The Psychology of Criminal Conduct (PCC) is a social learning approach to criminal behavior that posits that
criminal behavior is a combination of personality, social learning, and situational factors. This approach
assumes that although the causes of crime cannot be scientifically pinpointed, they may be inferred by
examining the correlates of criminal behavior. PCC regards the major correlates of criminal behavior as 1)
antisocial attitudes, 2) antisocial associates, 3) history of antisocial behavior, and 4) personality factors. These
correlates are known as “the big four.” They are used by criminologists and forensic psychology professionals
when conducting risk assessments. These assessments are used to identify individuals likely to commit
crimes. Evaluating risk is one of the major focuses of PCC, along with the treatment of high-risk offenders.
Post an evaluation of whether or not the psychology of criminal conduct (PCC) is useful for understanding and
explaining criminal behavior. Justify your position using specific examples and concepts from the resources or
your research.
Reference
Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. (2017). Criminal behavior: A psychological approach. (11th ed.). Upper Saddle River,
NJ: Pearson Prentice Hall.
Chapter 4, “Origins of Criminal Behavior: Learning and Situational Factors” (pp. 83-110)