Problem 3

Question 1

Why are there controversies and discussions of whether Aspergers should maintain its own independent classification ?

Answer 1

Because, there is so much overlap with other disorders

Question 2

Name the 2 difficulties that typically arise when ASD patients are required to participate in police interviews.

Answer 2

1. Capacity to understand + communicate

–> can impact the fitness for interview

2. Impressions that their behavior give during the interview + court when providing the evidence

–> can be distracting

Question 3

Controveries persist as to whether persons with ASD are overrepresented in the criminal justice system as offenders.

Is this claim true ?

Answer 3

Technically yes,

As a direct relationship between the offending and the clinical features of the syndrome has been identified consistently

BUT:

1. this statistic may be inadequate as the analyses have been based on small samples
2. given the low prevalence of the disorder it is not clear how commonly violent behavior is committed by those having the disorder

Question 4

Why are psychologists more frequently called to the courts to testify ?

Answer 4

Their knowledge about the “inner world” of ASD pattens can be vital to

1. disabuse courts of misinterpretations
2. enable them to understand better the psychological context in which conduct by an ASD patient has taken place
3. appreciate more fully the impact that imprisonment would have on such an offender

Question 5

Does merely having ASD automatically exculpate or even significantly mitigate a persons culpability ?

Answer 5

No,

it does constitute some level of mitigation but finding that the person knew that what he was doing was wrong always shows culpability

Question 6

Offenders with ASD tend to commit certain categories of offenses disproportionately often.

Name them.

Answer 6

1. Arson
2. Computer
3. Sexual
4. Violence + neglect
5. Stalking
6. Dishonesty

Question 7

Arson offending

Answer 7

Refers to a crime of willfully and maliciously setting fire to or charring property

–> 10-16% of arson offenses have been committed by AD patients

Question 8

Why is computer offending so common among ASD patients ?

Answer 8

Because, cyberspace provides a safe + unthreatening environment for ASD patients in which they are able to explore their interests and act out their obsessions anonymously

Question 9

Why do ASD patients frequently engage in violent and neglectful offending ?

Answer 9

Because this way they cope with the dynamics of confusing or confrontational situations

Question 10

Why were many clinicians not formally trained in diagnosing Aspergers syndrome ?

Answer 10

Becuae, the DSM did not include it until the publication of its 4th edition

Question 11

Aspergers syndrome

Answer 11

Refers to a developmental disorder that encompasses significant impairment across several domains

Question 12

Higher functioning ASD

(hfASD)

Answer 12

Refers to a higher functioning condition of pervasive developmental disorder NOS

–> are sometimes associated with criminal activities

Question 13

ASD is characterized by a triad of deficits. Name them. (Wing)

Answer 13

1. Impairment of social interaction

–> making eye contact, hugging, responding to smiles

2. Impairment of social communication

–> verbal + nonverbal; understanding jokes

3. Impairment of social imagination

–> engaging in excessively focused + repetitive activities; inability to be spontaneous and work with unpredicted differences in routines

Question 14

There is a high prevalence of comorbid psychiatric conditions with ASD.

Name them.

Answer 14

1. Depression

2. Anxiety disorders

–> OCD

3. ADHD/Mood disorders

–> this combination is usually associated with higher prevalence of crime

Question 15

Sometimes (but not frequently), adults with ASD are misdiagnosed with personality disorders of Cluster A.

Which are they and for which reasons does this happen ?

Answer 15

1. Schizoid/Schizotypal disorder symptoms are pretty similar
2. Because, clinicians are more familiar with these constructs

Question 16

Theory of Mind (ToM)

Answer 16

Is the ability to “put oneself into another persons shoes”

–> necessary to understanding that others have beliefs, desires, intentions, and perspectives that are different from one’s own

Question 17

Brain areas involved in social cognition are thought to be impaired in ASD patients. This explains their cognitive deficits, which may be of potential relevance to their culpability.

Name these brain areas.

Answer 17

1. Amygdala
2. PFC
3. Fusiform gyrus

–> affects the ability of ToM in ASD patients

Question 18

Among the variables that have been identified as increasing the risk of violence, there are

1. Psychotic symptoms

2. Substance abuse

Are there more ?

Answer 18

Yes,

1. Socioeconomic status
2. Neighborhood in which the persons reside in

Question 19

4 factors that might make people with autism more likely to carry out aggressive or law-breaking acts. (Howlin)

Answer 19

1. Increased social naiveté may make them more vulnerable to manipulation by others

2. Disruption of routines may make them aggressive

3. Not understanding social situations may make them aggressive

4. An obsessional interest might lead to committing an offense by pursuit of it

Question 20

Intellectual disability (ID)

Answer 20

Is characterized with impairments in

1. cognitive

2. language

3. social abilities

–> often comorbid with ASD

Question 21

It appears that people with ID are more vulnerable in the Criminal justice system (CJS).

Why is that?

Answer 21

Because,

1. they may not understand their rights, are thus more likely to falsely confess

2. protections built into the CJS to protect IDs are not always effective, as it is not always clear who has it

3. difficulty understanding the complex language used

Question 22

It has been known that child development factors are important in relation to the development of criminal behavior.

Which are the most important risk factors at age 8-10 for later offending?

Answer 22

1. Poor parenting
2. Poverty
3. Risk taking in childhood
4. Poor school attainment
5. Family criminality

Question 23

Is ADHD associated with a greater degree + history of preblamtic behavior in offenders with ID ?

Answer 23

No, in the absence of conduct disorder there is no particularly heightened criminal behavior

–> the combination though

Question 24

For which reasons do the little number of ASD offenders usually commit crimes?

Answer 24

Due to impairment of mental health

–> thus higher prevalence in ASD patients with a comorbid diagnosis

Question 25

Are the factors that influence criminality in ID patients different from normal people ?

Answer 25

No, they are actually the same

–> the only difference is that the intellectual/cognitive deficits may amplify these factors

Question 26

Strain theory

Answer 26

States that society puts pressure on individuals to achieve socially accepted goals (e.g. American dream) although they lack the means

–> leads to strain which may lead individuals to commit crimes, like selling drugs or becoming involved in prostitution as a means to gain financial security

Question 27

Social control theory

Answer 27

Suggests that you behave in certain ways to keep your social relationships

–> the more social bonds you have the less risk of offending

Question 28

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD)

Answer 28

Refers to a neurological and developmental disorder that begins early in childhood and lasts throughout a person’s life

–> affects how a person acts and interacts with others, communicates, and learns

Question 29

What is the differentiation between ASD and Aspergers?

Answer 29

There is none really,

as Aspergers is on the spectrum of ASD but on the higher end

–> so higher functioning