Forensic (L8) Flashcards
What is the relevance of personality theory and research to Forensic Psychology?
Specialised psychological assessments such as fitness to stand trial.
Forensic psychology applies psychological principles within legal contexts.
Define Personality Disorder.
Impact the personality has on functioning; extreme variants of traits seen across the population (5 factor OCEAN model).
The OCEAN model refers to Openness, Conscientiousness, Extraversion, Agreeableness, and Neuroticism.
Summarise the diagnostic criteria for Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Enduring patterns of inner experience and behaviour that deviates from cultural expectations in two or more areas: cognition, affectivity, interpersonal function, impulse control; inflexible and pervasive; leads to clinically significant distress or impairment; stable and enduring; not explained by another disorder.
Reference: DSM-5-TR.
Define Antisocial Personality Disorder.
Patterns of disregard and violation of the rights of others, with evidence of behaviour since at least age 15 and currently at least 18; indicated by at least 3 of the following: failure to conform with social norms, deceitfulness, impulsivity, irritability, reckless disregard for safety, consistent irresponsibility, lack of remorse.
Symptoms can become less evident with age.
What are the two factors of Psychopathy?
Factor 1: Interpersonal/Affective; Factor 2: Lifestyle/Antisocial.
Factor 1 includes superficial charm and lack of remorse, while Factor 2 includes impulsivity and criminal versatility.
List the components of Factor 1 in Psychopathy.
- Interpersonal: superficial charm, grand sense of self-worth, lying, manipulative
- Affective: lack of remorse, failure to accept responsibility
This factor focuses on emotional and relational traits.
What is the aetiology of Antisocial Personality Disorder (ASPD) and psychopathy?
Caused by a range of factors: genes, neurobiological influences, psychosocial influences, severe parental rejection.
Aetiology refers to the causation of a disorder.
What psychosocial influences are associated with ASPD and psychopathy?
Sensitivity to reward and punishment; high response to reward, low response to punishment.
These influences can shape behavioural responses and personality development.
