Criminal activity of the accused in grave crimes in the context of disorders in motivational and target levels of regulation of activity

Abstract

The subject of this research is criminal activity of the accused in grave crimes in with various disorders in motivational and target levels of regulation of activity. Content of the concept of “regulation of activity” is reviewed. Attention is paid to the peculiarities of regulation of activity at the target and motivational levels among persons accused in grave crimes. The author analyzes the key characteristics of criminal activity in the context of various disorders in motivational and target levels of regulation of activity. The sampling involved 20 men aged from 20 to 58, average age 37.7 years, who are currently under the forensic psychological and psychological expertise. As a contrast, the survey involved a group of 24 men with socially normative behavior, who have never been held criminally liable. It is established that those accused in grave crimes more often were incapable to adequately correlate the subjective moments of activity with the objectively existing circumstances of actual reality, independently organize the process of goal-setting, and efficiently exercise the control function. The author also determined the key characteristics of criminal behavior in terms of disturbance of motivational and target levels of regulation of activity. The scientific novelty consists in the description of characteristics of criminal behavior of the persons accused in grave crimes with various disorders in motivational and target levels of regulation of activity. The obtained results may be used for solution of the questions of forensic psychological expertise, as well as in the course of correctional work with persons prone to unlawful behavior.