Final answer:
Psychological theories of crime focus on individual psychological factors and situational influences on behavior, such as cost-benefit analysis, rather than solely external conditions.
Step-by-step explanation:
Psychological theories of crime assume that criminal behavior is the result of individual factors, rather than external societal conditions. Specifically, these theories suggest that crimes are influenced by individual psychological factors, such as personality traits and situational factors that affect decision-making.
One example is the concept of cost-benefit analysis, where individuals weigh the potential rewards of committing a crime against the likely costs, such as the chances of being caught and the severity of punishment.
Social disorganization theory, a different approach, considers how societal factors like poverty, family disruption, and living in a disadvantaged neighborhood contribute to higher rates of crime and deviance.
This perspective emphasizes the influence of a person's environment on their likelihood to engage in crime. It implies that external social conditions, rather than individual rational choices, might be leading individuals towards criminal activities.
The psychological approach to understanding crime views it as influenced more by the individual's internal state and choices rather than predestined by genetics or primarily due to economic factors. While this approach focuses on the personal experiences and psychological processes that may lead to crime, it does not dismiss the potential impacts of societal norms entirely.