What you may already know about criminal psychology and what you hope to learn from this course. After reading the Module One Discussion Scenario PDF,

PSY 310 Module One Discussion Scenario

As you read the scenario below, think about the following: What biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors might help explain his life choices? Are there any incongruent factors that do not make sense to the case?

Steve is the primary suspect in a case involving the sale and distribution of methamphetamine. He is a 21-year-old Caucasian male who has never been in a committed relationship. He has no children and has two brothers. He and his brothers all live at home with their mother, who works two full-time jobs to support the family. He was born and raised in a rural community with close access to a larger city. His father and both uncles are incarcerated for the sale and distribution of cocaine. He looks up to his father and has regular contact with him. His older brother is transient, often absent from the home for weeks at a time. His younger brother is in high schoolthey are close. He goes to Catholic Mass about once a month and is close with the parish priest, who has been a mentor for the past 10 years.

Steve does not use drugs, preferring to sell them. He is a heavy consumer of alcohol, which causes early-stage liver dysfunction. He maintains a social media account, open for public view, where he posts about being frequently angry. He has both a juvenile and adult arrest record for minor crimes such as shoplifting and possession of a controlled substance for personal use. He is suspected of sales with intent to distribute because he was photographed at a known drop house on 12 occasions, staying for several hours each time. His fingerprints were found on meth lab equipment after a search warrant was served at that house.

What influences a person's motivation to commit a crime? Think about developmental, biological, and situational factors that contribute to the person's behavior.