You come home, and you see bottles of beer scattered around. The first thing that creeps into your mind isn’t a concern but fear. So you drop your bag immediately and run to check on the children. You see the door closed, so you knock on it lightly and tell them to let you in. And when you see their tear-filled eyes, you are filled with nothing but despair.
If this sounds like your situation, then you probably need to seek protection against potential criminal behavior. We understand the denial when a loved one is troubling, but the safety of those around you and yourself should always come first.
The people you see in reports of crimes that fill you with fear don’t become bad people in one day. People often show early signs of criminal behavior in the form of their habits or other behavioral patterns. When we unknowingly tolerate or shrug off toxic behavior, those habits become ingrained over time, leading to violent and criminal outcomes. Find out if people you encounter with are with criminal records here. They are consumed by rage and feel as if they are above the law and human boundaries of ethics and morality. And when a person forgets these boundaries, they only cause trouble.
Criminal intent isn’t always obvious. Sometimes it comes as a shocker when a loved one acts up or when we begin to doubt ourselves. One of the things you can do as a responsible human being is watching out for some typical signs of impending criminal potential. These include:
1. Aggressive behavior
Aggression and sudden outbursts of anger are the first signs of criminal behavior. It is directly related to compulsive behavior and an inability to control oneself. These people do not get angry when provoked beyond a limit but have outbursts at the smallest of things. Their outbursts are often accompanied by physical aggression and force. A combination of intense rage with physical aggression can manifest itself in abuse, assault, and even homicidal tendencies.
2. Criminal peers
They say that your company defines your personality. Peer pressure can lead you to do good things. It can also lead you to make bad decisions. So if a person mingles with criminals, the likelihood of them doing criminal activities is higher. Individuals pursuing a bachelor of arts in psychology online to become criminal psychologists learn the importance of friends concerning social and cultural peer pressure. They understand that people give in to negative peer pressure because they want to be ‘fit in,’ or the inherent fear of being bullied by others. So if you notice someone in your neighborhood associating with criminals, try to help and guide them otherwise.
3. A dysfunctional family background
A dysfunctional family can become the root cause of many problems. Children have impressionable minds, and everything that adults do around them has a lasting impact on them. Their upbringing can either make them responsible and mentally healthy human beings or traumatize them. It is not foreign to find out that many criminals were once victims of bullying or abuse in a dysfunctional family system themselves. A family’s inability to solve problems and communicate their concerns in a healthy manner can lead to criminal behavior in adults and children alike.
4. Cruelty to animals
One of the biggest red flags associated with criminal tendencies is cruelty to animals. Their aggression towards animals and lack of guilt for their actions can lead to violence and aggression towards human beings. In some cases, humans may even use this as a means to take out the rage they would have inflicted on another human otherwise.
Cruelty towards animals is not a small behavioral flaw, but it is an indicator of a deep-set psychological disturbance. It can lead to a person feeling no remorse or guilt for hurting human beings, which brings us to our next point, lack of empathy.
5. Lack of empathy
While lack of empathy can hint towards other mental conditions such as narcissistic personality disorder, it is a clear sign of potential criminal behavior when paired with aggression. Such people show no remorse or guilt after hurting other living organisms. So what may start as a minor problem, such as not wanting to say sorry after pushing someone, can lead to feeling no empathy or shame for people they abuse or kill.
6. Lying
Not all liars are criminals, but a person with a criminal mind often wants to avoid accountability. To do so, they will lie straight out of their teeth and feel no guilt. It won’t matter if they are lying to family members or friends. They will lie to avoid any consequences as they perceive themselves above the law, ethics, and morality. Or merely to protect themselves. So if you find out that someone is a compulsive liar, you might want to keep close tabs on their activities and interests. You never know how dangerous their little white lies can be.
7. Resorting to any means to achieve their goal
It can start from something as trivial as a child wanting to trip their competitor to win the race. A person who is willing to put themselves into an uncompromising position to achieve their goals is more likely to do illegal things in the future. Their desire to get what they want can lead them to harm others and themselves. Some examples are stalking someone who won’t court you, rigging competitions, or using power to achieve professional objectives.
8. An anti-social personality
Again, not every anti-social person is a criminal; some are just introverts and video-gamers! However, an anti-social personality includes rebellious behavior in the household and other social settings. It includes running away from home or school, fighting unnecessarily, stealing, damaging other people’s property, and possessing weapons. An anti-social personality can show signs of aggression and impulsiveness. People may exhibit this behavior for thrill-seeking or out of anger towards authoritarian figures. Either way, it can lead to criminal behavior down the road.
Conclusion
Knowing the signs of criminal behavioral tendencies can help you stay safe from these people or report them in time to authorities before they stir up some real trouble. Therapy and rehabilitation can help people with these tendencies. It can save lives and save you and other people from a lot of harm. Be careful.
