Police Psychology & Investigative Techniques: Key Concepts for Exams

What was the main finding of Louis Terman's study in 1917?

Many firefighter/police candidates were below average intelligence; he recommended rejecting applicants scoring below 80.

What did J.M. Poland's 1978 study reveal about college-educated police officers?

They had better communication and received more promotions, but were not necessarily better overall field performers.

What is the bottom line regarding intelligence and education in police performance?

Intelligence and education can aid training and advancement but are not strong predictors of actual field performance.

What are the key components of the National Advisory Commission's recommendations for police screening?

Written mental ability test, oral interview, physical examination, psychological examination, and background investigation.

What is the purpose of 'screening out' in police applicant assessments?

To remove applicants with psychopathology, emotional instability, or lack of mental ability.

What are some important traits sought in police candidates?

Judgment, common sense, decision-making, interpersonal skills, memory, observation, communication, integrity, trustworthiness.

What does MMPI-2 stand for and what is its purpose?

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2; it identifies psychopathology and behavioral problems.

What is predictive validity?

It predicts future performance.

What is concurrent validity?

It measures or relates to current performance.

What is the strongest predictor of police misconduct?

Early-career misconduct.

What are the four categories of police stress?

Organizational, external, task-related, and personal.

What is a critical incident in police work?

A serious, unexpected event that can cause significant psychological stress, such as officer death or a terrorist attack.

What are immediate symptoms of critical incidents?

Rapid heart rate, chest pain, confusion, memory problems.

What are delayed symptoms of critical incidents?

Nightmares, depression, irritability, restlessness, substance abuse.

What does Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation (FFDE) assess?

Whether an employee is psychologically able to perform their job safely and effectively.

What are the four factors contributing to police involvement with mental illness?

Deinstitutionalization, criminalization, medicalization, and privatization.

What is the traditional approach to handling mental illness in policing?

Control, compliance, arrest/incarceration.

What is the goal of the Crisis Intervention Team (CIT)?

To manage the crisis through de-escalation, patience, communication, and mental-health services.

What did the case Frazier v. Cupp (1969) establish regarding police interrogations?

Police may use deception but cannot use coercion; confessions must be freely and voluntarily given.

What are the three types of false confessions?

Voluntary, coerced-compliant, and coerced-internalized.

What distinguishes voluntary confessions from coerced confessions?

Voluntary confessions are made without police pressure, while coerced confessions are made under pressure.

What is criminal profiling?

Using psychological and behavioral information from a crime to identify characteristics of the offender.

What are static risk factors in forensic psychology?

Factors that do not change, such as birth order, biological parents, and ethnic background.

What are dynamic risk factors?

Factors that can change, including attitudes, values, and beliefs.

What is a stable dynamic factor?

A dynamic factor that changes slowly over months or years.

What is an acute dynamic factor?

A dynamic factor that changes quickly, such as mood or emotional arousal.

What is a signature in criminal behavior?

Behavior that goes beyond what is necessary to commit the crime and satisfies the offender's psychological/emotional needs.

What is a trophy in the context of crime?

An object taken from the crime scene as a souvenir or to psychologically control the victim.

What distinguishes a signature from a trophy?

Signature refers to behavior, while trophy refers to an object.

What characterizes an organized offender?

They plan the crime, target the victim, control the crime scene, and are often associated with psychopathy.

What characterizes a disorganized offender?

They act impulsively with little planning, resulting in a chaotic crime scene, and are often associated with psychosis.

What is a mixed offender?

An offender who exhibits characteristics of both organized and disorganized offenders.

What is a polygraph?

Commonly known as a lie detector, it measures physiological responses such as heart rate and blood pressure.

What are countermeasures in the context of polygraphs?

Techniques used to manipulate physiological responses, including physical, mental, and drug-related methods.

What is suggestibility in hypnosis?

The willingness to accept something as real or factual.

What is susceptibility in hypnosis?

How responsive a person is to hypnosis or suggestions.

What is compliance in the context of hypnosis?

Following a suggestion without necessarily being hypnotized.

What is the main limitation of hypnosis regarding memory?

Hypnosis does not guarantee accurate memory and can lead to false or distorted memories.

What is unconscious transference?

When a witness remembers a person from one situation but mistakenly identifies them as someone from another situation.

What is own-race bias in eyewitness identification?

The tendency for people to be better at distinguishing faces from their own racial or ethnic group.

What is a show-up in eyewitness identification?

A procedure where one suspect is shown to the witness, which can increase mistaken identification.

What is a photospread or lineup?

A procedure where multiple people or images are presented to the witness for identification.

What is nominal size in a lineup?

The actual number of people in the lineup.

What is functional size in a lineup?

The number of people in the lineup who actually resemble the suspect.

What are lineup safeguards?

Procedures to ensure fair lineups, such as blind administration and informing the witness that the suspect may not be present.

What is an expert witness?

Someone with specialized knowledge who helps the court understand information beyond ordinary knowledge.

What is the significance of Jenkins v. United States (1962)?

It established that psychologists can qualify as expert witnesses.

What does the Daubert ruling establish?

The judge acts as a gatekeeper to determine the reliability and relevance of expert evidence.

What is ultimate issue testimony?

Testimony addressing the final legal question the court must decide, such as a defendant's legal insanity.

What is the main controversy surrounding ultimate issue testimony?

Critics argue that experts might make errors or be biased, while proponents believe they provide necessary information.

What is the significance of Jaffee v. Redmond (1996)?

It recognized psychotherapist-patient privilege but noted it is not absolute.