FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY UNIT #1: Intro to Forensic Psych - Vocab List #1

Vocabulary flashcards for Unit 1: Intro to Forensic Psychology – Vocab List #1.

Voire Dire

The jury selection process when prospective jurors are questioned by both the prosecuting and defense attorneys.

Forensic Psychologist

A professional who applies psychology to the criminal justice system; often serves as an expert witness in court.

Jury Consultant

A professional who researches potential jurors and advises on which jurors to select; heavily involved in voir dire.

Official Statistics

The number of crimes reported to and recorded by law enforcement, usually published annually by the government.

Signature

The unique element of a crime that provides the emotional payout to the criminal and is distinctive to the offense.

Modus Operandi (M.O.)

A particular way or method of committing a crime, often characteristic or well-established.

Rehabilitation Officer

A person who works in prisons or juvenile detention centers.

Criminologist

A researcher who studies why crimes are committed to understand criminal behavior.

Victim Survey

A method of gathering crime statistics by recording victims’ experiences over a period, usually via survey.

Offender Survey

Gathering crime statistics by asking criminals to detail the number and types of crimes they have committed.

Telescoping

Victims’ tendency to misremember events as occurring more recently than they did, often due to trauma.

Candidate Genes

Genes linked to violent crime, notably MAOA (Warrior gene) and CDH13 (impulsivity).

Prefrontal Cortex

Brain region above the eyes responsible for executive functions like decision-making, mood regulation, and impulse control.

Mirror Neurons

Brain cells that activate both when performing an action and when observing someone else perform it, aiding empathy and learning.

Eugenics Movement

A late-19th to early-20th-century movement arguing for selective breeding based on supposed genetic advantages.

Diathesis-Stress Model

The idea that genetic predispositions interact with environmental factors to influence criminal behavior.

Atavistic Form

Lombroso’s theory that facial features can indicate criminal propensity.

Anti-Social Personality Disorder (APD)

Formerly known as psychopathy; characterized by a lack of empathy, impulsivity, deceit, aggression, and lack of remorse.

Biological Reductionism

The view that genetics or neural factors alone can explain crime, ignoring other influences.

Biological Determinism

The belief that physical characteristics determine criminality, discounting free will and environmental factors.

Recidivism

The tendency of a convicted offender to reoffend.

Behavioral Analysis Unit

FBI division that studies crime from a psychological perspective to create profiles and narrow suspects.

Victim Advocate

Professional who supports crime victims and survivors, explains legal rights, and accompanies them through legal processes.

Dark Figure of Crime

The portion of crime that goes unreported, estimated around 75%.