Forensic psychology

Anger management

Therapy that aims to reduce criminal behaviour by identifying anger and aggressive behaviour and teaching alternatives to cope, I..e. Learning meditation techniques.

Atavistic form

This theory that suggests criminal behaviour could be a result of genes, and therefore some individuals were predisposed to commit crimes. Claimed to identify criminals from the shape of their skulls.

Cognitive distortions

Faulty cognitions that lead to irrational thoughts.

Custodial sentencing

A punishment that aims to reduce criminal behaviour, via sentencing in court for either prison or some other institute.

Differential association theory

A theory that suggests that criminal behaviour develops through experiences and association with other criminal behaviours.

Disorganised offender

Offenders who are more likely to have committed the crime impulsively. Shown through leaving evidence at the scene.

Eysenck’s theory

Suggests that criminal behaviour was a result of certain personality treats, such as high extroversion and neuroticism.

Geographical profiling

An investigative method to identify an offender. By noting all the areas a certain crime took place, the location of the offender is predicted since an offender usually will not travel too far to commit crimes.

Hostile attribution bias

Form of cogntitive distortion which may explain some criminal behaviour, specifically, this is when a person interprets someone else’s behaviour as hostile, in spite of it not being so.

Level of moral reasoning

Theory for criminal behaviour which suggests it arises due to an immature sense of what is right or wrong. According to this theory, moral reasoning develops in stages.

Minimalisation

Form of cognitive distortion which may explain some criminal behaviour. This is when an offender reduces the severity of their crimes, I.e.using language like “they were asking for it”.

Offender profiling

Technique used to identify possible offenders which involves creating a “profile” which contains probable traits of the offender. These traits are inferred from the way the crimes were committed.

Organised offender

Refers to an offender who have planned the crime: which is implied through hiding the body.

Recidivism

To re-offend

Restorative justice programmes

Programmes that aim to reduce criminal behaviour by introducing the offender to the victim’s family. This gives the victim the opportunity to reach catharsis and the criminal to confront the consequences of their actions.

Top-down approach

Technique used for offender profiling, which involves looking at previous similar cases and the criminals responsible. Thus, common traits can be identified, which are probably exhibited by current offenders as well.