Halloween SpecialIntroduction to Psychology

Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology: the intersection between psychology and the criminal justice system Consulting law enforcement Research and Statistical analysis Providing expert witness testimony Competency evaluations Sanity evaluations Sentencing recommendations

Forensic Psychology

Insanity: a legal term used to describe a scenario in which the individual should not be held accountable for his actions due to psychiatric illness or mental handicap

Different rules exist depending on jurisdiction M'Naghten test:▪ Defendant must have a severe mental illness▪ Defendant must not have known right/wrong ▪ Defendant did not understand the nature or quality of his

actions

Forensic Psychology

Just because someone has been diagnosed with a mental illness doesn’t mean they are legally “insane” At trial, psychologists & psychiatrists may give expert

testimony as to the defendant’s mental state – but sanity is ultimately determined by the judge or jury

Only 1 out of 1000 criminal cases plead “Not Guilty by Reason of Insanity” or NGRI Out of those, roughly ¼ are successful defenses Typically results in involuntary commitment

Mental illness may be considered as a mitigating factor instead of a defense Reduced or differential sentencing

Forensic Psychology

Mass Murder Murder of 4 or more people at the same

location at the same time

Spree Murder Murder of 2 of more people at different

locations with no break in-between

Serial Murder Murder of 2 or more people on separate

occasions with a “cooling off” period in-between

Forensic Psychology

“Psychopath” is NOT a mental disorder as per the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

Psychopathology is a general term referring to the developmental trajectory and contributing factors of any number of mental disorders

What is commonly referred to as a “psychopath” is typically someone with a cluster of personality disorders and paraphilias

Forensic Psychology

Personality Disorders (Cluster B; DSM-V) Antisocial Personality Disorder Borderline Personality Disorder Histrionic Personality Disorder Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Personality Disorders

Antisocial Personality Disorder

Begins in childhood as Conduct Disorder▪ Cruelty to people or animals▪ Destruction of property▪ Deceitfulness or theft▪ Violation of rules

Pervasive pattern of disregard and violation of the rights of others (3 or more of the following)▪ Failing to conform with social norms, laws▪ Deceitfulness▪ Impulsivity▪ Irritability & aggression▪ Reckless disregard for safety▪ Consistent irresponsibility▪ Lack of remorse

Personality Disorders

Borderline Personality Disorder

A pervasive pattern of instability of interpersonal relationships, self-image, and affects; marked impulsivity (5 or more of the following):▪ Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment▪ Unstable and intense interpersonal relationships▪ Identity disturbance▪ Impulsivity in at least two areas that are self-damaging▪ Recurrent suicidal behavior▪ Affective instability▪ Chronic feelings of emptiness▪ Inappropriate, intense anger▪ Transient stress-related paranoia

Personality Disorders

Histrionic Personality Disorder

Pervasive pattern of excessive emotionality and attention seeking (5 or more of the following)▪ Is uncomfortable in situations in which they are not the center of

attention▪ Interaction with others is often inappropriately sexually seductive or

provocative▪ Displays rapidly shifting and shallow expression of emotions▪ Consistently using physical appearance to draw attention to self▪ Speech is excessively impressionistic and lacking in detail▪ Shows self-dramatization & theatricality▪ Suggestible▪ Considers relationships more intimate than they actually are

Personality Disorders

Narcissistic Personality Disorder

Pervasive pattern of grandiosity, need for admiration, and lack of empathy (5 or more of the following)▪ Grandiose sense of self-importance▪ Preoccupied with fantasies of unlimited success, power, beauty,

etc.▪ Believes they are special and unique and can only be understood

by other high-status people▪ Requires excessive admiration▪ Has a sense of entitlement ▪ Is interpersonally exploitive▪ Lacks empathy▪ Envious of others▪ Arrogant

Paraphilias

Paraphilias: recurrent, intense sexually arousing fantasies, sexual urges, or behaviors generally involving 1) nonhuman objects, 2) suffering or humiliation, 3) children or nonconsenting persons.

Exhibitionism Fetishism Frotteurism Pedophilia Sexual Sadism & Sexual Masochism Transvestic Fetishism Voyeurism Paraphilia Not Otherwise Specified (NOS)▪ Necrophilia▪ Partialism▪ etc

Infamous Serial Killers

Jeffrey Dahmer Abducted, raped, murdered,

dismembered, and ate 17 men and boys Attempted to create permanent, submissive,

unresisting state in his victims by boring holes into their skulls and pouring acid on the brain

One young man managed to escape Dahmer’s apartment while still drugged Police found the victim intoxicated – Dahmer

convinced police his friend was high, and police returned the victim to Dahmer

Diagnosed with Borderline Personality Disorder

Infamous Serial Killers

John Wayne Gacy Jr.

Prominent businessman and community volunteer▪ Pogo the Clown

Raped and murdered 33 (confirmed) young men – 26 of which he buried in the crawlspace under his home

Several young men survived being raped and tortured by Gacy, but did not go to the police until Gacy was apprehended for murder several years later.

Diagnosed with Antisocial Personality Disorder

Infamous Serial Killers

Ted Bundy

Kidnapped, raped, murdered over 30 girls and young women▪ Revisited corpses repeatedly to groom them

and perform sexual acts▪ Decapitated 12 victims, keeping their

severed heads in his home

Gained women’s trust through charisma and impersonating authority figures▪ Even after his arrest, he got married during

one of his later trials – the woman became pregnant during his incarceration

Several diagnoses were made:▪ Antisocial Personality Disorder & Narcissistic

Personality Disorder