criminal mind
Outlaw's mental framework
A criminal mind is the psychology or mental disposition of someone inclined toward lawbreaking—the way a criminal thinks.
The phrase suggests cunning, a willingness to exploit others, and moral detachment: It takes a criminal mind to devise such an elaborate fraud.
Often used to explain how someone anticipated illegal schemes: You need a criminal mind to catch one.
- psychopathyEmpathy-absent personality disorder
- MachiavellianismCunning, amoral statecraft
- dark triadThree malevolent personality traits
- manipulationUnderhanded control of others
- revengePunishing a wrongdoer
cognitive distortion · deception · forensic psychology · motive · rationalization · impulsivity · greed · premeditation · perfect crime · twisted logic · narcissism · con artist · shadow · aggression · theft · behavioral analysis · cold case · threat
- criminal psychologymotive, intent, premeditation, psychopath, sociopath
- criminologycrime, criminology, criminologist, criminalization, deviance
- criminal intentmens rea, intent, malice aforethought, premeditation, mental state
- forensic psychologyforensic evaluation, forensic interview, insanity plea, psychological assessment, legal insanity
- criminal defensesinsanity plea, insanity defense, legal insanity, diminished capacity, mental incapacity
criminal mindmoral compass
Inner ethical guidance system
integrity · moral fiber · clean conscience · conscience · pure heart
criminal mindSherlock Holmes