Forensic Psych Flashcards
(30 cards)
What is forensic psychology ?
A specialised area of psychology that applies psychological theory and skills to understanding and functioning of the legal and criminal justice system
Where do forensic psychologists work?
Mental health units Correctional institutions Law courts Child protection services Sexual offender treatment services Domestic violence programs Police University's Research organisations
Roles of a forensic psychologists
Advising police
Assessing if an individual is mentally fit
Giving expert opinion in court
Assisting people in a crime or a witness
Providing psychological assessment and treatment to offenders
Assessing “dangerousness”
Conducting research in areas of forensic psychology
What is stalking ?
a persons persistent attempt to force unwanted communications or contact on another person that can cause the victim fear or distress
What is communication ?
Can be telephone, letter, faxes, email or gifts
What is contact?
Direct approach I.e following
The types of stalkers ?
The rejected stalker
Erotomanic
Intimacy seeking
Predatory stalker
Incompetent
Resentful
What is the rejected stalker ?
experienced a personal breakups in a relation but refuses to believe it ends
What is the erotomanic ?
delusional disorder in which the person had a false and fixed belief that other person is Inlove with in them usually higher ins status
Intimacy seeking stalker?
establish a close relationship in an inappropriate way
Predatory
desire for sexual gratification and control of others through stalking. They tend to concentrate on securely following
Incompetent suitor
wants a friend and lover but lacks social skills. Use inappropriate ways of establishing a relationship
Resentful stalker ?
obsessed with their victim over some real or imagined injury or insult and stalks to get even.
What is criminal profiling ?
A technique used to assist in the identification and apprehension of a likely criminal offender for a particular crime or serious of crimes
What is the behavioural evidence analysis
The BEA method of criminal profiling is based on a type of reasoning called deductive reasoning. This method takes into account all physical evidence left behind at a crime scene. It is in 5 steps.
What are the 5 steps of the BEA?
- Analyse the equivocal forensics evidence. ( all physical evidence)
- Analyse the victims characteristics (victimology)
- Analyse the crime scene evidence - using step one and two to determine the local of the crime
- Develop a criminal profile - develop criminal profile from steps 1-3
- Apprehension - only occurs 50% of the time where the suspect is identified
What is the American top down approach ?
Builds a classification system using already known I.e interviews with known criminals together with a behavioural analysis of crime scenes and information from victims and witnesses
What is the British bottoms ups approach?
Working with detailed information gathered from the scene of the crime and from information about the crime. A picture of the criminal is then suggested
Strengths and limitations of American top down approach ?
Limitations - serial killers could be manipulative and seeking attention therefor unreliable
Strength-
Strengths and limitations of British bottom up approach
Limitations
Strengths
Strengths and limitations of BEA approach
Limitations
Strengths
When is criminal profiling used ?
To help police identify potential suspects
What are signature aspects ?
Represents the emotional or psychological needs when the offender satisfies when committing the crime
What are signature behaviours ?
Are those acts that committed by an offender that are not necessary complete the crime but which the offender must do to satisfy themselves
