Reviewing the literature

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Psychology Crime
Introductory Session
Lorna Brookes
Module Leader Ciarán OKeeffe Room GLA014
Tel ext. 3639 okeeffc_at_hope.ac.uk
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The module Info on Web

• Module details
• Assignment Assessment guidelines
• OHPs or Powerpoint Slides or Word Notes
• Other useful information (e.g. suggested reading)
• http//hopelive.hope.ac.uk/psychology/LevelH/crime
  /index.htm

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Timetable
Subject to Change
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Assessment Details

• Literature review (2,500 words) 50 (Due final
  week)
• 2 hour examination (2 questions from a choice of
  5) 50
• The Literature Review
• The word length is 2500 words
• Choose a topic you are interested in. The can be
  one covered during the module, but it is a good
  opportunity for you to investigate something you
  are interested in that is not covered during the
  module.
• There must be psychological content and you must
  take a psychological perspective. Psychology and
  crime overlaps considerably with the sociology of
  crime make sure you don't stray into sociology
  with this assignment.
• We expect your literature review to be critical
  rather than merely descriptive.
• More guidelines on the web

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What is Psychology Crime?

• It is NOT Cracker or Sherlock Holmes
• Many areas of Psychology contribute to our
  understanding of criminal behaviour
• Perception
• Biological
• Personality
• Group dynamics
• psychopathology

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Criminal/Forensic

• Both of these terms (Criminal Forensic) are
  used in texts and Howitt (2002) covers the debate
  around definitions
• He concludes that the main difference is that
  forensic psychology may involve the civil law as
  well as the criminal law

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Defining Criminal/Forensic
BIOLOGICAL PSYCHOLOGY Inheritance Effects of
injury
POLICE PSYCHOLOGY Recruitment Stress
INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY Profiling Geographical
Profiling
DEVELOPMENTAL PSYCHOLOGY Aggression Delinquency
CLINICAL PSYCHOLOGY Assessment Prediction
COGNITIVE PSYCHOLOGY Eyewitness
testimony Interviewing
PRISON PSYCHOLOGY Treatment Parole/release
SOCIAL PSYCHOLOGY Juries Media influences
Applied
Academic
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What is Criminal Behaviour?

• Defining this is problematic
• The law states it is
• An act that violates criminal law which may
  result in criminal proceedings and/or punishment
• Requires an act to take place
• Requires intent
• ARE YOU A CRIMINAL? (Activity 1)

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What is a crime?

• Who decides?
• Changes over time, is socially constructed and
  culturally specific eg.
• Women having children out of wedlock
• Homosexuality
• Drugs
• alcohol

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Methodological issues

• That of defining crime
• Who is researched? Which group?
• Usually official criminals (those in the CJS
  who have been charged with an offence and often
  in prison
• Those who have been charged are more likely to
  belong to particular groups

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Methodological issues cont

• Ethics
• Do the offenders have a choice of not
  participating?
• The interviewer hearing about crimes committed
  but not punished for or those about to be
  committed
• Seriousness of Crime
• ARE SOME CRIMES MORE SERIOUS THAN OTHERS?
• (Activity 2)