Linking Criminality with Psychiatric or Personality Disorders - Essay Example

The Linkage between Criminality and Psychiatric/ Personality Disorders Student’s Name Student’s Affiliation The Linkage between Criminality and Psychiatric/ Personality Disorders The underlying connection between mental illnesses and elements of crime does not necessary implicate that persons with mental illnesses are entirely accountable for much of the violence aspects within the society at larger. In consequence, it is ascertained that most of the criminal behaviors attributed to persons suffering from mental illnesses varied and complex in nature in comparison to crimes experienced within the general population (Vinkers, De Beurs, Barendregt, Rinne & Hoek, 2011). Significantly, persons with psychiatric disorders are mostly connected to a higher degree of alcohol and substance abuse hence postulating a possible link between crime and psychiatric disorders. Therefore, the major aim of this paper is to examine the possible linkage that can be attributed between criminal aspects and psychiatric and personality disorders. Persons with psychiatric disorders have been, since time immemorial, charged with intense acts of offences like homicide due to repetitive severe depressive disorders that they suffer from at the immediate time (Sansone & Sansone, 2009). It is noted that such persons are made to believe of their helplessness of their immediate miseries hence triggering an escape through death. These persons are also sometimes left to feel that their personality is valueless; a significant delusion of inferiority complex, that they are living senseless lives that is marred with everlasting suffering and thus, feels that they deserve to undergo punishment for their relatively imaginary levels of crime (Sansone & Sansone, 2009). Hypomanic disorder is a psychiatric condition that is characterized by aspects of elongated mood swings, ideas of grandiosity, poor level of constructive insight and also, anger in case they are frustrated in the course of pursuing sufferer’s fundamental aims. These sufferers are mostly brought to a court’s attention whenever it is ascertained that they were outrageous, in-sightless and also, potentially harmful. Persons suffering from this psychiatric disorder are considered to be worth re-emphasizing given that they fit the “mental illness” bracket vehemently (Sansone & Sansone, 2009). These persons perceive themselves as being omnipotent in their daily routines and therefore, they are convinced that their wildest notions and ideas are practical in nature. Since they do not suffer memory impairment, they are mostly able to engage in persuasive and rational arguments and explanations in order to supplement their respective actions (Sansone & Sansone, 2009). The notion that these persons lack insight capacities hence appears deceptively logical and rational; constitutes a behavior that poses a great deal of risk to others around them. They can engage in hostile activities and sometimes depict element of physical aggressiveness to people they feel are a threat to their respective plans and activities. Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that disintegrates and in others cases destroys the immediate personality of an individual. The entire process is depicted as a splintering of one’s mind under which their respective personalities are shattered and also disintegrated into a subjective mass of poorly-operational sections rather the normal division of the mind-two sections (Baskin-Sommers, Baskin, Sommers & Newman, 2013). This personality disorder is linked with certain characteristics that include; immediate disorders in thinking, emotions, volitions, and constant hallucinations. Numerous past researches have been able to link forms of this personality disorder with elements of crime and violence; notably, on paranoid-based varieties (Stone, 2007). It is crucial to emphasize that persons suffering from this form of personality disorders are able to depict oddnessess of certain elements of behaviors for a given period of time before the disorder is able to emerge in an unsuspecting acute form. Immediate levels of intervention impacted to these individuals at this particular stage might prove to be a remedy. Subsequently, other researchers have been able to postulate that certain distinctive facets might contribute to elements of crime and violence in a number of these persons (Morse, 2011). These factors are in fact responsible for the harm they impact on themselves than others. They include; first, active delusions where these persons experiences some form of threat and where there is a lessening capacity of self control mechanisms and ultimate dominance of the person’s mind by forces that are deemed to be beyond their immediate control capacities (Stone, 2007). Second, it is ascertained that there is a greater likelihood of these persons engaging in crime and violence whenever the disorder is attributed to ingestion of non-prescribed pleasure drugs or other forms of substance abuse for that matter. Significant research into the matter postulates that these persons engage in crime and violence activities that are greatly elevated with substance and alcohol abuse (Stone, 2007). Third, the ultimate impacts of co-morbid personality disorders or criminal and violence behaviors psychosis is greatly emphasized. Individuals with higher levels of co-morbid personality disorders are likely to engage in violent behaviors. Fourth, personality disorders like schizophrenia might translate to higher violence and criminal behaviors in the event that concurrent social problems like homelessness are experienced firsthand (Stone, 2007). Psychiatric disorders attributed to intense mental impairment have also been linked with elements of violent crime and criminal behaviors. There are numerous ways under which mental impairment might lead to elements of crime and violence. First, the immediate level of impairment may be intrinsically severe enough to avert a person from comprehending that their respective actions are illegal (Laajasalo, Ylipekka & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, 2013). In such events, the aspect of responsibility and accountability are brought in and decisions will be made to ascertain whether or not the person might undergo prosecution for the committed offence. Second, in cases where a moderately impaired person is more easily exposed to a criminal act without their full consent also brings in the notion of whether or not subjecting them to the offence committed (Laajasalo, Ylipekka & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, 2013). Third, it is postulated that mentally impaired individuals might be used in an easier manner by others to engage in delinquent offences hence finding that they are acting as accomplices to elements of crime (Vinkers, De Beurs, Barendregt, Rinne & Hoek, 2011). Fourth, a moderate impaired person is likely to be easily triggered into engaging in unintended levels of crime and violence. This is mostly because most of them experience issues in formulating comprehension of their immediate harmless intentions. Therefore, a friendly overture gesture can be easily be misinterpreted to mean attempted level of assaults hence leading to a possible rebuff on their part. This, in turn, might be aggravated to elements of anger on the part of the mentally impaired person who then retaliate with intense levels of aggressions (Kaye, 2005). However, despite the fact that there is a possible link between psychiatric disorders with elements of crime and violence most researches postulate that persons suffering from such mental illnesses are more likely to be direct victims of crime rather than as being offenders. This is simply attributed to the fact that they are the most vulnerable groups to risks of violence within societal settings (Laajasalo, Ylipekka & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, 2013). Consequently, it is argued that the risk of them being harmed or thereof harming themselves is highly placed than the risk of harming others (Grann, Danesh & Fazel, 2008). These persons are mostly subjected to criminal undergoing more often than the general population. Notably, they are more exposed to increased risks of suicide. Statistically, it is estimated that about 87% of suicide victims were at one point in their lifetime diagnosed with mild or moderate firms of psychiatric disorders. On the contrary, it is established that when violence and crime on the part of these mentally ill persons occur, they are not, in most cases, directed towards the general public for that matter (Grann, Danesh & Fazel, 2008). It is highly unlikely that these persons might harm strangers given that their criminal behaviors are mostly aggravated towards families or friend visa vie the general public as a whole. Statistically, it is established that 87 per cent of the targets of violence and criminal acts by persons with psychiatric disorders are family and friends and also, these form of crime mainly takes place within home confinements (Grann, Danesh & Fazel, 2008). In consequence, just like criminal behaviors exhibited within the general public, crime by individuals suffering from mental disorders can be triggered by external factors for which they have no control over. Such external factors like mutual level of threats, financial dependence and hostility from general public are some of the elements attributed to triggering criminal behaviors (Laajasalo, Ylipekka & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, 2013). From the discussion above, it can be clearly seen that although there is a possible connection between criminal behaviors with mental disorders, most of these persons are victims rather than offenders. They are mostly aggravated to engage in criminal acts by forces that they have no control over hence a decision to either charge them or not is carefully ascertained. It is established from the discussion that persons with mental disorders are not likely to attack the general public rather crimes by these persons are executed in their respective homes and to people they know well like family members and friends. It is also argued that these people are more likely to harm themselves as compared to harming others. References Baskin-Sommers, A.R., Baskin, D.R, Sommers, I.B., & Newman, J. (2013). The inter-sectionality of sex, race, and psychopathology in predicting violent crimes, Criminal Justice and Behavior, 40(10), 1068-1091 Grann, J., Danesh, J., & Fazel, S. (2008). The association between psychiatric diagnosis and violent re-offending in adult offenders in the community, BMC Psychiatry, 8:92 Kaye, A. (2005). Resurrecting the causal theory of the excuses, NEB. L. REV, 83; 1116. Morse, S. (2011). Mental disorders and criminal law, Journal of Criminal Law and Criminology, 101:885 Sansone, R.A., & Sansone, L.A., (2009). Borderline personality and criminality, Psychiatry, 6(10): 16-20. Stone, M.H. (2007). Violent crimes and their relationship to personality disorders, Personality and Mental Health, 1: 138–153 Laajasalo, T., Ylipekka, M., & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, H. (2013). Homicidal behavior among people with avoidant, dependent and obsessive-compulsive (cluster C) personality disorder, Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 23:18-29 Vinkers, D.J., De Beurs, E., Barendregt, M., Rinne, T., & Hoek, H.W. (2011). The relationship between mental disorders and different types of crime, Criminal Behavior and Mental Health, 21: 307–320. Read More

Schizophrenia is a mental disorder that disintegrates and in others cases destroys the immediate personality of an individual. The entire process is depicted as a splintering of one’s mind under which their respective personalities are shattered and also disintegrated into a subjective mass of poorly-operational sections rather the normal division of the mind-two sections (Baskin-Sommers, Baskin, Sommers & Newman, 2013). This personality disorder is linked with certain characteristics that include; immediate disorders in thinking, emotions, volitions, and constant hallucinations.

Numerous past researches have been able to link forms of this personality disorder with elements of crime and violence; notably, on paranoid-based varieties (Stone, 2007). It is crucial to emphasize that persons suffering from this form of personality disorders are able to depict oddnessess of certain elements of behaviors for a given period of time before the disorder is able to emerge in an unsuspecting acute form. Immediate levels of intervention impacted to these individuals at this particular stage might prove to be a remedy.

Subsequently, other researchers have been able to postulate that certain distinctive facets might contribute to elements of crime and violence in a number of these persons (Morse, 2011). These factors are in fact responsible for the harm they impact on themselves than others. They include; first, active delusions where these persons experiences some form of threat and where there is a lessening capacity of self control mechanisms and ultimate dominance of the person’s mind by forces that are deemed to be beyond their immediate control capacities (Stone, 2007).

Second, it is ascertained that there is a greater likelihood of these persons engaging in crime and violence whenever the disorder is attributed to ingestion of non-prescribed pleasure drugs or other forms of substance abuse for that matter. Significant research into the matter postulates that these persons engage in crime and violence activities that are greatly elevated with substance and alcohol abuse (Stone, 2007). Third, the ultimate impacts of co-morbid personality disorders or criminal and violence behaviors psychosis is greatly emphasized.

Individuals with higher levels of co-morbid personality disorders are likely to engage in violent behaviors. Fourth, personality disorders like schizophrenia might translate to higher violence and criminal behaviors in the event that concurrent social problems like homelessness are experienced firsthand (Stone, 2007). Psychiatric disorders attributed to intense mental impairment have also been linked with elements of violent crime and criminal behaviors. There are numerous ways under which mental impairment might lead to elements of crime and violence.

First, the immediate level of impairment may be intrinsically severe enough to avert a person from comprehending that their respective actions are illegal (Laajasalo, Ylipekka & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, 2013). In such events, the aspect of responsibility and accountability are brought in and decisions will be made to ascertain whether or not the person might undergo prosecution for the committed offence. Second, in cases where a moderately impaired person is more easily exposed to a criminal act without their full consent also brings in the notion of whether or not subjecting them to the offence committed (Laajasalo, Ylipekka & Hӓkkӓnen-Nyholm, 2013).

Third, it is postulated that mentally impaired individuals might be used in an easier manner by others to engage in delinquent offences hence finding that they are acting as accomplices to elements of crime (Vinkers, De Beurs, Barendregt, Rinne & Hoek, 2011). Fourth, a moderate impaired person is likely to be easily triggered into engaging in unintended levels of crime and violence. This is mostly because most of them experience issues in formulating comprehension of their immediate harmless intentions.

Therefore, a friendly overture gesture can be easily be misinterpreted to mean attempted level of assaults hence leading to a possible rebuff on their part.

Read More