essay about criminal minds

May 7, 2013

Secrets of the Criminal Mind

Adrian Raine argues that we must fight crime with biology

By Gareth Cook

What is science revealing about the nature of the criminal mind? Adrian Raine, a professor at the university of Pennsylvania, is an expert in the expanding field of “neurocriminology.” He has written The Anatomy of Violence , a sweeping account of crime’s biological roots, including genetics, neuro-anatomy and environmental toxins like lead. He spoke with Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook .

Gareth Cook: The study of the links between biology and violence has a controversial and somewhat unsavory past. Can you tell me a bit about that, and what convinced you it is still a worthy topic?

Adrian Raine: Neurocriminology pushes a lot of peoples’ buttons for lots of different reasons. There’s the obvious historical misuse of biological research – think of the eugenics movement in this country when we sterilized mentally retarded people in an attempt to raise the overall IQ of the general population. Think of Hitler and the genocide that took place. So there’s always a potential for misuse, so of course we must tread carefully. But we also have to move forward to find new solutions to old problems, and neuroscience is offering us new vistas into the criminal mind that may in the future help us reduce violence. We need not resort to drastic measures to change the brain as we did in the past with frontal lobectomies.

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There are other reasons for antagonism to a biological approach. Social scientists are concerned that shiningthe spotlight on the biological causes of crime will shift attention away from important social problems like bad neighborhoods, poverty, and racial discrimination. I can understand their perspective, and they are absolutely right that we need to eradicate these social inequalities. But unless we also tackle biology, violent crime is never going to go away.

The free-will debate also raises its ugly head. People are concerned about chalking up a good portion of crime and violence to genetics and biology — what does that say about choice and agency? Was it all determined from the get-go? Are we just gene machines destined to play out our programed nature in life? Let’s face it, nobody wants to hear that, do they?

And that brings us to politics. Conservatives don’t like my work because they think it will encourage a soft approach to crime – we’ll blame crime on the brain, not the person. But liberals don’t like it either because they think civil liberties are at stake – we’ll use biomarkers to identify who is at risk for violence and lock them up before they have committed a crime, the pre-emptive strike.

Then at the end of the day we get down to plain old interdisciplinary rivalries. Neurocriminology is a new approach that is attracting attention, and threatening the status quo. Other academics can get miffed that their own work doesn’t reach the spotlight. They’re human after all. They want to protect their own turf, and you can understand their frustration that their good science might not be getting the attention it deserves.

That’s a heck of a lot of baggage. So why, despite all this, have I thought for the past 35 years that it’s a worthy topic? Because science shows that 50 percent of the variance in crime is under genetic control. OK, so we could turn our backs on biology. Let’s pretend it doesn’t exist. Like an ostrich, we could bury our heads in the sand and pretend the hunter is not there. But the tragedy is that in our blind ignorance we’ll never have the biological insights to stop future violence. And you’d better watch out – the ostrich may get shot.

Cook: What are the strongest links between biology and violence, the results that are most widely accepted?

Raine: There’s no question whatsoever that genetic influences play a very significant role in shaping crime and violence. That can no longer be disputed. What can be debated is what specific genes are involved – and in what way. The gene that codes for the enzyme MAOA does seem to be involved at some level, but there’s still a long way to go in the hunt for genes that predispose to violence.

There’s also an explosion of brain imaging research. The most replicable finding so far is dysfunction to the prefrontal cortex, the “guardian angel” in the brain that controls our impulsive behavior and regulates our emotions. Damage that emergency brake on behavior, and explosive violence is not far away.

But you know, the neurobiology of violence is far from simple. We’re clearly going to find that it’s enormously complex. At the end of the day we’ll find that multiple brain systems are in on the act. One prime suspect in shaping psychopathic behavior is the amygdala – the seat of emotion. Psychopaths have a core emotional deficit – they lack conscience, remorse, and guilt. They just don’t feel feelings the way we do. Several studies are documenting volume reductions in this brain structure in psychopaths. The amygdala is also less activated in psychopaths when they contemplate moral dilemmas. It’s as if psychopaths don’t have the feeling for what is right and wrong – even if they know it at a cognitive level. Still, we are just at the very beginning of a long journey into understanding the brain basis to violence. We have a very long way to go.

What else at the biological level? Lots of things. At a psychophysiological level something as simple as low resting heart rate is probably the best-replicated biological correlate of antisocial and aggressive behavior in children and adolescents. We think it’s a marker for fearlessness and impulsive stimulation-seeking. High testosterone and low cortisol are hormonal candidates. In terms of neurotransmitters, low serotonin is a well-replicated correlate of impulsive violence.

But health factors are really important too, and in a way the seeds of sin are sown pretty early on in life. Mothers who smoke or drink during pregnancy are much more likely to have babies who grow up to become violent offenders. Poor nutrition during pregnancy also raises the odds of later offending. Even birth complications – especially when combined with social risk factors like the maternal neglect – raises the odds of adult violence. And let’s not forget environmental toxins like lead. They damage the brain, and not surprisingly are associated with antisocial behavior.

Cook: What do you think of the argument put forward by Steven Pinker in The Better Angels of Our Nature , suggesting that violence has dropped dramatically as our social structures have changed?

Raine: The Better Angels of Our Nature was a masterful thesis that to my mind was right on the mark in its main argument – violence has indeed dropped over time. Sure, social structures that provide order and help contain violence have surely been a part of this, but the idea I particularly resonated to in Pinker’s book is the idea that thinking and reasoning has been one of our better angels. We’ve become smarter, more educated, and better able to reason, and partly for that reason we’ve moved away from violence.

And that’s really why I wrote The Anatomy of Violence . I want more people to understand why people commit crime. I want them to know the brain mechanisms behind these acts, and what factors, including environmental influences, shape the brain processes that predispose to violence.

Back in 1993, when I wrote an academic book , I finished with the argument that world history has shown that as society becomes more ennobled and sophisticated in its scientific understanding, conditions like epilepsy and psychosis ceased to be viewed within a moral / theological context and more within the humanitarian context of treatment. I repeat that refrain in The Anatomy of Violence . It’s something I sincerely hope for, a more enlightened society that can learn from a new and exciting body of biological knowledge on what causes offending. Chalking a violent act up to “evil” is easy, but it’s thirteenth century thinking. We need to move on into a more scientifically enlightened future.

To stop violence we have to understand its causes. For the past century we focused all our attention to only one side of the coin, the social contribution. Now it’s time to flip the coin over and examine the biological contribution. Unless we do that, we’ll never have the full picture, and we’ll go on living out the disheartening headlines that we read in newspapers today.

Are you a scientist who specializes in neuroscience, cognitive science, or psychology? And have you read a recent peer-reviewed paper that you would like to write about? Please send suggestions to Mind Matters editor Gareth Cook, a Pulitzer prize-winning journalist at the Boston Globe. He can be reached at garethideas AT gmail.com or Twitter @garethideas .

Criminal Minds Are Different From Yours, Brain Scans Reveal

The latest neuroscience research is presenting intriguing evidence that the brains of certain kinds of criminals are different from those of the rest of the population.

While these findings could improve our understanding of criminal behavior, they also raise moral quandaries about whether and how society should use this knowledge to combat crime.

The criminal mind

In one recent study, scientists examined 21 people with antisocial personality disorder – a condition that characterizes many convicted criminals. Those with the disorder "typically have no regard for right and wrong. They may often violate the law and the rights of others," according to the Mayo Clinic.

Brain scans of the antisocial people, compared with a control group of individuals without any mental disorders, showed on average an 18-percent reduction in the volume of the brain's middle frontal gyrus, and a 9 percent reduction in the volume of the orbital frontal gyrus – two sections in the brain's frontal lobe.

Another brain study, published in the September 2009 Archives of General Psychiatry, compared 27 psychopaths — people with severe antisocial personality disorder — to 32 non-psychopaths. In the psychopaths, the researchers observed deformations in another part of the brain called the amygdala, with the psychopaths showing a thinning of the outer layer of that region called the cortex and, on average, an 18-percent volume reduction in this part of brain.

"The amygdala is the seat of emotion. Psychopaths lack emotion. They lack empathy, remorse, guilt," said research team member Adrian Raine, chair of the Department of Criminology at the University of Pennsylvania, at the annual meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science in Washington, D.C., last month.

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University of Pennsylvania criminologist Adrian Raine

In addition to brain differences, people who end up being convicted for crimes often show behavioral differences compared with the rest of the population. One long-term study that Raine participated in followed 1,795 children born in two towns from ages 3 to 23. The study measured many aspects of these individuals' growth and development, and found that 137 became criminal offenders.

One test on the participants at age 3 measured their response to fear – called fear conditioning – by associating a stimulus, such as a tone, with a punishment like an electric shock, and then measuring people's involuntary physical responses through the skin upon hearing the tone.

In this case, the researchers found a distinct lack of fear conditioning in the 3-year-olds who would later become criminals. These findings were published in the January 2010 issue of the American Journal of Psychiatry.

Neurological base of crime

Overall, these studies and many more like them paint a picture of significant biological differences between people who commit serious crimes and people who do not. While not all people with antisocial personality disorder — or even all psychopaths — end up breaking the law, and not all criminals meet the criteria for these disorders, there is a marked correlation.

"There is a neuroscience basis in part to the cause of crime," Raine said.

What's more, as the study of 3-year-olds and other research have shown, many of these brain differences can be measured early on in life, long before a person might develop into actual psychopathic tendencies or commit a crime.

Criminologist Nathalie Fontaine of Indiana University studies the tendency toward being callous and unemotional (CU) in children between 7 and 12 years old. Children with these traits have been shown to have a higher risk of becoming psychopaths as adults.

"We're not suggesting that some children are psychopaths, but CU traits can be used to identify a subgroup of children who are at risk," Fontaine said.

Yet her research showed that these traits aren't fixed, and can change in children as they grow. So if psychologists identify children with these risk factors early on, it may not be too late.

"We can still help them," Fontaine said. "We can implement intervention to support and help children and their families, and we should."

These brain scans of psychopaths show a deformation in the amygdala compared to non-psychopaths, from a study by Adrian Raine and colleagues.

Neuroscientists' understanding of the plasticity, or flexibility, of the brain called neurogenesis supports the idea that many of these brain differences are not fixed. [ 10 Things You Didn't Know About the Brain ]

"Brain research is showing us that neurogenesis can occur even into adulthood," said psychologist Patricia Brennan of Emory University in Atlanta. "Biology isn’t destiny. There are many, many places you can intervene along that developmental pathway to change what's happening in these children."

Furthermore, criminal behavior is certainly not a fixed behavior.

Psychologist Dustin Pardini of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center found that about four out of five kids who are delinquents as children do not continue to offend in adulthood.

Pardini has been researching the potential brain differences between people with a past criminal record who have stopped committing crimes, and those who continue criminal behavior. While both groups showed brain differences compared with non-criminals in the study, Pardini and his colleagues uncovered few brain differences between chronic offenders and so-called remitting offenders.

"Both groups showed similar results," Pardini said. "None of these brain regions distinguish chronic and remitting offenders."

Ethical quandaries

Yet even the idea of intervening to help children at risk of becoming criminals is ethically fraught.

"Do we put children in compulsory treatment when we've uncovered the risk factors?" asked Raine. "Well, who decides that? Will the state mandate compulsory residential treatment?"

What if surgical treatment methods are advanced, and there is an option to operate on children or adults with these brain risk factors? Many experts are extremely hesitant to advocate such an invasive and risky brain intervention — especially in children and in individuals who have not yet committed any crime.

Yet psychologists say such solutions are not the only way to intervene.

"You don’t have to do direct brain surgery to change the way the brain functions," Brennan said. "You can do social interventions to change that."

Fontaine's studies, for example, suggest that kids who display callous and unemotional traits don't respond as well to traditional parenting and punishment methods such as time-outs. Instead of punishing bad behavior, programs that emphasize rewarding good behavior with positive reinforcement seem to work better.

Raine and his colleagues are also testing whether children who take supplemental pills of omega-3 fatty acids — also known as fish oil — can show improvement. Because this nutrient is thought to be used in cell growth, neuroscientists suspect it can help brain cells grow larger, increase the size of axons (the part of neurons that conducts electrical impulses), and regulate brain cell function.

"We are brain scanning children before and after treatment with omega-3," Raine said. "We are studying kids to see if it can reduce aggressive behavior and improve impaired brain areas. It's a biological treatment, but it's a relatively benign treatment that most people would accept."

'Slippery slope to Armageddon'

The field of neurocriminology also raises other philosophical quandaries, such as the question of whether revealing the role of brain abnormalities in crime reduces a person's responsibility for his or her own actions.

"Psychopaths know right and wrong cognitively, but don't have a feeling for what's right and wrong," Raine said. "Did they ask to have an amygdala that wasn't as well functioning as other individuals'? Should we be punishing psychopaths as harshly as we do?"

Because the brain of a psychopath is compromised, Raine said, one could argue that they don't have full responsibility for their actions. That — in effect — it's not their fault.

In fact, that reasoning has been argued in a court of law. Raine recounted a case he consulted on, of a man named Herbert Weinstein who had killed his wife. Brain scans subsequently revealed a large cyst in the frontal cortex of Weinstein's brain, showing that his cognitive abilities were significantly compromised.

The scans were used to strike a plea bargain in which Weinstein's sentence was reduced to only 11 years in prison.

"Imaging was used to reduce his culpability, to reduce his responsibility," Raine said. "Yet is that not a slippery slope to Armageddon where there's no responsibility in society?"

You can follow SPACE.com senior writer Clara Moskowitz on Twitter @ ClaraMoskowitz .

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The Mind of a Criminal: A Look At The Psychology of Some of History’s Famous Crooks The Mind of a Criminal: A Look At The Psychology of Some of History’s Famous Crooks The Mind of a Criminal: A Look At The Psychology of Some of History’s Famous Crooks

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An increase in mass shootings in recent years has left people struggling to comprehend the enormous scope of each tragedy and what drove the shooters to commit their horrible acts. We may ask: What personality traits do mass shooters and other significant criminals have in common? Are such criminals born or made? How do mental health, demographics, and other factors influence crime?

Questions like these are part of a major field of interest for those who study crime. People who study the psychology of crime dedicate their careers to understanding what drives criminals to do what they do. Forensic and criminal psychologists use their understanding of human psychology, forensics, and neuroscience to evaluate the criminal mind. They apply the science of the mind to create criminal profiles of mass shooters, serial killers, rapists, and even a variety of white-collar criminals to catch the perpetrators and prevent additional crimes from occurring. The hope is that by understanding what motivates such individuals, crime psychologists can help create a safer society and deliver criminal justice more effectively.

Students who pursue a degree in forensic psychology usually are interested in putting their love of psychology to work to create safer communities. With the online bachelor’s degree in forensic psychology from Maryville University, you’ll learn to apply the science of the mind in the court and corrections systems, social services, and private sector and gain insight into what motivates someone to commit the darkest of crimes.

The Psychology of Crime

What motivates perpetrators of heinous crimes? The job of understanding the incomprehensible falls on psychologists, including the experts at the FBI’s Behavioral Analysis Unit (BAU), which is tasked with conducting detailed analyses of crimes and creating profiles of serial killers, active shooters, and other dangerous criminals to better understand unknown offenders and prevent future threats. FBI profiling is an extensive process that can be used to track down a specific suspect or generate a list of potential suspects.

In the 2022 Uvalde elementary school shooting, the BAU’s active shooter profile matched key facts related to the perpetrator , who died during the incident. The 18-year-old shooter fit almost all the shared data points seen in past attacker profiles, including red flags like buying guns, being bullied at school, and having a falling-out with one’s parents before the attack. Understanding pre-attack behaviors is key to preventing future shootings and understanding what motivates the shooters, many of whom don’t survive to provide a motive.

The study of criminal statistics , like those collected by the FBI, can provide important insight into the psychology of crime. Another piece of the puzzle is provided by forensic psychology, which draws on the study of sociological and psychological theories related to mental health, behavior, and motivation to analyze the factors causing and influencing individuals to commit crimes.

History of Famous Criminal Minds

The mind of a notorious criminal is terrifying and fascinating. For those interested in exploring the motivations and mental states that lead to crime, here are some resources on some of history’s most notable criminal minds.

Bernie Madoff, Ponzi Scheme Mastermind : Explore one of the stranger sides of crime psychology, as the previously successful and mild-mannered Madoff became the architect of what’s believed to be the biggest investment fraud in U.S. history, defrauding tens of thousands of people of as much as $65 billion.
Elizabeth Holmes and Sunny Balwani, Theranos : The pair were convicted of fraud charges related to the blood-testing company Theranos, which Holmes founded and Balwani helped run. They engaged in a multimillion-dollar scheme to defraud investors and a separate scheme to defraud doctors and patients.
Theodore Kaczynski, the Unabomber : An American domestic terrorist and former mathematics professor, the serial bomber mailed or delivered 16 package bombs to scientists, academicians, and others over 17 years, killing three people and injuring 23. The FBI spent nearly 20 years hunting him down. Some analysts have linked his behavior to his time at Harvard .
George Metesky, the Mad Bomber : When this mysterious madman planted bombs around New York City in 1940, James Brussel created the first criminal profile to aid in his capture.
John Wayne Gacy : He was known as the Killer Clown because of his Pogo the Clown performances at charities and fundraisers. Beneath the guise was a serial killer who murdered at least 33 people.
Evaluation of John Hinckley : John Hinckley Jr. attempted to assassinate former President Ronald Reagan. He’s also known for a bizarre obsession with actress Jodie Foster, whom he hoped to impress with the assassination.
Ted Bundy : A researcher looks at the elements of the serial killer’s psychopathy. He confessed to 30 homicides and was convicted for other crimes. Despite his heinous acts, he was often described as charming, charismatic, and brilliant, taking the psychology of crime into uncharted waters.
Evaluating Jeffrey Dahmer : Dahmer was convicted of atrocities such as murder and cannibalism. His crimes may have been related to personality disorders.
Charles Manson: Exploiting Psychological Needs : Charles Manson gained a devoted cult of followers whom he convinced to commit murders and other terrible acts.
Prosenjit Poddar and Tatiana Tarasoff : Poddar’s murder of Tarasoff prompted new laws about mental health patient privacy and situations in which therapists are required to report potential violence.
The Story of Ralph Tortorici : Tortorici was a college student who took 35 students hostage and injured two. Although he was judged competent enough to stand trial, he later committed suicide in prison.
School Shooters : In the aftermath of tragedies like the Columbine and Virginia Tech shootings, psychologists have tried to understand the aggressors, prevent mass violence, and protect the public.
James “Whitey” Bulger : Several books have been written about notorious Boston mobster James “Whitey” Bulger, as scholars, law enforcement, and psychologists try to understand the man behind a crime ring.
Lizzie Borden : Legendary killer Lizzie Borden murdered her parents with an ax long before criminal profiling was practiced.

Studying the Psychology of Crime

Criminal and forensic psychologists make important contributions to law enforcement. However, the two roles are distinct and often confused. For students wondering how they’re different , it helps to think of forensic psychology as the broader field that applies psychological principles to the criminal justice system and law, while crime psychology focuses more on individual criminals.

Forensic psychologists consult with law enforcement to integrate psychology into criminal and civil legal matters. Their duties can include selecting juries, evaluating witnesses, and conducting mental health evaluations.
Criminal psychologists seek to understand the motivations of criminals and develop a psychological profile to understand or apprehend them. Their approach to the psychology of crime involves examining individual criminal behaviors and diagnosing any mental health conditions. They frequently step into the courtroom to provide expert testimony. Other duties include counseling individuals who’ve committed crimes or evaluating their risk of recidivism, or returning to prison.

Why Study Crime Psychology?

With violent crime on the rise in the United States as the COVID-19 pandemic eases, law enforcement is under increasing pressure. The annual murder rate in the U.S. is up sharply since 2019, and other violent crimes, including shootings and other assaults, have increased overall.

Students who are interested in psychology and its application to the criminal justice system should consider pursuing a degree in forensic psychology. The online Bachelor of Arts in Forensic Psychology from Maryville University offers a broad range of coursework in psychology, criminal justice, and social science to help students expand their expertise and prepare to apply their education to a wide range of fields, including policing, law, corrections, and social services. The program blends experiential learning opportunities and practical coursework to give you a comprehensive understanding of today’s forensic psychology landscape.

Bring us your ambition and we’ll guide you along a personalized path to a quality education that’s designed to change your life.

90 Criminal Behavior Essay Topic Ideas & Examples

🏆 best criminal behavior topic ideas & essay examples, 📑 interesting topics to write about criminal behavior, ⭐ good essay topics on criminal behavior, ❓ questions about criminal behavior.

Theories of Criminal Behavior of Drug Sellers One of the major questions explored is the question of motivation that makes teens enter the world of drug dealing and leave it.
Criminal Behavior: Role of Environment and Genetics In the Information age where a person has access to more knowledge about the folly of being involved in criminal activities and the negative impact of having a prison record, it is a mystery why […]
Causes of Criminal Behavior However, poverty may be regarded as the most substantial cause of the majority of crimes as it indirectly leads to non-compliance with the law in multiple ways.
Criminal Behavior and Environmental Influences Upbringing and childhood experience, especially if it was adverse, are some of the primary sources of influence on the offender’s behaviors, habits, trends, and patterns. The negative and hostile social environment is also capable of […]
Controlling Criminal Behavior: The Correction Models Overall, the appearance of such correction models as medical, criminal control, and community correction allowed for the significantly developing of much more humane methods than before. The Pennsylvanian and Auburn systems were the origins of […]
Early Biological Perspectives on Criminal Behavior Speaking of early biological theories, many of them assumed that crimes were caused because of the forces that were beyond the individuals’ control.
Psychological Foundations of Criminal Behavior Answer: the examples of the early psychological and psychiatric theories trying to explain criminality are the trait theory, the moral development theory and the cognitive information-processing theory.
How Family Affects Criminal Behavior: Hatred Murders According to Harriet Sokmensuer, the boy and his sister did not live in the mother’s original family, which inspired the conflict between the mother and her boyfriend, which led to the tragedy.
Organized Criminal Behavior My personal perception of organized crime comes from movie enactments of Sicilian and Italian mafia, which portray it as the activities of a large group of criminals who join forces to plan and commit crimes.
Criminal Behavior: Theories Explaining Criminality From 1970s, legislators passed laws to increase the severity and certainty of punishment as a result of the conservative views on crime.
Criminal Behavior and Related Cognitive Processes The cognitive shifts include openness and exposure to a hook for change, ability to see a replacement self and shift in the person’s views of crime.
Criminal Behavior: Criminology Theories This paper draws the theories discussed herein from a radical orientation; they include radical, feminist and critical criminology theories and present principles that alter the existing and traditional views on the development of criminal behaviour […]
Criminal Behavior and Risk Factors of Its Development The nature of behavior problems particularly the absence or presence of physical aggression is central to a concrete understanding of the origins and effects of conduct problems.
Criminal Behavior and Shaping of Criminal Personality For example, the book by Andrews and Bonta, considers all the fallacies of this theory, and comes to the conclusion that social class has little relation to the formation of criminal personality.
Criminal Behavior: Psychology and Theories The aim of this paper is to define the role of psychology in the criminal justice field and consider the basic theories that explain criminal behavior.
Crime Theories Differentiating Criminal Behavior As relates to this theory, the root of the problem is that people will never be the same, enjoy the same comforts or love from other people. This is a character that is grown from […]
Parental Control and Young Adult Criminal Behavior The authors of the article were able to analyze the connection between the level of parental control and misbehavior by means of a nationwide longitudinal dataset.
Punishment Risk and Criminal Behavior Relationship The authors of the article discuss the information concerning criminal behavior and review medical, psychological, and sociological premises of the delinquencies.
Criminal Behavior in the Republic of Ireland The media plays a critical role of sensitizing members of the public on criminal activities that are widespread in the country to an extent that crime consciousness is institutionalized in the popular culture.
Is Public Shaming a Viable and Appropriate Punishment for Criminal Behavior Community service is one of the punishments used for the petty offenders to pay the community back for the trouble they caused.
Linking Adolescent Development and Criminal Behavior
Correlation Between Animal Abuse and Criminal Behavior
Understanding Antisocial Personality Disorder and Criminal Behavior
Applying Albert Banduras Bobo Doll Theory to Any Criminal Behavior
Behind the Criminal Mind: Causes of Criminal Behavior
Correlation Between Poor Nutritional Habits and Criminal Behavior
Biological Protective Factors for Antisocial and Criminal Behavior
Applying Biological Theories for Criminal Behavior
The Relationships Between Brain Dysfunction and Criminal Behavior
Can Brain Scans Predict Future Criminal Behavior?
Capital Punishment Deters Criminal Behavior
Clinical, Demographic, and Criminal Behavior Characteristics of Patients With Intellectual Disabilities
Comparing the Criminal Behavior of Youth Gangs and At-Risk Youth
Control Theory Understanding Criminal Behavior
Criminal Behavior and Its Effects on Society
Correlation Between Brain Injury and Criminal Behavior
Counting Crime and Measuring Criminal Behavior
Criminal Behavior Among Young People and Adults
Analysis of Influential Factors of Criminal Behavior
Relations Between Criminal Behavior and Mental Problems
Optimizing Criminal Behavior and the Disutility of Prison
Predatory Criminal Behavior and How It Can Be Dissuaded
Criminal Behavior: Psychological and Personality Theories
Dealing With Violent Criminal Behavior
Criminal Behavior: The Negative Attribution of Societal Nurturing
Determining the Main Cause of Criminal Behavior
Criminal Behavior Theories That Relate to Armed Robbery
Difference Between Deviant Behavior and Criminal Behavior
Criminal Behavior Theory and Therapeutic Methods: An Overview
How Effective Boot Camps Are for Reducing Future Criminal Behavior
The Relationships Between Drug Activities and Criminal Behavior
How the Strain Theory Explains Criminal Behavior
Education and Criminal Behavior: Insights: Expansion of Upper Secondary School
Examining Motivations for Criminal Behavior
How Psychological Perspectives Have Been Used to Criminal Behavior
Explaining Criminal Behavior Through Multiple Different Theories
Factors Affecting the Complexity of Criminal Behavior
Gambling and Impulsivity Traits: A Recipe for Criminal Behavior?
Hollywood Does Not Glorify Criminal Behavior
Investigating the Reasoning Behind Crime and Criminal Behavior
Legal Sanctions Should Not Deter Criminal Behavior
Loss-Induced Emotions and Criminal Behavior: An Experimental Analysis
Migration Restrictions and Criminal Behavior: Evidence From a Natural Experiment
Nature and Nurture Causes of Criminal Behavior Criminology
How Does Behaviorism Explain Criminal Behavior?
What Are the Origins of Criminal Behavior?
Can Depression Lead to Criminal Behavior?
How Does Criminal Behavior Affect Society?
What Causes Criminal Behavior?
Do Mental Disorders Influence Criminal Behavior?
What Biological Factors Influence Criminal Behavior?
How Have Weapons Technology Impacted Upon Criminal Behavior?
What Determines Criminal Behavior?
Which Trait Theory Most Explains Criminal Behavior?
Is Criminal Behavior Learned or Inherited?
What Is the Root Cause of Criminal Behavior?
How Do Social Structures Influence Criminal Behavior?
Which Type of Mental Disorder Is Most Strongly Associated With Criminal Behavior?
How Is Criminal Behavior Acquired?
Is Criminal Behavior Ever Justified?
What Part of the Human Brain Is Suspected to Cause Criminal Behavior?
How Does Personality Affect Criminal Behavior?
What Has a Positive Influence on Criminal Behavior?
How Is White-Collar Crime Different From Other Criminal Behavior?
Can Criminal Behavior Be Deterred?
What Is the Strongest Predictor of Criminal Behavior?
How Does Social Interaction Influence Criminal Behavior?
Can Criminological Theories Explain Criminal Behavior?
How Do Social Conflict Theories View Criminal Behavior?
Sex Offender Essay Topics
Mental Illness Research Topics
Social Norms Essay Ideas
Dissociative Identity Disorder Essay Topics
Subculture Research Topics
Disorders Ideas
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Mental Health Essay Ideas
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The Factors That Affect Britain's Homicide Clearance Rate

This project examines the method of policing agencies in solving homicides in England and Wales. Moreover, I will go into depth about the factors affecting the national homicide clearance rate in England and Wales. Four key points will be analysed using both primary data collected...

Criminal Investigation

Child Homicide and Inverstigation of the Criminal's Mind

Introduction When one’s death is caused by another, it is termed as homicide. According to the free dictionary, the victim could be an adult or a minor. When a minor is the victim of such an act, it is termed as child homicide. The free...

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The Complexity of Derek Morgan: a Deep Dive into “Criminal Minds”

How it works

When one thinks of “Criminal Minds,” the elite team of FBI profilers tackling some of the most heinous crimes immediately comes to mind. Among the ensemble of memorable characters, Derek Morgan, portrayed by Shemar Moore, emerges as one of the most complex, layered, and compelling figures. Through Morgan’s tenure on the show, viewers have been privy to a rich tapestry of narratives that blend the professional and personal, providing a holistic understanding of what makes this character tick.

Derek Morgan’s character is introduced as the confident, charming, and athletic Special Agent, someone who can chase down unsubs (unknown subjects) without breaking a sweat.

But beneath this veneer of invulnerability lies a deeply sensitive individual, scarred by a traumatic childhood event that witnessed the death of his father, a police officer, in the line of duty. This tragedy became the pivotal moment shaping Morgan’s career choice, providing him with a driving force to ensure that other children wouldn’t have to face the same loss he did. Moore’s portrayal is nuanced; he navigates the character’s vulnerabilities with finesse, never letting Morgan’s traumas overshadow his strengths, yet ensuring they remain an integral part of his persona.

One of Morgan’s standout attributes is his unwavering dedication to his job and his team. This loyalty, however, is a double-edged sword. On numerous occasions, Morgan’s commitment has led him to take rash actions, driven by emotion rather than logic. This impetuosity, while often stemming from a noble place, has landed him in hot water multiple times. Yet, it’s this very impulsiveness that makes Morgan relatable. He’s not a textbook agent who always follows the rulebook. He’s human, prone to errors of judgment, fueled by personal convictions. His relationship with Penelope Garcia, the BAU’s technical analyst, serves as a testament to his softer side. Their playful banter, underpinned by mutual respect and deep affection, provides much-needed comic relief in a show otherwise dominated by dark narratives.

Yet, the most commendable aspect of Morgan’s characterization is the show’s commitment to delving into his psyche. “Criminal Minds” does not shy away from exploring the mental toll that the nature of the job takes on its characters. Morgan, with his traumatic past, often finds himself confronting his demons, especially in cases that echo his personal experiences. An arc that stands out is his abduction and subsequent torture, an ordeal that leaves him grappling with PTSD. The show’s portrayal of his journey through trauma, recovery, and eventual acceptance is both raw and authentic. It serves as a poignant reminder that even the strongest individuals can break, but with the right support and resilience, they can rebuild themselves.

The legacy of Derek Morgan extends beyond his crime-solving prowess. He’s emblematic of the show’s larger themes – the constant tussle between duty and personal ethics, the mental ramifications of a high-stakes job, and the indomitable spirit of individuals who, despite their traumas, commit themselves to the greater good. Moore’s portrayal of Morgan ensures that he isn’t just another FBI agent on television; he’s a multidimensional character, grounded in reality, with aspirations, fears, and flaws.

In summing up, Derek Morgan from “Criminal Minds” is more than just a Special Agent. He is a study in contrasts – strength and vulnerability, logic and emotion, trauma and healing. His journey, as showcased in the series, serves as a masterclass in character development. It’s a testament to the show’s creators and Shemar Moore that Derek Morgan has etched himself in the annals of TV history as one of the most beloved characters, reflecting the complexities and nuances of the human spirit.

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TV-Show Review: Criminal Minds

The show’s plot has always been action-packed, fast-paced and intense. The intense action serves to better the quality giving the viewers more to think about and want to see what happens next. For example, in one episode, Reid and his partner are chasing a serial killer who has kidnapped a young girl in an underground tunnel. [3] The chase ends with Reid shooting the bad guy only to find out that he had innocently been holding the girl hostage. Another way the show’s plot contributes to its success is through its storylines. The writers consistently have new ideas for plot lines that will keep the viewers interested and wanting more. One element of Criminal Minds that I particularly like is the creativity of the writers. They consistently put different elements into their storylines that make them unique and interesting. This show is a hit is because it gives the viewers a sense of what it would be like to be in the position of a criminal or detective. I feel like it really gives you the feel for what it would be like to commit these crimes and then have to deal with the consequences. All of this comes together to make Criminal Minds an amazing show that has been a great commercial success.

When something is extremely complicated, it is usually less interesting than something simple, but Criminal Minds proves that wrong. It uses psychological issues like delusions and extreme personality disorders to demonstrate what would cause someone to commit these horrible acts that we humans do not understand or even think about without feeling the disgust and shock towards them. This aspect is what makes Criminal Minds interesting because not only do they have the sense of mystery, but they also portray the thought process of how a person would think and feel when they did commit these crimes. This show shows people that psychologists actually do exist and have an understanding of these acts, and are able to understand their mental state as well. The realistic nature of the show portrays how people think in the present time day with all of its effects on society. I am a person who has been affected by this show because now, after they did this show with the psychological aspects, I have developed more interest in it, and so have most of the other viewers who are always left wanting more.

I feel that the formatting of the show contributed greatly to its success because of its complex storyline. Unlike all other crime shows, there is a team made up of FBI analysts who help solve the criminal cases. This puts a dynamic twist to the show that other shows do not have. These people not only have to solve the case, but they have to run into situations where something may happen to them, and they know it’s their job to maintain their composure and do what they need to do without panicking. In each episode, there are two or three crimes that occur, which allows for people to get drawn in because every time an episode comes on, you don’t know what kind of crime will be committed. The climax of every episode takes place when the case is solved. It is always a cliffhanger ending where nothing is resolved, but the audience knows what happened, and we viewers don’t want this to end. Even though there is a cliffhanger at the end of each episode in relation to the case, it never gets old or too boring, in my opinion because each time I watch it, I am intrigued by some new way that criminals are getting away with their crimes. These are just a small percentage of the things that make Criminal Minds such an effective crime drama, and I feel it is an amazing show.

In conclusion, I think that Criminal Minds is a great show for everyone to watch and be entertained by because it has an intricate plotline with interesting characters, and as the plot progresses, it leaves us with questions on how the criminal got away with what they did. The actors do such a great job at portraying their characters and making the audience feel as if they are right there in the scenario happening. With these elements, Criminal Minds is such a huge success.

Works Cited

Criminal Minds (TV series 2005–2020) . (n.d.). IMDb. https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0452046/plotsummary

Lanagan-Leitzel, Lyndsey K., and James W. Diller. “Teaching psychological critical thinking using popular media.” Scholarship of Teaching and Learning in Psychology 4.2 (2018): 120.

The Bicester School , thebicesterschool.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/TV-Crime-Drama-Revision-Booklet-2014-Exam-Topic.pdf.

Boccio, Cashen M., and Kevin M. Beaver. “Psychopathic personality traits and the successful criminal.” International journal of offender therapy and comparative criminology 62.15 (2018): 4834-4853.

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Criminal Minds Essay Examples

Criminal minds: tv show inspired by true stories.

There is an increasing number of movies whose story source draws inspiration from real-life events and people whose lives make for an interesting watch. Much of these films are inspired by true personal stories of either tragedies or successes. The Primetime drama series, Criminal Minds...

Personal Review on the Tv Show 'Criminal Minds'

There are many television shows out there about criminal investigations. Some popular ones you may know are Criminal Minds, Law & Order, and CSI. These shows produce crime scenes and investigations in order to entertain their viewers. What these producers don’t realize is that there...

Thomas Gibson - the Main Face of Criminal Minds Tv Show

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