Psychology of Deviant Behaviour

Code:

PJD02

Acronym:

PCD

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
CNAEF	Psychology

Instance: 2025/2026 - 1S

Active?	Yes
Web Page:	https://sigarra.up.pt/fpceup/pt/UCURR_GERAL.FICHA_UC_VIEW?pv_ocorrencia_id=406096
Responsible unit:	Psychology
Course/CS Responsible:	Master Degree in Psychology

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MPSI	31	Plano de Estudos 2021	1	-	6	54	162
MTP	7	Official Curricular Structure	1	-	6	54	162

Teaching language

Suitable for English-speaking students

Objectives

To develop a comprehensive and interdisciplinary understanding of the so-called deviant behaviours, covering theories in areas such as violence, criminality and juvenile delinquency, sex work and drug use.

Learning outcomes and competences

At the end of this course, the student is expected to: 
- To have a complete understanding of the theoretical and empirical developments of the nature and meaning of deviant behaviours
- To know the theories applied to the comprehension and intervention in different types of deviant behaviours, violence and crime, juvenile delinquency and anti-social behaviours, white-collar and corporate crime, as well as drug use and drug addiction
- To have skills in reading and multidisciplinary interventions, especially those concerning the applications of psychology.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Nature and meaning of deviance. Modern and tradicional perspectives on deviance
2. Conceptual issues related with the notions of deviant behaviour, criminal personality and dangerousness.Psychological theories on crime and interpersonal violence. Trait theories and the notion of criminal personality. Cognitive-behavioural theories.  
3. Prostitution and other forms of sexl work.
4. Juvenile delinquency. White collar crime.
5. Drug use and addiction. Epidemiology of drug abuse. Psychological research and drug abuse.

Mandatory literature

Clinard Marshall B.; Sociology of deviant behavior. ISBN: 978-0-495-09335-0
Negreiros Jorge; Delinquências juvenis. ISBN: 972-46-1208-2
Yochelson Samuel ed. lit.; The criminal personality. ISBN: ISBN 1-56821-349-2
Negreiros Jorge; Psychological drug research. ISBN: 92-871-6032-5
Digneffe Françoise; Éthique et délinquance. ISBN: ISBN 2-88049-046-4ISBN 2-86563-252-0
Santos Celina Paula Manita; Auto-organização psicológica e transgressão
Howitt, D.; Forensic and Criminal Psychology, Prentice Hall, 2002
Rutter Michael; Antisocial behavior by young people. ISBN: ISBN 0-521-64608-1
Eysenck H. J.; The causes and cures of criminality. ISBN: ISBN 0-306-42968-3
Manita Celina; A^intervenção em agressores no contexto da violência doméstica em Portugal. ISBN: 972-597-269-4
Machado Carla 570; Adultos. ISBN: 972-8717-20-2
Yochelson Samuel; The criminal personality. ISBN: ISBN 0-87668-901-2
Blackburn Ronald; The psychology of criminal conduct. ISBN: ISBN 0-471-96175-2
Debuyst Christian; Dangerosité et justice pénale. ISBN: ISBN 2-88049-005-7
Yochelson Samuel; The criminal personality. ISBN: ISBN 0-87668-218-2(vol. 1)
Bartol Curt R.; Criminal behavior. ISBN: ISBN 0-13-192766-3
Oliveira Alexandra; As^vendedoras de ilusões. ISBN: 972-46-1519-7
Oliveira Alexandra Maria da Silva; O^mundo da prostituição de rua

Complementary Bibliography

Gonçalves Rui Abrunhosa; Psicopatia e processos adaptativos à prisão. ISBN: ISBN 972-8098-36-7
Katz Jack; Seductions of crime. ISBN: ISBN 0-465-07615-7
Manita Celina co-aut.; Palnos existenciais, droga e crime. ISBN: ISBN 972-9345-30-9
Hollin, C.; Psychology and Crime: An Introduction to Criminological Psychology., London: Routledge Kegan and Paul., 1989
Lombroso Cesare; L.uomo delinquente
Gonçalves Rui Abrunhosa org.; Crimes. ISBN: ISBN 972-8098-53-7
Piquero Alex R.; Key issues in criminal career research
Manita Celina; Personalidade e acçao em consumidores de droga e deliquentes. ISBN: ISBN 972-9345-37
Feldman M. Philip; Criminal behaviour. ISBN: ISBN 0-471-99401-4

Teaching methods and learning activities

Lectures will be given by the teachers and invited experts on specific topics. Workshops and debates based on the research carried out by students.

keywords

Social sciences > Psychological sciences > Psychology

Evaluation Type

Distributed evaluation without final exam

Assessment Components

designation	Weight (%)
Trabalho escrito	60,00
Participação presencial	40,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	86,00
Frequência das aulas	54,00
Trabalho de investigação	18,00
Trabalho escrito	4,00
Total:	162,00

Eligibility for exams

Attendance to classes is mandatory.

Calculation formula of final grade

The final mark (on a 0 to 20 points rating scale) is obtained through the following calculation:
- A final individual essay to be carried out in the last class (weighting 60 %)
- Classroom Work Assessment (Weighting 40%)

• Each practical class will include a prompt or challenge for students to work on and discuss in small groups. In the second part of the practical session, they will share their results with the larger group and engage in a collective discussion. Students will be assessed based on both group work and individual performance (20%).
• In each class, one group will act as the rapporteur and will be responsible for preparing a summary of the topic/question discussed and, when applicable, the conclusions reached. This summary must be written and submitted to both professors by the end of the respective week (20%).

The student must obtain a minimum of 8 points in each evaluation component. To complete the course, the student must achieve a minimum final grade of 10 points.

Examinations or Special Assignments

There are no exams or special assignments.

Special assessment (TE, DA, ...)

According to the faculty's regulations, students with specific statutes will be evaluated by completing an individual written assignment that replaces the group work completed by the other students for the assessment of the practical component (worth 40% of the final grade). The individual essay is mandatory (worth 60% of the final grade).

Observations

The course will be taught mainly in Portuguese. The indication of the working language as "Portuguese - suitable for English-speaking students" is based on the provision of some slides and bibliography in English and some classes or parts of them taught in English.