EXAMINING PSYCHOLOGICAL THEORIES OF KIDNAPPING IN NIGERIA

Abstract

The paper examined some psychological theories of kidnapping in Nigeria.
The phenomenon of kidnapping in Nigeria has assumed a worrisome state. However, government's attempts to taming this social problem using the classical militaristic approach without understanding the psychological and intellectual nexus, has largely failed. This paper having gone through Psychoanalytic Theory of Violent Crime, Social Learning Theory of Violent Crime, Cognitive Theory of Violent Crime, Frustration–Aggression Theory of Violent Crime and the Freud’s Instinct Theory of Violent Crime identifies that
security agencies lack the knowledge of applying these theories to understanding and managing the kidnapping situation in Nigeria. This paper therefore recommends the application of psychological theories to enrich the understanding of the criminal justice system with empirical information and knowledge on how the kidnapper personality is formed and sustained within the socio-political context. Thus, the paper also recommends that security agencies should be properly trained so as to have better knowledge of these
psychological theories for possible applications during threats.