Explaining Criminal Behavior
Triggers, Mental States & More
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.58445/rars.1581Keywords:
Psychology, Criminal Psychology, DSM-V, Explaining CrimeAbstract
This writing aims to help readers interested in crime understand more about criminals' mindsets and explain the concept of mens rea by breaking it down into intent and negligence. This essay highlights mens rea to indicate its importance not only as a psychological concept but also for criminal justice and law matters; the two sub-categories of mens rea (intent and negligence) are explained in detail to enrich the understanding further. The essay's focus shifts to triggers that can contribute to criminal activity. The triggers mentioned in this essay have been divided according to the biopsychosocial model: biologically, psychologically, and socially. The example of Andrea Yates shows how these triggers can be present in a criminal’s life from all three perspectives mentioned. After delving into triggers, Yates, and mens rea, the concept of insanity is discussed.
What insanity is, how an offender can be found not guilty by reason of insanity, and criminal malingering are all discussed, and the DSM-5 is mentioned as a tool that psychologists use to diagnose offenders. Because of the vital role of DSM-5 in courts, its challenges and limitations are noted. This research neither sympathizes with criminals nor normalizes criminal behavior. It is an attempt to bring light to what can cause criminal behavior and how, as a society, we can help the criminal justice system by learning more about criminal behavior.
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