forensic psychology

Question 1

define custodial sentencing

Answer 1

a decision made by a court that punishment for a crime should involve time being in ‘custody’ either through prison or some other closed therapeutic / educational institution.

Question 2

what are 4 aims of custodial sentencing

Answer 2

1. deterrence
2. Incapacitation
3. Retribution
4. rehabilitation

Question 3

psychological affects of custodial sentencing

Answer 3

stress and depression - higher suicided rates than the general population - the stress of the environment increase the number of psychological disorders

Institutionalization- adapted to the normal routines of prison life - no longer able to function outside

prisonization - prisoners are socialized into adapting an inmate code - unacceptable behaviors

Question 4

define recidivism

Answer 4

refers to reoffending after being in custody or in prison

Question 5

evaluate custodial sentencing

Answer 5

-/+psychological effects
+ training and treatment
- school of crime

Question 6

what is behavioral modification

Answer 6

an application of the behaviouralist approach to treatment with the aim of replacing undesirable behavior with more desirable ones through positive / negative reinforcement and operant conditioning.

Question 7

token economies

Answer 7

Desirable behavior = token
Each rewardable behaviors should be made clear to prisoners before it is implicated
Undesirable behaviors = token removal.
The tokens = secondary reinforcements
The primary reinforcement = reward gained for them. E.g., spending time with family

Question 8

anger management - Raymond Novanco

Answer 8

cognitive factors trigger emotional arousal which generally precedes aggressive acts.
some people - anger quick to rise - in anxiety inducing and threating situations
anger is reinforced by the individual feeling out of control

Question 9

anger management as a form of CBT

Answer 9

teaches them how to recognize the cognitive triggers and to develop skills/techniques to find solutions without anger.

Question 10

the 3 stages of anger management

Answer 10

1. cognitive preparation
2. skills acquisition
3. physiological

Question 11

cognitive preparation - anger management

Answer 11

• reflect on past experiences and typical patterns of anger
• identify triggers and irrational thoughts
  therapist attempts to break the automatic response for the offender.

Question 12

cognitive preparation - anger management

Answer 12

• reflect on past experiences and typical patterns of anger
• identify triggers and irrational thoughts
  therapist attempts to break the automatic response for the offender.

Question 13

skills acquisition - anger management

Answer 13

• offenders are introduced to a range of techniques and skills t deal with their triggers.
  cognitive- positive self-talk to encourage calmness
  behavioral- training in how communicate effectively (automatic response with practice)
  physiological- relaxation training or mediation to help control emotions

Question 14

application practice - anger management

Answer 14

• offenders practice their skills in a controlled environment
• role play with offenders and re-enacting scenarios that led to violence.
• need a committed offender and brave therapist
• positive reinforcement for dealing successfully

Question 15

Julia Keen et al - positive outcomes

Answer 15

• studied offenders 17-21
• national anger management program in England and wales
• x8 2hrs sessions, 7 in a 3 week period and 1 a month later

initial issues- offenders didn’t take it seriously and forgetting routines however general outcomes were positive (aware of anger and self control)

Question 16

strength of anger management - more beneficial than behavioral modification

Answer 16

takes one cause of offending instead of surface behavior.

provides insight into their offence and self discovery how to manage themselves outside of prison.

more beneficial and led to more premiant behavioral changes

Question 17

weakness of anger management - individual difference

Answer 17

Howells et al - Australian offenders
participants in anger management programs had little overall improvement compared to the control group.
offenders need to be fully motivated for it to be effective
certain profile to be successful

Question 18

weakness of anger management - expensive / not affect soluition for all prisons

Answer 18

expensive as they require highly trained specialists to deal with violent offenders - so prisons can afford it
based on commitment of offender - if uncooperative may cause problem and make it more time-consuming
not effective for all prisons