The Use of Psychological Formulation to Understand the Function of Offending Behaviour in the Individual.

Question 1

Define Psychological Formulation

Answer 1

Form of diagnosis aiming to explain the causes of a persons difficulties by constructing an individual summary or story of a persons life.

Early experiences, core beliefs and triggers.

Question 2

Phase 1: Offence Analysis

Answer 2

Analyse the offence to gain insight into motivations, this could be difficult are there could be many.

Do this by referring to similar offences by others. Allows to assess risk of reoffending and how to reduce.

Question 3

Phase 2: Understanding the Function of Offending

Answer 3

This is the purpose the offence serves the individual.

Question 4

Phase 3: Application to Treatment

Answer 4

Establish intervention for offender based on conclusions drawn.

Rehab program is recommended that reflects how offending started, risk of reoffending and how likely they are to stay in rehab.

Question 5

Formulation in CJS

Answer 5

Case formulations identify why criminal behaviour develops.

Part of court process to help determine if person is capable of committing an offence if they knew what they were doing.

Question 6

Strength

Answer 6

Provide insight into complex cases of offending.

Pooling many expertise from police to psychologists allow for effective and range of treatments.

Question 7

Competing

Answer 7

Practical problem as evidence gathered from multiple sources may be contradictory.

Question 8

Weakness

Answer 8

Sources of bias in process.

Info is gathered through clinical interviews and offenders recall may be inaccurate.

Could impact treatment.

Question 9

Application

Answer 9

Tries to tackle offending at its source so more likely to reduce widespread reoffending.