Introduction to Psychology Halloween Special

Forensic Psychology Forensic Psychology: the intersection between psychology and the criminal justice system Forensic Psychologists work in various areas: 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 Spree Murder Serial 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 mental disorder What is commonly referred to as a “psychopath” is typically someone with a cluster of personality disorders and paraphilias

Forensic Psychology When TV or Movies refers to a “psychopath” or “sociopath” they are probably referring to a person with one of the following personality disorders: 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

Forensic Psychology Serial killers typically posses several comorbid disorders including personality disorders and paraphilia's

Paraphilias Paraphilia: 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

Infamous Serial Killers Aileen Wuornos Had a family history of mental illness and had been the victim of childhood sexual abuse killed seven men in Florida between 1989 and 1990 by shooting them at point blank range. claimed that her victims had either raped or attempted to rape her while she was working as a prostitute, and that all of the homicides were committed in self-defense. sentenced to death for six of the murders and was executed by lethal injection on October 9, 2002. diagnosed with borderline personality disorder and antisocial personality disorder.

Infamous Serial Killers Richard Ramirez The “Night Stalker” who brutally tortured and killed 13 people in their own homes; another 12 people were tortured and raped but left alive Took inspiration from his cousin who tortured and photographed women during Vietnam Sentenced to 13 death sentences, but ended up dying due to lymphoma while awaiting execution