Crime and Punishment | Psychology Today

Crime and Punishment | Psychology Today

Crime and Punishment

Knowing what punishment to mete out is no simple feat. Some forms of punishment may send the wrong message. For example, is it okay to solve problems with more violence? Here are some thoughts on this tough topic.

Is the Death Penalty Barbaric?

The case for (revising) capital punishment.

by Gad Saad, Ph.D.

Defining Justice

What our current system lacks and why it's a problem.

by Mikhail Lyubansky, Ph.D.

Should Prisoners Be Denied Pleasure?

Determining whether inmates have the right to masturbate.

by Marty Klein, PhD

Punishment and Wrong Messages

Corporal punishment and the cycle of violence.

by Michael W. Austin

Getting Punishment Right

The art of disciplining your adolescent.

by Carl E. Pickhardt, Ph.D.

How Spanking Harms the Brain

Why spanking should be outlawed.

by Molly S. Castelloe, Ph.D.

• Forgotten Victory of Asian American Civil Rights Pioneers – Leadership Lessons for the Long Run

  Broadening the Fourteenth Amendment
  by Preston Ni, M.S.B.A.

• Tunnel Vision in the Criminal Justice System

  Do cognitive biases increase wrongful convictions?
  by Mark D. White, Ph.D.

• Debating the Insanity Defense

  What is the role of mental illness in criminal trials?
  by Mark D. White, Ph.D.

• No Pain, No Gain: Why We Punish Ourselves

  The (short-term) psychological benefits of self-punishment.
  by Juliana Breines

• Are Two Therapists Better Than One?

  A cartoon about who wakes you up on the boob tube..
  by Donna Barstow

• Trayvon Martin: Post-Racial Dreams and Racial Realities in America

  Post-racialism is impossible without social and economic justice.
  by George Davis

• Diet and Violence

  Does diet affect our criminal behavior?
  by Emily Deans, M.D.

• Stop Suffering and Start Living

  Our stories keep us from experiencing the present moment.
  by Robert Puff, Ph.D.

• Murder is Not Entertainment

  The pain of survivors.
  by Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Ph.D.

• Studies of Unconscious Bias Suggest Racism Not Necessarily Perpetrated By Racists

  Most racism today is done by those who vow they are not racist.
  by Mikhail Lyubansky, Ph.D.

• The “Cute Dog Effect” On Sex, Money, and Justice

  The hidden sexual, economic, and legal impact of cute dogs.
  by Hal Herzog, Ph.D.

• Time-out on Steroids

  Handcuffed and arrested at six.
  by Lynne Griffin, R.N., M.Ed.

• 50 Quotes on Consequences

  Everything we do has consequences. Learn from the greats.
  by Stephanie Sarkis, Ph.D.

• Spanking Gone Too Far

  Preaching the use of “the rod” sparks debate.
  by Susan Newman, Ph.D.

• Learning to Be Present With Yourself

  The Power of Living an Engaged Life
  by Melanie A. Greenberg, Ph.D.

• Get Even By Getting Even Happier

  While hurt and anger evoke desire to punish, other routes lead to healing.
  by Susan Heitler, Ph.D.

• John Grisham's "Irony" that is not so Ironic

  The "ironic" statement is dramatically revealing of the criminal mind.
  by Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D.

• Discipline with Babies and Toddlers

  Prevention and distraction work far better than punishment.
  by Susan Heitler, Ph.D.

• A Few Words in Favor of Compassion for the Cruel

  In choice between cruelty and compassion, beware of false dichotomies.
  by Mikhail Lyubansky, Ph.D.

• Ladies and Gentlemen: The U.S. (in)Justice System

  The racial bias in criminal justice is undeniable...and devastating.
  by Mikhail Lyubansky, Ph.D.

• What Kind of Discipline is Right for Kids?

  Kids feel safe when they know their parents are in charge.
  by Marilyn Wedge, Ph.D.

Law and Crime

Psychology and the law intersect in the field of forensic science. Legal practitioners require a grasp of human motivation at its most basic and most debased in order to render fair judgment.

Read More on Law and Crime

Morality

For a topic as subjective as morality, people sure have strong beliefs about what's right and wrong. Yet even though morals can vary from person to person and culture to culture, many are practically universal, as they result from basic human emotions. We may think of moralizing as an intellectual exercise, but more frequently it's an attempt to make sense of our gut instincts.

Read More on Morality

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