Exam 1: Psych of the Offender

Fields included in Forensic Science

Fields included in Forensic Science

Forensic linguist

Forensic anthropology

Forensic pathology

Forensic nurses

Forensic Entomology

Forensic linguist

analyze handwriting

forensic anthropology

examines human remains

forensic pathology

examining what happened to the victim

forensic nurses

gather physical evidence of harm to the body

forensic entomology

the study of insects (relates to real estate suits regarding termites)

What are forensics responsible for?

Seeks to determine the what, why, and how; responsible for examining and analyzing evidence related to criminal cases and providing expert opinions in legal proceedings

Broad definition of forensic psychology

studying the intersection of psychology and forensics (everybody)

Specific definition of forensic psychology

clinical psychologists that work with the offender or the criminal justice system

Catell

Eyewitness memory experiment; considered the father of psychological testing and was the first person to use psychology in the legal system

Hugo Munsterburg

expert testimony (on the witness stand book); argued that psychology could be used to improve the legal system, including the selection and training of jurors, eyewitness testimony, and lie detection

Consult with juvenile courts

Munsterberg also suggested that psychologists could help the juvenile offenders

polygraph

Martson

Screening of police officers

William Marston developed the polygraph or lie detector test which was originally used for screening police officers

American board of forensic psychology

provides board certification in forensic psychology (2001)

Psychologist

mental health professional who has obtained a doctoral degree in psychology and can provide psychological evaluations, testing, and counseling services

Psychiatrist

medical doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness and can prescribe medication

Social worker

mental health professional who has obtained a master’s degree in social work and can provide counseling and case management services

Psychology of crime and delinquency

Science of behavioral and mental processes of adult and juvenile, focuses on understanding the causes and prevention of criminal behavior and delinquency

Victimology and victim services

Focuses on providing services and support to victims of crime, including counseling and advocacy

Correctional Psychology

Focuses on the psychological assessment and treatment of offenders in correctional settings

Legal psychology

Focuses on the intersection of psychology and the law, including issues related to witness testimony, jury selection, and trial consultation

Police and Public Safety

Principles to law enforcement and public safety, assessment and evaluations, clinical intervention, operational support, organization consultation, history of psychology and police relationship, systemic racism, and police brutality

Forensic School Psychology

Focuses on the assessment and treatment of children and adolescents in the legal system, also looks for juveniles that are a risk to others and self

Actus Reus

intentional commitment of the act

Mens Rea

conscious awareness of committing the act (guilty mind)

Juvenile delinquency definition

behavior against the criminal code committed by non-adults

Juvenile delinquency social definition

youthful behaviors: Aggressive, truancy, petty theft, vandalism, drug abuse

Juvenile delinquency legal definition

juvenile delinquent

Juvenile delinquency Psychological/psychiatric definition

conduct disorder, antisocial behavior (serious habitual behavior, harmful to others), antisocial personality disorder (18 and over)

5 categories of unlawful acts of juvenile offending

• Vandalism

• Unlawful acts against people

• Against public order (disturbing the peace ex loud music and loitering)

• Drug offenses

• Status offenses (drinking, curfew, smoking, truancy) can’t get in trouble for these when you get older

Executive Function (frontal lobe, developed by the age of 25)

i. Cognitive function of the brain ii. Multidimensional:

1. Working memory

2. Cognitive memory

3. Inhibitory memory a. Self-control and regulation

How does executive function develop and play a role in juvenile delinquency?

it involves the ability to control impulses and make decisions. Deficits in executive functioning can lead to risk taking behavior and poor decision making

Moffit Developmental Theory

LCP’s and AL’s

LPC

life course persistent

AL

adolescence limited

Steinberg’s Dual Systems Model

a.     Socioemotional network

b.     Cognitive Network

Socioemotional network

hormones in puberty

Cognitive Network

hampered by socioemotional

U.S. Supreme Court Cases

abolished the death penalty for juveniles and abolished life sentences; to rehabilitate juveniles

Developmental factors in the formation of persistent criminal behaviors

• ADHD

• ODD

• Conduct disorder

• Cognitive ability

• Social influences

ADHD

• attention deficit/ hyperactivity disorder

• excessive motor activity, impulsivity, inattention

ODD

operational defiant disorder

Cognitive ability

• Intelligence- various types and features (emotional intelligence)

• Hostile attribution bias

Social influences

physical abuse increases risk, emotional warmth leads to positive outcomes, poverty, powerful risk factor

Psychopath

no conscience or feelings of guilt

Sociopath

feelings of guilt and conscience but still continue the behaviors

General characteristics of a psychopath

selfishness, frequent decit, callousness, failure to learn, unreliable, inability to love, lack of guilt, low anxiety, superficial charm, fail to follow life plan

Offending patterns of psychopaths

persistent and serious offending, manifest violent behavior, psychopathy and sexual offending, high recidivism in psychopaths

Juvenile psychopathy

• Research is limited

• Callousness is similar to adults

• Delinquency is common

• Conduct problems

Males vs females

females are more passive-aggressive and men are typically more overtly aggressive

Racial/ethnic differences in psychopathy

• black males exhibit similarity to white males,

• black males tend to be less impulsive

Rehabilitation/treatment of psychopathy

difficult to treat, reoffend faster than non-psychopaths

Violence

the use of physical force with intent to harm

Aggression

any behavior intended to cause harm or injury

Criminal trends over the last decade

four major types of crime: homicide, aggravated assault, robbery, and sexual assault. Book says that back in the 80s and 90s crime rose rapidly and began to decline in the 2000s (exam is graded on the book), in present day crime is starting to rise again.

Gender and Race differences in criminal violence

suggest men are more likely to engage in violent crime than women, and there are disparities in the treatment and punishment of different racial and ethnic groups

Causes of violence

• Neurobiological

• Socialization

• Cognitive

• Situational

Neurobiological

brain damage or dysfunction

Socialization

environment, upbringing, experience in IPV in childhood, exposure to violent media, gender (violence is accepted in society by men)

Cognitive

thought process, thinking patterns

Situational

stress or aggression in others

Media violence

Observational learning through TV, video and film

Psychological violence/hostile environment in the workplace

non-physically aggressive, intimidating, derogatory, or offensive interpersonal behavior that is psychosocial in nature (bullying,verbal mistreatment, social undermining, ostracism, harassment, and spreading rumors

Workplace homicide and motives for it

robbery, theft and other criminal activity

Non-fatal workplace violence

assault, sexual assault

murder

unlawful killing with malice

manslaughter

unintended killing from unjustifiable conduct

First degree murder

planning and premeditation of the murder, seen as a capital offense and punishable by death or life in prison

Second degree murder

suggests less planning and premeditation, but still requiring an intent to kill

Serial murder (4 major typologies)

• visionary

• mission oriented

• hedonistic

• power and control

visionary serial murder

delusions and hallucinations

Mission oriented serial murder

to ‘rid the world’ of these individuals (ex. The guy who killed a lot of prostitutes)

Hedonistic serial murder

involves gratification, usually sexual gratification

Spree murder multiple different locations with cool off periods in between each murder (different from serial killers because spree murders are random victims and serial murders typically fit a type description)

multiple different locations with cool off periods in between each murder (different from serial killers because spree murders are random victims and serial murders typically fit a type description)

Mass murder

all at once (school shootings)

Motives for mass murder

desire for fame, attention, or infamy among todays public mass shooters

Reasons for increases in frequency of mass murder

a substantial increase in the availability of semiautomatic and assault weapons has occurred in recent years

3 types of stalking

Erotomanic, love obsessional and simple obsessional

Erotomanic

one that does it for sexual gratification

Love obsessional

developed feelings for the victim and want them to love them back

Simple obessional

not a romantic reason but still obsession

Motive of stalking

to control, intimidate, or frighten their victims

Characteristics of stalking

stalkers are male 87% of the time, victim is female 80% of the time, half of the female victims were stalked by a current or former marital or cohabitating partners who they’ve been physically assaulted by

ways stalking stops

stalker finds new love interest or victim relocates

prediction of violence in stalking

highest rate is intimate stalkers, stalkers with mental illness are less violent, juvenile stalkers are more violent

Cyber stalking

online so it provides anonymity

Physical bullying

hitting, spitting, kicking, punching, pushing, or taking/destroying personal items

psychological bullying

blackmail

verbal bullying

insults

cyberbullying

bullying online

Effects of cyberbullying

self-esteem issues, anxiety disorders, sleep problems, loneliness, depression, substance abuse, low academic achievement, low life satisfaction, and suicide attempts

Family Violence

domestic violence (intrafamilial)

Intimate Partner Violence (IPV)

abuse by current or former girlfriend, boyfriend, or spouse

Prevalence of IPV

high, women more likely victims than men

Motivation for Domestic violence

• Men- power and control

• Women- self-defense, acting out of frustration

Characteristics of batterers

experience with IPV in the past, impulsive, no coping skills, fewer resources, drug and alcohol addiction

Treatment for batterers

Bipp- Intervention program and Denton County friends of the family for offenders of

Warning signs of domestic violence

physical injuries, controlling behavior, and isolation from friends and family

Similarities and differences between Same-sex IPV vs Opposite-sex IPV

similar in terms of prevalence and dynamics, but it may be more difficult for victims to seek help due to social stigma and lack of awareness