You are here

Psychology and Crime
Share

Psychology and Crime
A Transdisciplinary Perspective

Second Edition


October 2019 | 352 pages | SAGE Publications Ltd

'Criminologists have been waiting a very long time for a psychology of crime that speaks their language. Finally it has arrived.' - Dr David Gadd, Keele University

Now in an updated second edition, this book explores the links between psychology and crime, taking the reader through psychological explanations of crime and the use of psychology within the criminal justice system. The book aims to demystify some of the myths of psychological criminology and situates the subject within its historical and theoretical foundations, whilst maintaining a contemporary outlook and critical awareness of the field’s advantages and limitations.

This second edition includes:

  • Four new chapters, on 'Psychological perspectives and their approach to crime', 'Mentally disordered offenders', 'The Criminal Courts and the role of the Jury', and 'Victims, Fear of Crime and Offender Management'.
  • Improved coverage of the issues around interpersonal violence, sexual violence and deviancy, the psychology of crime in groups, and war crimes.
  • Increased analysis of psychology and the criminal justice system.

Essential reading for students in criminology, sociology and psychology.

 
Psychology, Sociology and Crime: Mapping the Historical Terrain
 
Psychological Perspectives on Crime
 
Mentally Disordered Offenders
 
Psychological Theories of Interpersonal Violence and Investigatory Psychology
 
Investigating Sexual Violence
 
Crimes in Groups: Explaining Subcultures, Groups and Gangs
 
Mass Murder, Political Murder and War Crimes
 
Terrorism: From Pathology to Normality
 
Interviewing Eyewitnesses and Suspects
 
Psychology, The Courts and the Role of the Jury
 
After Crime: Victims, Fear of Crime and Offender Management
 
The Futures of Criminological Psychology
 
References
 
Glossary
 
Index

This second edition retains all the strengths of the first while adding fresh insight to contemporary issues. Craig Webber’s knowledge of the field and his openness to a wide range of approaches has resulted in an indispensable guide to criminological psychology. Psychology & Crime provides a lively, thought provoking and authoritative introduction to a rapidly growing area and succeeds in stretching thinking beyond current orthodoxies.

Eamonn Carrabine
Professor of Sociology, University of Essex

Craig Webber has achieved a rare feat; a book that connects psychology and crime in a way that honours the rich history of sociological approaches to crime with current insights from psychology. It reads well, is well structured and combines the fields of criminology and psychology in a most engaging fashion. The many students who take a combination of psychology with criminology will thank him for this book.

 

Francis Pakes
Professor of Criminology and Associate Dean (Research), University of Portsmouth

Praise for the previous edition:

Criminologists have been waiting a very long time for a psychology of crime that speaks their language. Finally it has arrived. Craig Webber brings together a wealth of psychological research that students of criminology ignore at their peril. He also documents the significant in-roads criminologists are now making with regard to matters of the mind too often treated as 'off-limits' by many social scientists, psychologists included.
Dr David Gadd
Keele University

 


 

Webber has pulled off a unique feat by writing a book on the psychology of crime that will appeal equally to sociologists and criminologists. The book provides up-to-date and scholarly coverage of the investigative psychology literature on policing serial offending and mass murderers, but also integrates sophisticated discussions of Stan Cohen's theory of denial, the Birmingham School of cultural studies, and Green Criminology. This exciting theoretical integration bodes very well for the future of criminal psychology.
Professor Shadd Maruna
Queen's University Belfast

 


 

Craig Webber’s Psychology and Crime does a good job of opening up psychology to criminologists...Webber’s book is ‘criminological’ in its starting position and psychology is not approached as the stand-alone discipline it is often thought to be. That sets it apart from other texts. For that reason criminologists may well find this one particularly accessible... The book as a whole does a good job in cautiously welcoming psychology into the criminological mainstream. For those initially apprehensive of psychology, this is a good choice of text that should find its way onto readings lists in particular for psychology-related modules within criminology courses. That is a readership for whom this text should be particularly valuable.
Dr Francis Pakes
Internet Journal of Criminology

Reviews

A detailed and contemporary consideration of forensic psychology, incorporating an impressive range of relevant research

Mrs Suzi Smale
Psychology, Petroc College
November 28, 2019

Great book! Might be more useful for a graduate level course and I will likely assign for a Masters-level course next year.

Peter Simonsson
School of Social Policy & Practice, University Of Pennsylvania
March 6, 2020

A beneficial book, which provides the student with an insight into the thinking and behaviour of people involved in Crime. The author has created a book which is beneficial to new students and those with more academic experience.

Mr Michael Donaldson
Social Science, Glasgow Kelvin College
December 19, 2019

Useful up to date text to support probation trainees' learning. The chapters on gang psychology and terrorism will assist additional focus on these areas.

Ms Sarah Sein
Health & Life Sciences, De Montfort University
March 2, 2020

Some useful considerations that help inform a broad understanding

Mr Roger Lobb
Social Science, Cornwall College - Saltash
January 6, 2020

This book was adopted as additional reading for learners. It provides the learners with a greater knowledge base on studies and theories relating to criminal behaviour. It is laid out well and learners have used it to find information which they then elaborate on through additional research.

Miss Amy Capper
Access To Higher Education, Warrington & Vale Royal College
March 5, 2020

An excellent text that provides students with a rounded overview of psychology and crime.

Mr Stuart Agnew
Criminology, University of Suffolk
October 30, 2019

Craig Webber

Dr Craig Webber is Associate Professor in Criminology within Sociology at the University of Southampton. More About Author

Purchasing options

Please select a format:

ISBN: 9781446287439
£35.99
ISBN: 9781446287422
£108.00

SAGE Knowledge is the ultimate social sciences digital library for students, researchers, and faculty. Hosting more than 4,400 titles, it includes an expansive range of SAGE eBook and eReference content, including scholarly monographs, reference works, handbooks, series, professional development titles, and more.

The platform allows researchers to cross-search and seamlessly access a wide breadth of must-have SAGE book and reference content from one source.