8
Cognitive Characteristics of Career Criminals
Professor
Thomas Fagan of Nova Southeastern University gave a fascinating presentation to
our chapter of Mystery Writers of America at lunch on Saturday.
He presented eight
cognitive characteristics of career criminals—eight thinking errors that direct
their behavior. In general career criminals are irresponsible, impulsive,
self-centered, pleasure-seeking and free of negative controlling emotions like
fear and guilt. They have poor interpersonal relationships—as soon as the other
person stops meeting the criminal’s needs, the criminal leaves the
relationship. Their drug of choice is usually a stimulant (because they are
bored and need distraction) or enough alcohol to enable them to overcome their
inhibitions.
1.
Mollification: a tendency to rationalize, to deny
harm to others and divert blame by questioning the motives of others. “The
security guard knew his job was dangerous and he shouldn’t have drawn his gun.
I wouldn’t have shot him if he hadn’t.”
2.
Cutoff:
the career criminal quickly stops evaluating the outcome of his
behavior. “What the hell, I’m already here at the bank, I might as well go
through with the robbery.”
3.
Entitlement: They have the right to do what they
want because it’s all about them. He told a story about a criminal whose mother
was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and who asked for a phone call to her. But
instead of anything sympathetic, he asked “Where’s the check you usually send
me?”
4.
Power Orientation: the tendency to only look at
others and situations as the strong versus the weak. If you are perceived as
weak, the criminal will seek to exploit you—even if you are trying to be
helpful.
5.
Sentimentality:
They see themselves in a positive light because they feel sentimental
about some things, like children and small animals. “I’m a good person because
I donate to charity, or take care of a dog.” This is also why pedophiles are
the lowest in the pecking order in prison, because the other inmates are
sentimental about children.
6.
Super Optimism: The belief that they are
invincible. They have a fantasy belief that they won’t get caught. It’s the
Achilles heel of career criminals, because they operate within patterns that
have worked before, even though there is always a threat that they won’t work
this time.
7.
Cognitive indolence or laziness: Their thinking
style takes the path of least resistance. They are lazy and easily bored, and
will go outside society’s rules just to do something different. They’re always
pushing the limits, and making that one step over the line. This habit begins
in childhood, where they are the first to smoke, drink, do drugs or have sex.
However, this need to break the rules often declines after age 40, as they
settle into a routine.
8.
Discontinuity: They are easily distracted by
their environment and lose sight of their objectives. Even a criminal who
manages to turn his life around during or after prison is still vulnerable to
falling into old patterns.
No comments:
Post a Comment