Forensic Psychology and Crime Theories

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Questions and Answers

What is the key characteristic that distinguishes operants from reflex responses?

Operants do not have a common consequence.

Operants are always involuntary responses.

Operants consist of structurally distinct yet functionally equivalent responses. (correct)

Operants are limited to physical movements only.

What was a significant element of Skinner's research on operant responses?

He rejected any experimental work involving animals.

He focused solely on the responses of cats in his studies.

He claimed that operant responses have no empirical basis.

He investigated the effects of different reinforcement schedules on response rates. (correct)

Which ancient beliefs influenced early explanations for mental illnesses?

Cultural practices and rituals.

Ethical and moral philosophies.

Possession by evil spirits and demons. (correct)

Neurological disorders and brain chemistry.

Which condition is commonly associated with adults who exhibit criminal behaviors and a lack of guilt or shame?

Antisocial personality disorder. Signup and view all the answers

How did the field of psychopathology evolve in its understanding of mental illness?

It shifted from supernatural explanations to empirical investigation. Signup and view all the answers

What does Weschler describe as part of an individual's intelligence?

Capacity to act purposefully Signup and view all the answers

In the Flynn effect, what impact does environmental equality have on IQ?

It results in an average IQ increase. Signup and view all the answers

According to Dickens & Flynn, what is the multiplier effect in relation to IQ?

The interplay of environmental and genetic factors leading to changes in IQ. Signup and view all the answers

What does Rothbart's definition of temperament emphasize?

Individual differences influenced by genes, maturation, and experience. Signup and view all the answers

Which component is NOT included in Rothbart's description of temperament?

Intelligence level Signup and view all the answers

What is Mayer & Bryan's description of personality focused on?

Major psychological systems including motives and emotions Signup and view all the answers

What role does the genetic effect play in determining IQ, as presented?

It influences IQ by about 36%. Signup and view all the answers

Which personality trait is least likely to be associated with criminal behavior?

Empathy Signup and view all the answers

What concept did Aichhorn attribute to juvenile crime in relation to psychological disposition?

Latent delinquency Signup and view all the answers

According to psychoanalytic theory, what is considered the primary influence on development?

Unconscious processes Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following concepts is NOT associated with Freud's psychodynamic explanation of behavior?

Cognitive behavioral therapy Signup and view all the answers

Which personality trait is typically characterized by a tendency to avoid social relationships?

Negative emotionality Signup and view all the answers

What is the main focus of Healy and Bronner's application of sublimation in explaining antisocial behavior?

Emotional ties with a parent Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following traits is often viewed as a pro-social characteristic?

Altruism Signup and view all the answers

Which aspect of Freud's psychodynamic ideas was often overlooked in discussions of criminal behavior?

Empirical analysis Signup and view all the answers

What did the concept of the 'eros principle' imply regarding behavior?

It suggests a hedonistic approach to needs. Signup and view all the answers

What is a significant observation made by Freud regarding the ego's functions?

The ego sometimes inhibits functions to avoid painful emotions. Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following describes a difference noted by Frosch regarding individuals with reality testing issues?

They can still test reality despite having deficits. Signup and view all the answers

What term does Bleuler use to refer to deficits in the capacity to organize thought?

Blocking or loose associations Signup and view all the answers

Which of the following ego strengths was described by Kernberg?

Control of oral, sexual, and destructive impulses Signup and view all the answers

In the context of severely abused children, what has been noted regarding ego functions?

They show deficits due to powerful affect experiences. Signup and view all the answers

What fundamental aspect do cognitive psychologists examine?

Internal mental processes such as problem solving Signup and view all the answers

Which psychological school served as a foundation for cognitive psychology?

Gestalt psychology Signup and view all the answers

Who is known for introducing a theory of stages in children's cognitive development?

Jean Piaget Signup and view all the answers

Cognitive psychologists are concerned with which of the following processes?

The mental processes mediating stimulus and response Signup and view all the answers

What is a characteristic of defensive activity in ego psychology?

It prevents certain thoughts from reaching consciousness. Signup and view all the answers

Which behaviorist primarily focused on classical conditioning?

Ivan Pavlov Signup and view all the answers

What distinguishes radical behaviorism from methodological behaviorism?

It includes observable internal states. Signup and view all the answers

What did John B. Watson believe regarding internal mental states?

They do not exist and should not be part of psychology. Signup and view all the answers

Which concept is related to the theoretical aspect of post-Skinnerian behaviorism?

Recognition of dynamic, eclectic theoretical structures. Signup and view all the answers

Which branch of behaviorism focuses on behavior being inter-subjectively verifiable?

Methodological behaviorism Signup and view all the answers

Which philosopher is associated with the concept of logical behaviorism?

Gilbert Ryle Signup and view all the answers

What primary focus does biological behaviorism emphasize?

Perceptual and motor modules of behavior. Signup and view all the answers

What characteristic defines teleological behaviorism?

It is purposive and aligns with microeconomic principles. Signup and view all the answers

How did B.F. Skinner differ from Edward Lee Thorndike in their approaches?

He rejected the idea of internal mental states. Signup and view all the answers

Which type of behaviorism incorporates a dynamic and eclectic choice of theoretical structures?

Theoretical behaviorism Signup and view all the answers

Study Notes

Psychological Theories of Crime

The current practice in psychology uses the term "forensic psychology" for any topic connected to crime.
Early psychological theories of criminal behavior considered genetics, intelligence, and physical functions.
Criminological psychology is a branch of psychology.

Objectives and Outcomes

Objectives: Exposure to psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioral, and psychopathology theories.
Outcomes: Explain using psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioral, and psychopathology theories.

The Early Psychology-Crime Link

Academic achievement correlates with general cognitive abilities (working memory, processing speed, etc.).
Cognitive abilities developed early in life can persist, impacting later academic achievement and possibly criminal behavior.
Studies in rural China suggest that cognitive delays in early childhood can hinder academic achievement and contribute to overall low skill levels.
Intelligence affects an individual's capacity to think rationally and deal effectively with their environment.
The Flynn effect shows a general increase in average IQ scores over time as societies become more equitable.
Temperament, individual differences in reactivity and regulation, is influenced by genes, maturation, and experience.
Key components of temperament include mood, activity, sociability, and reactivity.

Psychoanalytic Theories

Mayer & Bryan (2024) define personality as a system including motives, emotions, knowledge, intelligence, action plans, and self-management.
Personality traits associated with criminal behavior include impulsiveness, negative emotionality, sensation seeking, empathy, altruism, conscientiousness, and agreeableness.

Psychoanalytic Theory

Freud's psychodynamic ideas were used to explain criminal behavior, albeit with limited direct discussion by Freud himself.
Aichhorn proposed that juvenile delinquency is a consequence of a latent psychological disposition, suggesting that insufficient socialization and emotional development lead to overt behavior.
Healy and Bronner suggested that unsatisfied psychological drives can manifest as antisocial behavior through sublimation.
Freud's model of personality structure includes the Id, Ego, and Superego, with the Id driven by the pleasure principle, the Ego by the reality principle, and the Superego by moral principles.
Contemporary psychoanalysis, moving beyond subjective interpretation, attempts to understand unconscious motivations for symptoms and character problems.
Unconscious functioning, initially described by Freud, guides further modification of theories due to developments in understanding infant and child development.

Cognitive Theories

Cognitive psychology examines internal mental processes.
It builds on Gestalt psychology and Jean Piaget's stages of cognitive development.
Cognitive processes, such as understanding, problem-solving, and reasoning, are viewed as mental operations.
Cognitive theories analyze how people understand, diagnose, and solve problems, and how mental processes mediate between stimuli and responses.
Cognitive theories involve algorithms (rules for problem-solving) and heuristics (understood rules for problem-solving).

Behavioral Theories

Behaviorism focuses on observable behaviors, rejecting internal mental processes.
Behaviorism considers all human behavior, including thoughts and feelings, to be behaviors.
Behaviorism comprises the view that all psychological theories should have observable correlates.
Different branches exist within behaviorism, including classical, methodological, and radical behaviorism.
Founders like Pavlov, Thorndike, Watson, and Skinner shaped these approaches emphasizing experimental methods and conditioning.
Teleological theories are purposive.
Interbehaviourism is a focus on the interactive response of organisms.

Psychopathology

Psychopathology is the study of mental illness involving signs, symptoms, cognitive deficits, and maladaptive behaviors deviating from social norms.
Mental disorders were initially attributed to superstitious beliefs about evil spirits or possession.
Symptoms like anxiety, guilt, shame, and distress may arise from conflicts (intrapsychic).
Psychoses exhibit deficits in ego functions (integration, abstraction, reality testing). Borderline personality disorder lies between psychosis and neurosis.
Many adult problems stem from unresolved childhood conflicts.
Common psychiatric disorder categories include paranoid, antisocial, avoidant, borderline, dependent, histrionic, narcissistic, obsessive-compulsive, schizoid, and schizotypal. Different types of disorder can co-occur
Defining (ab)normality relies on various factors including statistical abnormality, social deviance, and contextual factors.

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Description

Explore the intricate link between psychology and criminal behavior through various theories. This quiz covers psychoanalytic, cognitive, behavioral, and psychopathological perspectives, and emphasizes the impact of cognitive abilities on criminal tendencies. Test your understanding of how early intelligence and academic performance relate to forensic psychology.