OPEN ACCESS

PEER-REVIEWED

Original Study

| Published: December 08, 2021

A Mixed Method Exploration of Psychosocial Attribution of Criminal Behavior Among Prisoners

Mala Rasaily

Master’s in Legal Psychology, Maastricht University, The Netherlands, M.A. in Psychology, Central Department of Psychology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Google Scholar More about the auther

, Khem Raj Bhatta

Lecturer, Central Department of Psychology, Central Department of Psychology, Tribhuvan University, Nepal Google Scholar More about the auther

DIP: 18.01.105.20210904

DOI: 10.25215/0904.105

ABSTRACT

The rise in global crime rates requires proper research into a situational aspect of why an individual ends up committing the crime. Previous studies have suggested that the psychosocial variable has occupied a pivotal role in criminal behavior literature. Yet, no previous study has examined it in the context of developing country Nepal. The purpose of the study was to examine psychosocial and other potential factors of criminal behavior in a sample of 30 prisoners from Jagannath Deval Prison, Sundhara. The semi-structured interview questionnaire aimed to collect self-reported attribution for committing the crime. The Levenson Psychopathy Self-report Scale (Levenson et al., 1995) was used to assess the psychopathy variable. The analysis revealed that one-third of the respondents obtained higher than the cut-off score in Levenson Psychopathic Checklist. Several psychosocial factors, such as social injustice, negative childhood experiences, defense against strain, immaturity, etc., were attributed as prime reasons for conviction.

Download Full Text
Responding Author Information

Khem Raj Bhatta @ bhattkr@psychologytu.edu.np

Find On

Article Overview

ISSN 2348-5396

ISSN 2349-3429

18.01.105.20210904

10.25215/0904.105

Download: 11

View: 688

Published in   Volume 09, Issue 4, October- December, 2021