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CRJS 360 Course website

Criminal Justice (CRJS) 360
The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour (Revision 2)

Delivery mode: Individualized study or grouped study.

Credits: 3 - Applied Studies.

Prerequisite: None (prior course in psychology is recommended)

Centre: Centre for State and Legal Studies

CRJS 360 has a Challenge for Credit option. Students challenging CRJS 360 will be required to complete and submit two online written assignments (the password needed to access the assignments is in the course package) in addition to writing a challenge examination. Challenge students are subject to the same student evaluation weighting requirements as individualized study students.

Course website

Overview

CRJS 360: The Psychology of Criminal Behaviour introduces a psychological perspective on crime, including the application of psychological methods to understanding, predicting, and treating criminal behaviour. Accordingly, each aspect of the course focuses on the individual (i.e., biological and psychological) factors in human behaviour and disorders associated with them (e.g., sexual deviance, Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, psychopathy). CRJS 360 examines and evaluates the role of these and other psychological factors in understanding the motives behind antisocial acts, such as persistent violence, multiple murders, and sexual offenses. Throughout the course, students will acquire knowledge and practice in the application of psychological methods to understanding criminal behaviour.

Outline

CRJS 360 comprises fifteen units that are grouped into four major parts as follows:

Part 1: Background to the Psychology of Criminal Behaviour

  • Unit 1: Psychology and Criminology
  • Unit 2: Developmental Factors

Part 2: Biological Factors in Criminal Behaviour

  • Unit 3: Constitutional Factors
  • Unit 4: Genetic Factors
  • Unit 5: Temperament
  • Unit 6: Psychopathy

Part 3: Learning Factors in Criminal Behaviour

  • Unit 7: Conditioning
  • Unit 8: Social Learning
  • Unit 9: Situational Factors
  • Unit 10: Drugs and Crime

Part 4: Psychological Disorders and Criminal Behaviour

  • Unit 11: Mentally Ill Offenders
  • Unit 12: Aggression and Violence
  • Unit 13: Violent Offenders
  • Unit 14: Multiple Murderers
  • Unit 15: Sex Offenders
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Evaluation

To receive credit for CRJS 360, you must achieve a mark of at least 50 per cent on the final examination, and obtain a course composite grade of at least “D” (50 per cent). The weighting of the composite grade is as follows:

Assignment 1 Assignment 2 Final Exam Total
30% 40% 30% 100%

To learn more about assignments and examinations, please refer to Athabasca University's online Calendar.

Course Materials

Textbook

Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2005). Criminal behaviour: A psychosocial approach (7th ed.) Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall.

Other materials

The course materials include a print Study Guide and Student Manual. The online course components are accessible to students through any Internet browser (preferably Internet Explorer) at: www.athabascau.ca/courses/crjs/360/.

These components include the course Web site, with links to online learning materials and assignments, unit self-tests, and a Digital Reading Room containing reading assignments that are in addition to the textbook.

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