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Article
Folk Psychology and Criminal Law: Why We Need to Replace Folk Psychology with Behavioral Science
The Journal of psychiatry & law (2011)
  • Michael Lamport Commons, Harvard University
  • Patrice Marie Miller, Salem State University
Abstract
Much of what social scientists apply when addressing legal matters is based upon “folk psychology” as opposed to behavioral science. This article addresses how folk psychological notions arise and why they continue to exist, and then proposes an alternative view of criminal behavior with references to evidence-based stage theories—in particular, the Model of Hierarchical Complexity.
Keywords
  • Criminal responsibility,
  • folk psychology,
  • hierarchical complexity,
  • stage theory
Publication Date
January 9, 2011
DOI
10.1177/009318531103900309
Citation Information
Michael Lamport Commons and Patrice Marie Miller. "Folk Psychology and Criminal Law: Why We Need to Replace Folk Psychology with Behavioral Science" The Journal of psychiatry & law Vol. 39 Iss. 3 (2011) p. 493 - 516
Available at: http://works.bepress.com/patrice-miller/12/