Forensic and Criminal Psychology PDF

Exam - 5 essay questions, choose 2 INTRODUCTION **Criminal psychology** - a study of criminal behaviour. Why individuals commit crimes through psychological theories. The aim - to change that behaviour. **Forensic psychology** - Research and application of psychological knowledge on the legal sys...

Exam - 5 essay questions, choose 2 INTRODUCTION **Criminal psychology** - a study of criminal behaviour. Why individuals commit crimes through psychological theories. The aim - to change that behaviour. **Forensic psychology** - Research and application of psychological knowledge on the legal system. It's applying psychological theories to the whole criminal justice system (CJS) (police, parole, victims, etc.). **Desistance** refers to the process by which individuals stop engaging in criminal behavior and move towards a crime-free life. Forensic psychologists: - - - - Some of the specific areas of work for forensic psychologists include: - - - - - - - - - - Forensic psychologists core competences: - - - - - - - Criminal profiling: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - **Forensic Anthropologists** - the application of the science of anthropology in a legal setting---most often physical anthropology / human biology..... victim\'s remains are in the advanced stages of decomposition. Assist in the identification of deceased individuals whose remains are decomposed, burned, mutilated or otherwise unrecognizable Forensic Artist. **Ballistics Experts** - a forensic specialist who is responsible for collecting and analyzing ballistics-related evidence, which includes firearms and ammunition. Forensic Chemists **Dactyloscopy** - the scientific analysis of fingerprints. Forensic Dentists **Forensic Entomologists** - the entomologist studies insects. Analyzing the type, development stage, and behavior of insects present on a corpse. Forensic Pathologist - the forensic pathologist analyzes the remains of a body. They attempt to determine the cause and time of death via autopsy. Forensic Photographer Different terms: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - **A criminal** - the individual who sustains a pattern of crime [over a long period of time] and whose life and identity are organised around a [pattern of deviant behaviour]. (commitment to deviant role and lifestyle) **The societal response definition**: in order for an act and/or an actor to be defined as deviant or criminal, an audience must perceive and judge the behaviour in question. **Psychological definition:** Criminal behavior refers to actions that may be rewarding to the actor but inflict pain or loss on others. That is, [criminal behavior is antisocial behavior.] Delinquency, crime and deviance are a social construct. Tolerance to deviance and crime: - - - - The psychology of criminal conduct: - - - - -  Measurement of crime and correlates of offending Measurement of crime: - - - the Dark Figure of Crime: more than 50% of offences (even those designated as serious offences), are never reported. Crimes go unreported mainly for 3 reasons: - - - National Crime Victimization Survey (NCVS): - - - - - - - Self-reports dispute the notion that people specialize in one type of crime According to Self Report Surveys, most common offenses are truancy, alcohol abuse, shoplifting, larceny under \$50, fighting, marijuana use, and property damage The Ecology of Crime: - - - - - - - - The distinction between the participation (prevalence) of offending and the frequency of criminal offending: - - - Correlates of crime: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Overall: - - - Theoretical models of offending: - - - The family and criminal career development  The importance of the family in childhood and adolescence: - - - - Dimensions of healthy family functioning: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Structure: - - - Functioning: - - - - - - **"broken home' hypothesis**: children from broken homes---where the family structure is disrupted due to divorce, separation, or absence of one or both parents---are at a higher risk of engaging in delinquent or criminal behavior compared to children from intact families. However, modern research highlights the importance of family dynamics, relationships, and broader social factors in shaping outcomes. One of Nye's basic conclusions was that [family attachments, such as emotional bonds and happiness among all family members, including parents and children, were more strongly associated with delinquency than was a broken home. ] "Broken Homes" typically have less: - - - Besides, the act of "breaking up" is disruptive. Problems that accompany family dissolution: - - - - - - - !! the more transitions children have to navigate = engagement in delinquency !! Delinquency goes up with: - - - - parental warmth strongly related to adolescent adjustment hostile parent = low empathy = low self esteem strong parental attachment = more receptive to discipline (**social learning theory)** **Social control theory:** - - - Parenting styles: - - - - family rituals - stabilizes family life Family deviance has a long-lasting impact by shaping the behavior and attitudes of younger members, often perpetuating a cycle of criminal or antisocial behavior [across generations.] Child abuse: - - Five major factors were found to have a significant association with the development of delinquency: - - - - - Ways in which families may assist in the difficult process of desisting from crime: - - - - Studies have displayed a positive correlation between family conflict and deviant peer association (explained by social learning - modeling and reinforcement of delinquent behaviour). This deviant peer association leads to deviant behaviour, especially in adolescence when peer influence is especially strong Mediational model (independent variable, mediator, dependent variable): HORIZONTAL SOCIAL RELATIONS: - - - - - - - - ADOLESCENT and YOUTH RELATIONSHIPS: - - - - - - - reviews of the research show that delinquent acts tend to be committed in small groups -- **co--offending:** - - - - Do antisocial peers cause delinquency or do antisocial youths seek delinquent friends? According to **social learning theory**: Delinquent friends cause law-abiding youth to get in trouble According to **control theory:** Antisocial adolescents seek out like-minded peers for criminal association and to conduct criminal transactions According to **labeling (social reaction) theory**: Deviant kids are forced to choose deviant peers According to **routine activities theory**: Kids with like-minded peers without parental control are more likely to be involved in delinquency Routine Activities Theory explains that crime occurs when three elements converge: - - - Routine activity theory is based on the assumption that crime can be committed by anyone who has the opportunity. A **gang** is a: - - - - - - Types of gangs: - - - Characteristics of gangs: - - - - School failure strong predictor of delinquency (Education = path towards occupational prestige. Youth deprived of this avenue of success through poor school performance → greater likelihood of delinquent behaviour). Also, as grades increase, delinquency decreases As school attachment increases delinquency decreases Truancy refers to unexcused absences from school, often involving skipping classes without permission. It is typically seen as a behavioral issue and can indicate underlying problems like a lack of interest in school, peer pressure, or family difficulties. Absenteeism includes all types of absences, both excused (e.g., illness, family emergencies) and unexcused (truancy). Chronic absenteeism, regardless of the reason, can harm academic performance and social development. Cross cultural support for the view that [girls have much more positive attitudes towards school than do boys] Many young people are dissatisfied with the way schools are run: not inviting and supportive, organised along authoritarian lines, emphasis on discipline, alienating and impersonal (sec Vs primary), critical of selection of subjects available to them Intelligence: - - - - majority of policy efforts directed toward retaining at-risk students in adolescence to complete their education NEETs (Not in Education, Employment, or Training) are young people disengaged from formal systems of learning or work. Their lack of structure and opportunities can increase the risk of involvement in criminal activities due to idleness, social exclusion, or financial struggles. Implications for (what causes) desistance: - - - - - - - - - prisoners experience many benefits from participating in prison education, - - - - -  Criminological Paradigms: - - - - - Biosocial scientists are aware that we cannot explain behavior genetically, evolutionarily, neurologically, or hormonally without understanding the complementary influence of the [environment]. Normal biological variation creates a predisposition to break rules **Cesare Lombroso**\'s **theory of criminal atavism** suggested that criminals are biologically predisposed to crime due to being evolutionary \"throwbacks\" to primitive humans. He argued that criminals could be identified by physical characteristics that resembled earlier stages of human evolution. Charles Goring later tested the concept of "born criminal" and debunked this theory. While Goring and some other researchers found no evidence of a distinct physical type among criminals, some researchers suggested a potential link between body types, particularly mesomorphy, and delinquency, though such theories remain debated and lack consistent scientific validation (due to serious deficiencies in research design). Chromosomal Abnormalities: Several reports appeared of a raised incidence of the XYY anomaly in institutionalised males. E.g., Research on **Jacobs\' syndrome** (47,XYY) and **Klinefelter\'s syndrome** (KS) suggests a moderate increase in conviction rates (excluding traffic offenses) compared to controls, particularly for certain crimes like sexual abuse, burglary, and arson. However, when socioeconomic factors are considered, the overall risk aligns with that of the general population, indicating that poor socioeconomic conditions may play a significant role in the observed increased risk. **Behavior genetics**: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Biochemical factors: - - - The lack of nurturing and attachment during early development may result in a brain that will adversely affect the child's ability to interact with its world!!!! Neurological factors: - - - - Looking at criminal behaviour from a biological viewpoint makes the offenders seem inherently defective. In contrast, recent researchers advocate for a **biosocial interactionist** approach, emphasizing that socialization is a two-way process and not purely deterministic. They also argue that brain activity plays a key role in generating behavior, and dismissing this as a factor leads to one-sided sociological determinism. !!medicalisation of social problems!! The personality trait perspective: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Psychodynamic approach to understanding criminal behaviour: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Juvenile delinquency (still Neo-Freudians): - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Sex offending and attachment theory: - - Paedophilia: - - - - Pyromania: - Summarised the psychoanalytic theories of crime: - - - - - - - - - - - - - Erik Erikson: - - - - - - - - - - Psychopathy: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Cognition and crime **Social cognition** - the mental processes involved in understanding, interpreting, and responding to social interactions. It includes how people perceive others, interpret social cues, form judgments, and make decisions in social contexts. **Social cognitive distortions** (biased thinking patterns that support criminal behavior): - - - Social cognitive theorists study the way in which cognition is affected by wider and more immediate social contexts and how cognition effects our social behaviour **Matza (Neutralization theory)**: - - - - - - - **Yochelson & Samenow ("Criminal Personality"):** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - **Ross & Fabiano**: - - - - - - - - - - **Glen Walters (Criminal Lifestyle Theory):** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - **Bandura (Moral Disengagement):** - - - - - **Ellis & Grieger (Irrational Beliefs):** - - - - - - - The Cognitive Behavioural Approach: - - Social Process Theories  According to social process theories, all people, regardless of their race, class, or gender, have the potential to become delinquent or criminals. An individual's socialization determines the likelihood of criminality. **Social learning theory:** - - - - - - - - - - - - **Social control theory:** - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Social reaction (labeling) theory: - - -  The social psychology of imprisonment The term "**institutionalization**" is used to describe the process by which inmates are shaped and transformed by the institutional environments in which they live. Sometimes called "prisonization" The Objectives of Punishment: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Depending on a large number of factors, about half of criminals reoffend after punishment. Historically, institutional confinement has been used since ancient times, but not until the 1600s and 1700s as a major punishment for criminals. Modern incarceration strives to change the offender's character and is carried out away from public view. The goals of early punishments for crime were to inflict pain, humiliate the offender, and deter onlookers from crime. The closest European forerunners of modern prisons were known as **workhouses**, where offenders were sent to learn discipline and regular work habits.. The prison is an extreme environment due to: - - - - Incarceration is fourth in the scale of most stressful events Sykes' "The society of captives" examines social roles of inmates: - - - - - - A key question for forensic psychology: "How does living in a system of complete social control affect the personality of the rulers and the ruled?" (p xvi) Zimbardo (Stanford) prison experiment The prison and its setting: - - - - - - - - Total institutions - closed social systems where individuals live and work, isolated from the broader society, under strict rules and centralized authority. Three characteristics of total institutions: - - - - - - - - - - - How the prison system affects the self concept of the inmate: - - - The Psychological Effects of Incarceration: - - - - - - - - - - Consequences of institutionalisation: - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Explaining prison violence: - - - - - - - - - - - - - -