1. Introduction to Psychology
Halloween Special

2. 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

3. 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

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

10. 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

11. 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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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.

18. 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