Lecture 1 - Introduction Flashcards
Briefly describe the role of the law.
Lives are regulated by the law, where laws are broken, crimes are committed.
The law regulates who becomes a criminal and why.
When did FP become popular?
In the 1990s with the introduction of TV programs.
Canter 2010 suggests the clever but flawed fictional characters are portrayed as seeing into criminals minds to help solve a case.
What is the difference between the US & UK approach to FP?
US = story telling. UK = evidence
According to Canter 2010, what is FP?
At the heart of all crimes are people, these may be those whose actions constitute crime, solve it , prosecute it or manage it. At every point in the criminal system are psychological processes that need to be understood.
Briefly explain the history FP.
1843 - McNaughten Rule
1906 - Freud suggests psychology has important implications in the law.
1908 - Hugo Munsterberg ‘On the Witness Stand’.
1977 - Division of criminological and legal psychology.
1999 - Renamed division of FP
2001 - US APA specialistion
Briefly describe how the definition of FP has changed over time.
25 years ago - Gudjonsson 1998 - FP is concerned with the collection, examination and presentation of evidence for judicial purposes.
1990s - Brigham 1999 - clinical psychologists who are engaged in clinical practice with the legal system.
2017 - BPS - FP is concerned with the psychological aspects of legal processes in courts. Applying psychological theory to criminal investigation and treatment.
According to the BPS 2017, what are the key tasks of a forensic psychologist?
Treatment, Modifying behaviour, changing needs, research, profiling, advice in court.
What are the statistics in the context of crime?
- 5 million crimes recorded per year 1990
- violent crime 10%
- crime resulting in sentence 2%
We are not good at knowing the rate and process of crime.
What are some of the influences of fear of crime?
Direct experience
Media
Psych & social characteristics.
According to Clark 2004, describe what the Fear - Victimisation Paradox is
More fearful of crime at a time when you are at the least risk e.g. older more fearful but lower risk
Name the 3 theories of fear of crime.
Cultivation Theory
Availability Heuristic Theory
Cognitive Theory
Briefly describe the Cultivation Theory of fear of crime.
Gerbner 1972
Heavy TV watchers have higher FoC.
No evidence for such relationship.
Briefly describe the Availability Heuristic Theory of fear of crime
Shrum 1996
The availability of information about crime (media or other) creates a higher fear of crime.
E.g.Violent soap Vs control = FoC higher in soap PPS as available in mind.
Briefly describe the Cognitive Theory of fear of crime.
Winkel 1998
Subjective victimisation risk & perceived negative impact.
FoC affected by how much we think we will become a victim which can be countered by perceived impact.
