Abnormal psychology and criminal behaviour

Question 1

Psychopathy:
What are the two types of primary psychopaths?

Answer 1

Criminal psychopath: meets criteria
Subclinical psychopath: (successful) doesn’t engage in criminal activity

Question 2

Psychopathy:
What are primary psychopaths?

Answer 2

possess: biological, cognitive, and emotional differences from the general criminal population
Not all are criminal: those who are not maybe CEO’s, politicians
Label: individuals who meet the cut-off score on the psychopathy test

Question 3

Psychopathy:
The testing instrument PCL-R (Not in DSM-5, psychopathy checklist revised), how do they test?

Answer 3

Scoring: 0= absent, 1= inconsistent, 2= consistently present (scores range from 0-40)
Cut off: 30 or above, psychopath 25-33 often used
Below 21: Non- psychopath
In-between: psychopathic traits

Question 4

Psychopathy:
Who uses the PCL-R and what info do they gather?

Answer 4

Used by trained pros
Info gathered from: self-report (2.5h interview), interviews with relatives, observations (body language), court and arrest records

Question 5

Hare’s questionnaire(diagnosis), can only be used on individuals 25years +, Factor 1: Personality aggressive narcissism

Answer 5

Factor 1: Lack of remorse: they may pretend they do, they try to justify, Shallow affect: don’t feel a range of emotions, neutral, know how to fake it

Question 6

Psychopathy:
What are other traits of psychopaths?

Answer 6

They are completely self-involved
They do not experience empathy
Mimic traits and behaviors that they observe to be preferred by their victims
No loyalty to any person, group, organization

Question 7

Psychopathy:
Why is the testing instrument used?

Answer 7

risk-assessment for offenders: aggravating factor in sentencing, due to high recidivism of psychopaths
Universal measurement promotes research and discourse between mental health professionals
Cross culturally validated

Question 8

Psychopathy:
Case example: Ferdinand Waldo Demara Jr. “the great imposter”

Answer 8

Motive: power
Psych uni prof
becomes lawyer
he reads about dr.cyr who is a surgeon
he gets hired as a surgeon for the military (Navy) Korean war
16 soldiers wounded, he saves them all
then faked his death

Question 9

Psychopathy:
Differences between a psychopath and a sociopath

Answer 9

Psychopath: must lack remorse, calculated (most of the time), shallow emotions, pleasant exterior (deceptive though), and instrumental aggression, psychopathy focuses on emotional behavior
Sociopath: may lack remorse, impulsive (most of the time), emotional: irritable and angry, constantly in conflict with society, reactive aggression, APD is focused on behavior

Question 10

Psychopathy:
Are all psychopaths sociopaths?

Answer 10

Yes, goes from narcissism, sociopath to psychopaths

Question 11

Psychopathy:
Why is Kuklinski, not a psychopath?

Answer 11

Shows remorse/guilt/empathy, regrets some of his crimes, and loyalty: loves his family

Question 12

Psychopathy:
Female psychopaths, characteristics to diagnose

Answer 12

Deception/manipulation, relational aggression (jealousy, self-harm), use of sexuality to obtain what they want, more likely to have co-morbid disorders, not overly as grandiose as males

Question 13

Psychopathy:
PCL-R: Arias (6)
GLSPMS

Answer 13

Grandiosity: “I didn’t know you were a hater”
Lack of remorse: Does not apologize for murder
Shallow affect: appears calm, no emotion
Pathological liar: lies about Travis
Manipulation: pretends to care about her family
Superficial charm: small talk w/reporter

Question 14

Psychopathy:
PCL-R: Dennis Radar (serial killer)

Answer 14

Shallow affect: shows no emotion (smiles)
Lack of empathy: saying that the victim was “a little upset”
Lack of remorse: never apologizes
Superficial charm: polite
Grandiosity: says he’s a serial killer (proud of it)

Question 15

Psychopathy:
What is the “low fear hypothesis”

Answer 15

The hypothesis states that a psychopath does not experience sufficient fear to promote conditioning or avoidance of learning

Question 16

Psychopathy:
What is the amygdala responsible for and how does it relate to psychopaths?

Answer 16

Amygdala: fear, anger, disgust, etc.
The psychopath has a smaller amygdala (25% less), they can’t experience fear

Question 17

Psychopathy:
How is the pre-frontal cortex in psychopaths and sociopaths?

Answer 17

Not fully functional, very impulsive, emotional breaks of the brain, screens messages from the amygdala, impulse control, mood modulating
Sociopath amygdala shuts down due to abuse

Question 18

Psychopathy:
Emotion processing tasks, picture test and word test, explain

Answer 18

Picture test: 2 neutral pics -> no reaction in the amygdala in either group, 3rd pic –> bloody ankle reaction in non-psych, no reaction in psych
Word test: showing them words and amygdala reacts to emotional words in non-psych

Question 19

Psychopathy:
What are some other emotion processing tasks?

Answer 19

Startle reflex (lacks): others have it
Yawning: especially contagious with people you share an emotional connection with
Interpreting facial and vocal expressions: cant detect sad, mad, disgust on people’s faces

Question 20

Mood Disorders II PPD & PPP:
Peripartum mood disorders on a continuum

Answer 20

“Baby-blues then post-partum depression then PPP

Question 21

Mood Disorders II PPD & PPP:
What are some stigmas associated with motherhood?

Answer 21

work/life balance, “perfect mom” propagated by social media, parenting choices, age: over 35 is considered: advanced maternal age, body image: a lot of pressure on moms to lose belly weight, mental health

Question 22

Mood Disorders II PPD & PPP:
How common are these disorders?

Answer 22

50% to 80% of women experience “baby blues” within the first two weeks
12% to 15% experience PPD
0.1% to 0.2% experience peripartum psychosis (PPP), first 4 weeks following delivery

Question 23

Mood Disorders II PPD & PPP:
What are the postpartum blues characteristics?

Answer 23

Mild mood swings: irritability, tearfulness, crying spells, anxiety, decreased concentration, insomnia
Occur within 2-3 days of delivery
Symptoms peak on 4th or 5th postpartum day
Symptoms resolve within 2 weeks
Symptoms do not interfere with caring for the newborn

Question 24

Mood Disorders II PPD & PPP:
What are the causes of PPD? (4)

Answer 24

Previous MDD episodes, hormonal changes, traumatic delivery, situational stressors (financial problems, marital conflict)

Question 25

Mood Disorders II PPD & PPP:
What is infanticide?

Answer 25

Occurs when a female person causes the death of her newly-born child while she is suffering under effects of depression or mental disturbance from the effects of childbirth or lactation

Question 26

Grooming and DSM-5 dx of Pedophilia:
What is sexual grooming?

Answer 26

Sexual grooming is a deliberate process involving manipulation tactics where an adult builds trust with a child to exploit them sexually

Question 27

Grooming and DSM-5 dx of Pedophilia:
What are the grooming steps: 1-6?

Answer 27

Step 1: target victim –> look for vulnerability, low self-esteem
Step 2: gain trust –> love bomb victim with attention, 1on1, befriend parents, touch child in front of other adults (hug/tickle)
Step 3: Fill a need –> housing, friendship, money
Step 4: Isolate child –> use stage 2 against you, make you believe they are the only ones who care for you
Step 5: Sexually exploit –> normalizes inappropriate content/touch
Step 6: Maintain control –> use guilt, blackmail

Question 28

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What are the two types of pedophiles?

Answer 28

Exclusive type: only attracted to children
Nonexclusive type: attracted to children and to age-appropriate people

Question 29

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What is a predatory pedophile?

Answer 29

Someone who acts on their sexual urges

Question 30

Grooming and Pedophilia:
Case application: Dan

Answer 30

Dan, 28 years old
Has sexual fantasies involving 8-year-old children dating back to late teen years
Past 2 months, he has been visiting parks with the intent of inappropriately touching young children
Dan has never been interested in adult relationships

Question 31

Grooming and Pedophilia:
Who is Larry Nassar?

Answer 31

US national gymnastics doctor, sexually abused 265 girls

Question 32

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What is Law: sexual interference

Answer 32

Every person who sexually touches, directly and indirectly with part of a body or object, under the age of 16years

Question 33

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What is the sentence for sexual interference?

Answer 33

Min: 1 year
Max: 14 years

Question 34

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What are the two exceptions of sexual interference?

Answer 34

1: 12-13 years old with someone less than 2 years older

#2: 14-16 years old with someone less than 5 years older

Question 35

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What defense could be used in sexual interference?

Answer 35

Mistake of age: only works if the defendant can prove reasonable steps were taken to find out the age

Question 36

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What are the exemptions to the previous laws?

Answer 36

Sexual exploitation: youth under the age of 18 could not give consent with anyone who is in authority over them (coach, doctor, teacher
Consent culture and children: 1. bodily autonomy: children decide how to physically interact with adults, 2. Naming body parts: takes away shame = reduced, predators usually stay away

Question 37

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What are the pedophile’s cognitive distortions

Answer 37

Pedophiles believe that children benefit from sexual contact, initiate sexual contact, and derive pleasure (thinks child enjoys it)

Question 38

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What is Megan’s Law?

Answer 38

Sex offenders released from prison must be: registered and community notified (1996)

Question 39

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What are the Megan’s Laws Tiers?

Answer 39

Tier 1 (low risk): law enforcement only
Tier 2 (moderate): law enforcement and schools, daycares, and registered agencies
Tier 3 (high risk): Tiers 1 and 2 plus the general public

Question 40

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What is Canada’s Christophers Law?

Answer 40

Database for sex criminals, only accessible by law enforcement (RCMP) not public

Question 41

Grooming and Pedophilia:
Sexual offenders against adults, assault laws, levels 1-3

Answer 41

Level 1: Harms sexual integrity of victim, from unwanted touching to unwanted intercourse: min: none, max: 10 years
Level 2: with a weapon or causing bodily harm, min: non without weapon, 4 years with, max: 14 years
Level 3: aggravated sexual assault, victim is seriously wounded or at risk of death: min: same as level 2, max: life sentence

Question 42

Grooming and Pedophilia:
What is Canada’s rape shield laws?

Answer 42

You cannot use victims sexual history against them