Psychological Criminology

“This book is high in scholarship, low in dogmatism, respectful of the reader’s intelligence and wise in its suggested implications for practice.”

Ken Pease OBE, University College London

“Criminology should be the science that uses knowledge from whatever source to understand crime as well as the persons who commit the crimes. It is fantastic that there is a book that starts with human nature, evolutionary psychology and heredity and also explains the impact of situational factors. The book is a must for criminology students.”

Marianne Junger, University of Twente, the Netherlands

“Psychological Criminology should be essential reading for psychologists, criminologists, social scientists and all others who are interested in understanding the causes of offending, including scholars and practitioners. It is a very impressive, comprehensive, well-researched and empirically-based review of biological, individual, developmental, situational and other major explanations of crime.”

David P. Farrington, Emeritus Professor of Psychological Criminology, University of Cambridge

“Professor Wortley’s book reminds us of how much psychology has to offer to the study of criminality and criminal behavior. It comprehensively integrates eight distinct fields of psychological theory and research, making it an ideal text for higher level undergraduates, and one that will also be valued by those from other crime-related fields and disciplines seeking to add psychological perspectives to their existing knowledge.”

Devon Polaschek, Professor, Institute for Security and Crime Science, University of Waikato

Richard Wortley began his career as a prison psychologist and has subsequently taught the psychology of crime and criminality for many years in criminology schools. He is currently Professor at the Jill Dando Institute of Security and Crime Science at University College London and at the New Zealand Institute for Security and Crime Science at the University of Waikato.