criminal psychology
Study of lawbreakers
Criminal psychology is the study of the thoughts, motivations, and behaviors of people who commit crimes.
The field examines why individuals break laws, how criminal minds develop, and what factors—psychological, social, environmental—contribute to antisocial conduct.
Criminal psychologists work in research, law enforcement consultation, courtroom testimony, and offender rehabilitation.
The detective consulted a criminal psychology expert to build a profile of the serial killer.
Conduct harming community welfare
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- delinquencyCriminal or neglectful behavior
- misconductImproper professional behavior
- nonconformityRejection of prevailing norms
anomie · malfeasance · rebellion · disobedience · corruption · aberration · social learning · labeling
Study of human conduct
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- penologyStudy of punishment systems
- victimologyStudy of those harmed
risk assessment · cognitive theory · neuroscience · forensic psychiatry · juvenile delinquency · corrections · parole · psychiatric evaluation
Plea citing mental incapacity
- expert witnessProfessional providing specialized testimony
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- false confessionUntrue guilt statement
- eyewitness testimonyEvidence from direct observers
polygraph · malingering · diminished capacity · Miranda rights
Study of conduct patterns
- modus operandiCharacteristic way of working
- crime scene analysisStudy of offense locations
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
- patternsRecurring arrangements or designs
FBI · unsub · predator · stalking · abduction · threat assessment · typology · spree killer
Inability to share feelings
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- superficial charmAttractive but insincere magnetism
- grandiosityExaggerated sense of importance
- pathological lyingCompulsive, repetitive fabrication of falsehoods
callousness · impulsivity · irresponsibility · glibness · deceitfulness · remorselessness · cold-blooded · fearlessness
antisocial behavior
Conduct harming community welfare
- transgressionViolation of law or code
- delinquencyCriminal or neglectful behavior
- misconductImproper professional behavior
nonconformity · anomie · malfeasance · rebellion · disobedience · corruption · aberration · social learning · labeling · neutralization
behavioral science
Study of human conduct
- recidivismHabitual return to crime
- rehabilitationRecovery from injury/addiction
- penologyStudy of punishment systems
victimology · risk assessment · cognitive theory · neuroscience · forensic psychiatry · juvenile delinquency · corrections · parole · psychiatric evaluation · therapy
insanity defense
Plea citing mental incapacity
- expert witnessProfessional providing specialized testimony
- interrogationFormal, probing examination
- false confessionUntrue guilt statement
eyewitness testimony · polygraph · malingering · diminished capacity · Miranda rights
behavioral analysis
Study of conduct patterns
- modus operandiCharacteristic way of working
- crime scene analysisStudy of offense locations
- motivationImpetus toward a goal
patterns · FBI · unsub · predator · stalking · abduction · threat assessment · typology · spree killer · mass murderer
lack of empathy
Inability to share feelings
- manipulativeSkilled at controlling others
- superficial charmAttractive but insincere magnetism
- grandiosityExaggerated sense of importance
pathological lying · callousness · impulsivity · irresponsibility · glibness · deceitfulness · remorselessness · cold-blooded · fearlessness · boldness
- forensicsDNA, DNA analysis, fingerprints, forensics, criminalistics
- criminologycrime, criminalization, deviance, crime rates, recidivism
- crime fictiondetective fiction, murder mystery, detective novels, detective novel, detective
- crime literaturetrue crime, crime fiction, murder mysteries, detective novels, crime thrillers
- criminalsmurderer, thief, burglar, killer, robber
- homicidehomicide, murder rate, murder rates, homicide rate, homicide rates
criminal psychologyvictimology
Study of those harmed
positive psychology · forensic psychology · developmental psychology
criminal, criminals, psychology, psychologist, psychological, criminality, psychologists, criminally, psychoanalyst