UNIT #11 & 15: Psychopaths & Homicidal Offenders

Question 1

Adversarial allegiance

Answer 1

The tendency for the forensic psychologist to be biased towards the side (defence or prosecution) that hired them

Question 2

Antisocial personality disorder

Answer 2

Personality disorder characterized by a history of behaviour in which the rights of others are violated

Question 3

Antisocial process screening device

Answer 3

Observer rating scale to assess psychopathic traits in children

Question 4

Hare Psychopathy Checklist-Revised

x3

Answer 4

(1) Most popular method of assessing psychopathy in adults
(2) 20-item rating scale that uses a semi-structured interview and a review of file information to assess interpersonal (e.g., grandiosity, manipulativeness), affective (e.g., lack of remorse, shallow emotions), and
behavioural (e.g., impulsivity, antisocial acts) features of psychopathy
(3) Each item is scored on a 3-point scale: 2 indicates that the item definitely applies to the individual; 1
indicates that it applies to some extent; and 0 indicates that the symptom definitely does not apply. The items are summed to obtain a total score ranging from 0 to 40.

Question 5

Hate Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version

Answer 5

Scale designed to measure psychopathic traits in adolescents

Question 6

Psychopathy Personality Inventory-Revised

Answer 6

A self-report measure of psychopathic traits

Question 7

Psychopathy

Answer 7

Personality disorder defined by a collection of interpersonal, affective, and behavioural characteristics, including manipulation, lack of remorse or empathy, impulsivity, and antisocial behaviours

Question 8

Response Modulation Deficit Theory

Answer 8

Theory that suggests psychopaths fail to use contextual cues that are peripheral to a dominant response set to modulate behaviour

Question 9

Self-Report psychopathy Scale

Answer 9

A self-report measure of psychopathic traits

Question 10

Sexual homicide

Answer 10

Homicides that have a sexual component

Question 11

Sexual sadism

Answer 11

People who are sexually aroused by fantasies, urges, or acts of inflicting pain, suffering, or humiliation on another person

Question 12

Sociopathy

Answer 12

A label used to describe a person whose psychopathic traits are assumed to be due to environmental factors

Question 13

Androcide

Answer 13

The killing of men

Question 14

Comfort serial killer

Answer 14

A murderer who is motivated by material or financial gain

Question 15

Familicide

Answer 15

The killing of a spouse and children

Question 16

Femicide

Answer 16

The killing of women

Question 17

Filicide

Answer 17

The killing of children by their biological parents or step-parents; includes neonaticide (killing a baby within 24 hours of birth) and infanticide (killing a baby within the first year of life)

Question 18

Hedonistic serial murderer

Answer 18

Motivated by self-gratification. Divided into 3 subtypes:

• lust
• thrill
• comfort

Question 19

Infanticide

Answer 19

A woman killing her newly born child due to a mental disorder arising from the effects of childbirth

Question 20

Instrumental (predatory) aggression

Answer 20

Aggression that is premeditated, calculated, and motivated by some goal

Question 21

Lust serial

Murderer

Answer 21

Motivated by sexual gratification

Question 22

Mass murder

Answer 22

The killing of three or. More victims at a single location during one event with. No cooling-off period

Question 23

Mission-oriented serial murderer

Answer 23

Targets individuals from a group that he considers “undesirable”

Question 24

Power/control serial murderer

Answer 24

Motivated by wanting to have absolute dominance over the victim

Question 25

Reactive (affective) aggression

Answer 25

Aggression that is impulsive, unplanned, immediate, driven by negative emotions, and occurring in response to some perceived provocation

Question 26

Serial murder

Answer 26

The killing of a minimum of 3 people over time. The time interval between the murders varies and has been called a cooling off period. Subsequent murders occur at different times, have no apparent connection to the initial murder, and are usually committed in different locations.

Question 27

Thrill serial murderer

Answer 27

A murderer who is motivated by the excitement associated with the act of killing

Question 28

Visionary serial murderer

Answer 28

Kills in response to voices or visions telling him to kill

Question 29

Relationship between antisocial personality disorder and designation of psychopath

x10

Answer 29

(1) Related but distinct:
(2) Although psychopathy and APD share some features, APD places more emphasis on antisocial behaviours than does the PCL-R.
(3) Nearly all psychopathic offenders meet the diagnostic criteria for APD, but most offenders diagnosed with APD are not psychopaths
(4) APD symptoms are most strongly related to the behavioural feature of psychopathy and not to the
interpersonal or affective features
(5) Antisocial personality disorder: A personality disorder characterized by a history of behaviour in which the rights of others are violated.
(6) Reckless disregard for safety of self or others
■Consistent irresponsibility
■Lack of remorse
(7) Irritability or aggressiveness
(8) Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
(9) Deceitfulness
(10) Failure to conform to social norms with respect to lawful behaviors.

Question 30

How does violence fit into the psychopath’s behavioural repertoire?

Answer 30

(1) One study found that when nonpsychopaths commit violence, they are likely to target people they know and their violent behaviour is likely to occur in the context of strong emotional arousal
(2) psychopaths are more likely to target strangers and be motivated by revenge or material gain.
(3) Characteristics that ordinarily help to inhibit aggression and violence, such as empathy, close emotional bonds, and internal inhibitions, are lacking or relatively ineffective in psychopaths.
(4) Compared to nonpsychopathic offenders, they start their criminal career at a younger age and persist longer, engage in more violent offences, commit a greater variety of violent offences, engage in more violence within institutions.
(5) researchers concluded that psychopaths engage in “cold-blooded” homicides muchmore often than
nonpsychopaths.
(6) more likely to be violent after release:
(7) Psychopathic violence is more likely to be predatory in nature, motivated by readily identifiable goals, and carried out in a callous, calculated manner without the
emotional context that usually characterizes the violence of other offenders.
(8) Several studies have found that offenders who engage in instrumental violence (premeditated violence to obtain some goal) score significantly higher on measures of psychopathy than do offenders engaging in reactive violence (impulsive, unplanned violence that occurs in response to provocation.

Question 31

Are psychopaths treatable?

x4

Answer 31

(1) Unlike most other offenders, they suffer little personal distress, see little wrong with their attitudes and behavior, and seek treatment only when it is in their best interests to do so (such as when seeking
probation or parole).
(2) Treatment was associated with a reduction in violent recidivism among nonpsychopaths but an increase in violent recidivism among psychopaths.
(3) Although psychopaths may be challenging to treat, there is evidence that, especially in youth, they are
amenable to treatment.
(4) These researchers found that although psychopathic sex offenders who dropped out of treatment were more likely to violently reoffend, those psychopathic sex offenders who stayed in treatment showed positive
treatment gains and were less likely to violently reoffend.

Question 32

important findings about the emergence of psychopathy prior to adulthood

x6

Answer 32

(1) results indicated that there was a moderate degree of stability in psychopathic traits from age 13 to age 24.
(2) assumption is that psychopathy does not suddenly appear in adulthood but instead gradually develops from various environmental and biological antecedents
(3) measures have been developed to identify psychopathic traits early in development.
(4) Two assessment instruments have been adapted from the PCL-R: one for use with children and the other for adolescents.
1. Hare Psychopathy Checklist: Youth Version: Scale designed to measure psychopathic traits in adolescents
2. Antisocial process screening device.
- child is assigned a rating on various questions by parents or teachers
- designed for assessing the precursors of psychopathic traits in children
(5) boys who score high on the callous/unemotional dimension of the APSD have more police contacts, have more conduct problems, and are more likely to have a parent with APD than are children who score
low on this dimension.
- youth with psychopathic traits may be more responsive to interventions.
(6) Research using the PCL:YV has found that adolescents with many psychopathic traits become involved in criminal behaviours at an earlier age, engage in more violence in institutions and in the community, and are at a higher risk of reoffending once released as compared with other adolescents.

Question 33

Theories that describe why psychopath acts the way he does

x5

Answer 33

(1) Two of the most prominent theories of psychopathy place emphasis on either cognitive or affective processes
(2) Response Modulation Deficit Theory:
- Used to explain why psychopaths fail to learn to avoid punishment
- Suggests that psychopaths fail to use contextual cues that are peripheral to a dominant response set to modulate their behaviour
- If psychopaths are engaging in specific rewarded
behavior, they will not pay attention to other information that might inhibit their behaviour
(3) Other theory proposes that psychopaths have a deficit in the experience of certain critical emotions that guide prosocial behaviour and inhibit deviance
(4) Hervey Cleckley (1976) Theorized Psychopaths have a deep-rooted emotional deficit that involves the disconnection between cognitive-linguistic processing and emotional experience
(5) Amygdala dysfunction Theory:
- Amygdala Is part of the limbic center, which regulates the expression of emotion and emotional memory
- Linked to many other brain regions responsible for memory, control of the autonomic nervous system,
aggression, decision-making, approach and avoidance behavior, and defence reactions
- Other researchers have proposed that other Brain areas are implicated and suggested a Paralimbic model to explain emotional deficits seen in psychopaths
- Recently researchers argued that the emotional deficits Seen in psychopaths can be explained by an attention deficit and are not due to amygdala-Mediated deficit

Question 34

Causes or origins related to the development of psychopathy

Answer 34

(1) Nature versus nurture:
- Focusses on the relative importance of a person’s innate characteristics (nature) as compared with his personal experiences (nurture)
- Growing evidence suggests a strong genetic contribution to psychopathy
(2) Family:
- Experiments assessing Callous/unemotional traits in Youths or psychopathy in adults and asking them about their child experiences Have found that psychopathic individuals report lower levels of parental care (For example, warmth, attachment)
- Measuring family background variables between ages 8 and 10, the best predictors Of adult psychopathy were having a criminal father and mother, being a son whose father was uninvolved with him, having little family income, coming from a disrupted family, and experiencing physical neglect

Question 35

Bimodal classification Of aggression

x4

Answer 35

(1) Kingsbury, Lambert, and Hendrickse (1997)
proposed a bimodal classification scheme for the study of homicide in humans, in which homicides are classified as reactive (affective) aggression or instrumental (predatory) aggression.
(2) Reactive homicide occurs more often among relatives, and instrumental homicide among strangers
(3) Eighty percent were classified as reactive, and 20% as instrumental. In this study, the victim-offender relationship was divided into three categories: strangers, acquaintances, and family members/intimates.
(4) Most of the homicides involved acquaintances (55%), with most of these being classified as reactive (80%).
Family members and intimate partners accounted for 28% of the cases, with nearly all these homicides being classified as reactive (93%). Finally, in 17% of the cases,
the victim was a stranger, with 52% being classified as reactive.

Question 36

Bimodal classification Of aggression:

Reactive homicide

Answer 36

Aggression that is impulsive, unplanned, immediate, driven by negative emotions, and occurring in response to some perceived provocation

Question 37

characteristics of homicide in Canada in recent history

x11

Answer 37

(1) homicide is actually a relatively rare offence in Canada, representing less than 1% of all crimes.
(2) Canada’s homicide rate peaked in the 1970s and gradually declined from 1975 to 2003, when it reached a 30-year low.
(3) The homicide rate increased in 2004 and 2005
to reach its highest point in nearly a decade, but then stabilized for a number of years before a significant increase was again seen in 2010 and 2011.
(4) Canada experienced a steady rise in gang-related homicides from the early 1990s to 2008, before declining in 2009 and 2010 and levelling off very recently.
(5) Ninety-five gang-related homicides were reported in
both 2010 and 2011.
(6) Most gang-related homicides occur in the western regions of Canada, including Manitoba, Saskatchewan, and Alberta.
(7) homicides are more likely to occur in western
provinces than in eastern provinces. In 2011, Manitoba reported the highest homicide rate out of any province
(8) the territories report much higher homicide rates than any province, with Nunavut reporting the highest homicide rate in Canada.
(9) In 2011, we saw the lowest rate of firearms- related homicides in almost 50 years.
(10) In 2011, a knife or other cutting instrument was the weapon of choice.
(11) Cutting instruments were used in 35% of 2011 homicides, compared to 27% of homicides involving guns.

Question 38

Relationship of mental disorder to crime of infanticide

Answer 38

Three types of mental illness have been identified during the postpartum period:

1. Postpartum depression
2. Postpartum Blues
3. Postpartum psychosis

Question 39

Relationship of Postpartum depression to crime of infanticide

x2

Answer 39

(1) experienced by 7% to 19% of women) occurs within the first few weeks or months after birth and usually lasts for several months
(2) include depressed mood, loss of appetite, concentration and sleep problems, and suicidal thoughts.

Question 40

Relationship of Postpartum blues to crime of infanticide

x2

Answer 40

(1) most common type of mental illness that can occur in the postpartum period
(2) experienced by up to 85% of women), which includes crying, irritability, and anxiety, beginning within a few days of childbirth and lasting from a few hours to
days but rarely continuing past day 12

Question 41

Relationship of Postpartum psychosis to crime of infanticide

x6

Answer 41

(1) most severe and rare type of mental illness that has been associated with childbirth .
(2) usually involves delusions, hallucinations, and suicidal or homicidal thoughts within the first three months after childbirth.
(3) received a lot of attention (from both researchers and the media) because of its potential role in maternal infanticides.
(4) afflicts about 1 in 1000 mothers within six months of birth
(5) Symptoms include hearing voices, seeing things, and feeling an irrational guilt that they have somehow done something wrong.
(6) Without treatment, women may try to harm themselves or their infants.

Question 42

Characteristics of Filicide

x4

Answer 42

(1) The killing of children by their biological parents or stepparents; includes neonaticide (killing a baby within 24 hours of birth) and infanticide (killing a baby within the first year of life).
(2) Generally uncommon
(3) majority of these family-related homicides were
committed by a parent, with the mother or father being
responsible for about 84% of all homicides against
children or youth under the age of 18
(4) Compared to older children and youths, infants are at
higher risk of being murdered by their parents. In fact,
parents were responsible for 98% of deaths in all infant
homicides committed in Canada between the years of
2000 and 2009.

Question 43

three broad types of maternal filicides

x3

Answer 43

(1) Battered mothers
(2) Mental illness
(3) Neonaticides

Question 44

three broad types of maternal filicides:

Battered Mothers

Answer 44

(1) Battering mothers have killed their children
impulsively in response to the behaviour of the child. These mothers have the highest rates of social and family stress, including marital stress and financial problems.

Question 45

three broad types of maternal filicides:

Mental illness

Answer 45

group with mental disorders tends to be older and married. They are likely to have killed older children, to have multiple victims, and to be diagnosed with a
psychosis or depression. They are also the group that is most likely to attempt suicide after the murder.

Question 46

three broad types of maternal filicides:

Neonaticides

Answer 46

those who kill their children within 24 hours of birth, are typically young, unmarried women with no prior history of mental illness, who are not suicidal, and who have concealed their pregnancies, fearing rejection or disapproval from their families.

Question 47

Reasons given to explain why men kill their wives

x4

Answer 47

(1) Crawford and Gartner (1992) found that the most
common motive for uxoricide (in 43% of cases they
examined) was the perpetrators’ anger over either
estrangement from their partners or sexual jealousy
about perceived infidelity
(2) found that the two primary motivations underlying
intimate-partner homicides that were committed
between 2000 and 2010 in Canada were escalations of
arguments/quarrels and jealousy.
(3) comparing police records from Canada, Australia, and the United States, Wilson and Daly (1993) found that recent or imminent departure by the eventual victim was associated with a husband killing his wife.
(4) the following factors increased the risk for homicide: the offender having access to a gun, previous threats having been made with a weapon, estrangement, and the victim having left for another partner.

Question 48

Types of Familicide

x3

Answer 48

(1)almost always committed by a man. The homicide is often accompanied by a history of spousal and child
abuse prior to the offence.
(2) hostile accusatory killer
(3) despondent non-hostile killer

Question 49

hostile accusatory killer

x2

Answer 49

(1) expresses hostility toward his wife, often related to alleged infidelities or her intentions to terminate the relationship.
(2) A past history of violent acts is common for this type of killer.

Question 50

despondent non-hostile killer

x3

Answer 50

(1) is depressed and worried about an impending disaster for himself or his family.
(2) kills his family and then commits suicide.
(3) Past acts of violence toward children and spouse are not characteristic of this type of killer

Question 51

Distinguishing characteristics among youth who commit homicide

x4

Answer 51

(1) when youth commit homicides, they often have at least one accomplice
(2) youth who kill are often acquainted with their victims, either intimately (e.g., the victims are their parents) or as criminal associates.
(3) Youth charged with parricide (killing parents) were
more likely to have been physically abused, to have
witnessed spousal abuse, and to report amnesia for
the murders, compared with the other youth who
committed murder.
(4) Abused youth were younger, more often Caucasian,
and more likely to have attempted suicide prior to the
homicide than nonabused youth.

Question 52

typology of juvenile homicide offenders based on the circumstances of the offence

x3

Answer 52

(1) crime: (youth who killed during the commission of another crime, such as robbery or sexual assault).
(2) conflict: (youth who were engaged in an argument or conflict with the victim when the killing occurred)
(3) psychotic (youth who had symptoms of severe mental illness at the time of the murder).

Question 53

Typologies of Serial Murderers

x3

Answer 53

(1) classification systems have been developed to classify serial murderers.
(2) Holmes and Holmes proposed another typology. They used 110 case files of serial murderers to develop a classification system based on victim characteristics and on the method and location of the murder.
(3) 1. Visionary
2. mission-oriented
3. Hedonistic
4. Power/control

Question 54

Typologies of Serial Murderers:

Visionary

Answer 54

kills in response to voices or visions telling him or her to kill. This type of serial murderer would most likely be diagnosed as delusional or psychotic

Question 55

Typologies of Serial Murderers:

Mission-oriented

Answer 55

believes there is a group of undesirable people who

should be eliminated, such as homeless people, sex-trade workers, or a specific minority group

Question 56

Typologies of Serial Murderers:

Hedonistic

Answer 56

(1) motivated by self-gratification
(2) divided into three subtypes based on the motivation for killing:
1. Lust: is motivated by sexual gratification and becomes stimulated and excited by the process of killing.
2. Thrill: derives excitement from seeing his or her victims experience terror or pain.
3. Comfort: The comfort serial murderer is motivated by material or financial gain

Question 57

Typologies of Serial Murderers:

Power/control

Answer 57

is not motivated by sexual gratification but by wanting to have absolute dominance over the victim

Question 58

Triggers of mass murders

x5

Answer 58

(1) often depressed, angry, frustrated individuals who believe they have not succeeded in life
(2) often described as socially isolated and lacking in
interpersonal skills
(3) triggered by what they perceive as a serious loss or a social injustice
(4) offenders select targets who represent whom they hate or blame for their problems
(5) often feel rejected by others and come to regard homicide as a justified act of revenge

Question 59

Variants of multiple murder:

classification criteria that are typically used.

x4

Answer 59

(1) relate to the number of victims killed
(2) whether a “cooling-off” period is present between the crime events
(3) number of events during which the killings took place
(4) number of locations involved in the crime series

Question 60

Variants of multiple murder:

generally categorized into one of three types:

Answer 60

(1) Spree murderers
(2) Serial Killer
(3) Mass murderers

Question 61

Spree murderers

Answer 61

the offender must usually have killed two or more victims in on continuous “event” at two or more
locations, with no cooling-off period between the murders.

Question 62

Characteristics of Serial Murderers

x4

Answer 62

(1) Most are male: review of 399 serial murderers in the
United States between 1825 and 1995, Hickey (2006) reported that 83% were male and 17% were female
(2) operate on their own
(3) Most serial murderers in the United States are Caucasian: In a review, reported that 73% of serial murderers were Caucasian and 22% African-American.
(4) Victims of serial murderers are usually young females who are not related to the murderer

Question 63

Broadly, children’s and youth’s
emotional and behavioural
difficulties can be categorized

Might co-occur with
externalizing difficulties

Answer 63

(1) Internalizing factors

(2) Externalizing factors

Question 64

Externalizing factors

x4

Answer 64

(1) Behavioural difficulties such as delinquency, fighting, bullying, lying, and destructive behaviour
(2) Considered more difficult to treat and more likely to have long-term persistence
(3) Known to be quite stable, though symptoms often peak and teenage years and decrease in the late 20s
(4) Males are more likely to have than females, with a ratio of about 10 to 1

Question 65

Internalizing Factors

Answer 65

(1) Emotional difficulties such as anxiety, depression, and obsessions

Question 66

Trends in youth
crime since 2000

x6

Answer 66

(1) Total # of Crimes committed Has been decreasing for past Few years
(2) Pattern can also Be seen for violent Offences
(3) Probation most common sentence provided to youth in youth court in 2010/2011
(4) Over 50% of youth found guilty in court were given probation, either as a stand-alone sentence or in combination with another sentence
(5) Proportion of guilty youth court cases being
sentenced to Custody fell from 29% in 2000/2001 to 16% in 2010/2011
(6) Use of deferred custody and supervision orders has increased slightly since being introduced into 2003

Question 67

Common diagnoses of youth
in conflict with the law

x3

Answer 67

(1) Conduct disorder
(2) ADHD: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder
(3) ODD: Oppositional defiant disorder

Question 68

Conduct disorder

x2

Answer 68

(1) A disorder characterized by persistent pattern of behaviour in which a youth violates the rights of others or age-appropriate societal norms or rules
(2) Approximately 50% of children meeting criteria go on to receive diagnoses of antisocial personality disorder in adulthood

Question 69

ADHD: Attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder

x4

Answer 69

(1) Disorder in youth characterized by persistent pattern of inattention and hyperactivity or impulsivity
(2) When making diagnosis it is important to consider age of a child
(3) In young children, many of the symptoms are part of normal development and behaviour and may not lead to criminal activity later on
(4) Maybe some hyper active-impulsive or inattentive symptoms before age 7 that cause impairment

Question 70

ODD: Oppositional defiant disorder

x2

Answer 70

(1) A disorder in youth characterized by persistent pattern of negativistic,hostile and defiant behaviours
(2) Pattern of angry/irritable mood, argumentative/defiant behavior, or vindictiveness lasting at least six months as evidenced by at least four symptoms from any of the list of categories, and exhibited during interaction with at least one individual who is not a sibling

Question 71

YCJA & how it differs From previous acts

x5

Answer 71

(1) Less serious and less violent offences should be kept out of the formal court process
(2) The number of extrajudicial measures is increased
(3) There is a greater focus on prevention and re-integration into the community
(4) Transfers to adult court are removed; instead, youth court judges can impose adult sentences
(5) The interests and needs of victims are recognized

Question 72

Trajectories defining youth offenders:
x2

Two developmental pathways to Youthful antisocial behaviour have been suggested

x2

Answer 72

(1) Youth offenders may be categorized as those who started with social transgressions and behavioural
problems in very early childhood or those whose problem behaviours emerged in the teen years
(2) Age of onset is a critical factor in the trajectory to adult offending
(3) Adolescent onset
(4) Childhood onset

Question 73

Two developmental pathways to Youthful antisocial behaviour have been suggested

Childhood onset

x3

Answer 73

(1) Number of researchers have found that early onset of antisocial behaviour is related to more serious and persistent antisocial behaviour later in life
(2) May have a number of other difficulties,such as AD/HD, learning disabilities,and academic difficulties
(3) Less frequent occurrence than adolescent onset
(3 - 5 % of the general population)

Question 74

Two developmental pathways to Youthful antisocial behaviour have been suggested

Adolescent onset

x3

Answer 74

(1) Occurs in about 70% of the general population
(2) More common to desist their antisocial behaviour in their early adult childhood than for those with a childhood onset
(3) Some continue to engage in antisocial acts in adulthood

Question 75

Theories to explain antisocial behaviour in youth

x3

Answer 75

(1) Social Theories
(2) Biological Theories
(3) Cognitive Theories

Question 76

Theories to explain antisocial behaviour in youth:

Social Theories

x5

Answer 76

(1) Children learn their behaviour from observing others
(2) As children are developing, numerous models are available to imitate, including parents, siblings, peers, and media figures
(3) In this pattern of intergenerational aggression, one aggressive generation produces the next aggressive generation
(4) More likely to imitate behaviour that receives positive reinforcement than behaviour that receives negative reinforcement or punishment
(5) Watching extremely violent television and movies in which actors are rewarded for their aggression also increases children’s likelihood of acting aggressively

Question 77

Theories to explain antisocial behaviour in youth:

Biological Theories

x7

Answer 77

(1) Relationship between frontal lobe functioning and anti-social behaviour have been examined
(2) Frontal lobe responsible for planning and inhibiting
of behaviour
(3) Conduct-disordered youth have less frontal lobe
inhibition of behaviour
(4) Likelihood these youth will act impulsively is increased making it more likely they will make poor
behavioural choices
(5) physiologically, conduct-disordered youth have been found to have slower heart rates Than youth who do not engage an antisocial behavior
(6) Genetic studies found relation between paternal antisocial behaviour and child offspring antisocial behaviour
(7) Children who have an antisocial biological father more likely to engage in antisocial behaviour

Question 78

Theories to explain antisocial behaviour in youth:

Cognitive Theories

Answer 78

(1) Model Of conduct-disordered behaviour that focusses on the thought processes that occur in social interactions
(2) Thought processes start when individuals pay attention to and interpret social and emotional cues in their environment
(3) Model considers alternative responses to the cues
(4) A response is chosen and performed
(5) Conduct-disordered youth demonstrate cognitive
deficits and distortions
(6) Attend to fewer cues and misattribute hostile intent to ambiguous situations
(7) Demonstrate limited problem-solving skills, producing few solutions to problems, and solutions are usually aggressive in nature
(8) Cognitive deficits are likely to be present in early childhood and may contribute to child-onset conduct disorder

Question 79

Cognitive Theories

distinguished between two types of aggressive behaviour

Answer 79

(1) Reactive aggression

(2) Proactive aggression

Question 80

Proactive aggression:

Deficiencies in the process occur at different
point

x2

Answer 80

(1) Aggression Directed at achieving a goal or receiving positive reinforcers
(2) Likely to have deficiencies in generating Alternative responses and often choose an aggressive
response

Question 81

Reactive Aggression:

x2

Answer 81

(1) Emotionally aggressive response to a perceived
threat or frustration
(2) Youth are likely to demonstrate deficiencies early in the cognitive process, such as focussing on only a few social cues and misattributing hostile intent to ambiguous situations

Question 82

Risk factors related to youth crime

x4

Answer 82

(1) It is not just one risk factor but rather multiple risk factors that can lead to negative child outcomes
(2) Familial risk factors
- Child Abuse
- Neglectful Parents
- Parenting style
- Low socioeconomic status
(3) Social and school risk factors
(4) Individual risk factors

Question 83

Risk factors related to youth crime:

Familial risk factors

x4

Answer 83

(1) Child abuse: Boys, in particular, may respond to abuse by acting aggressively and later engaging In spousal abuse
- Physical abuse experience during adolescence increases risk for developing lifetime mental health
difficulties and behavioural problems
(2) Children who do not attach securely to their parents
(3) Parent who drink heavily are less likely to respond appropriately to the children’s behaviour
(4) Parenting style: Inconsistent and overly strict parents who apply harsh discipline pose a risk to the child
- Not properly supervising the child present a risk factor to the child for later behavioural problems
(4) Low socioeconomic status:
- large family size
- Parental mental health problems

Question 84

Risk factors related to youth crime:

Social and school risk factors

x4

Answer 84

(1) Having trouble reading and having a lower intelligence risk factors for antisocial behaviour
(2) School environment provides an opportunity for peer
influences on behaviour
(3) Young children who play with aggressive peers
at an early age are at risk for externalizing behaviour
(4) Social disapproval and being rejected are likely to occur with aggressive children and adolescents

Question 85

Risk factors related to youth crime:

Individual risk factors

x6

Answer 85

(1) Parents own history of ADP/HD or behavioural difficulties are known risk factors for their offspring,
especially for sons.
(2) Risk factors for violence at age 14 increased by:
- Diagnosis of ADD/HD
- Lack of engagement in school
- Low grades
- Peer delinquency
(3) Child’s temperament: For example, Children who are difficult to Soothe or you have a negative disposition can be at risk for later behavioural difficulties
(4) Impulsive children at risk for behavioural problems
(5) A pregnant woman’s use of drugs and alcohol can place the fetus at risk for later behavioural problems
(6) Diet and exposure to high levels of lead are risk factors for externalizing disorders

Question 86

Factors to protect children from developing a life of crime

x5

Answer 86

(1) number of areas in which protectiveness can be present: genetic variables, personality dispositions, supportive family environments, and community supports.
- protective factors help to improve or sustain some part
of an individual’s life
(2) Resilient
(3) Individual Protective Factors
(4) Familial Protective Factors
(5) Social/External Protective Factors

Question 87

Factors to protect children from developing a life of crime:

Resilient
x2

Answer 87

(1) child who has multiple risk factors but who can
overcome them and prevail
(2) ability to overcome stress and adversity.

Question 88

Factors to protect children from developing a life of crime:

Individual Protective Factors

x5

Answer 88

(1) known as resilient temperaments, include exceptional social skills, child competencies, confident
perceptions, values, attitudes, and beliefs within the child
(2) social support may have a heritable component that is influenced by personality
(3) For example, likeable children may respond to good role models in a positive manner, thus promoting
a positive and continuing relationship.
(4) motivation to change” was a protective factor for general and violent reoffending adolescents
(5) protective factors from reoffending included being older when first arrested, offending less overall, and having fewer psychopathological problems

Question 89

Factors to protect children from developing a life of crime:

Familial Protective Factors

x2

Answer 89

(1) positive aspects of the child’s parents/guardians
and home environment
(2) For example, a child who has a positive and supportive relationship with an adult may display less negative behaviour

Question 90

Factors to protect children from developing a life of crime:

Social/External
Protective Factors

x3

Answer 90

(1) Peer groups can have a strong effect on child outcomes
(2) Associating with deviant peers is a risk factor for
antisocial behaviour.
(3) associating with prosocial children is a protective factor against antisocial behaviour