Lecture 21: Issues in Forensix Psychology

Question 1

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 1

• Focus on psychology applied in criminal justice settings
• Work includes = specialised psychological assessments (e.g. fitness to stand trial)
  = risk assessments
  = provision of treatment/rehabilitation aimed at reducing risk of reoffending
• Training in NZ = Clinical Psychologist or Psychologist in general scope of practice (Masters + 1500 hrs supervisea practice)

Question 2

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Answer 2

• Conduct disorder before age of 15
• Continuation of these behaviours into adulthood
• Prevalence = approx. 3% of men and 1% of women
  = 70-80% of prison population

Question 3

DSM-5 Criteria for antisocial personality disorder

Answer 3

• A pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of rights of others, occurring since 15, as indicated by three or more of following:
  = failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviours
  = deceitfulness, lying, use of aliases, or conning others for personal profit or pleasure
  = impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
  = irritability and aggresiveness (fights or assaults)
  = reckless disregard for safety of self or others
  = consistent irresponsibility
  = lack of remorse, as indicated by being indifferent to or rationalising mistreatment of others
• Individual is at least 18
• Evidence of conduct disorder with onset before 15
• Occurrent of antisocial behaviour is not exclusively during course of schiz or bipolar

Question 4

Psychopathy

Answer 4

• Not in DSM-5
• Characterised by antisocial behaviour and callousness, manipulation, no remorse
• Prevalence = 1% general population
  = 15-20% prison population
• Controversial, often considered untreatable
• Subset of people who meet criteria for antisocial personality disorder
• Measured using Psychopathy Checklist Revised
  = Superficial charm
  = Grandiose sense of self-worth
  = Proneness to boredom
  = Pathological lying
  = Conning/manipulative
  = Lack of remorse
• Average duration of APD 10yr but not factor one of psychopathy

Question 5

What works to reduce rates of reoffending

Answer 5

• Punishment does not work
• Psychological treatment/rehab can work
• Interventions that adhere to principles of Risk, Need and Responsitivity including CBT programmes
• Engagement is key = therapist characteristics, strengths-based approaches, cultural considerations

Question 6

The Good Lives Model (GLM)

Answer 6

• “(our clients) want better lives, not simply the promist of less harmful ones”
• Primary Human Goods (aka Common Life Goals)
  = relationships, autonomy, peace of mind, pleasure, knowledge, life: living +surviving, mastery, community, spirituality, creativity
• Offending = pursuit of legitimate goals via inappropriate means
• Same good, different means
• Focus on strengths, working towards goals v.s avoiding things

Question 7

Case Study Chris

Answer 7

• 32 yr old NZ Maori
• Extensive history of violence and general offending
• Abduction and rape of 15 yr old stranger while on parole for aggravated robbery
  = was attempting fresh start away from gang
  = was supported by local church
  = got rejected by women he had feelings for
• Raised in foster care = was abused by caretakers on multiple occasions
• Joined gang when 15

Question 8

Redivision risk assessment: Static risk factors (can’t change) for Chris

Answer 8

• History of violent offeces
• Unrelated victim
• Stranger victim

Question 9

Redivision risk assessment: Dynamic risk factors (can change) for Chris

Answer 9

• Antisocial attitudes
• Antisocial peers
• Deviant sexual interests (rape themes)
• Negative emotionality
• Impulsivity
• Poor problem solving

Question 10

Important to Chris

Answer 10

• Community, relationships, mastery, autonomy, life, creativity

Question 11

Chris (extra stuff)

Answer 11

• Implicated in offending = autonomy, peace of mind, happiness/pleasure
• Strengthen attainment of primary goods through prosocial means: autonomy, peace of mind, happiness, community, relationships, mastery
• Address problems with capacity to attain primary goods (includes addressing dynamic risk factors)

Question 12

A note about language…

Answer 12

• Commonly used labels….helpful or not?
  = e.g. ‘offender’, ‘child molester’
  = better labels = ‘psychopath’, ‘paedophile’
• Whether person chooses label or is assigned it by society
• Using person-first language = separate person from behaviour, offence etc.
• Labels = increases support for sex crime policies (vs. neutral language)
  = less likely to volunteer with people who have committed sex crimes (vs. neutral language)
• Pygmalion effect = power of supervisory expectations on subordinate performance
  = higher expectations -> improved performance