Abstract

This article examines several fundamental concepts relating to psychological mechanisms, the psychological mechanisms underlying criminal behavior, and the psychological factors that drive criminal conduct and disregard for the law. Particular attention is given to cross-border drug offenders operating in the Vietnam– Laos border region. The article provides a general analysis of the psychological mechanisms that contribute to criminal behavior and attitudes of legal disregard within this group, with a view to identifying the factors that facilitate and reinforce cross-border drug-related offending. On this basis, the article proposes several measures aimed at mitigating criminal behavior and reducing disregard for the law among cross-border drug offenders in the Vietnam–Laos border region.

Keywords: Criminal behavior; cross-border crime; drug crime; motivation for criminal behavior; psychological mechanisms.