§ What does “Psyche of a
criminal mind” means?
A criminal mind can
range from hard core criminal may be having a base in brain chemistry to other
extreme of ‘normal’ individuals. There
are three basic factors that make a ‘criminal mind’
-
An unrestricted or
uncontrollable impulse
-
Lack of sensitivity to
other’s rights and suffering
-
Fear (of law, loss of
reputation etc) is either undeveloped, gets transiently overwhelmed or is
assessed to be taken care.
§ What instigates a
person to commit a crime, psychologically ?
Three kinds
-
Impulsive – In this
sudden impulse like lust, greed or anger overwhelms the other mental faculties.
-
Planned – In this the
person calculates the gain versus danger and when gains weigh heavier, the plan
is executed.
-
Repetitive – In this
initial success acts as instigation for repeated and bigger crimes.
§ How a criminal’s mind
different from normal mind, socially and psychologically?
-
Perceived feeling of
being deprived
-
Perceived feeling of
being unsuccessful
-
Perceived feeling of
inability of meeting the desired goal in socially appropriate manner
-
Perceived feeling of
‘correctness’ of self need
It is important to
understand that the social and psychological factors are more ‘felt’ than
actual. That is why not every person who is deprived becomes a criminal and on
other hand those with plenty may turn to crime.
§ What is Antisocial
Personality disorder?
It is the development
of the person’s personality in such a way that he or she does not learn
socially appropriate skills and behaviour patterns which are based on
respecting others rights and feelings. There is aggression, lack of guilt, lack
of tolerance of frustration causing disregard for social values and norms.
§ As the Juvenile Cases
are increasing day by day, it’s the media or parenting responsible for this?
Not two but three.
Media, Parenting and society. Media because it provides unhealthy stimulus to
young minds. Parenting is the main cause because they are in direct contact and
have the responsibility of shaping personality of the child. And society
because it has failed to provide a healthy platform for young minds to develop
and has proved a good breeding ground for crimes.
§ What is the set of mind
of Juvenile criminals? How they can be taken out from such situations?
Mindset of juvenile
criminals is characterized by two prominent factors – high impulsiveness and
incomplete social maturity. Every society expects or sets a particular age by
which social maturity is attained. Juvenile criminals are like those drivers
who drive without learning how to drive, accidents are but natural. To pull
them out of that situation a holistic program is required which deals with
their circumstances, their correct social learning and their personality
development.
§ Do juvenile homes help
in reforming a young criminal mind?
Pathetic. They are not
causing reforms but in fact pushing them down further. Basic reason is that
they are just ‘kept’ there. Who is concerned with reforms and development? On
top of it the abuses in juvenile homes complete the deforms.
§ What is the psychology
of society about crime against women from your point of view?
There has always
remained one section of society for which women are ‘lesser beings’. For these
women have limited capabilities, limited roles, should stay within prescribed
‘boundaries’ and should serve higher beings ‘men’. In present time this is visible in words and
deeds of people. It is this psyche which
directly or indirectly encourages crime against women and puts the blame of
crime against women on victim itself.
§ Why the numbers of
people getting involved in heinous crimes are are increasing day by day?
People today are
becoming more and more vulnerable to crime. The checks against crimes are three
– Legal, Social and Religious. Unfortunately all three are falling down. This
paves way to breaks the psychological barrier against crime.
Reasons are following:
-
Psychological
loneliness, lack of backup or support system
-
Changing priorities due
to changing value system
-
Poor Emotional Quotient
EQ and Social Quotient SQ
-
Lack of fear
§ Why there are
increasing sexual crimes ?
The basic factor is the
women are perceived as weak, vulnerable with no voice and nowhere to go. The
perception that they cannot and will not raise complaint and even if they do
nothing is going to happen motivates for such crimes.
§ What is the difference
between a Psychopath and Sociopath?
Although debated in
terms of inborn versus environmental, the basic difference is that a psychopath
has locus of disorder in temperaments (poor EQ) leading to social disorder
(poor SQ) whereas a sociopath has social disorder as locus leading to
temperamental disorder.
§ Why women and minor
girls are made target often? Is there anything on part of women that invites a
crime? What is psychology of women that time?
Like said earlier,
women are perceived as weak, vulnerable with no voice and nowhere to go. They
are easy prey. Women cannot be held accountable for inviting crimes. Only thing
they can do is observation of caution that can reduce the risk of such crimes.
A victim goes through many traumatic emotions like shock, feeling of
insecurity, helplessness, inability to trust, embarrassment, guilt, shame,
anger and others.
§ These days as we are
seeing the crime against minors are increasing, why there is such mentality among
people, who are committing such brutal crimes? Is there any psychological
explanation to this act? Why and how a person of 21 or 60 years of age gets
fascinated to kid of 4 or 6 years of age?
No one can be easier
prey than minors. All factors which ‘encourages’ crime in general becomes more
prominent in cases of minors. Small kids offer least resistance and threat. In
certain crimes they do not even know what has happened to them. And this is
what such criminals are looking for. Their minds are working on only one
principle – pleasure and pain. Their minds know that with older people they are
in risk of resistance and retaliation which is painful for them. Even the
feeling of being judged as bad person is painful. So their minds are trained to
search for soft targets which offer no pain.
§ Is there is any solution
to these kind of criminal instincts among people in society?
There is always some
solution available provided they are applied sincerely. These are basically of
two types:
1. Corrective
– More at individual level by providing treatment and therapy to such
individuals.
2. Preventive
– More at society level – Identification of early offenders, not shielding
offenders in family, correct parenting, media guidelines, positive personality
development at schools etc.
§ How a person can judge
criminal instinct within oneself?
Once a person has
reached such advanced stage, self assessment on their own cannot be expected.
But it is possible to develop such assessment with proper therapy and
rehabilitation. It is better to nip the fire in bud in early offenders.
§ Does policing plays an
important role in reforming criminals when they are convicted and sent to jail?
Police has very crucial
role. They must be trained to deal with different kind of criminals in a way
that can help in long term reform. In addition once in jail, such people must
receive support in the form of therapy and rehabilitation.
§ How alcohol and crime
is connected to each other?
This is not direct but
complex relationship. Every criminal does not drink and every drinker does not
commit crime. The one possibility is those with antisocial or criminal
temperament are also driven to alcohol or they seek refuge in alcohol. Secondly
alcohol can indirectly increase crime by affecting mental faculties like
perception as well as by causing disinhibition.
§ What is the way out
from this crime world, if it’s possible?
Yes, very much
possible.
1. There
must be a strong desire and will in those who are leading society –
politicians, religious leaders, celebrities, heads of organizations etc. They
must be good role models themselves and must be accountable to nurture the
environment of crime free society.
2. Society
and family must uphold value system. Unfortunately in today’s world the
difference between right and wrong are getting blurred. This leads to breaking
down of the psychological barriers in people’s mind to resist from erring in
the zone of wrong.
3. Parenting
must be meaningful. Every couple must undergo marriage counselling and
parenting classes. This will prevent unhealthy family atmosphere that breeds
criminal tendencies. No one should be left isolated.
4. Value
based education in schools. Teachers must be trained to handle children in
wholesome positive and constructive manner. Guides and counsellors must
supervise personality development of every child. Early offenders must receive
special attention.
5. Crime
prevention guidelines and training.
6. Effective
governance with better laws and their implementation.
7. Reform
and rehabilitation of offenders.