Assignment: Psychological Aspects of Criminal Behavior
STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #1 Brittany Harris

People worldwide experience depression daily. While some people may never develop severe depression, there is the chance that a person may develop major depressive disorder. Major depressive disorder is marked by an extremely depressed state lasting at least two weeks, accompanied by a mental and physical slow-down, and the mood changes experienced during this disorder are extreme while the depression is long-lasting (Bartol & Bartol, 2017). It has been noted that there is a link between depression and delinquency in adolescent girls; however, this is where things can get tricky. Though it is noted that there is a strong correlation between the two, there is no way to pinpoint which factor causes the other. You could assume that a depressed person commits criminal acts simply because they don’t care about what happens to them, but that may not always be true. For example, look at the infamous Andrea Yates case. After a second trial, she was found not guilty by reason of insanity after drowning her children in a bathtub. Her first conviction was ultimately overturned because she had proven major depressive episodes in which she was hospitalized and released numerous times. The safest way to put it is that depression could contribute to criminal behavior, especially if people have major depressive disorder and experience psychosis. It is worth noting that most people who experience depression do not commit crimes, and violent crimes are rare, though it is always possible.

In my opinion, people with mental illness should be arrested when they are able to differentiate right from wrong at the time of committing the act and when they are simply using the mental illness card as a get out of jail free card. There are some disorders that do not affect a person’s ability to decipher right from wrong. In the instance of depression, a person may not care about what happens to them because of their actions but that does not mean they don’t comprehend what they’re doing. However, I understand arrest is not always a viable option, especially for those who suffer from severe mental health issues. In that instance, it is law enforcements job to ensure they get the proper help. My next-door neighbor is a former police officer and in talking to him one day, he told me there would be times where he would have to arrest people with mental illnesses but instead of taking them to jail, he would find a behavioral health center that had available beds and take them there and wait while the person got checked in and situated. In some cases that is the appropriate thing to do to ensure they get the necessary help for themselves while also ensuring public safety.

Reference

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2017). Criminal behavior: A psychological approach (11th ed.). Boston, MA: Pearson

STUDENT REPLIES

STUDENT REPLY #2 Miofania Garcia

A mental illness that I will be discussing about that could contribute to criminal behavior is schizophrenia. This mental illness can cause someone to think very different and behave inappropriate. A person suffering from this illness can be withdrawn from reality and personal relationships into fantasy and delusion. An individual who has this (schizophrenia) can also have mental fragmentation. As stated on a website I looked into, “Mental fragmentation is a phrase used to describe the mental state of someone who has memories written into their brain from multiple sources over time.”

The reason I wanted to touch on this mental illness is because my grandfather has a horrible case of schizophrenia. Growing up I saw a lot of pill bottles because of his mental state. When I was young, I was molested by my grandfather (several times). I never told anyone, until the age of 18. My teacher requested that I write a paper and I asked, “what do you want me to write about?” She told me, “Write about anything.” I opened up to her about my life (something I never did; NEVER). It truly was the start of healing for me (without realizing at that time in my life).

As a child I always felt there was something different about my way of thinking and my heart. I knew my grandfather was a sick man mentally and I felt it wasn’t his fault nor mine. No one got him the proper help even after receiving news that he had molested two other children (without knowing what I was going through). No one in my family believed that he would do that. I never spoke up because I was so quiet and scared of my parent’s reaction. How do you not believe two innocent kids that tell you they’ve been sexually violated? If you can’t believe two pure innocent children; why would I want to speak up and not be listened to? You know this man suffers from an mental illness that can cause him to do things he wouldn’t probably do if he didn’t suffer from schizophrenia. I’m able to still love on my grandfather genuinely and have a deep understanding as to why he did what he has done. I’m not making excuses but if you look into someone who suffers badly from the mental illness, I’m discussing about you’ll understand my grandfather and others with the illness truly battle with their thoughts and behavior.

Molestation is criminal behavior even if that person is mentally ill. People with this illness should get the proper evaluations in a mental institution instead of being able to live freely in society (where they can cause harm to people unintentionally). These are issues that need to be spoken about because so many suffer from mental illnesses and commit crimes because their brain functions differently (Causing them to act out inappropriately or hearing voices that tell them to behave a certain way). Just because the individual is schizo doesn’t mean they get away with committing a crime (sexually assault). This person needs to be tended to different from those that don’t have a mental illness. Some cases of schizophrenia are worse than others and this is why evaluation is vital and being admitted into a mental institution.

I don’t agree that being arrested is the right alternative for someone with a really bad case of schizophrenia. They’re many resources to get that individual the necessary help. Sadly, but true not everyone can live in society, whether it’s because that person suffers from a bad illness or they’re simply a bad person.

Law enforcement can’t prevent the unthinkable from happening but what can be done is finding resources for people who suffer from any mental illness. Being properly trained to deal with these individuals is important.

Reference

cyborganthropology.com/Mental Fragmentation Resources