Criminal minds personality types
MBTI® Of Criminal Minds Characters
Criminal Minds first aired in 2005 on CBS and it didn't take long for the show to gain a cult following. One of the main reasons viewers found themselves fascinated with Criminal Minds had a lot to do with the unique characters rather than their unique investigations.
With characters like the lovable Penelope Garcia and all her bejeweled, fuzzy-pen glory, the intellectual who brings humanity to the criminals, and Derek Morgan, who has charm for days, the cast is full of very different personalities. With the help of the Myers-Briggs® personality type categorizations (extraverted vs. introverted, feeling vs. thinking, etc.), the audience can even better understand these characters.
Updated on May 26th, 2022 by Amanda Bruce: Though the original Criminal Minds series is over, fans never seem to tire of the cases from the show or the distinct characters offered up by it. With the show available on streaming sites, and talk of a revival persisting, fans will likely remain invested in the series for a long time as new audience members discover the series and old audience members rewatch their favorite storylines. Rewatching the show allows the audience to pick up on things they might have missed about their favorite characters and discover new aspects of their personalities.
Kate Callahan - ENFP
Kate Callahan joins the team late in the series, and she doesn't stick around for long. Kate, however, is a great addition during her time. She's a maternal figure, not unlike JJ, but she's also got the creativity and imagination of someone like Garcia.
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Kate is very much like an ENFP, or "the campaigner." This particular personality type is a social butterfly, someone who easily makes friends and someone who looks for connection in everything around them. Kate sees her job as an FBI agent not just as a responsibility, but also as a way to connect with people, and as a way to keep her family safe.
Erin Strauss - ESTJ
Erin Strauss becomes the person in charge of the Behavioral Analysis Unit, and at times, the team resents her interfering in their investigations.
Her interference, however, is because Strauss wants things done by the book to make sure that the team's work is beyond questioning and that her job is safe.
Strauss is an ESTJ, "the executive." This personality type is a natural leader, so it's no wonder she's in charge for multiple seasons in Criminal Minds. They value honesty and order, and they take charge to make sure those values are upheld.
Elle Greenaway - ESFP
One of the agents at the start of the show, Elle Greenaway leaves the team when her own actions on a case step over the line. She's someone who is all about action. She wants to do something, not waste time talking about doing those things, and she wants to make sure she has the attention of those she cares about when she does.
As an ESFP, Elle is an "entertainer," a great commander of attention. She has a zest for life that manifests in her ability to gain a suspect's ire or plan a great vacation.
Tara Lewis - ISFP
While Tara Lewis and Elle Greenaway have a lot of similar aspects to their personalities, which is why they only truly differ in the extroverted and introverted aspect.
Tara is the "adventurer" to Elle's "entertainer." They share passionate natures and creative minds but differ in how they approach problems.
Tara is more likely to form a plan than jump right in, for starters. She also is less likely to create a spectacle to get the job done, like her ability to linguistically mimic the unsubs she interviews to make them more comfortable in interrogation, one of the earliest skills presented in the show. It tends to be more effective than Elle, who would often resort to being the "bad cop" to another teammate's "good cop."
Derek Morgan - ESTP
Derek Morgan is known for being the doorbuster of the group, always being the first one to take physical action in order to catch an unsub. He's playful, suave, and extremely charming. These qualities make him the perfect ESTP.
ESTPs are known as "entrepreneurs" and are often doers rather than thinkers. They're always up for what's next. Though Morgan is perfectly capable of going through the evidence and building theories for cases, or bantering with Garcia while doing it, he prefers to be taking action instead, a sure sign of an ESTP.
Jason Gideon - INFJ
Jason Gideon is played by well-known actor Mandy Patinkin. Although Patinkin's character wasn't on for as long as fans would have liked, he still was able to leave a big impression.
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Gideon is a gentle soul with great care for the world around him. He gives the impression of being a counselor to the rest of the group, a person that the other team members feel as though they can confide in. He is introspective, empathetic, sensitive, and selfless. All of these traits point to Gideon being an INFJ, or, "the advocate."
Penelope Garcia - ENFP
Penelope Garcia is played brilliantly by actress Kirsten Vangsness. Penelope Garcia brings color, animation, and humor to Criminal Minds. Adding a sense of light-heartedness and whimsy is extremely necessary on a show that centers around very dark criminal cases. Because of Garcia's colorful nature, she is one of the most beloved characters on the show.
Garcia is creative, warm, energetic, and friendly. There is a certain quirky pep to her that reads like a classic ENFP. This particular personality type is a free spirit and someone with a truly open heart. Fans agree that her energy and artistic flair make Criminal Minds unforgettable.
Spencer Reid - INFP
Some fans might interpret Spencer Reid as an INTP because of his academic leanings. Yes, Spencer Reid is one of the most intelligent characters in television history, but just because he is a brilliant thinker doesn't automatically make him a "T". Reid, out of all characters, is the most emotionally invested in the cases.
Rather than seeing all of the unsubs as monsters, Reid digs deeper in an attempt to understand them as human beings. He is open-minded and wants so badly to believe in the good of all people - even the criminals. His values come before everything, including his career. This has been shown many times when he somehow is able to empathize with the criminals and cannot complete certain violent tasks that he is required to do for the sake of his career.
His compassion for all those around him and his emotional intelligence makes him an INFP, "the mediator."
Jennifer "JJ" Jareau - ISFJ
JJ begins her time on the series as more of a public relations officer than an active agent. She grows to become a field agent early in the series. JJ is observant, logical, and supportive. She isn't the most energetic of the bunch, but she is very friendly and reliable. She seems to have all the traits of an ISFJ, "the defender."
"Defenders" are incredibly hard-working and dedicated to the people around them. They might keep their feelings under wraps, but they show how they feel in what they do for those they care about.
Emily Prentiss - ENFJ
Paget Brewster's Emily Prentiss joins the series after Elle Greenaway leaves the team. Her experience as the daughter of a diplomat gives her a very different background compared to the rest of the team. Well-traveled and inquisitive, she very quickly earns their respect as she jumps right into investigations.
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Prentiss is a passionate team member with excellent communication skills. Her ability to bring out the best in others and take the lead when necessary makes her a likely ENFJ, or "the protagonist."
David Rossi -ENTJ
Rossi is constantly on his feet and always ready to play by the book. He is drawn to all the challenges the team faces and is able to work without the risk of putting too much emotion into each case. Rossi can't stand the idea of not having work to do which is apparent when he is given vacation days and he is uncomfortable with the downtime or when his time off is used to write books about his experiences.
He is stubborn while at the same time charismatic. He is a clear ENTJ, "the commander," someone who sets goals for himself and inspires the group to help follow through on them.
Aaron "Hotch" Hotchner - ISTJ
Original team leader Aaron Hotchner is one of the easiest Criminal Minds personality types to determine.
Hotch is a nearly textbook ISTJ, or "logistician."
He is the most focused of the group, constantly playing by the rules. Reid even claims that he has never seen Hotch blink once because he is so serious. Yet despite his strict nature, Hotch is loyal, protective, and will always work for the greater good.
NEXT: MBTI® Of Legion Characters
The MBTI Types Of The BAU
Criminal Minds is a hugely popular police procedural drama that aired on CBS from 2005 to 2020. The show followed the Behaviour Analysis Unit of the FBI as they profiled and tracked down some of the most violent serial killers in America. The BAU team consisted of many vibrant, diverse characters who audiences came to love.
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The many personalities and character types within the BAU helped them perform well as a team, as they each came with their areas of expertise. The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI type) is a way of categorizing people and characters into one of 16 different personality types.
Over the 15 years that Criminal Minds aired, the BAU saw agents with many different personality types come and go. Apart from their profiling skills, fans can categorize the BAU through their MBTI type.
10 The Grounded Aaron Hotchner Is An ISTJ
Aaron 'Hotch' Hotchner is the Unit Chief of the BAU until he departs from the team in the thirteenth season. Hotch is reserved and stoic but is a stable leader at the head of the team. Hotch is an ISTJ, known as a Logistician, and perfectly embodies that personality type.
Logisticians are careful and methodical, planning out all their courses of action before going ahead with them. ISTJs are well respected because they care for their society and are level-headed in times of crisis, just like Aaron Hotchner is. No matter the case or what's going on in his personal life, Hotch remains level-headed and calm.
9 Derek Morgan Is The Definition Of An ESTP
SSA Derek Morgan was a beloved agent, both within the team and with fans, from the first to the twelfth season of Criminal Minds.
Derek was excitable and energetic and, while he was a great profiler, he performed best in the field when he could tackle the problems straight in from of him. This makes him an obvious ESTP.
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ESTPs are often the center of attention and are always seeking out spontaneous adventures. The lack of planning which is typical of an ESTP can be seen in Derek's approach to his job, as he sometimes acts before thinking.
8 Emily Prentiss Is A Compassionate ESFJ
Emily Prentiss joins the BAU in season two after replacing Agent Greenaway and quickly became a fan-favorite character due to her quick wit, caring nature, and competency as an agent. Prentiss is an ESFJ, known as a Consul. Consuls are reliable, social people who form many bonds and friendships.
Prentiss was quick to become part of the team when she joined the BAU, forming friendships straight away. Throughout her time on Criminal Minds, Prentiss shows her devotion to the team, being both a shoulder to cry on and a committed protector in the field.
7 Dr. Reid Is A Genius With An INTP Personality
One of the most interesting characters in Criminal Minds is Dr. Spencer Reid, the youngest and most intelligent member of the BAU. At just 23 years old in season 1, Reid had already achieved a B.A. in Philosophy, Sociology, and Psychology, and a Ph.D in Engineering, Chemistry, and Mathematics. He also has an eidetic memory and an IQ of 187. Reid is an INTP, known as the Logicians.
Logicians are brilliant thinkers who pride themselves on their academic intelligence but are also able to think outside the box. INTPs are also very introverted, being able to rely on themselves and their own abilities. Reid demonstrates these personality traits many times in Criminal Minds.
6 The Maternal JJ Is An ISFJ
Jennifer Jareau, known to her friends in the team as JJ, begins Criminal Minds as the team's media liaison. Eventually, she trains to become a profiler, a role that she excels at.
JJ is an ISFJ, the personality type known as the Defenders. Defenders are sensitive, caring, and warm, and often found looking out for those around them.
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JJ is a mother and as such, caring for victims during cases, especially children, comes naturally to her. JJ is close with every member of the BAU, being someone who the team knows they can go to for support.
5 Rossi's Accomplishments Make Him An ENTJ
SSA David Rossi is possibly the most driven agent at the BAU. Rossi was one of the founding members of the BAU and rejoins the team in season three, despite having a successful career as an author. Rossi's personality type is ENTJ or the Commander.
ENTJs thrive on their accomplishments and are quick to put their professional and creative visions into action. Rossi strives to succeed in everything he put his mind to, something that shows in his many accomplishments. He even shows his ENTJ personality in his parenting, tempering his strong-willed nature to meet the needs of Joy Struthers, his estranged daughter.
4 Penelope Garcia Is A Beloved ENFP
The personality type ENFP, or The Campaigner, is a vibrant and colorful type. ENFPs are extroverted, imaginative, and have great energy, all of which are qualities seen in the BAU's beloved technical analyst Penelope Garcia. Despite the horrors of her job, Garcia tries her best to remain positive and see the best in the world. She usually maintains her positive mindset by keeping fun, colorful figurines and toys on her desk.
Her vibrant and optimistic nature is seen through her bright and wacky clothing, and she often serves as a light-hearted character in an otherwise dark show. She forms strong relationships with everyone at the BAU and many fans see her as the heart of the team. She is a free spirit who wants to enjoy her life and make the lives of those close to her just a little more positive.
3 Jason Gideon Was A Moral INFJ
Jason Gideon was a founding member of the BAU and a senior agent of the team for the first two seasons of Criminal Minds.
Gideon's thoughtful and imaginative approach to life and the cases his team solved make him an INFJ, or an Advocate.
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INFJs want to make a difference in the world and find themselves successful in helping others. Gideon was ambitious, morally strong, and had a clear sense of his purpose in life. This made him a brilliant agent and a major asset to the BAU. His lessons and experiences were carried forward with the team even after his tragic death in season ten's Nelson's Sparrow.
2 Dr. Tara Lewis Is An ENFJ
Dr. Tara Lewis is an experienced FBI forensic psychologist who joins the BAU in the twelfth season and remains with the team until the end of Criminal Minds. Lewis's personality type is ENFJ or The Protagonist. ENFJ's are warm, loving, and extroverted, and make it their mission to have a positive impact on those around them.
ENFJs pride themselves on their creativity and optimism, thinking outside the box to solve their problems and assist with the problems of others.
Dr. Lewis is passionate about doing the right thing and helping better the lives of the victims in BAU cases.
1 Fellow ESTP Alvez Followed In Morgan's Footsteps
SSA Luke Alvez joins the BAU in the twelfth season when he transfers from a Fugitive Task Force after Derek Morgan resigns from the team. Alvez is a brilliant replacement for Morgan, as they share the personality type of ESTP (The Entrepreneur). Alvez also brings strengths and charisma to the group similar to Derek Morgan, even developing a similar friendship with Penelope Garcia.
Alvez is strong and protective of his team, excelling as a field agent. He is daring and brave, often taking risks that help his team get out of sticky situations. Alvez carves out his path as his own character, rather than just being Morgan's replacement.
Existing personality types of criminals
Typological variants of the personality of criminals are created to help law enforcement agencies in studying this category of people, clarifying the motives of committed crimes, and developing psychological techniques that can be used to expose a criminal.
Developing a typology of persons capable of committing a crime, various approaches are used: legal, social, psychological. Type-forming features can also be different. For example, socio-demographic characteristics are: gender, age, education. nine0003
Typology of the personality of the offender SV Poznyshev
Differentiation of persons who committed crimes was proposed by the outstanding scientist SV Poznyshev. He singled out two types of criminal: endogenous and exogenous. This classification is based on the teachings of A.F. Lazursky, the founder of Russian individual psychology. So, Poznyshev argues that endogenous criminals have special properties that predispose to committing a crime. This includes the qualities of the physical and mental plane, physical, mental abilities, attitudes and beliefs, character traits. External circumstances only give impetus to the manifestation of the psychological constitution of this group of people. Endogenous criminals, in turn, are divided into ideological criminals, reasoners, prudent-rational, emotional, impulsive, moral psychasthenics, etc.
Exogenous criminals commit actions related to the violation of the law, under the influence of external factors that pose a threat. But in most cases, according to Poznyshev, factors of both order are involved in the formation of typological variants of the personality of criminals. Only in one type the leading role belongs to endogenous factors, in the other - to exogenous ones. The professor wrote that not a single crime can be explained only by external causes, the characteristics of the criminal's personality are necessarily manifested. nine0003
Criminal personality types in criminology and criminal psychology
In criminal psychology, criminology, other types of criminal personality were also developed.
There are three large groups of criminals according to the object of encroachment and the nature of criminal acts:
- mercenary;
- violent;
- mercenary-violent.
According to the degree of public danger, types are distinguished:
- random, which includes individuals who have committed a crime for the first time, as a result of circumstances that turned out to be random.
At the same time, the orientation of the personality is socially positive; nine0020 - situational, which includes persons who committed a crime under the influence of external conditions of personality formation, which were unfavorable. In general, such people are characterized positively;
- unstable, which includes persons who have committed a crime for the first time, but have previously committed offenses and misdemeanors;
- malicious, which includes persons who have committed crimes several times;
- especially dangerous, which includes criminals recognized as especially dangerous for serious crimes committed. nine0020
Another typology was developed by psychologist A.G. Kovalev, which is based on the criterion of the degree of criminal infection of a person. There are three groups: global, partial, pre-criminal types.
Note 1 There are other options for classifying the personality of offenders. For example, on the subjective side, depending on the form of guilt (intentionally, through negligence), according to the results of applying psychological test methods that reveal certain properties of a person’s personality.
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Unlike criminology, criminal law, legal psychology is concerned with the psychological characteristics of antisocial behavior. From this side, social adaptability, adaptability, the level of human social functioning are important.
These factors influence the behavioral aspect of a person in a variety of situations, including criminogenic ones. The main components of a comprehensive personal education determine the subject's relationship with the social environment, his life strategy, behavioral tactics, interpersonal relationships, and ways to resolve conflict situations. There is an assessment of a person's ability to comply with social norms. If the social adaptation of the individual does not occur, human relationships are violated, a conflict arises. nine0003 Note 2
It is especially difficult for people with mental disorders, serious deviations from the average mental norm, and a low level of frustration tolerance to cope with a conflict situation.
Aggressive forms of behavior of people with mental anomalies who resort to violence, acts of vandalism, are explained by the fact that being in a rigid dependence on circumstances, a person is not able to find the best way out of them.
This dependence is removed by committing violent acts. Such actions in the subconscious play the role of psychological protection. Studies confirm a high percentage of people with mental anomalies among those convicted of serious crimes: murder, causing grievous bodily harm. nine0003
Depending on the level of social adaptation, two groups are distinguished: socially maladaptive and socially adaptive types of personality with the allocation of intermediate options. The level of social adaptation is determined by the following psychological factors:
- neuropsychic, emotional and volitional stability of the subject in stressful situations, the level of his tolerance to the impact of frustrating factors;
- intellectual level of development;
- sphere of personality motivations: value orientations, the basis of the worldview. nine0020
Psychodiagnostics of a person reveals a combination of these qualitative characteristics. There is an assessment of how the person is socially adapted.
The behavior of the subject, his ways of resolving conflict situations are predicted. All this makes it possible to judge how a person can manage the circumstances in which he finds himself.
Socially maladaptive personality type of criminals
This type includes people with low emotional and volitional stability, frustration tolerance, inability to resist stress, with vivid manifestations of accentuated character traits of hyperthymic-unstable, excitable, hysterical and other types, mental anomalies , psychopathic disorders of personality and behavior. nine0003
Undeveloped adaptive social qualities, personal disintegration, low level of empathic understanding of others, immaturity, inadequate perception of the situation, a tendency to externally accusing forms of response can be aggravated by a low level of intellectual development, undeveloped predictive abilities, lack of reflective thinking, significant gaps in education.
Such behavior is also conditioned by primitive needs.
The interests, values, worldview of such people are limited, unspiritual. Therefore, it is difficult for them to predict actions, to strive for something more significant, except for the urgent satisfaction of their desires (alcohol, drugs). But these desires cannot always be satisfied; a state of frustration and increased aggressiveness appears out of control. A violent crime is being committed. nine0003 Note 3
Criminologists classify such individuals as the unstable or situational type of offender. Such people often find themselves at the mercy of circumstances that are difficult to manage and are not able to control themselves. They are under the influence of affectively colored states, out of control emotions, anger.
Socially-adaptive personality type of criminals
These people have high stability on the nervous, mental, emotional, volitional level, resist stress, psychophysical overload. They have an asthenic type of response in difficult situations, with characteristic excitability and irritability, developed adaptive properties of the nervous system.
They, as a rule, have a well-developed intellect, which allows them to successfully master different ways of committing crimes. People of this type have flexible thinking, ingenuity, pragmatism. They are able to predict future events. To the characteristics of this type, you can add a variety of interests, excellent memory, a high level of attention and imagination. nine0003
This criminal type is distinguished by the presence of motives and values. Such people deliberately ignore the norms of social behavior. Their actions do not follow the rules. They skillfully master criminal experience, apply it in criminal activity. These are professional types of criminals, they become leaders of criminal communities, active participants in group crime.
So, social adaptability, which has a high bar, characterizes persons of a particularly dangerous criminal type. This type of people quickly adapts to the changes taking place in society, and for selfish purposes is able to appropriate material values, derive benefits, and achieve their goals by criminal means.
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The typological properties of criminals are manifested in different ways. Therefore, we can talk about a mixed type. Criminals have different levels of compensatory properties of the psyche, they are at different levels of social adaptation. For example, with weak emotional stability, some individuals, having outstanding mental abilities, are engaged in criminal activities for a long time.
e. Specificity exists not only in the content the criminal acts themselves, but also in their subjective reasons, which should be noted in first turn. Therefore, it appears that along with the general explanatory scheme of the criminal behavior (which, in our opinion, can be alienation of the individual) is needed in more depth analyze the causes of certain types of such behavior. nine0003 
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They are generally worse. take into account past experience, are poorly able or at all unable to predict the future. nine0003 
Conducted by us together with V.P. Golubev and Yu.N. Kudryakov research showed that impulsivity, a tendency act on the first impulse emotions, stuck affect (rigidity), suspiciousness, vindictiveness, hypersensitivity, and aloofness, withdrawing into oneself, striving for maintaining distance between yourself and others world are most characteristic of those responsible for committing robbery and robbery. Rarely these traits found in murderers, rapists, thieves and very rarely - in robbers. nine0003 
Therefore, ultimately it must to comply with the general tasks of combating crime. 
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This is typical for theft, theft, fraud, bribery, speculation and other mercenary crimes. 
In general, attention focuses on internal causes crimes. nine0003 
Most common representatives of this type are offenders who commit while intoxicated petty theft and theft, hooliganism, less often - robberies, robberies, some violent crimes. With a significant change life circumstances for the better side and effective educational impact they are able to refrain from illegal actions. nine0003 
Can be found representatives of mixed, intermediate groups. 
This does not mean ignoring other, external factors contributing to criminal behavior, whose role in the mechanism such behavior can be great. But if soon we are talking about the identity of the criminal, we need typology of personality. nine0003 
The results of modern criminological studies do not suggest that there is specific motives for criminal behavior In any case, the vast majority of motives crimes are not and can trigger other actions. It all depends on moral personality traits that predetermine choice of goal and means to achieve it. Main the mass of motives is, as it were, neutral; exception are those that are aimed at the implementation physiological need for alcohol or drugs. Therefore, the assessment of motives by moral criteria is not always acceptable. nine0003 
Self-affirming, a person seeks to feel himself source of change in the environment. it aspiration is a guiding principle permeating various motives. nine0003 
Obtained by criminal means property and money are used to maintain their way of life, usually associated with the use of alcoholic beverages. Many of them previously had a criminal record, do not have a permanent place residence, residence permit, passport or other documents. Naturally, they are usually nowhere work, do not have a family; connections with loved ones relatives are absent, friends, as a rule, They dont have. They seem to go with the flow, usually indifferent to their fate, do not think about the future. nine0003 
Through the evaluations of other people in the process of communicating with them, participating in joint activities through identification is formed self-esteem, self-image and thus personal certainty. The person who has such a quality is formed, he knows that he can and should do. nine0003 
This will also be facilitated by the fact that during the transition to market relations and privatization of enterprises skilled workers will be out of work. Therefore, unless special measures are taken, some of the workers will be thrown out from normal life. nine0003 
As a result, motivational completely rebuilt. Family, work, friends - all this takes on a different meaning, related with them, motives lose their former motivation strength. nine0003 
Ilf and E. Petrov, many heroes of picaresque novels. 
There are many types risky activities, emotional exciting situations, etc., for example, climbers, race car drivers, stuntmen, representatives of other professions whose work poses a certain risk. Necessary to believe that those who individually predisposed to it and has relevant abilities. Choice same illegal or law-abiding form implementation of the "gaming" trend depends on personality formation, its upbringing. nine0003 
Many are so selfish criminals at work are characterized by a very positively and, of course, very attached to family, especially children. nine0003 
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They essentially reject them, sometimes subjected to contempt and ridicule. Besides debility prevents the assimilation of moral norms governing communication between the sexes. Therefore, deprived of the opportunity to socially acceptable way to satisfy their sexual needs, such criminals resort to violence. All this gives reason to distinguish among rapists "rejected" type, not encountered among other offenders. Of course moronic personalities can be found among most categories of general criminal criminals, but these are only isolated cases, not giving grounds to form from them independent type. Among those responsible for rapes are much more common. nine0003 
Of course, certain types, and first of all "asserting" ("self-affirming"), there are practically among any groups of criminals identified by the nature of the crimes committed. However, criminal behavior in general is, in our opinion opinion, the single and main source is alienation personality, the foundations of which are laid through its psychological, emotional rejection in childhood, deprivation of care and care. nine0003 
