Psychology of Criminal Conduct / Edition 6

by James Bonta

Overview

This textbook covers the basics of criminal psychology, with chapters on the definition and variability of criminal conduct, various theories, the general personality and social psychology approach, developmental aspects, prediction of behavior and classification of offenders, prevention and rehabilitation, punishment and alternatives, exceptional offenders, and applications. An overview is provided by way of introduction, and the final chapter weighs the current state of the discipline. Andrews teaches at Carleton University. Bonta is the Canadian Solicitor General. Annotation c. Book News, Inc.,Portland, OR

Product Details

ISBN-13:	2901138935777
Publication date:	10/27/2016
Pages:	470
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 1.25(h) x 9.00(d)

About the Author

James Bonta served as Director of Corrections Research at Public Safety Canada from 1990 until 2015. He received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from the University of Ottawa in 1979. Bonta was a psychologist, and later Chief Psychologist, at the Ottawa-Carleton Detention Centre, a maximum-security remand facility for adults and young offenders. Throughout his career, Bonta has held various academic appointments and professional posts. He is a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association, a recipient of the Association’s Criminal Justice Section’s Career Contribution Award for 2009, the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, 2012, the Maud Booth Correctional Services Award, 2015, and the 2015 Community Corrections Award from the International Corrections and Prisons Association.

The late D.A. Andrews was a noted psychologist affiliated with Carleton University throughout his academic career. His work on the psychology of criminal conduct produced what became known as the "theory of correctional intervention," which set the standard for successful intervention practices throughout the field of corrections worldwide. He was a founding member of Carleton’s Criminology and Criminal Justice Program and a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association.

Table of Contents

Part 1: The Theoretical Context and Knowledge Base to the Psychology of Criminal Conduct

Chapter 1: An Overview of the Psychology of Criminal Conduct

Chapter 2: The Empirical Basis to the Psychology of Criminal Conduct

Chapter 3: From Criminology Theories to a Psychological Perspective of Criminal Conduct

Part 2: The Major Risk/Need Factors of Criminal Conduct

Chapter 4: The Biological Basis of Criminal Behavior

Chapter 5: Antisocial Personality Pattern

Chapter 6: The Role of Procriminal Associates and Attitudes in Criminal Conduct

Chapter 7: The Person in Social Context: Family, Marital, School, Work, Leisure/Recreation, and Neighborhood

Chapter 8: Substance Misuse

Part 3: Applications

Chapter 9: The Risk-Need-Responsivity Model of Assessment and Treatment

Chapter 10: Prediction and Classification of Criminal Behavior

Chapter 11: Rehabilitation

Chapter 12: Creating and Maintaining RNR Adherence: A Real-World Challenge

Chapter 13: The Failed Experiment: Getting Tough on Crime

Chapter 14: Criminal Subtypes: Intimate Partner Violence, the Mentally Disordered, and Sexual Offenders

Part 4: Summary and Conclusions

Chapter 15: A General Personality and Cognitive Social Learning Perspective of Criminal Conduct: Summary and Conclusions

Editorial Reviews

An undergraduate criminology textbook that focuses on the individual differences in criminal activity. Topics include social class and criminal conduct, exploring variability in criminal conduct, psychodynamic and control theory, developmental aspects of criminal behavior, exceptional offenders, and a general personality and social psychology of criminal conduct. Annotation c. by Book News, Inc., Portland, Or.

Booknews

Praise for the Sixth Edition:

"…The Psychology of Criminal Conduct is the most important book ever written in criminology. A scientific tour de force, it outlines the evidence-based RNR paradigm for understanding why people break the law and how to affect their rehabilitation. This paradigm has been used across and beyond North America to save countless offenders from a life in crime and thus countless citizens from victimization. To be literate in criminology and in correctional treatment, all scholars, students, and practitioners should read this book—and then, as I do, keep it close by and consult it often.

– Francis T. Cullen, Distinguished Research Professor Emeritus, Criminal Justice, University of Cincinnati, Recipient of the 2022 Stockholm Prize in Criminology

No other single book has so transformed the field of correctional intervention. For more than 20 years this volume has been essential reading for everyone: from students of criminal psychology to correctional professionals, including prison officers, probation officers, case managers, and experienced psychologists.

—Devon Polaschek, PhD DipClinPsyc, Professor, Criminal Psychology, Victoria University of Wellington

The book shows how to explain, predict, and treat sexual, violent, acquisitive, and other offending and puts the findings in a convincing theoretical and practice-oriented framework. It is essential reading not only for students in the fields of criminology, psychology and law, forensic psychology and psychiatry, sociology, social work and other crime-related disciplines, but also for researchers, practitioners, and policy makers in these areas.

–Friedrich Lösel, Professor and Director Emeritus, Institute of Criminology, Cambridge University (UK), and Institute of Psychology, University of Erlangen-Nuremberg

From the Publisher

Reviewer: Olivia Colombo, DO, MHA (Trinity Health)
Description: This book review was co-authored by Adam Khanafer, OMS-3, Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine. This seventh edition book provides an incredibly comprehensive study of the psychology behind criminal behavior. It consists of 15 chapters, divided into four parts, written by two authors. The book discusses topics such as the theories behind crime, the criminal justice system's approach to criminality, and predicting future criminal behavior.
Purpose: The book's purpose is to deliver a perspective on criminal behavior that is backed by evidence and theory. The authors aim to address the historical approach of the criminal justice system and provide alternatives for challenging criminality at its root. The goals of the book are worthy, and the authors do well to discuss topics such as drug use, social environments, predicting criminal behavior, and rehabilitation.
Audience: The book's intended audience includes students, scholars, researchers, and practitioners. The book is authored by two psychologists who have achieved great success in criminal justice and clinical psychology. The authors write in an academic style befitting their intended audience. The style of writing and depth of detail make it more suitable for this audience than the average reader.
Features: Each chapter begins with an overview followed by very clear subheadings describing the topic at hand. Those working in the criminal justice system will benefit most from the chapters dedicated to the Risk-Need-Responsivity (RNR) Model and the chapter on the prediction of criminal behavior. The RNR model evaluates the risk of crime, identifies risk factors, and holds individuals accountable to reduce re-offending. This aligns with the chapter on predicting criminal behavior, which discusses measures that can be taken to address those who are likely to commit crimes. A central theme of the book is that a "get tough" approach to crime does not effectively reduce recidivism and may worsen antisocial behavior, underscoring the importance of the RNR model and predicting criminal behavior. Most chapters include various illustrations, tables, and graphs. Each chapter concludes with a summary, a bulleted list of "worth remembering" points, and recommended readings. References are included at the end of the book. The index is extensive and well-organized.
Assessment: Overall, the book is an all-inclusive exploration into criminal behavior. It is remarkably well-researched and offers strong support for its arguments with a wealth of studies and data. Its description of the historical response to crime, criminal theory, and suggestions for change make it a welcome read for those working in the criminal justice system as well as researchers and practitioners in the fields of psychiatry and psychology.

Doody's Review Service