Psychology and Crime

Crime is an expensive aspect of society, and each year huge amounts of public money are spent on the courts, police, probation services, and prisons, while the human costs in terms of pain, fear and loss is incalculable.

Psychology and Crime comprehensively covers the vital role of psychological theories and methods in understanding and managing criminal behaviour. It analyzes in depth the application of psychological findings to a range of serious crimes, such as arson, violent crime, and sexual crime. It examines the use of psychology by the police and the courts and discusses the role of psychology in crime reduction strategies.

Written by a leading authority on the subject and informed by over twenty years of teaching experience, the second edition of this popular text has been thoroughly revised and updated to take account of the most recent research in the field. New features also include:

• Expansive coverage of the development of criminal behaviour;
• Chapter summaries and end-of-chapter discussion points;
• Text boxes throughout highlighting key issues, debates and brief histories;
• Supplementary online resources at

Psychology and Crime is an essential introduction and reference for undergraduate and postgraduate students in psychology, criminology, sociology and related subjects. It also represents an invaluable resource for professional training courses and anyone planning a career in the criminal justice system.

“"The main strength of the book is its comprehensive coverage of relevant literature, mainly from forensic/criminological psychology but also from other domains. ... Psychology and Crimewould serve well as a general textbook in criminological psychology. It contains a wealth of information and will be of value to anyone seeking a rigorous academic discussion of the psychological issues associated with crime." - Denham Phipps, University of Manchester, UK, in The Psychologist,Vol 26 (7), July 2013 "The first edition of Psychology and Crimehas become a classic in the field of criminology and forensic psychology. Written by one of the foremost authorities in the field, this second edition presents a timely update which will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in the academic study of criminology and forensic psychology." - Anthony Beech, Professor in Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK "Clive Hollin'sPsychology and Crimewas the leading text in its field for many years and was very highly regarded. This second edition will be immediately welcomed by many students, academics and practitioners. The style is clear, highly readable and engaging, and the book succeeds in richly demonstrating how psychological theories can be applied to the understanding of crime. The central chapters looking very closely at serious crimes are particularly effective, and will be greatly valued by forensic psychology students and practitioners." - James McGuire, Professor of Forensic Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK logy and forensic psychology." - Anthony Beech, Professor in Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK "Clive Hollin'sPsychology and Crimewas the leading text in its field for many years and was very highly regarded. This second edition will be immediately welcomed by many students, academics and practitioners. The style is clear, highly readable and engaging, and the book succeeds in richly demonstrating how psychological theories can be applied to the understanding of crime. The central chapters looking very closely at serious crimes are particularly effective, and will be greatly valued by forensic psychology students and practitioners." - James McGuire, Professor of Forensic Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK”

"The first edition of Psychology and Crime has become a classic in the field of criminology and forensic psychology. Written by one of the foremost authorities in the field, this second edition presents a timely update which will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in the academic study of criminology and forensic psychology." - Anthony Beech, Professor in Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK

"Clive Hollin’s Psychology and Crime was the leading text in its field for many years and was very highly regarded. This second edition will be immediately welcomed by many students, academics and practitioners. The style is clear, highly readable and engaging, and the book succeeds in richly demonstrating how psychological theories can be applied to the understanding of crime. The central chapters looking very closely at serious crimes are particularly effective, and will be greatly valued by forensic psychology students and practitioners." - James McGuire, Professor of Forensic Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK

"The main strength of the book is its comprehensive coverage of relevant literature, mainly from forensic/criminological psychology but also from other domains. Its scope is quite impressive (...)" - Denham Phipps, The Psychologist, Vol 26 (7), July 2013

"The main strength of the book is its comprehensive coverage of relevant literature, mainly from forensic/criminological psychology but also from other domains. ... Psychology and Crime would serve well as a general textbook in criminological psychology. It contains a wealth of information and will be of value to anyone seeking a rigorous academic discussion of the psychological issues associated with crime." - Denham Phipps, University of Manchester, UK, in The Psychologist, Vol 26 (7), July 2013

"The first edition of Psychology and Crime has become a classic in the field of criminology and forensic psychology. Written by one of the foremost authorities in the field, this second edition presents a timely update which will be welcomed by anyone with an interest in the academic study of criminology and forensic psychology." - Anthony Beech, Professor in Criminological Psychology, University of Birmingham, UK

"Clive Hollin’s Psychology and Crime was the leading text in its field for many years and was very highly regarded. This second edition will be immediately welcomed by many students, academics and practitioners. The style is clear, highly readable and engaging, and the book succeeds in richly demonstrating how psychological theories can be applied to the understanding of crime. The central chapters looking very closely at serious crimes are particularly effective, and will be greatly valued by forensic psychology students and practitioners." - James McGuire, Professor of Forensic Clinical Psychology, University of Liverpool, UK

Clive R. Hollin is Professor of Criminological Psychology in the School of Psychology at the University of Leicester, UK. Alongside his various university appointments, he has worked as a psychologist in prisons, the Youth Treatment Service, special hospitals and regional secure units. He is a recipient of the Senior Award for Distinguished Contribution to the Field of Legal, Criminological and Forensic Psychology from the British Psychological Society.

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