Psychological theories of crime say that criminal behavior is a result of individual differences in thinking processes. There are many different psychological theories, but they all believe that it is the person's thoughts and feelings that dictate their actions. As such, problems in thinking can lead to criminal behavior. Take Rory, for example, he doesn't believe that what he did was wrong, which was what led him to act out in the first place.
There are four basic ideas when it comes to psychological theories of crime. These general assumptions are that crime is a result of:
1. Failures in psychological development
Some people run into trouble because they didn't develop, or grow, the way that others normally do. For example, Rory has an underdeveloped conscience. Whereas Amy hears a little voice inside her reminding her what is right and wrong, Rory just does what he wants and doesn't think about right or wrong. This is an example of what happens when someone has an issue with psychological development.
2. Learned behaviors of aggression and violence
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