FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGY - the discipline of psychology that deals with the legal
system, including the front end operations (police work, investigation), legal
proceedings (expert witness, competency & psychological assessment, jury
selection), and institutionalization (confinement, treatment, parole
hearings). Forensic psychologists may
also be called on to: evaluate new laws and programs, assist in the assessment
and hiring of new police officers, etc.
Here
are some forensic Psychology key words to understand psychology more easier.
- A
-
ABASEMENT -
the need to comply, surrender, confess, or atone. A need to accept punishment.
ACTUS
REUS
- the actual criminal act. A legal term
referring to the actions behind the offense that must successfully be proven by
the prosecution so that the defendant may be found guilty. SEE "mens reus"
AGGRESSION -
the goal directed behaviour of harming another living being. The behaviour may be indirect (upset person
may break a window rather then hit some one) or displaced to someone else (road
rage). SEE "hostile aggression"
AGGRESSION
MACHINE - the apparatus used to measure physical aggression in a
laboratory
ANAL
EROTICISM - erotic/sexual pleasure
from activities associated with stimulation of the anal region. Studies have linked such eroticism to
aggression towards the individual being penetrated.
ANGER -
an emotional reaction elicited by a number of unique stimulus, including
restraint, aggression, threat, attack, and frustration. Anger is characterized by a strong autonomic
nervous system response, particularly the sympathetic component.
ANTISOCIAL
PERSONALITY - a behavioral disorder characterized by a
number of deviant acts, including delinquency, truancy, theft, promiscuity,
vandalism, fighting, poor work record, impulsiveness, irrationality, reckless
behavior, and aggressiveness.
ATAVISM
(THEORY OF) - a classic theory of criminal behavior that
has long been refuted. The theory of
atavism suggests that criminals are genetic throwbacks that react deviantly
simply because their behavior matches those of our ancient ancestors.
AUTOEROTICISM
-
Sexual gratification or arousal in the absence of a partner.
AUTOMATISM
-
an act performed unconsciously. Defendants
have been found innocent due to an automatism defense (i.e., homicide while
sleepwalking).
- B
-
BALLISTICS - ballistic experts focus on the functioning
of firearms. Via microscopic analysis
they can match up bullets with a particular weapon. They also provide key information about the
projectiles path.
BEHAVIOR
MODIFICATION - a common psychological treatment used in
both clinical and forensic environments.
The changing of human behavior by the application of conditioning and/or
other learning techniques.
BLANK
LINEUP - in order to assess the accuracy of a witness police
officers may present a police lineup that does not contain the suspect.
BYSTANDER
EFFECT - a scientifically proven finding that as the number of
bystanders increases, the likelihood of a bystander helping someone in distress
decreases.
- C
-
CATHARSIS
HYPOTHESIS - The theory that states that if angry persons can
express aggression in a safe manner, they will be less likely to engage in
harmful behaviour. Has possible
implications with offender treatment.
CASTRATION -
the surgical removal of the testes or ovaries.
In the past was used as a treatment for male sex offenders. The ethicity and validity of this approach
has come into question.
CHILD
MALTREATMENT/ABUSE - actions either physical or psychological
that harm children. Can be either a
voluntary or involuntary action.
COGNITIVE
DISSONANCE - the unpleasant state that may occur when an individual
has inconsistencies between their attitudes or attitudes and behaviour. May occur in offenders concerning their
morality and behaviour.
COGNITIVE
THEORY OF AGGRESSION - a fairly modern theory that suggests that
aggression stems from complex interactions between cognition, affective states
(emotion), and other additional components.
COMBAT
FATIGUE - a traumatic neurosis characterized by the presence of
somatic disturbances and anxiety reactions that have been brought on by
extended exposure to combat. To layman's
it has been called 'shell shock'.
CONFLICT -
an action taken to block or interfere with others' interests, because of the
perception that ones opponent is doing the same, or that each others actions
are incompatible.
CONFORMITY -
social influence that causes and individual to change his/her
attitudes/behaviour in order to conform to social norms. A strong example of this is the soldiers
actions in NAZI germany.
COMPOS
MENTIS - to be competent, or not to be legally insane or
mentally deficient. In contrast to non
compos mentis.
CRIMINAL
BEHAVIOUR PROFILING - a
criminal investigation technique in which crime scenes and additional evidence
are analyzed in order to discern patterns in the offenders behaviour, with
which a behavioural and physical description of the offender can be
created. Has also been called:
"profiling", "offender profiling", "investigative
profiling".
CRIMINAL
TYPE
- a category of individuals whom repeatedly engage in criminal and/or
antisocial behavior. They apparently
have a constitutional tendency towards behaving in that direction.
CRIMINOLOGY -
the scientific study of crime, criminals, and penology. This science often considers both social and
psychological aspects of criminality.
- D
-
DACTYLOSCOPY -
this is the scientific analysis of fingerprints. Fingerprint experts have been involved with
law enforcement for almost a hundred years.
Recent advances in dactyloscopy have continued to make fingerprint
analysis of key importance (i.e., new methods pull fingerprints off underwater
surfaces, skin, etc.).
DEADLINE
TECHNIQUE - a technique used in many areas, in which the target is
told that they have only a limited time to accept an offer. Often used in criminal interrogations (i.e.
"if you confess now the crown attorney will go easy on you").
DEFENSIVE
WOUNDS - wounds commonly found on a victims arms, hands, or
fingers sustained when the victim was trying to defend self from an assault.
DELINQUENT
-
a juvenile offender under the age of 18, or one who commits an offense that is
not considered a serious crime.
DELINQUENCY - a
minor offense against the criminal code, or the characteristic of being a
habitual offender.
DEPERSONALIZATION -
an offenders attempt to eliminate the identity of the victim so that they do
not represent or resemble the person whom has caused their psychological distress. Actions can range from covering the victims
face with a towel or blanket up towards extreme battery.
DEVIANCE -
behaviour, ideas, and attributes that are responded to negatively by
others. Going against the social norm,
whether it is criminal (murder/rape), social (wearing red to a funeral), or
physical (facial tattoo's, physical abnormality). Deviance can change depending on the setting
of the act/attribute (cursing with friends vs. in church), the age of the actor
(baby soiling cloths vs. teenager), etc.
DEVIANT -
one who acts defiantly, have socially deviant thoughts, or has socially
abnormal attributes. Even though a
"hunchbacked person" is not necessarily bad, society tends to look at
them negatively as "deviant" from the norm.
DIRECT
AGGRESSION - an attack placed upon what the individual believes is
the source of their frustration. As
opposed to Displaced Aggression
DISORGANIZED -
An offender classification used in many criminal profiling systems. Such an offender tends to carry out spontaneous
and impulsive acts in a manner that is sloppy
and at high risk of leaving evidence.
Such offenders tend to know the victims (at least by sight), stick to
their own geographical locations, and use a blitz like assault with a weapon of
convenience. Sexual acts often occur
postmortem. SEE 'organized'
DISPLACED
AGGRESSION - an attack against a person/object that is not the
original source of frustration. This act
will occur when the source of the frustration is either unavailable or is
likely to retaliate.
DISTRAUGHT
WITNESS - The distraught witness bears a great deal of emotional
distress. This distress is the direct
result of either witnessing the crime or indirectly from their relationship with the victim.
DRIVE
THEORIES OF AGGRESSION - the theory suggesting that aggression
is created by external conditions that arouse the motive to harm others. See "frustration aggression
hypothesis".
- E-
ECOMANIA - a
pathological attitude direct towards one's family. It is characterized by domineering
behavior. This attitude has implications
in familial abuse.
EROTOMANIA
(1)-
a pathological exaggerated sexual interest.
In males this condition is satyriasis; in females, nymphomania.
EROTOMANIA
(2)-
an obsessive love by an individual
towards one of particularly high status (i.e. celebrities). Subject often believes that the other person
shares mutual feelings of love. Efforts
to contact the object of their obsession, along with stalking and surveillance,
is common.
EUNUCH - a
castrated male.
EXHIBITIONISM
-
a compulsion to expose parts of the body, most often the sex organs, for the
purpose of sexual excitement.
- F
-
FAMILICIDE
-
when an individual kills his/her spouse and one or more of his/her children
FEAR-INDUCED
AGGRESSION - responses believed to be biologically programmed into
us so that we act in an aggressive manner towards any form of forced
confinement.
FETISHISM - a
pathological condition in which sexual arousal and gratification is induced by
the handling of objects or nonsexual parts of the body.
FLAGELLATION
-
the practice of submitting to whipping for sexual or penitential purposes.
FLAGELLOMANIA
-
sexual excitement aroused by whipping.
FOLIE
A DEUX - the occurrence of psychosis in two persons who are
closely associated to each other (i.e., husband and wife).
FORCED
FANTASY - an emotional fantasy that is deliberately promoted by
the therapist (analyst). This procedure
has been criticized for its ability to create false memories.
FORENSIC -
"pertaining to the courts".
FORENSIC
ANTHROPOLOGY - The forensic anthropologist examines the
victims bones to determine a number of key facts. Information such as gender, age, looks,
previous trauma, and disease can all be found.
The forensic anthropologist is often of key relevance to the
identification of remains. They use a
number of means, including molecular DNA analysis.
FORENSIC
ARTIST - the forensic artist provides an elaborate sketch of
the offender. This process is undertaken
via the information from an eyewitness.
Many investigators now use computer programs to develop offender
renditions.
FORENSIC
CHEMISTRY - the forensic chemist studies the molecular aspects of
the crime scene. They can match fibers,
paint, and dyes to particular objects.
They will identify relevant chemicals and particles.
FORENSIC
DENTISTRY - these experts serve a identification function. Via the analysis of a corpses teeth and
previous dental records they can make a positive identification. They also will analyze bite patterns so that
they can identify who was eating a particular meal or even who bit somebody.
FORENSIC
ENTOMOLOGY - the entomologist studies insects. A number of pieces of key information can be
discovered from this analysis. The rate
of body decay via insects can directly correlate to time of death. The presence of certain insects can identify
previous dump sites, etc.
FORENSIC
GEOLOGY - the forensic geologist can determine where a person or
object has been by analyzing soil samples.
Soil can be found on a pair of shoes, tire treads, or a body. They can be matched up with common soil types
to predict quite specifically where the object/person has been.
FORENSIC
LINGUISTICS - the forensic linguist analyses either the
spoken or written word. They can
identify whether a message was presented by the same individual, what the
individuals underlying intent is, the individuals educational and cultural
background, as well as the presence of pathology.
FORENSIC
ODONTOLOGY - see 'forensic dentistry'
FORENSIC
PATHOLOGY - the forensic pathologist analyzes the remains of a
body. They attempt to determine the
cause and time of death via autopsy.
FORENSIC
PHOTOGRAPHY - the crime scene photographer attempts to
record every component of the crime scene via photograph. They depict the scene from multiple angles,
using multi-functional cameras, and through the consistent evaluation of size
and distance.
FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGIST - a Ph.D. psychologist whom specializes in
the realm of forensics. The forensic
psychologist may have either a Ph.D. in forensic psychology, clinical
psychology with a forensic focus, or experimental psychology with a forensic
focus.
FORENSIC
PSYCHOLOGY - the discipline of psychology that deals with the legal
system, including the front end operations (police work, investigation), legal
proceedings (expert witness, competency & psychological assessment, jury
selection), and institutionalization (confinement, treatment, parole
hearings). Forensic psychologists may
also be called on to: evaluate new laws and programs, assist in the assessment
and hiring of new police officers, etc.
FORENSIC
SCULPTORS - like the forensic artist, the sculptor attempts to
create an image of either an offender or a victim. The sculptor's goal is to create a three
dimensional version of the image.
FORENSIC
SEROLOGY - the serologist studies blood and other bodily fluids
for identification purposes. The
serologist is often involved in DNA fingerprinting (the identification of an
individual based on body cells).
FRAUDULENT
WITNESS - While not having any first hand knowledge of the
crime, the fraudulent witness is an active attention seeker whom comes forward
to offer fraudulent evidence.
FROTTAGE
-
sexual gratification achieved by rubbing against the clothing of a member of
the opposite sex in a crowd.
FRUSTRATION-AGRESSION
HYPOTHESIS - the drive theory of aggression that suggests
frustration builds and creates aggression (ex. road rage, person losing job
& family becoming homicidal).
- G
-
GROUP
POLARIZATION - the tendency for a group to shift toward
more extreme position then those that they initially held as a result of group
discussion. This has been seen in jury
deliberations.
GROUPTHINK -
tendency for highly cohesive groups to assume their decisions can't be wrong,
that all members support their decision, and that information to the contrary
shall be ignored. (i.e. cult behaviour)
- H
-
HOSTILE
AGGRESSION - aggression with the prime objective to inflict harm
onto a victim.
HOSTILE
ATTRIBUTIONAL BIAS - a tendency for some people to perceive
others' actions as the result of a hostile intent, when this is clearly not the
case. Occurs in a number of criminal
personality types.
HOSTILE
WITNESS - This witness is deliberately antagonistic and/or
noncompliant. Such an individual may
invent facts in order to purposefully mislead the law. The hostile witness may react this way for
two reasons: (1) their relationship to the offender, or (2) a underlying
animosity towards the law.
- I
-
INGRATIATION
-
a technique used to obtain compliance by inducing someone to like you, then
attempt to change their behaviours (i.e. cult behaviour, could be used with
'good cop' interrogations).
INTERMALE
AGGRESSION - physical violence or submissive behavior displayed by
males towards each other.
INSERTIONAL
NECROPHILIA - as a substitute of sexual intercourse the
offender inserts foreign objects into the victims orifice. Common with disorganized offenders. This should not be mistaken as a form of
mutilation.
INSTINCT
THEORY - aggression theory that suggests aggression stems from
universal innate tendencies. In other
words aggression is born into all of us.
INSTRUMENTAL
AGGRESSION - aggression with the goal not to harm but rather to
attain some other goal (i.e. sport aggression).
INTIMIDATED
WITNESS - This witness fears retaliation from the offender(s)
involved or from the criminal element in general. As a result, the intimidated witness is quite
apprehensive.
INVENTIVE
WITNESS - These witnesses typically embellish and create details
when being interviewed. This is likely
due to an inability to differentiate between fantasy and reality. They may also have esteem motives, in that
they wish to appear important.
IRRITABLE
AGGRESSION - aggression and rage directed towards an object when
the aggressor is frustrated, hurt, deprived, or stressed. As a result one may aggress towards objects
as an acceptable outlet of the aggression.
- L
-
LEADING
QUESTIONS - questions asked during an investigation that are
worded in such a manner that will suggest specific answers. This sort of questioning should be avoided
and may become inadmissible in a court case.
LEGAL
AUTHORITARIANISM - a juror whom tends to assume the worst
about an accused defendant, and is found more likely to convict. See "leniency bias".
LENIENCY
BIAS
- a juror whom tends to make favorable assumptions regarding the accused. See "legal authoritarianism".
LONELINESS
-
an emotional state resulting from the desire for close relationships but being
unable to attain them. This is a common
attribute of sex offenders.
- M
-
MATERNAL
AGGRESSION - aggressive behavior put forward by females (and most
likely males as well) when an intruder is in the presence of ones children.
MAXIMIZATION
-
a questioning technique in which the interrogator exaggerates the strength of
evidence gathered in order to elicit a confession. See 'minimization'.
MENS
REA
- the legal terminology referring to a perpetrators criminal mind. In order to be found guilty of a crime an
individual must be proven to have acted within a criminal mind.
MICROEXPRESSIONS
-
a brief, incomplete, facial expression that occur on our faces very quickly
after exposure to a stimulus. It occurs
before we can actively conceal them. A
trained observer may look for these to see what questions elicit certain
responses during an interrogation or criminal trial.
MINIMIZATION - a
questioning technique in which the interrogator plays down the evidence and the
seriousness of the act, by providing an excuse for the act or shifting blame
onto someone else (i.e. the victim). See
'maximization'
MISSION
ORIENTED - an offender typology.
The offender is directed by a self-imposed task without regard for the
consequences of ones actions. The
offender is often unconcerned about escape or even survival once the offense
has taken place.
MIXED
CRIME SCENE - description for a crime scene the
demonstrates the presence of both an organized and disorganized offender. Can be caused by: multiple offenders,
unanticipated events, youthfulness, substance abuse, and unexpected victim
actions.
MODUS
OPERANDI (MO) - The offenders actions during an
offense. This is variable behaviour that
evolves over multiple acts due to offender sophistication and confident.
- N
-
NECROPHILIA -
sexual gratification from intercourse with a deceased individual. SEE 'insertional necrophelia'
NORMS - rules within a group (or society) that describe
how its members should or should not behave.
- O
-
OBEDIENCE
-
social influence in which one person obeys direct orders from another to
perform some action. High obedience
levels were seen in nazi germany, in cults, and often in the childhood of
psychopathic offenders.
ORGANIZED
-
offender typology characterized by a mobile (own transportation) offender who
cons his victim into capture rather then using force. Offender is often a stranger selected on the
basis of specific criteria. Use of
restraints and weapons are preplanned, and rarely left behind. The body is often transported to a novel dump
site and concealed. SEE 'disorganized'.
OVERKILL -
injury and trauma that is excessive beyond that required to cause the death of
the victim.
- P
-
PERSONATION -
An offenders ritualistic actions. Seen
with body positioning, mutilation, and other symbolic gestures. This behaviour is only of significance to the
offender.
PERSUASION
-
the effort to change someone's attitudes.
PREJUDICE -
negative attitudes towards others of specific social groups.
PREDATORY
AGGRESSION - our motivated attack behaviors. This aggression is directed to natural prey
and is deeply routed in our ancestors hunting behavior. Today it can be seen in the behavior of
normal individuals as hunting.
PROVOCATION -
others actions that trigger aggression in the recipient because they are seen
as stemming from malicious intent.
PSYCHOLOGICAL
AUTOPSY - an investigative review and victimology interview
procedure used to determine the victims psychological makeup.
PUNISHMENT -
the use of an aversive consequence in order to decrease or eliminate certain
behaviours.
- R
-
REACTANCE
-
the negative reaction towards threats of personal freedom.
REALISTIC
CONFLICT THEORY - the theory that prejudice stems from
competition between groups over certain resources.
REPRESSION
-
the freudian defense mechanism by which the person attempts to lower anxiety by
denial and forgetting. The idea of this
actually occurring in 'real life' has come under scientific scrutiny.
RELUCTANT
WITNESS - Witness responds with reluctance due to a natural
restraint that is a reflection of their personality. This particular witness will be hesitant and
reserved. They will not find it easy to
talk freely. Others may feel that the
act they have witnessed is "none of their business".
- S
-
SELECTIVE
RECALL - a phenomenon of extremely detailed memory recall when
a suspect is asked to relate his whereabouts/actions during the offense. This airtight and precise recall will not
reflect similar recall of other time periods preceding or following the
offense.
SEX
RELATED AGGRESSION - aggressive behavior that is elicited by
the same stimuli that elicits sexual behavior. Any person who can evoke sexual desire can
equally evoke aggression via jealousy, etc.
SEXUAL
HARASSMENT - unwelcome sexual advances, requests, and conduct.
SEXUAL
SADISM - an offender who obtains sexual gratification from the
victims response to physical/psychological torture.
SIGNATURE -
the repetitive ritualistic behaviour of a serial offender. This is typically apparent at every crime
scene and has little-to-nothing to do with the perpetration of the crime.
SOCIAL
INFLUENCE - efforts by others to change ones attitudes, beliefs,
or behaviours.
SOCIAL
LEARNING VIEW OF AGGRESSION - view that aggression is learned
through direct experiences and observations of others behaviours.
SOCIAL
LEARNING VIEW OF PREJUDICE - view that prejudice is learned
through direct experience, consistent with the manner other attitudes are
learned.
SOCIAL
PSYCHOLOGY - the psychological discipline that seeks to understand
the nature and causes of individual behaviour and thought within social situations.
STAGING -
the alteration of a crime scene in order to redirect the investigation in a way
away from offender (or at least what the offender thinks logically will do
this).
STRESS
-
a response to physical or psychological events that are at the leased perceived
by a person to cause harm either emotional or physically.
- T
-
TERRITORIAL
AGGRESSION - threat or attack behavior displayed towards an
invasion of ones territory or the submissive-retreat behavior displayed when
confronted while intruding.
TYPE
A BEHAVIOUR PATTERN - a pattern of behaviour consisting
primarily of high levels of hostility and competitiveness. This behaviour pattern is highly correlated
to aggression.
- U
-
UNDOING - offender whom has a close association with
their victim with symbolically try to undo the crime (i.e. wash the victim,
place a pillow under their head).
- V
-
VICTIMOLOGY -
the complete history of the victim (i.e. personality, lifestyle, traits etc.)
VOIR
DIRE
- the legal term used to refer to jury selection. During this process the judge and the
attorneys can dismiss prospective jurors for both specific and unstated
reasons. Attorneys often examine the
prospective jurors age, intelligence, gender, attentiveness, occupation, and
open-mindedness.
Written By Michael W. Decaire
Image Source: http://www.sxc.hu/photo/1156821
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