«SELF AFFIRMATION» AS A PSYCHOLOGICAL BACKGROUND FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NEGATIVE PERSONALITY AND A MOTIVE FOR COMMITTING A CRIME

The theses are devoted to the problem of psychological research of such a unique motive for committing a crime as self-affirmation of the personality, which is permeated with its psychological components. The author reveals the inner content of the motive of self-affirmation of the offender through the understanding of the psychological construct «development of a negative personality» within the framework of its criminal-legal nature. The presented study states that from the standpoint of psychological mediation, the semantic construct of «self-affirmation» can only be a motive for committing a criminal offense, and not its goal. This conclusion is consistent with the psychological content of motivation, which includes in the specified sense such elements as high self-esteem, increased self-esteem, level of self-dignity, status, psychological comfort, disregard for generally accepted norms and rules of behavior.