Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Definition

Application of psychology to the legal and criminal justice system.

Nature

• Applied psychology

• Scientific

• Interdisciplinary

• Objective

• Law-oriented

Scope

• Police investigation

• Courts

• Prisons

• Criminal profiling

• Child custody

• Victim counselling

• Juvenile justice

• Rehabilitation

Roles of Forensic Psychologist

• Psychological assessment

• Criminal profiling

• Risk assessment

• Expert witness

• Court evaluation

• Victim counselling

• Research

• Rehabilitation

Ethics

Principles

• Competence

• Integrity

• Confidentiality

• Informed consent

• Objectivity

• Professional responsibility

Ethical Issues

• Dual relationship

• Confidentiality

• Bias

• Competence

• Informed consent

Psychological Assessment

Definition

Systematic collection of psychological information for decision-making.

Evaluation Techniques

• Interview

• Observation

• Psychological tests

• Case history

• Behaviour rating scales

Personality Tests

• MMPI

• 16 PF

• NEO Personality Inventory

• Rorschach Inkblot Test

• TAT

Forensic vs Therapeutic Evaluation

Criminal Psychology

Criminal Psychologist Functions (Lionel Haward)

• Clinical

• Experimental

• Actuarial

• Advisory

• Crime Analysis

Other Roles

• Criminal profiling

• Recidivism assessment

• Interview offenders

• Expert testimony

• Counselling offenders

 Psychological Theories

Psychodynamic (Freud)

Id • Ego • Superego

Crime → Weak superego

Cognitive

Faulty thinking

Behavioural

Crime is learned

Personality

Aggression
Impulsiveness
Low self-control

Intelligence

Low IQ → Risk factor

Memory

Juvenile Delinquency

Definition

Crime committed by person below 18 years.

Types

Status offence
Delinquency offence

Causes

PSY-FLVP

Poverty

Substance abuse

Youth unemployment

Family dysfunction

Low education

Violence

Peer influence

Migration

Frustration

Prevention

Education
Sports
Counselling
Community programmes
Family support

 Investigative Psychology

Definition

Uses psychology to investigate crime.

Functions

• Criminal profiling

• Behaviour analysis

• Police assistance

• Offender identification

Types of Truth & Deception

Objective Truth

Objective Deception

Subjective Truth

Subjective Deception

Omission

Commission

Detecting Deception

Behavioural

• Face

• Voice

• Eye

• Gesture

• Body language

Scientific

• Polygraph

• Brain Mapping

• BEOS

• Narco-analysis

 Eyewitness Assessment

Nature

• Reliability

• Accuracy

• Memory

• Identification

• Cognitive Interview

Cognitive Interview

Reinstate context

Report everything

Recall reverse order

Change perspective

Tools

• Cognitive Interview

• Polygraph

• BEOS

• Narco-analysis

Methods

• Real-life cases

• Video clips

• Staged crime

• Line-up

• Photo spread

• Sequential photos

 Child Related Issues

Role of Forensic Psychologist

• Assess child's statement

• Evaluate allegation

• Psychological testing

• Court evaluator

• Expert witness

• Research

Child Custody

Psychological Tests help assess

• Parenting capacity

• Child's needs

• Parent-child relationship

• Emotional adjustment

Methods

• Interviews

• Observation

• Home visit

• Standardised tests

Intervention for Sexually Abused Children

Psychoeducation

Crisis intervention

Short-term intervention

Comprehensive long-term intervention

Family support

Emotional & behavioural management

CBT

Group therapy

Court preparation

CBT Techniques

• Cognitive restructuring,Relaxation

• Desensitisation,Behaviour management

Group Therapy Benefits

• Reduce anxiety

• Reduce depression

• Reduce fear

• Increase self-esteem

• Improve coping

Serial Killings

Definition

Three or more murders
Cooling-off period

Classification

Behaviour

Medical

Organised

Disorganised

Motive

Hedonistic

Mission-oriented

Visionary

Power & Control

Psychology of a serial killer

Biological

Psychological

Neurological

Social

Characteristics

• No empathy

• No remorse

• Aggression

• Power

• Violent fantasies

• Childhood trauma

Role of Forensic Psychologist in serial killing

Profiling

Assessment

Police assistance

Expert witness

Research