mental disorders

Question 1

what are forensic psychiatrists ? when do psychiatrists get involved in terms of offending behaviour/crime

Answer 1

assess and treat mental disorders (which may or may not be associated with offending behaviours), perform assessments of aggression and violence (to determine reasons, which can be due to: reactive-anger, fear. instrumental in obtaining the desired outcome. sadistic-enjoyment)

they go to prison and courts.

get involved in terms of offending behaviour/crime:
when the offender is mentally disordered
when the offender is unusual or odd
when a person needs treatment

Question 2

what are the different factors that can cause individuals to offend

Answer 2

biological factors
*genetic –> related monoamine oxidase deficiency associated with increased violence and aggression
*orbitofrontal cortex dysfunction –> reduced metabolism (reduced activity and perfusion) on PET scan in frontal lobe is associated with aggression, violence and murder
*Reduced amygdala function is seen in individuals with psychopathy

social factors and other factors
*poverty
*unemployment
*chronic physical and mental illness
*child neglect and abuse
*low educational ability
*low academic attainment
*lack of parental involvement
*poor support network
*inequality in terms of access to education and housing
*lack of empathy
*impulsivity
*lack of supportive relationships
*access to weapons
*alcohol or substance misuse

Question 3

Describe Phineas Gage experience into how his personality changed after an accident

Answer 3

he works on the railways, when a sudden incident occurred such that an explosion caused a rod to fly through his head, from left eye and this led to parts of his brain being lost, including parts of his frontal lobe.
Eventually, this resulting in him having a change in personality, becoming more aggressive and violent, which was opposed to his normally reserved personality prior to the incident.
this suggests that aggressive offending violent behaviours can be associated with biological deficits, that may be the underlying cause.

Question 4

what is TCO

Answer 4

threat/control override psychotic symptoms
this is when mentally ill individuals feel threatened and so there is an override of self-control (no self-control) through external forces

Question 5

what are the five types of stalking

Answer 5

-the rejected
context: breakdown of a close relationship
victim: mainly ex-intimate or very close associate, such as family member or best friend
motivation: initially for reconciliation or for revenge due to rejection

-the resentful
context: they feel victimised of an injustice or humiliation
victim: a professional or an organisation
motivation: validation and revenge

-the intimacy seeker
context: loneliness or lack of love
victim: usually strangers
motivation: want to establish an intimate relationship

-the incompetent seeker
context: loneliness
victim: usually strangers
motivation: wants to establish contact for friendship or sexual relationship

the predatory
context: deviant sexual practices
victim: strangers or women
motivation: they want to prepare an attack

Question 6

what is culpability and the relatedness to judges

Answer 6

It sets out different levels of sentence based on the harm caused to the victim and how blameworthy the offender is.

in some cases the disorder may mean that culpability is significantly reduced

or in some cases the disorder may have no relevance to culpability

a careful analysis of all the circumstances of the case and all relevant materials is therefore required. to make sure to give a right and fair sentence.