Characteristics of the personality of a modern criminal taking into account his moral and psychological traits

The article examines the moral and psychological characteristics of a criminal’s personality. It emphasizes the importance of studying them in order to identify and explain specific properties of an individual that determine his criminal nature. It is noted that, in the structure of a criminal’s personality, moral and psychological traits prevail over other elements (social-demographic, bio-physiological, and criminal-legal aspects). This predominance can be attributed to the fact that these traits fundamentally shape the primary motives, values, and beliefs that govern the decision-making processes involved in committing or refraining from the commission of a crime. Conclusion dwells upon the fact that the moral and psychological traits of a criminal’s personality play a pivotal role in the mechanism of individual criminal behavior, as they exert a more substantial influence on the choice of life path than all other factors combined. Based on a sociological survey conducted by the author among convicts and official statistical data regarding crime rates, a profile of the modern criminal is provided, taking into account their moral and psychological traits.