Social naturalism as methodological basis for scientific research on the identity of the perpetrator
Authors: Kozliuk Liudmyla 
Published: August 2023

The article deals with problematic issues of criminological study of the perpetrator’s identity. The main attention is paid to the methodological aspects of this phenomenon. By the way, the author did not ignore the issues related to the definition of the concept of the “identity of the perpetrator”. Despite the updating of the concept of a “crime” to “criminal offense” in the legislation, the concept of the “identity of the perpetrator” has not lost and will not lose its importance and relevance for science as a whole, including criminology. For the latter, it is a defining category that constitutes its subject.

Some theoretical developments of the social sciences regarding the understanding of the phenomenon of an individual are highlighted.

The author emphasizes that the problem of effective research of the identity of the perpetrator is key in criminology. Therefore, its solution is a necessary condition for the success to oppose to criminality.

It was established that the lack of effective countermeasures against criminality contributed to the application of the theory of social naturalism in criminology. This theory is a kind of resource that can be used to successfully solve the current problems of the present days. Therefore, criminological science adopted the doctrine of social naturalism, which became the basis of social-naturalistic criminology.

It is argued that the study of the will and consciousness of a person who has committed a criminal offense shall be the basis for studying the mechanism of illegal behavior, as well as for developing ways to counteract it. This can be done on the basis of the methodology of social naturalism, knowing the regularities of the of will and consciousness, which manifests itself in the form of criminal behavior.

It is concluded that if modern criminology in the study of crime is guided by the principle of social naturalism, it makes possible to obtain new knowledge on the identity of the perpetrator, and therefore on the causes and conditions of criminal offenses, and about what must be done to remove them. And this is of decisive importance in the development and implementation of measures aimed at increasingthe success in opposing criminality.

It is substantiated that the study of the identity of the perpetrator using the method of social naturalism significantly increases the scientific value and practical implementation of crime prevention measures. Today, on the basis of the methodology of social naturalism, it is possible to know the regularities of the formation of will and consciousness, which manifests itself in the form of criminal behavior.

Thus, social-naturalistic criminology determines how social and biological aspects are combined in the nature of crime. Stating that the generation of crime only by social and biological factors cannot occur without the participation of the will and consciousness of the person who becomes a criminal. After all, any action in the social sphere takes place through the will and consciousness of a person. In this regard,opportunities for a more in-depth study of the will and consciousness of a person who committed a crime are opened up. This, in turn, provides an opportunity for a more thorough criminological study of the causes and conditions that give rise to crime, because they also act through the will and consciousness of a person.

The application of the methodology of social naturalism in the study of the identity of the perpetrator is the future basis of successful criminological research, which will help to overcome the problems of the theory and practice to oppose to criminality.

Key words: criminality, the identity of the perpetrator, opposition to criminality,criminal behavior mechanism, social-naturalistic criminology, arbitrariness and illusions complex, person's will and consciousness, criminal offence, causes and conditions of criminal offences, social naturalism.