Welcome to CSS Breakdown: Book by Book — Season 2. In this season, we’re unpacking ‘An Introduction to Criminological Theory’ by Roger Hopkins Burke. In Episode 6, we explore the fascinating world of psychological theories of crime — diving into the inner mind to understand what drives criminal behavior.

In Episode 6, we journey into the psychological foundations of crime, as presented in Chapter 6 of An Introduction to Criminological Theory by Roger Hopkins Burke.

We examine how internal factors — thoughts, emotions, and early life experiences — influence criminal behavior, focusing on three major psychological approaches:

🧠 Psychodynamic Theories – rooted in Freud’s work, suggesting that unconscious conflicts, childhood trauma, and a weak conscience can predispose individuals to crime.

🐾 Behavioral Learning Theories – based on Pavlov, Skinner, and Eysenck, these explore how criminal behavior is learned through reinforcement, conditioning, and traits associated with antisocial personality disorder.

👥 Cognitive Learning Theories – including Gabriel Tarde, Edwin Sutherland, and Akers’ Social Learning Theory, emphasizing how people learn criminal behavior from social environments and peer influences.

We also touch on the role of cognitive-behavioral interventions in modern crime prevention and rehabilitation strategies.

This episode is ideal for CSS candidates, students of criminology, or anyone curious about how psychology meets justice.