If you have started a career as a criminal psychologist or planning to step into this field, you must learn about the importance of a criminal psychologist in society. Unlike other professions, this one is compassionate and can be hazardous. However, nothing is all black or white, so there is some grey area in this profession.
Here, we will discuss the role of criminal psychologists in society and how they can bring positive change. So, without further ado, let’s get into the details.
What Is A Criminal Psychologist?
The study of criminals’ ideas and actions is known as criminal psychology. TV series such as CSI and Criminal Minds have made criminal psychology a popular topic. Television does not necessarily reflect life. Let us take a look at what it means to study criminal psychology.
It will help if you acquire a degree in psychology and a license to practice working as a criminal psychologist. The experts go for postdoctoral research or studies in criminal behavior or profiling.
Criminal psychologists frequently come from a law enforcement background, taking skills learned on the job to graduate degrees where they hone their psychological profiling capabilities.
What Is Criminal Psychology?
When talking about what is criminal psychology is the study of a criminal’s thoughts and behaviors to evaluate and draw a pattern that will aid police or other law enforcement organizations in apprehending criminals or assisting a court during proceedings.
Criminal profiling relates an offender’s actions to the crime scene to investigate the features of similar types of criminals so that police or other relevant agencies can capture similar types of offenders just by looking at the crime scene.
Law enforcement and criminal psychology are inextricably linked together. This profession helps criminal and civil investigations—professionals in this discipline attempt to collaborate with law enforcement to understand criminal psychology better and solve crimes.
Academic research and practical experience in criminal justice strongly aid professionals in this industry.
History Of Criminal Psychology
The term “criminal psychology” has a variety of definitions, but there is no agreed-upon definition of it even today. It can be defined as a science that applies psychological knowledge to help investigative institutions better achieve their mission. When discussing the history of criminal psychology, it wasn’t long ago that criminal psychology became an academic specialty.
Universities first began to teach it in the late 1800s. However, the investigators have previously employed offender profiling techniques. Hugo Munsterberg, a German psychologist, is credited with being the father of criminal psychology. Hugo’s works from the nineteenth and twentieth century are still relevant to psychologists.
Criminal psychologists’ position in the criminal justice system has grown dramatically since the early twentieth century, and their work is now highly valued in every developed country on the planet.
What Does A Criminal Psychologist Do?
As a professional, you must know what does a criminal psychologist to bring a change. As a psychologist, you need to study the thoughts and behaviors of criminals.
The study of why individuals commit crimes is a significant component that’s why it’s crucial to examine criminals to determine the risk of reoffending or make educated estimates about a criminal’s conduct following a crime.
As a criminal psychologist, you may require to perform the following duties.
Earn A Professional Degree
Criminal psychologists usually begin their careers by acquiring a bachelor’s degree in psychology. If criminology interests you, you can choose to pursue a master’s degree in psychology after completing your undergraduate degree. After completing your bachelor’s degree, you can further enroll in a doctoral program.
Profiling Of Criminals
Criminal profiling is perhaps one of the most well-known responsibilities of a criminal psychologist. However, it is an approach that has been employed unofficially for decades. Criminal profiling’s purpose is to offer law enforcement a psychological assessment of a suspect and methods and suggestions for use during the interviewing process.
Counseling
Criminal psychologists also provide counseling to those who have committed crimes and require psychological evaluation. Many psychologists work in computer-related disciplines, such as researching cyber predators or assisting with online fraud investigations.
Investigation/Interviewing
People who work in this sector work in offices and courts. A criminal psychologist may spend a significant amount of time interviewing individuals, examining an offender’s life history, or testifying in court as an expert witness.
In some circumstances, criminal psychologists have to cooperate closely with police and federal agents to assist in investigating crimes, generally by developing profiles of violent criminals.
Criminal Psychologist Responsibilities
When talking about criminal psychologists’ responsibilities, they have to perform a variety of activities and tasks, for example:
Assess The Victim
You may require to conduct a mental examination of the suspect to determine their psychological condition and suitability for the trial. A psychologist often has to examine if a suspect is mentally fit to stand the test or if their personality matches the alleged crime.
Dig Out Information
Provide evidence and results that can be helpful to conclude along with the root cause. Also, conduct research and surveys to determine the reasons for a crime’s commission.
Rehabilitate
To limit the danger of reoffending, assess and counsel offenders to assist them in rehabilitation and social reintegration.
Provide Therapies
People who have committed crimes may be asked to see a criminal psychologist for counseling. Their job is to assist their clients in coping with the repercussions of criminal behavior and rehabilitation to return to society as productive members.
Spread Awareness
A criminal psychologist can teach in psychology or the criminal justice department at a college level. They can also deliver seminars or teach courses at law enforcement training centers.
Recommend the Right Way To Deal With Criminals
In the assessment and interview of a suspect, use the research findings. Assist law enforcement agencies in developing a profile for a fugitive criminal. Examine police tactics and make any necessary changes to improve efficiency.
Provide Therapies
Provide proper counseling and behavior rehabilitation to probationary offenders. You may also require to assist lawyers in formulating probing questions for a court case.
What Makes Someone A Criminal?
What makes someone a criminal despite being born into a typical family? Criminal behavior is challenging to address since many aspects to consider defining and comprehend the notion. The criminogenic need is used to describe illegal activities that lead to recidivism.
Once someone enters the criminal justice system, it is our job as a society to make every effort to rehabilitate them. As a trained psychologist, you can help those who are tired of the system or are unsure about whether they want to change or not. If you find out the root cause of what compels a victim to choose the wrong path, you may be able to help him leave that.
There may be the following reasons that push a person to opt for the wrong path.
Family Issues
A lack of family support can be one of the most typical characteristics of a dysfunctional family. A person’s family who generally lacks problem-solving skills and cannot communicate properly can be a significant reason.
Family members frequently lack the skills to express themselves appropriately; that’s why victims fall into criminal activities.
Self Control Deficits
It refers to one’s ability to manage one’s emotions and impulsivity. This personality feature causes people to do things they didn’t intend to do and fail to think before doing. The mindset is focused on the present moment rather than the consequences of one’s actions.
Antisocial Values
Antisocial values are frequently referred to as criminal thinking. Criminal rationalization refers to a person’s view that their illegal activity is justified. This personality trait is characterized by blaming others for one’s bad behavior and a lack of guilt.
Abuse Of Drugs And Alcohol
The use of drugs or alcohol harms one’s ability to live a prosperous and productive life. There is generally a higher tolerance for substances and a difficulty to cease using them.
Personality Disorder
A typical behavior before the age of fifteen is expected and can involve skipping school, running away, fighting, lying, stealing, and causing damage to animals or property.
Criminal Psychology Vs. Clinical Psychology
We are discussing criminal psychology vs. clinical psychology below.
| Criminal Psychology | Clinical Psychology | |
| Job Descriptions | The methodology of criminal psychology is medico-legal, intending to apply psychological concepts to criminal justice. | Clinical psychology takes a therapeutic approach, focusing on identifying and treating mental health issues through one-on-one or group sessions with patients. |
| Professional Journey | Forensic psychology graduates typically enter various entry-level employment after completing a bachelor’s degree. | After graduation, those with college degrees in clinical psychology can start their professions as school counselors or community service professionals. |
| Work Environment | Prisons, courthouses, jailhouses, legal companies, and social service organizations are workplaces for criminal psychologists. | Clinical psychologists can operate in various settings, including community centers, private offices, schools, and companies. |
Conclusion
Criminal psychology is one of the least discussed issues in any society. Nobody comes as a criminal in the world, but circumstances compel them to choose this path. As a criminal psychologist, one has to be extremely cautious and concerned about patients and society before selecting criminal psychology as a profession. CWP
Community Watch Paper posts:
What Influences The Criminal Behavior?
How Community Influences Your Behavior
References
- https://www.verywellmind.com/criminal-psychologist-a-career-profile-2795649#toc-criminal-psychologist-job-description
- https://jobdescriptionandresumeexamples.com/criminal-psychologist-job-description-example/
- https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/forensic-psychology/resources/criminal-psychology-vs-forensic-psychology/
- https://blog.ipleaders.in/criminal-psychology-an-important-area-in-the-field-of-criminology/
- https://www.police1.com/corrections/articles/6-traits-that-lead-to-criminal-behavior-QKg2lpUaZbdKL1ot/
- https://www.e-criminalpsychology.com/