9 - Introduction to Forensic Psychology Flashcards Preview

PSYC3020 - Applied Psychology > 9 - Introduction to Forensic Psychology > Flashcards

Flashcards in 9 - Introduction to Forensic Psychology Deck (17)
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1
Q

What is forensic psychology?

A

The application of psychological knowledge and theories to all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems, including the processes and the people.

2
Q

List the historical perspectives of crime theories?

A

Classical school of criminology

Positivist school of criminology

3
Q

Describe the classical school of criminology

A
  • People are rational decision makers
  • People freely choose to do the wrong thing
  • Punishment should be proportionate to the crime committed
4
Q

Describe the positivist school of criminology

A
  • Emphasised factors determining criminal behaviour rather than free will
  • Believe punishment should fit the criminal
  • Seeks to understand crime through scientific methods

E.g. ape-like humans, typing humans based on looks

5
Q

List the four main types of modern crime theories

A
  1. Sociological Theories
  2. Biological Theories
  3. Psychological Theories
  4. Social-Psychological Theories
6
Q

Explain sociological theories of crime

A

Crime explained as a result of social or cultural forces that are external to an individual emerge from social class, political, physical structures, etc.

Individual differences de-emphasised

7
Q

Describe the types of sociological theories

A

Structural Explanations

  • People have similar interests and motivations, but differ dramatically in opportunities to employ talents
  • Discrepancies between aspirations and means create strains that lead to crime

Sub-Cultural Explanations
- Crime originates when various groups of people endorse cultural values that clash with conventional rules of society (e.g. gangs)

8
Q

What are the cons of sociological theories?

A

Crimes are often committed by people who have never been denied opportunities (celebrities)

Applies only to certain offences (e.g. not traffic violations)

Doesn’t explain why some offend and others don’t

9
Q

Explain biological theories of crime

A

Stresses genetic influences, chromosomal abnormalities, biochemical irregularities or physical factors as causes of crime.

Theorists respect social and environmental influences as well

10
Q

Describe the types of biological theories

A

Constitutional Theories

  • 3 somatypes, mesomorph leads to criminal behaviour
  • Mesomorphs exposed to wrong influences and environment would engage in more crimes.
  • But; few all-or-none categories oversimplify, correlation doesn’t equal causation

Genetic Theories

  • Adoption studies; men with biological parents with criminal records 4x more likely to be criminals, and 2x with adoptive. Both = 14x more likely.
  • But; Unclear what exactly is inherited.
11
Q

What could be inherited based on biological theories of crime?

A
  • Constitutional pre-disposition (body type)
  • Neuropsychological abnormalities
  • ANS diferences
  • Physiological differences (serotonin)
  • Personality and temperament differences
12
Q

What are the cons of biological theories of crime?

A
  • Fear attributing crime partly to genetic factors as social and environmental neglected.
  • Concern it will lead to some people being genetically “inferior”
  • Extent to which any behaviour is inheritable cannot explain differences between groups.
  • Unclear what exactly is inherited
13
Q

Explain psychological theories of crime

A

Crimes result from personality attributes possessed by the potential criminal.

Emphasize individual differences about the way people think or feel about behaviour.

14
Q

Describe the types of psychological theories

A

Psychoanalytic Theories
Freuds theories
- Weak ego and superego that can’t restrain anti-social instincts of id (e.g. crimes of passion)
- Means of obtaining substitute gratification of basic needs that haven’t been satisfied
- Thanatos, desire of animate matter to return to inanimate (die and/or be caught)
- But; modern theories don’t suppot

Personality traits

  • Criminals show higher levels of all extraversion, neuroticism and psychoticism
  • First testable theory

Personality

  • Anti-social PD
  • Psychopathy; engage in frequent criminal activity with little or no remorse
15
Q

Explain social-psychological theories of crime

A

Bridges gap between environmentalism of sociology and individualism of psychological or biological theories.

Crime is learned, but theories differ on how it’s learned

16
Q

Describe the types of social-psychological theories

A

Control Theories

  • People will behave antisocially unless they learn through inner controls and external environments not to offend
  • Largely external constraint

Learning Theories
- People acquire specific criminal behaviours through different forms of learning (operant (behaviour favoured by rft) and social learning)

Social-Labelling

  • Deviance created by labels that society assigns to certain acts
  • Stigma of branded a devant can create a self-fulfilling prophecy (e.g. teachers told bright girls) but little research due to ethics
17
Q

What is the best theory of crime?

A

Depends on crime

Most theories can explain certain types of crime, but none explain all forms, and some explain little