PSYCHOLOGY OF CRIME: WHY DO PEOPLE BECOME CRIMINALS? PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME

This article analyzes various psychological and biological theories that explain human criminality. The author presents the causes of crime not as a single, but as a multifactorial set of factors such as genetics, brain chemistry, upbringing, social environment, and learned behavior. Within the framework of biological approaches, the influence of genetics, brain structure, and hormonal factors is analyzed. The effect of frontal cortex damage on human behavior is also highlighted through the example of Phineas Gage. In socialization theories, approaches such as classical, operant, and observational learning, as well as Strain theory, explain crime from a social and psychological perspective. Routine Activity Theory and Social Construction Theory also emphasize the variability of the concept of crime in society. At the end of the article, it is concluded that crime is the result of a complex interaction between human biology, psychology, and social conditions. Many people have their own theories on what makes a criminal. Some of these theories are based on firsthand knowledge or experience, some unfortunately may be based on racism or prejudice, and some on scientifically investigated studies. And there are several psychological theories of crime, most of which have been shown to have a sound scientific basis. However, it is widely accepted that the reasons for crime are seldom one cause or the other, but rather a combination of some.