Anti-Social Behaviour

Year
3
Academic year
2019-2020
Code
01008989
Subject Area
Psychology
Language of Instruction
Portuguese
Mode of Delivery
Face-to-face
ECTS Credits
6.0
Type
Elective
Level
1st Cycle Studies

Recommended Prerequisites

NA

Teaching Methods

The classes will be theoretical / practical. Despite the expositive nature of the method adopted, there will also be, whenever justified, the analysis of practical cases and other data taken from classical studies, recent research or from the media. For the presentation of the topics we will use PowerPoint and sometimes scientific videos. Furthermore, the issues presented and discussed in each class will always be supported by bibliographic, critically selected for each class and available in this Faculty.

Learning Outcomes

At the end of this Unit students should be able to:

Defining antisocial behaviors and delinquency from different perspectives

Identifying the sociodemographic characteristics of those behaviours

Understanding how individual characteristics, life events and social conditions contribute to antisocial behavior (risk and protective factors)

Using the most common techniques and instruments in the study of this phenomenon 

Learning the main contributions of current theories of delinquency

Evaluating these theories in terms of clarity, consistency and empirical support

Assessing current intervention programs and policies for people with antisocial behavior in light of theory and empirical research

Communicating possible solutions to the challenges faced by the justice system regarding delinquent behavior.

Work Placement(s)

No

Syllabus

1. Definitions and concepts

2. The growing interest for the study of juvenile delinquency and the origins of the youth justice system

3. Multidisciplinary approaches to the study of antisocial behaviour and crime:

- Contributions of the Psychology

4. Methods and instruments for the scientific study of antisocial behavior

5. Heterogeneity and classification of antisocial behaviour and criminal acts

6.Mental diorders and antisocial behaviour:

- the issue of Psychopathy

7. Risk factors (and protection factors) of antisocial behavior

8. Theories of Anti-Social Behaviour with particular emphasis on models of psychology.

9. Policies and intervention programs in antisocial behaviour.

10. Special issues (e.g. desisance from crime, neuropsychology and the study of antisocial behaviour and aggression; review of some longitudinal studies more influential in this field).

Head Lecturer(s)

António Castro Fonseca

Assessment Methods

Assessment
Frequency: 100.0%

Bibliography

Cullen, F.T. & Agnew, R.(2006).Criminological theory. Los Angeles:Roxbury Publising

DeLisi,M. & Vaughn,M.(2018). The Routledge International Handbook of Biosocial Criminology. London: Routledge.

Flannery, D., Vazonyi, A., & Waldman, I.(2007).The Cambridge handbook of violent behavior and aggression. Cambridge:Cambridge University Press

Fonseca, A.C.(2002) (Ed.). Comportamento Anti-social e Família.Coimbra:Almedina

Fonseca, A.C.(2004) (Ed.).Comportamento anti-social e crime. Coimbra:Almedina

Helfgott, J. (2008).Criminal behavior:Theories, typologies, and criminal justice. Thousand Oaks:Sage

Krohn, M.D., Lizotte, A. J. & Hall, G.P.(2009).Handbook on Crime and Deviance.London:Springer

Loeber, R. & Farrington, D.P.(2001).Child delinquents:Development, Intervention and service needs. Thousand Oaks:Sage

Rocque, M.(2017).Desistance from Crime.New Advances in Theory and Research.Palgrave MacMillan

Stoff, D.M., Breiling J., & Maser, J.D.(1997).Handbook of antisocial behavior.London: Wiley.