CJ 274 Criminal Behavior (5 credits)
Distribution Area Fulfilled General Transfer Elective
Course Description
An examination of the psychology of criminal human behavior. Focuses on the scientific study, psychological bases, and dynamics of criminal situations and criminal behavior.
Course Content
Evolution of the study of criminal behavior
Basic terms and concepts of criminal behavior
Concepts of psychology, psychiatry, neurobiology and sociology in relation to criminal behavior
Origins of behavior, to include: developmental, biological, and learning and situational theories
Human aggression and violence
Modes of persuasion
Psychopathology, through the lens of known offenders
Personality profiles associated with crime (anti-social, psychopathic, psychosis, drugs & alcohol, adolescence, sexually-based)
Anti-social behavior theories
Serial killer and sex offender personalities and background characteristics
Overview of forensic psychology, to include: objective and subjective personality testing
Types of criminal behavior, to include: homicide, sexual assault, multiple/serial murders, school/workplace violence, family violence, and hate crimes
Victimology
Levels of motivation and prognosis of homicidal offenders
Criminal classification systems
Student Outcomes
- Explore one’s positionality and biases and how these impact their view of criminal behavior.
- Examine major criminological theories to assess contemporary crime and criminal behavior.
- Analyze the personality profiles associated with crime (anti-social, psychopathic, psychosis, drugs and alcohol, adolescence, sexually based) to identify personality traits linked to maladaptive behavior.
- Deliberate criminal and aggressive behavior theories to gain an understanding of crime and deviant behavior.
- Examine historical and current criminal classification systems to derive statistics about crime estimations and trends.
Degree Outcomes
Program Outcomes:
Graduates will critically apply theoretically sound judgment in crime analysis, criminal investigation, and criminal behavior.
Graduates will develop the ability to: discern, synthesize, remember, and summarize useful and logical information from a report, research document, and other written sources.
Critical, Creative, and Reflective Thinking: Graduates will evaluate, analyze, synthesize, and generate ideas; construct informed, meaningful, and justifiable conclusions; and process feelings, beliefs, biases, strengths, and weaknesses as they relate to their thinking, decisions, and creations.
Effective Communication: Graduates will be able to exchange messages in a variety of contexts using multiple methods.
Intercultural Engagement: Graduates demonstrate self-efficacy in intercultural engagement to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion through reflections and expressions of cultural humility, empathy, and social and civic engagement and action. Further, graduates examine how identities/positionalities such as race, social class, gender, sexual orientation, disabilities, and cultures impact perceptions, actions, and the distribution of power and privilege in communities, systems, and institutions.
Lecture Contact Hours 50
Lab Contact Hours 0
Clinical Contact Hours 0
Total Contact Hours 50
Potential Methods
A. Case studies
B. Team assignments
C. Objective tests
D. Subjective tests
E. Self-evaluation
F. Instructor evaluation
G. Peer evaluation
H. Class discussion
I. Projects
J. Presentations
K. Oral presentation
L. Portfolios
Add to Portfolio (opens a new window)
|
