Psychological Discourse in Brazilian Criminology

Abstract

This paper presents a historical research of the psychological discourse in the Brazilian Criminology from 1940 to 1960. It describes arguments that supported the articulation of psychological discourse in Brazilian Criminology, seeking to understand how psychological knowledge has established itself as judicial practice in Brazil. It took as material for analysis the Journal of Criminology, a publication that was Official Organ of the Institute of Criminology at the University of the State of Guanabara, between the years 1947 and 1967. From the examination of the selected volumes, there was a wide range of data concerning the inclusion of psychology in the study field of crime, accompanied by a great variety of possible compositions. With regard to thematic analysis, the data pointed to the distinction of the three lines of analysis: Epistemology of Criminology, Crime and Causes of Policies and Instruments of Social Control of Crime.