Forensic Psychology Assignment

Forensic Psychology

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................1
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................5
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Forensic psychology means to study behaviour, mindset of person who was associated
with some crime. This is the steam which work in police department, law firms, jails,
government agencies, etc. Forensic psychologist perform research in order to understand mindset
of criminals. Forensic psychology mainly has relation with police department which is important
and significant for improving mindset of defaulters (Adler, 2013). This report is based on case in
which a girl is sexually harass by a young man of 17 years. There is argument among young
man's solicitor and prosecuting council regarding this case. As per young man’s solicitor this act
was impulsive and opportunistic while as per prosecuting council his crime was predatory and
pre-meditated. In this report psychological theories and risk factors and evaluation of
psychological risk assessment are discussed.
Psychological behaviour depends on mindset of individual. As per change in situation,
there is difference in behaviour of young man also. Psychological theories are essential because
it provides knowledge about behaviour, mindset, thought, idea of individual. While talking about
theories of psychological it must consider behaviour of candidate and future prediction about
behaviour of young man. As per case future prediction of behaviour is essential, so possibilities
of re- happening of event can be known. There are some theories through which psychological
behaviour of young man can be understood. Some of them are as under-
Behavioural theory is difference in behaviour of individual as per change in situation.
This theory was propounded by John B. Watson, B.F. Skinner. This theory approaches young
man to learn new skills which are significant for future growth in life. With this theory, learning
can be performed. There is difference in learning style of young man also, so this affects gained
knowledge of individual (Williamson, 2013). As behaviour of candidate regarding girls is not
good because he does not respect them. This is the reason due to which he conducted sexual
harassment with girls.
In Cognitive Theory, there are some factors which motivate young people to conduct
such action. In this theory, decision making skills, thinking ability, attention, etc. are considered.
These factors affects changes which are important for analysing mindset of candidate. In case of
young man, when he thought for sexual harassment of girl, then this is his decision making skill.
Circle of individual is not good hence this motivates it to misbehave with girl. As per view of
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prosecuting council, act was pre determined because of mindset and inner feeling. Hence as per
sexual behaviour with girl is result of cognitive behaviour.
Development theory is difference in learning skills of individual as per their
development in skill, knowledge, experience, etc. With the help of this theory, person is able to
understand norms of society (American Psychological Association. 2013). This theory provides
chance to develop knowledge as per external changes. Due to inability to think, understand and
learn about right and wrong young man kick, sexually assault girl. When some external force
motivates young man to conduct such act, hence there are possibilities of development theory
with case.
Humanistic theory was launched by Carl Rogers and Abraham Maslow. There is
difference in behaviour of individual as per change in situation. This theory mainly emphasise on
study of abnormal behaviour, psychological issues, etc. With the help of this theory goodness of
person can be analysed. There are possibilities that act can be due to abnormal mindset. As per
young man’s solicitor sexual case is due to opportunity so sexual harassment can be done due to
human behaviour or tendency.
Personality theory shows difference in personality of every individual (Bartlett and
McGauley, 2010). This theory includes characteristic of big five theory which includes
characteristic of openness, conscientiousness, extraversion, agreeableness, neuroticism. There is
difference in reaction of candidate according to situation. Hence in case of crime, personality of
candidate plays important role. Personality of young man i.e. bad which forces him to conduct
misbehave with girl. Personality theory talks about inner behaviour of young man, there are
possibilities that he is not guilty.
With the help of these theories it is easy to analyse situation through which person's
knowledge, thought, mindset can e known. It is important to make changes in thought process so
such issues can be reduced. There is argument among young man's solicitor and prosecuting
council that this act was opportunistic or pre- determined.
Apart from theories there are some factors which affects activities of individual. These
factors affects reaction of individual in any situation. There is difference in education
qualification, demographical region, geographical background, etc. of individual which affects
such criminal activities (Carolan and et. al. 2014).
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Social factor is one of the important component considered behind unethical act of
individual. Friend's circle of individual is not good due to which he is nor. This factor includes
economic aspect also. For instance if economical background of person is not strong, then he/
she is not well educated. This might increases possibilities of sexual assault crimes. In case of
improper diet, mental growth of candidate is not possible. Hence person does not able to think
about right and wrong aspects. Due to illiteracy, young man is not aware about right and wrong
act. If social circle of young man is not good then he will not feel guilty in conducting sexual
harassment with girl. This affects mindset of individual. This might result in violence with peer
members.
Some individual are living apart from their family or not they do not get familiar
behaviour from society, so they may indulge in wrong activities such as theft, violence, sexual
and other illegal activities. Sexual harmful behaviour of young person might be result of social
factor because if candidate is in wrong social circle then they can do misbehave with girl (Fazel
and et. al. 2006).
Biological factor is also factor which affects young man to do such act. In this factor
mental growth of candidate is considered. It is important to deal with changes which are effective
and significant for making changes in working style of candidate. When mental level of
candidate does not grow then they are not able to understand changes which are taking place in
society. Young people these days involves in wrong act because he is not mature enough to
understand ethical and unethical act. Hence this is the factor due to which he conducted so. As
per case of young man, when prosecuting council have view that this act was pre determined. So
biological component increase possibilities of sexual issues in society. If inner feeling of young
man is to become violent with girls then this might be reason to do so.
Psychological factor is last factor which is considered for young man to do such as act.
In this factor, forensic-psychologist plays vital role. Psychological factor includes elements
which drive in order to attain satisfaction. This factor includes learning, perception, motivation
and attitude of individual. As per case, young man is not guilt about misconduct because
according to this perception it is not crime. This is because external surroundings of individual
is not good and hence he feels good to do such misconduct. If person is not ready to understand
other's then it is tough to tell them about correct and incorrect. He thinks that he is performing
good deeds.
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As per this factor, there are possibilities that person who is in contact of some other
person may conduct crime because his learning is wrong. This increase possibilities of criminal
offences. Due to this reason, offence can be done again because they can not understand
difference between right and wrong. Around 25% population is in prison because of this factor.
They are not guilty for their actions because of mental disorder. Sexual behaviour of young
person is result of psychological factor.
Psychological risk assessment means analysing factors related to psychological theories.
This assessment helps to come with approach which provide knowledge about changes which
individual has to take (Fazel and et. al. 2009). Psychological assessment provides knowledge
about factors which are responsible for conducting sexual misbehave with girl. There are three
factors i.e. social, biological, psychological which forces adult to conduct such misbehave with
girl. In order to assess such factor following steps are considered-
Identify the hazards is the first step in risk assessment. Individual conducted this
unethical behaviour because insisted by others. His friend circle is not good and he was indulge
in such unethical behaviour. He was determined to be harsh and rude with girl because of his
mindset, perception. This means social, biological and psychological factors are reason of
misbehave with girl.
After identification of hazard, decide who might be harmed and how. Due to these
factors young man gets affected and due to this he sexually harass girl. Young men act was
wrong because he was not aware about social norms. This is because adult is not social person
and he was in wrong circle of friends. He does not get love and affection from this family
members. This affects psychological development of young man. As individual does not feel that
misbehave with girl is not ethical behaviour because he was mentally disturbed. (Gendreau and
Goggin, 2014)
Evaluation of risks and decide on control measures is next step. As young man was
indulge in criminal activities, so there are bright possibilities that he remains in criminal
activities. There is risk that young man can conduct such act again because he was mentally not
stable. Young person s not ready to learn new and good things so he remain in such unethical
behaviour in future also. This increase possibilities of crimes in society. As per case, young man
does not understand that conducted act is unethical and wrong and hence this increases
possibilities of such issue again in near future. In order to overcome such issues some corrective
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measure has to be taken. Social awareness program for criminals, proper counselling, etc. by
social workers. There is requirement of morale teaching to candidate so they are ware of wrong
and right activity. If he does not get familiar nature from his family then they are advised to
polite with individual. This is effective for making him learn about social changes and this is
effective for performing actions as per
After taking corrective measure, recording of findings and implementing is done.
After taking corrective actions, it is important to analyse that whether positive result can be
generated or not. If candidate tries to understand that respect must be given be girls, it is wrong
to be violent with them . This shows that positive result are achieved as individual is able to be
socially active. There is positive change in psychological factor such as perception, attitude of
candidate which reduce possibilities of unethical behaviour by young man. Though in case of
negative result more emphasise on corrective measures (Wallace, Mullen, Burgess, 2004).
At last Reviewing assessment and updation is done. In last step of assessment, there is
requirement of review assessment test and actions to correct it. It is important to know what is
effective in order to deal with changes in appropriate manner. There are possibilities that due to
alteration in assessment criteria positive results can be achieved. In case of any errors assessment
plan must be updated.
As per above discussion about risk assessment test, then actions are taken in order to
identify the possibilities of re- offending. (Hopwood and Sellbom, 2013). In this regard the
factors which are considered includes biological, social and psychological. After assessment of
overall personality of offender identified that there many chances of repetition of same kind of
offences. This is so because young man is serial offender and do many crimes earlier also. The
overall environment in touch of young man is not significant and involve in such type of
activities which motivates him to choose wrong paths. These are the some basic reasons which
shows there is high possibility of repetition of same kind of offences in near future. So, need to
take proper action on time against such young person and send him into legal prosecutions.
CONCLUSION
From the above discussion it is clear that there is difference in mindset of individual as
per change in case. There is discussion about social, biological and psychological factors which
affects actions of adult. There is risk assessment which identifies these factors and then actions
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are taken in order to overcome them. Corrective measures such as improvement in friend circle,
change in thought process, etc. which reduces possibilities of young man's behaviour with girls.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Adler, J. R. (2013). Forensic Psychology: Concepts, debates and practice. In Forensic
Psychology (pp. 21-33). Willan.
American Psychological Association. (2013). Specialty guidelines for forensic psychology. The
American Psychologist. 68(1). 7.
Bartlett, A. and McGauley, G. (2010). Forensic Mental Health: Concepts, systems and practice.
Oxford: Oxford University Press.
Carolan, P. L. and et. al. (2014). Electrophysiology of blunted emotional bias in psychopathic
personality. Psychophysiology. 51(1). 36-41.
Fazel, S. and et. al. (2006). The population impact of severe mental illness on violent crime. The
American Journal of Psychiatry.163(8). 1397-1403.
Fazel, S. and et. al. (2009). Schizophrenia and violence: systematic review and meta-analysis.
PLoS medicine. 6(8). 929.
Gendreau, P. and Goggin, C. (2014). Practicing psychology in correctional settings.
Hopwood, C. J. and Sellbom, M. (2013). Implications of DSM-5 personality traits for forensic
psychology. Psychological Injury and Law. 6(4). 314-323.
Swanson J, and et. al. 2006. A national study of violent behaviour in persons with schizophrenia.
Archives of General Psychiatry. 63. 490-509.
Wallace C, Mullen P, Burgess P. (2004). Criminal offending in schizophrenia over a 25-year
period marked by deinstitutinalization and increasing prevalence of comorbid substance
use disorders. American Journal of Psychiatry 161(4),716-727.
Williamson, T. (2013). USA and UK responses to miscarriages of justice. In Forensic
Psychology (pp. 57-75). Willan.
Online
10 Types of Psychological Theories. 2018. [Online]. Available
through:<https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-theory-2795970 >.
Criminal Behavior Theories. 2018. [Online]. Available through:<http://criminal-
justice.iresearchnet.com/forensic-psychology/criminal-behavior-theories/ >.
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