policy recommendations focused on prevention, mental health intervention, and social rehabilitation, aiming to contribute to a more humane and effective criminal justice policy in India.