Criminology

Contemporary Criminological Theory

Psychoanalytical Criminology

Sigmund Freud

Justice Milner

Dr. Kingsley

May 5, 2016

On November 27, 2015 Robert Lewis Dear Jr. was charged with 179 counts, including, murder, attempted murder and assault (Associated Press, 2016). During the shooting, at the Colorado Planned Parenthood clinic, he injured nine people and killed three (Associated Press, 2016). Although he acknowledged the crimes he committed, psychologist believe he has a delusional disorder (Associated Press, 2016). Psychologist Thomas Gray said, “He cannot trust anyone basically (Associated Press, 2016).” “He’s quick to include anyone into that list of suspect individuals (Associated Press, 2016).” Psychologist Jackie Grimmet testified that he moved out to North Carolina, to an isolated community in a trailer with no electricity, because he believed that FBI agents were out to get him (Associated Press, 2016).

During the court case, he declared himself as a “warrior for the babies” and said he was guilty (Associated Press, 2016). He also told investigators that he attacked the clinic because he was upset with Planned Parenthood for “the selling of baby parts (Associated Press, 2016).” When making calls from jail, Dear told people he believes his attorneys’ attempted to have him declared as incompetent because they want to diminish his message opposing abortions (Associated Press, 2016). Dear claims they want him admitted to a psychiatric hospital so they can “silence him forever (Associated Press, 2016).”

The best theory to explain Dear’s behavior is psychoanalytical criminology. Psychoanalytical criminology was developed by Sigmund Feud and it emphasizes the role of personality in human behavior and sees deviant behavior as the result of dysfunctional personalities (Schmalleger, 2012). From the view point of psychoanalysis, criminal behavior is maladaptive, the product of inadequacies inherent in the offenders’ personality (Schmalleger, 2012)....