A 2017 study (Edwards et al.) found that that there was a clear distinction in the personality types between offenders who committed street robberies, and those who engaged in property crimes, with those who engaged in muggings exhibiting more impulsive-antisocial traits than burglars e.g. To commit a mugging involves interacting with a victim and being prepared to act violently towards them – two things which most burglars want to avoid i.e. By understanding some of the commonalities and distinct differences between criminals, we will be better positioned to understand how we should act and behave when encountering them. The view that the criminal mind is biologically different to the non-criminal mind, has experienced something of a resurgence in recent years, however there is no compelling argument to suggest that all criminals are wired differently to non-criminals, with the occasional shop-lifter likely to have more in common with a law-abiding citizen, than with a serial murderer, etc. It would also be wrong to say that criminals universally don’t feel guilt concerning their actions – as many do. the way in which they justify their actions is likely to be very different the mugger may blame social conditions for forcing them to engage in robbery, whilst the white collar criminal might convince themselves that no one is individually affected or hurt by what they are doing.
Whilst there may be commonalities in ways of thinking, and values held, amongst these different types of criminals - such as a belief that they are entitled to take what they want from others, etc. the world-view that burglars shared was the same as those who commit street robberies, and those that engage in white collar crimes such as fraud and embezzlement, etc. This article looks at why different criminals choose to engage in certain crimes rather than others, and why it is important to understand these differences.įor a large part of the 20 th Century, Criminal and Forensic Psychologists attempted to define the “Criminal Personality”, believing/assuming that there was one common and universal personality that all criminals shared to some degree e.g. there is likely to be a greater addiction to the thrill experienced during the offense.
Equally, persistent offenders are likely to be motivated differently, and engage in different decision-making processes to those who occasionally commit crimes e.g. a burglar is going to look at the risk of being caught, compared to the potential benefits and rewards they may receive, in a different way to a mugger, etc. Although committing a crime involves a certain level of “rational” decision-making, any cost-benefit analysis that is involved will differ from criminal to criminal e.g.
Criminals commit crimes in line with their personalities and understanding this simple fact informs us as to how we should interact with them – if our paths should ever happen to cross.
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