Research of criminal personality: Social-psychological aspect

Abstract

Urgency of research of criminal personality is determined by insufficient psychological elaboration and practical application value in the fight against crime. The analysis of the definitions of «criminal personality», various approaches to understanding the structure of the criminal personality and the typology of criminals are represented in the article. Each of these types of criminals have unique «per- sonal card» – the specificity of need-motivational orientation, intellectual, volitional, emotional and instrumental-behavioral properties.

Conclusions: the lack of a general understanding and definition of «criminal personality», structure of criminal personality, causes and motives of deviant behavior. Social and psychological factors of criminal behavior are: the inclusion in a criminal environment, defects in family education, chronic dissatisfaction with immediate needs, constant situational dependent. The basic directions of practi- cal psychological work are the next: diagnosis and correction of behavior of criminals, prevention to reduce crime and re-socialization of persons who have served their sentences in prison.