Course Code: CRI 170

Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation

Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

Lesson Title: Psychological Theories Materials: Ballpen, Paper, Notebook

& SAS
Lesson Objectives: References:
At the end of this module, you should be able to: Siegel, Larry J. et al. 2007. Juvenile
1. discuss the concepts of psychological theories; and Delinquency: Theory, Practice and Law.
2. formulate examples based on real life situations using 9th Edition, Wadsworth Publishing
the concept of the theory. Textbook:
Panugaling, G.C. and Caño, G. J.
(2019). Theories of Crime Causation.
Rex Book Store Inc.

Productivity Tip: Score: /80

It has been proven that information retention is higher when you go over your notes and
repeat the lesson after the class is over.Rewriting your lecture notes is going to be one
of the most brilliant study techniques to practice. Rewriting will help you remember the
context better and reorganizing them in nice outline forces you to comprehend the
lesson.

A. LESSON PREVIEW/REVIEW

Introduction (2 mins)
How are you today? I hope you’re all well. Today, our topic is all about, “The Psychological
Theories”. But before that, let’s have a recap of our lesson last module. Yes, anybody from the group
who can recall what was the title of our module number 18? (The teacher must ask at least two (2)
students to answer). Okay, good! So, the title of our module number 18 was all about “The Classical
Theories”. You also had your summative assessment for modules 15-17, right? The learning objectives
for today are, first you have to: a) discuss the concepts of psychological theories; and b) formulate
examples based on real life situations using the concept of the theory. Our topic today is still connected
with the previous module since it is still about theory. However, the focus of our topic today will dwell
only on what classical theories are all about. Are you guys ready? Alright, let’s begin with this first
activity!

B.MAIN LESSON
Activity 1: Content Notes (15 mins)
Instructions: Read and understand the concepts below and after
that you have to answer the questions that follow. Write it on the
space provided.

PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES

Psychological theories expressed that criminal behavior was the product of “unconscious”
forces operating within a person’s mind. Conflicts occur at various psychosexual stages of development
might impact an individual’s ability to operate normally as an adult and that if aggressive impulse is not
controlled, or is repressed to an unusual degree, some aggression can “leak out” of the unconscious
and a person can engage in random acts of violence (Bartol, 2002).
Gabriel Tarde (1843-1904) in his theory of imitation believed that people learn from one
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 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

another through a process of imitation (Siegel, 2004). These are some of the theories under
psychological:

1. Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychology was originated by Viennese psychiatrist Sigmund

Freud (1856-1939) and has still considered as one of the prominent theories in psychology. This holds
that the human personality is controlled by unconscious mental processes developed in early
childhood. It argues that human personality contains three major components, namely: id, ego and
superego.
a. Id- dictates the needs and desires (it operates under pleasure principle).
b. Superego – counteracts the id by fostering feelings of morality (morality principle). It is
divided into two (2) parts: conscience and ego ideals.
c. Ego – evaluates the reality of a position of these two extremes (reality principle). If these
three components are properly balanced, the individual can lead a normal life. But if one aspect of the
personality governs at the expense of the others, the individual exhibits abnormal personality traits
(Siegel et al, 2007). For example, upon entering the room you find out that there is a wallet full of
money. If you will take the wallet and will not tell anyone that it’s you who found it; your conscience,
one of the parts of superego (morality principle) is not working because it didn’t intervene your id
(pleasure principle) and did not tell your ego (reality principle) that the wallet is not yours, why take it?

2. Behavioral theory is originally created by John B. Watson and popularized by Burrhus Frederic
Skinner commonly known as B.F. Skinner. Some psychologists agree that behavior is controlled by
unconscious mental processes determined by parental relationships developed early in childhood as
what Freud believed but others do not, like Watson and Skinner. This theory concerned the study of
observable behavior rather than unconscious processes. It focuses on particular stimuli and how
people respond toward that stimulus. It maintains that human actions are developed through learning
experiences; that behavior is learned when it is rewarded and extinguished by negative reactions or
punishment (Siegel, 2004).

3. Social learning is the branch of behavior theory most relevant to criminology. It was created Albert
S. Bandura (1973), a Canadian psychologist who argued that people are not actually born with the
ability to act violently but that they learn to be aggressive through their life experiences. The
experiences include personally observing others acting aggressively to achieve some goal or watching
people being rewarded for violent acts on television or in movies. Bandura claimed that people learn to
act aggressively when, as children, they model their behavior after the violent acts of adults. For
example, the boy who sees his father repeatedly strikes his mother with impunity is the one most likely
to grow up to become a battering parent and husband (Siegel, 2004).

Social Learning and Violence

Bandura (1973) believed that violence was something learned through a process called
behavior modeling. Aggressive acts are usually modeled after 3 principal sources:
1. Family members. Bandura reports that family life showing children who use aggressive tactics have
parents who use similar behaviors when dealing with others.
2. Environmental experiences. People who reside in areas where violence is a daily occurrence are
more likely to act violently than those who dwell in low-crime areas whose norm stress conventional
behavior.
3. Mass media. Films and television shows commonly depict violence graphically. Moreover, violence is
often portrayed as an acceptable behavior, especially for heroes who never have to face legal
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 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

consequences for their actions (Siegel, 2004).

4. Cognitive Theory
A branch of psychology that studies the perception of reality and the mental process required to
understand the world we live. It focuses on mental processes- the way people perceive and mentally
represents the world around them. Adolescents who use information properly, who are better
conditioned to make reasoned judgments, and who can make quick and reasoned decisions when
facing emotion-laden are the ones that can avoid antisocial behavior choices. Cognitive perspective
contains several subgroups: the moral and intellectual development branch, which is concerned how
people morally represent and reason about the world.
Jean Piaget (1896-1980), a Swiss psychologist who was the first to make a systematic study of
the acquisition of understanding in children based on his cognitive development theory. He
hypothesized that a child’s reasoning processes develop in an orderly manner, beginning at birth and
continuing until age 12 and older and it has 4 stages (Siegel et al, 2007).

5. Moral Development Theory

Lawrence Kohlberg (1973) expanded Piaget’s theory of cognitive development and applied the
concept of development stages to issues in criminology. His theory of moral development was
dependent on the thinking of the former (Piaget) and the American philosopher John Dewey. He
suggested that people travel through stages of moral development and that it is possible that serious
offenders have a moral orientation that differs from those law-abiding citizens. He and his associates
found out that criminals were found to be lower in their moral judgment development than non-criminals
of the same social background. Moral development theory suggests that people who obey the law
simply to avoid punishment or who have outlooks mainly characterized by self-interest are more likely
to commit crimes than those who view the law as something that benefits all of society and who honor
the rights of others.

6. Intergenerational transmission theory stated that criminal and antisocial parents tend to have
delinquent and antisocial children, as shown in the classic longitudinal surveys by Joan McCord in
Boston and Lee Robins in St. Louis. The most extensive research on the concentration of offending in
families was carried out in the Cambridge Study in Delinquent Development. Having a convicted father,
mother, brother, or sister predicted a boy's own convictions, and all four relatives were independently
important as predictors (Farrington et al., 1996).

7. Alternative theory beats the famous saying that says, “Opposite charges attract.”
An alternative theory focuses on assortative mating; female offenders tend to cohabit with or get
married to male offenders. In the Dunedin study in New Zealand, which is a longitudinal survey of over
one thousand children from age three, Robert F. Krueger and his colleagues found that sexual partners
tended to be similar in their self-reported antisocial behavior. Children with two criminal parents are
likely to be disproportionately antisocial. There are two main classes of explanations concerning why
similar people tend to get married, cohabit, or become sexual partners. The first is called social
homogamy- convicted people tend to choose each other as mates because of physical and social
proximity; they meet each other in the same schools, neighborhoods, clubs, pubs, and so on. The
second process is called phenotypic assortment-people examine each other's personality and
behavior and choose partners who are similar to themselves (https://www.encyclopedia.com/law/legal-
and-political-magazines/crime-causation-psychological-theories).

8. Differential association-reinforcement
Ernest Burgess and Ronald Akers (1966) combined Bandura’s social learning theory and
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 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

Sutherland’s theory of differential association to produce the theory of differential-association

reinforcement. This theory suggests that (1) the presence of criminal behavior depends on whether or
not it is rewarded or punished and (2) the most meaningful rewards and punishment are those given by
groups that are important in an individuals’ life – the peer group, the family, teachers in school and so
forth. In other words, people respond more readily to the reactions of the most significant people in their
lives. If the criminal behavior elicits more positive reinforcement or reward than punishment; such
behavior will persist (Adler et al, 2010).

9. Eysenck’s Conditioning Theory

Hans J. Eysenck in his theory of conditioning claims that all human personality may be seen in three
dimensions such as psychoticism, extroversion and neuroticism. Those who score high on measures of
psychoticism are aggressive, egocentric and impulsive. Those who score high on measures of
extroversion are sensation-seeking, dominant and assertive. Those who score high on measures of
neuroticism may be described as having low self-esteem, excessive anxiety and wide mood swings

10. Integrated theory has been proposed by James Q. Wilson and Richard Herrnstein. They explain
predatory street crime by showing how human nature develops from the interplay of psychological,
biological, and social factors. The main concept of this theory is the interaction of genes with the
environment that some individuals form the kind of personality likely to commit crimes. According to
Wilson and Herrnstein, the factors that made the person to commit crimes are IQ, body build, genetic
makeup, impulsiveness, ability to delay gratification, aggressiveness, and even the drinking and
smoking habits of pregnant mothers.

11. Maternal Deprivation and Attachment Theory

Maternal deprivation and attachment theory has been devised by British psychiatrist Edward
John M. Bowlby who expressed the notion that a child needs warmth and affection from his/her mother
or a mother substitute. Bowlby emphasized that the most important phenomenon to social development
takes place after the birth of any mammal and that is the construction of an emotional bond between
the infant and his mother. When a child is separated from the mother or is rejected by her, anxious
attachment results. Anxious attachment affects the capacity to be affectionate and to develop intimate
relationships with others. Habitual criminals, it is claimed, typically have an inability to form bonds of
affection (Adler et al, 2010).

Let us answer the questions below based on your readings:

1. Who created the Moral Development Theory?

Answer: ____________________________________________
Lawrence Kohlberg

2. Who created the Integrated theory?

Sampson and Laub
Answer: ____________________________________________

3. Who created the Maternal Deprivation and Attachment Theory?

John Bowlby
Answer: ____________________________________________

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 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

Activity 2: Skill-building Activities (18 mins + 2 mins checking)

This is a self-assessment; you have to answer the question honestly. After
that check your answers against the Key to Corrections found at the end
of this SAS. Write your score on the space provided.

2.1 Let us test your skill! In this activity, you are going to identify what theory under psychology is being
portrayed on the diagram shown below and after that you have to formulate a scenario (real life
situations) depicting the said diagram. Write it on the space provided. (20 points)

The diagram represents Freud's structural model of the mind,

Score:
consisting of the Id, Ego, and Super ego. over our
Id represents 20
primitive desires, Ego balances them with reality and societal
norms, and Super ego represents moral and ethical aspects. In a
scenario, Sarah, a 25-year-old woman, struggles with her Id, Ego,
and Super egos, influencing her daily choices and thoughts. The
interplay between these components shapes her thoughts,
emotions, and behaviors.
2.2 What theory under psychology you LIKE the MOST and you LIKE the LEAST when it comes to its
explanation regarding crime causation. Support your answer. Limit your answer to ten (10) sentences
only. Write it on the space provided. (10 points)
Score: over 10
The Social Learning Theory emphasizes the importance of social factors in shaping criminal behavior,
while Biological Determinism focuses on innate biological factors. Social learning theory highlights the
influence of role models and environmental influences, while Biological Determinism overlooks social,
economic, and environmental factors. Both theories provide a comprehensive understanding of crime
causation, but Biological Determinism may oversimplify the complex nature of human actions and
overlook individual agency and free will in decision-making.

2.3 In your own words, discuss the concept of psychological theory. Limit your answer to ten (10)
sentences only. Write it on the space provided. (10 points)
Score: over 10
Psychological theory is a structured framework based on empirical research to understand human
behavior, cognition, emotions, and mental processes. It helps researchers and professionals understand
human experiences, predict behavior, formulate hypotheses, conduct experiments, and offer
interventions. These theories contribute to advancing our understanding of the human mind and
behavior.

Activity 3: Check for Understanding (5 mins)

This is a self-assessment; you have to answer these questions honestly. After
that check your answers against the Key to Corrections found at the end of this
SAS. Write your score on your paper.

5
 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

3.1 Identification: Write what is asked on the space provided in each item below.
Wrong spelling is wrong. No erasures. (2 points each) Score: over 20

Psychological Theory
___________________1. What theory expressed that criminal behavior, was the product of
“unconscious” forces operating within a person’s mind?
Gabriel Tarde
___________________2. He believed that people learn from one another through a process of
imitation.
Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychology
___________________3. This holds that the human personality is controlled by unconscious mental
processes developed in early childhood.
Superego
___________________4. What counteracts the id by fostering feelings of morality?
Behavioral theory
___________________5. This theory concerned the study of observable behavior rather than
unconscious processes.
Social learning
___________________6. What theory argued that people are not actually born with the ability to act
violently but that they learn to be aggressive through their life experiences?
___________________7.
Cognitive Theory A branch of psychology that studies the perception of reality and the mental
process required to understand the world we live.
Jean Piaget
___________________8. A Swiss psychologist who was the first to make a systematic study of the
acquisition of understanding in children based on his cognitive development theory.
Lawrence Kohlberg
___________________9. He suggested that people travel through stages of moral development and
that it is possible that serious offenders have a moral orientation that differs from those law-abiding
citizens.
Intergenerational transmission theory This theory stated that criminal and antisocial parents tend to have
___________________10.
delinquent and antisocial children.

3.2 Analysis: Study the picture below and then identify what theory under psychology it portrays.
Support your answer. Limit it to ten (10) sentences only. Write it on the space provided. (10 points)
Score: over 10
The image depicts parental conflict, causing emotional distress for the
children. Family Systems Theory emphasizes the interconnectedness
of family members and the impact of disruptions or dysfunction on all
members. The conflict creates a stressful environment, emphasizing
the importance of understanding patterns of interaction within the
family unit to address issues. Examining individual behaviors and the
broader family system is crucial for identifying and addressing
underlying problems.

C. LESSON WRAP-UP

Q1. What are the major theories in psychology?

Answer: The five major perspectives in psychology are biological, psychodynamic, behavioral,
cognitive and humanistic.
Q2. Why psychological theories exist?
Answer: It exists and provides a basis for understanding the mind and behavior.
Q3. What is the main concept of psychological theory?
Answer: Its main concept is proposed to explain and predict various aspects of human behavior.
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 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

Activity 4: Thinking About Learning (5 mins)

A. Work Tracker
You are done with this session! Let’s track your progress. Shade the session
number you just completed. You mark the place in the work tracker which is
simply a visual to help you to track how much work you have accomplished and
how much work there is left to do.

B. Think About Your Learning

Instruction: There are two (2) parts of this activity; first, give me your feedback regarding our module
today by shading any of the circles below. And then support your answer. Write it on the space
provided. And then on the second part would be your self-evaluation on achieving the learning targets.

B.1 Fist to Five Activity:

_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
_________________________________________
B.2 This is a self-evaluation on achieving the learning targets: Just place a check (/) mark on the
_________________________________________
space provided. _________________________________________
1. I CAN discuss the concepts of psychological theories. _______
________________
2. I CAN formulate example based on real life situations _______
using the concept of the theory.

KEY TO CORRECTIONS:

Answer on Activity 2.1

PSYCHODYNAMIC OR PSYCHOANALYTIC PSYCHOLOGY
It argues that human personality contains three major components, namely: id, ego and superego.
Rubrics on Activity 2.2; 2.3 and 3.2 Rate
Organization of thoughts=4 points
Grammar = 3 points
7
 Course Code: CRI 170
Course Title: Theories of Crime Causation
Student’s Activity Sheet: Module #19

Name:________________________________________________________ Class number: _______

Section: ____________ Schedule: ____________ Date:_______________

Readability = 2 points
Neatness = 1 point
TOTAL= 10 points
Answer on Activity 5.1
1. Psychological Theory 6. Social learning
2. Gabriel Tarde 7. Cognitive Theory
3. Psychodynamic or psychoanalytic psychology 8. Jean Piaget
4. Superego 9. Lawrence Kohlberg
5. Behavioral theory 10. Intergenerational transmission theory

TEACHER-LED ACTIVITIES:

1. In-classroom learning session:

1) Collect completed work in the SAS;

2) Allocate your contact time with students to individual or small group mentoring, monitoring, and
student consultations;
3) You may administer summative assessments (quizzes, demonstrations, graded recitation,
presentations, performance tasks) during face-to-face sessions;
4) You may also explore supplementary activities that foster collaboration, provided that social
distancing is observed; and,
5) You may provide supplementary content via videos, etc.

Congratulations! That’s enough for today; study the Sociological Theories found in (Page 87-
104) of our textbook.
Thank you!

Sources: Learning How to Learn: How to Succeed in School without Spending All Your Time Studying,
a Guide for Teens and Kids by Barbara Oakley and Terrence Sejnowski, 2018
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