Psychology, Criminality, and Incarceration in America

American Criminal Justice System (04:27)A criminal is someone who breaks the law; laws are part of every civilization. Criminals pass through the three branches of the justice system— police, courts, corrections. Hear incarceration statistics from 2008 and 2009.What Makes a Criminal? (01:50)Social scientists attempted to identify characteristics that indicate the likelihood of an individual to engage in criminal behavior from several psychological perspectives.Adolescent Delinquency (03:07)Young people engage in risky behavior as part of the developmental process. Developmental psychologists attribute criminal behavior to mental and emotional growth through adolescence.Criminality, a Societal Consequence or Rational Choice? (03:34)Freud described criminals as atavistic and lacking self-control while Albert Bandura believed behavior is a consequence of modeling. Edwin Sutherland developed the theory of differential association while other psychologists believe self-discipline and the will to succeed are determinants of criminality.Goal of Corrections (02:15)Advocates of behavior modification assume criminality is a result of learning and can be un-learned. Colonial cultures used penitentiaries and corporal punishment. The U.S. prison population is over 8 million; corrections has four functions.Consequences of Incarceration (04:14)In the U.S., corrections is the fifth largest category in the state budget. Hear statistics on recidivism. In 2009, senators argued for criminal justice reform.Criminal Justice Reform (07:12)Several reports indicate that reform must occur in courts and corrections in 11 specific areas.Reducing Recidivism (01:37)Correctional program reviews reveal the success of cognitive-based, community-based, diversion, and meditation programs.Credits: Psychology, Criminality, and Incarceration in America (01:17)Credits: Psychology, Criminality, and Incarceration in America