Forensic Psych exam

Difference between a PsyD and PhD

PhD is more accepted places strong emphasis on understanding and engaging in scientific research

PsyD is designed primarily for students who wish to become practitioners or clinicians rather than researchers. usually places strong emphasis on clinical training

Definition of Victimology

refers to the study of persons who have experienced either actual or threatened physical, psychological, social, or financial harm as the result of the commission or attempted commission of crime against them

How do psychologists work within victimology

play major roles in the research, evaluation, and treatment of crime victims from diverse cultural contexts and age groups.

What should one do in the pursuit of a research career in victimology

obtain a research doctorate in psychology, criminal justice, social work, or sociology.

What should one do in the pursuit of a practitioner career in victimology

obtain a doctorate in clinical or counseling psychology or an MSW (master of social work).

What are the effects of criminal victimization on adults?

are both pervasive and persistent

Definition of excessive force

Refers to situations in law enforcement where the level of force exceeds the level considered justifiable under the circumstances

Description of excessive force

It is unacceptable and illegal behavior demonstrated by an individual officer or group of officers, or it might be a pattern and practice of an entire law enforcement agency

Define Police culture

A set of behaviors and attitudes that are presumed to be characteristic of individuals involved in law enforcement work, such as suspicion, toughness, and protectiveness of other law enforcement officers.

Police Culture description

 the rules, attitudes, beliefs, and practices that are thought to be accepted among law enforcement officers as an occupational group

What varies in police culture

 the style, values, purpose, and mission of the organization itself, starting from the top down

Intentions of Screening-in procedure

to identify those attributes (almost invariably personality) that distinguish one candidate over another as being potentially a more effective police officer.

What do screening-in procedures assume

 that there are traits, habits, reactions, and attitudes that distinguish an outstanding officer from a satisfactory one

What is the most reliable screening-in procedure

the MMPI series is, by far, the most researched instrument for selecting law enforcement

Occupational stressors for police officers

Organizational, task-related, external, personal

Organizational stressors definition

 Refers to the emotional and stressful effects that the policies and practices of the police department have on the individual officer.

Examples of organizational stressors

 poor pay, excessive paperwork, insufficient training, inadequate equipment, weekend duty, shift work, inconsistent discipline or rigid enforcement of rules and policies, limited promotional opportunities, poor supervision and administrative support, and poor relationships with supervisors or colleagues

Define task-related stressors

Stress related to the nature of the work itself. In a law enforcement context, for example, this includes the possibility of being killed in the line of duty

Examples of task-related stressors

inactivity and boredom; situations requiring the use of force; responsibility of protecting others; the use of discretion; the fear that accompanies danger to oneself and colleagues; dealing with violent or disrespectful, uncivil individuals; making critical decisions; frequent exposure to death; continual exposure to people in pain or distress; and the constant need to keep one’s emotions under close control.

Definition of external stress

Stress that is outside of one’s daily tasks. In the law enforcement context

Examples of external stress

 frustrations with the courts, the prosecutor’s office, the criminal process, the correctional system, the media, and public attitudes toward policing.

Definition of personal stress

Stress related to marital relationships, health problems, addictions, peer group pressures, feelings of helplessness and depression, and lack of achievement.

What are critical incidents

Emergencies and disasters that are non-routine and unanticipated.

Examples of critical incidents

active shooter or a family hostage-taking situation involving young children. These events tend to be very stressful primarily because they threaten the perceived control of the police officers (Paton, 2006) and have the potential to cause many deaths and injuries

What is linkage analysis

a method of identifying crimes that are likely to have been committed by the same offender because of similarities across the crimes

What does linkage analysis focus on

two fundamental assumptions of crime linkage: behavioral consistency and behavioral distinctiveness

Elaboration of behavioral consistency and behavioral distinctiveness

“offender’s behaviour must be similar enough that it can be recognized across a series of offences and distinctive enough that it can be distinguished from other offenders’ behaviour”

What is psychological profiling

The gathering of information on a known individual who poses a threat or is believed to be dangerous.

What is involved in psychological profiling

Detailed description of psychological characteristics of one known individual, not necessarily criminal; used in threat or risk assessment

Define threat assessment

Concerned with predicting future violence or other undesirable actions targeted at specific individuals or institutions after an expressed threat has been communicated

Define risk assessment

 A systematic process of evaluating the likelihood that a person will engage in dangerous behavior, even though the person has not made a direct or implied threat. Compare with threat assessment.

What is confirmation bias

The tendency to look for evidence that confirms one’s preexisting expectations or beliefs.

How is deception detected?

Observing nonverbal behaviors

Increasing cognitive load such as asking questions that dont make sense or asking the story to be told backwards

polygraphs

Four stages of the judicial process

• (1) pretrial

• (2) trial

• (3) disposition

• (4) appeals

Types of jurisdiction

subject matter, geographical, limited, general, appellate

What is subject matter jurisdiction

The authority of courts over specific issues or legal matters. For example, a family court may have authority over divorce, custody, adoption, and delinquency matters.

What is geographical jurisdiction

Court authority over a specified geographical area of the country or state.

What is limited jurisdiction

Refers to authority of lower courts that can only settle small disputes or deal with preliminary issues in a major case.

What is general jurisdiction

Refers to courts with broad authority over a vast array of both simple and complex cases, both civil and criminal.

What is appellate jurisdiction

A court’s authority to hear appeals from decisions of lower courts

Definition of civil cases

legal disputes between private parties (individuals, corporations, or government entities) focused on compensation for damages, rather than punishment for criminal acts

Define dynamic risk factors

Risk factors are individual characteristics believed—to varying degrees—to be associated with or predictive of antisocial behavior.

Elaborate on dynamic risk factors

Aspects of a person’s developmental history that change over time, such as attitudes, opinions, and knowledge.

Examples of dynamic risk factors

 substance abuse and negative attitudes toward women have potential for change

What does the two-pronged Dusky standard clarify

that competent to stand trial not only includes understanding their charges and being aware of the proceeding BUT ALSO being able to assist counsel in preparing a defense

Define the two-pronged Dusky standard

“Relates to juvenile and adult competency to stand trial and decision-making abilities. The rule holds that defendants must be able to understand and appreciate the criminal proceedings against them and be able to assist their attorneys in their defense.”

Diagnosis of many people who are incompetent to stand trial.

Schizophrenia, psychosis

What is Guilty but mentally ill

A verdict alternative in some states that allows defendants to be found guilty while seemingly affording them treatment for mental disorders

What is an important distinction in Guilty but Mentally Ill

Did not possess the mens rea meaning guilty mind

What is mens rea

 In criminal law, the guilty mind. It refers to the intent that is needed in order to be found guilty of a crime.

When is guilty but mentally ill used

‘When it is a mental disorder that robs the individual of a guilty mind, the law refers to this as insanity. Insanity excuses criminal conduct but does not justify it”

What happens after people are found NGRI?

are rarely free to go. All states and the federal government allow a period of civil commitment in a mental institution or, less frequently, on an outpatient basis.

What do most states require of NGRI patients

 to prove they are no longer mentally ill and dangerous in order to be released

What happens to people found NGRI long term

Usually end up in really long hospitalizations, can be re-evaluated to restore competency during hospitalization. Are meant to be treated.

What does Not competent to stand trial entail

They either do not understand their surroundings, the criminal proceedings, or are not able to assist in their defense.

What happens to individuals found not competent to stand trial

They usually are sent to treatment to restore competency when possible

Why are family courts considered dangerous?

because of the high emotion and occasional anger and dissatisfaction of the litigants.

What do family courts have because of high emotions

increased security measures, including metal detectors and scanners at entry points. Even so, verbal clashes and minor physical altercations are not uncommon

What is testament capacity

the ability to make a will

When does testament capacity come into question

when the testator (will-maker) is an older person, whether or not this is a first will or one that has been revised.

What is the law not concerned with testament capacity

whether people are functioning at their highest level of mental or psychological functioning at the time the will is completed.

What does the law require with testament capacity

only that one be “of sound mind” when making a will

What are the specific requirements of testament capacity

that individuals (1) know they are making a will, (2) know the nature and extent of their property, (3) know the objects of their bounty, and (4) know how their property is being divided

What is needed for involuntary civil commitment?

Whether the individual has a mental disorder or an intellectual disability, they must be deemed a danger to self or others or so gravely disabled that they are unable to meet their basic needs

What is Callous-unemotional often linked with

severe, chronic, and proactive antisocial and violent behavior”

What do callous-unemotional traits include

a persistent and significant lack of empathetic concern for others, limited capacity for guilt, and deficits in emotional expression.

How does Callous-unemotional appear in personality

Group of personality characteristics believed to be associated with psychopathy, such as self-centeredness and lack of empathy

How does Callous-unemotional interact with aggression

not afraid of being punished for their aggressive actions and are convinced that aggression is an effective means for dominating and controlling others

How does callous-unemotional relate to children

Children in abusive homes often demonstrate an abnormally restricted range of emotions that are similar to the emotional characteristics of psychopathy

What are the wide variety of terms used with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

 minimal brain dysfunction (MBD), attention deficit disorder (ADD), and hyperactive-impulsive attention (ADHD-HI) problems or simply “hyperactivity”

Traits of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

(1) excessive motor activity (cannot sit still, fidgets, runs about, talkative and noisy),

(2) impulsivity (acts before thinking, shifts quickly from one activity to another, interrupts others, does not consider consequences of behavior), and

(3) inattention (does not listen, is easily distracted, loses things)

What does ADHD co-occur with

conduct disorder

What can happen if ADHD does occur with conduct disorder

combination of the two is sometimes an especially powerful predictor of a lifelong course of violence, persistent criminal behavior, and drug abuse

What is hostile attrition bias

The tendency of some individuals to perceive hostile intent in others even when it is lacking

What do people with hostile attrition bias do

are more likely than less aggressive people to interpret ambiguous actions of others as hostile and threatening.

Example of hostile attrition bias

 if someone bumps into you in a food mart and you immediately interpret the action as being intentional and hostile, despite the lack of supporting evidence, your interpretation of the incident represents this

Factors that can affect the liklihood that children could develop hostile attrition bias and aggressive behavior patterns

Children who experienced harsh parenting and peer rejection, and exhibit underlying vulnerabilities, such as executive functioning deficits or difficult temperament

Where can hostile attrition bias be found

in cultures of honor

What is psychopathy/ a psychopath

a person who demonstrates a discernible cluster of psychological, interpersonal, and neuropsychological features that distinguish them from the general population.

What is the main difference between a psychopath and a sociopath

psychopaths lack empathy and sociopaths have empathy

What are the 10 cardinal behavioral traits of psychopathy

 (1) selfishness (also called egocentricity), (2) an inability to love or give genuine affection to others, (3) frequent deceitfulness or lying, (4) lack of guilt or remorsefulness (no matter how cruel the behavior), (5) callousness or a lack of empathy, (6) low anxiety proneness, (7) poor judgment and failure to learn from experience, (8) superficial charm, (9) failure to follow any life plan, and (10) cycles of unreliability

Psychopaths and emotional intelligence

Good amounts of emotional intelligence. – use this ability to manipulate, deceive, and control others

What is violence

 commonly defined as physical force exerted for the purpose of inflicting injury, pain, discomfort, or abuse on a person or persons or for the purpose of damaging or destroying property

What is aggression

 defined as behavior perpetrated or attempted with the intention of harming another individual (or group of individuals) physically or psychologically

What is the difference between violence and aggression

violence involves physical force, aggression may or may not involve such force

Define workplace violence

The aggressive actions, threatening and injurious behaviors that occur within one’s place of employment, including deaths, that occur at the workplace, not necessarily caused by those who work within the organization.

Who can workplace violence affect and involve

 employees, clients, customers, and visitors.

What are the four types of workplace violence

1) assailant has no relationship to the people or place

2) assailant is a former or current customer

3) assailant is a former or current employee

4) assailant is connected to an employee, not workplace

What is a cooling off period

The time interval between killings

What is the time range of cooling off periods

may be days or weeks but is more likely months or even years

What are the different types of mass/multiple murder

serial murder, spree murder, mass murder

Characteristics of serial murder

multiple killings (at least 3) in multiple locations (at least 2) with a cooling off period

Characteristics of spree murder

multiple killings (at least 3) in multiple locations (at least 2) WITHOUT a cooling off period

Characteristics of mass murder

 mass shootings. Multiple killings in one place at one time

Demographic characteristics of perpetrators of internet-initiated sex crimes

adult men, usually white males older than 25, who use the internet to meet and entice underage youth into sexual encounters 

What do perpetrators of internet-initiated sex crimes use

They utilize various online communications in these endeavors, including instant messages, social networking avenues (TikTok, blogs, Facebook), email, gaming sites, and chat rooms .

What are common male date rape attitudes

men, compared to women, tend to assign more blame to victims and less blame to perpetrators

“Sense of entitlement”

What are general attitudes of date rape

Blame assigned to victims, less blame on perpetrators

What belief contributes to date rape

Belief in traditional gender roles – males need to be dominant

What has a strong connection to date rape

alcohol use