forensics 1

Question 1

What is the format of the summative assessment for this module?

Answer 1

1 vignette-based essay question and 4 short-answer questions

The essay question is expected to take approximately 1 hour.

Question 2

What is the duration of the summative assessment?

Answer 2

120 minutes

Question 3

What is the timing for the summative assessment?

Answer 3

January 2026

Question 4

What is the main focus of Part I in the module overview?

Answer 4

History of Forensic Psychology

Question 5

What does Therapeutic Jurisprudence focus on?

Answer 5

The impact of law as a social force and the design of legal systems that accommodate diverse individuals.

Question 6

What are the two main components of every crime according to the lecture notes?

Answer 6

The act and intent

Question 7

What is the definition of ‘crime’ according to Adler, Mueller, & Laufer?

Answer 7

Any human conduct that violates a criminal law and is subject to punishment.

Question 8

What does ‘mens rea’ refer to in legal terms?

Answer 8

Guilty mind; intention or awareness of wrongdoing.

Question 9

What significant case established the foundation of the insanity defense?

Answer 9

The McNaughton case

Question 10

What is the focus of Legal Psychology?

Answer 10

Psychological study of law, legal institutions, actors, and behaviour.

Question 11

What does Forensic Psychology primarily focus on?

Answer 11

Psychological aspects of legal processes beyond courtrooms.

Question 12

Fill in the blank: ‘A crime is a crime because ______.’

Answer 12

the law says so

Question 13

What were the findings of early research on eyewitness testimony?

Answer 13

Eyewitness evidence is unreliable.

Question 14

Who was the first professor of Legal Psychology?

Answer 14

William Marston

Question 15

What is the primary goal of restorative justice?

Answer 15

To focus on repairing harm and reconciling victims and offenders.

Question 16

Name one key research area in forensic psychology.

Answer 16

Eyewitness evidence

Question 17

What does Police Psychology focus on?

Answer 17

Supporting police work, including selection, training, and stress management.

Question 18

What is the distinction between Legal and Forensic Psychologists?

Answer 18

Legal Psychology focuses on research and consultancy, while Forensic Psychology involves offender assessment and treatment.

Question 19

True or False: Forensic psychologists typically work as criminal profilers.

Answer 19

False

Question 20

What are the three general requirements to become a Forensic Psychologist in the UK?

Answer 20

1. Academic background (BSc/MSc Psychology accredited by BPS)
2. Specialised training (Forensic Psychology MSc)
3. Supervised practice (Stage 2 training or supervised placement)

Question 21

What does the term ‘over-criminalisation’ refer to?

Answer 21

Too many behaviours being criminalised.

Question 22

What is the role of clinical psychology in forensics?

Answer 22

Assesses and treats mental health disorders linked to offending.

Question 23

What is the purpose of problem-solving courts?

Answer 23

To address underlying causes of crime.

Question 24

What does investigative psychology apply to?

Answer 24

Criminal investigations, including offender profiling and crime scene analysis.

Question 25

What is the significance of the term 'sub judice'?

Answer 25

It refers to the restriction on media reporting once a suspect is charged with an offence.

Question 27

What is the focus of the overview on mental health problems and criminal behaviour?

Answer 27

Relationship between mental health problems and criminal behaviour.

Question 28

What are the key models of classification in mental health?

Answer 28

DSM, ICD, dimensional frameworks (RDoC, HiTOP).

Question 29

How does law view 'mental illness'?

Answer 29

'Mental illness' has no technical meaning; depends on court/jury decisions.

Question 30

What is the psychiatric view of mental illness?

Answer 30

Reductionist, diagnosis-focused; mental illness = present/absent → diagnosis + treatment.

Question 31

What is the psychological perspective on mental illness?

Answer 31

Considers a continuum (normal ↔ abnormal), focusing on normality, assessment, interventions.

Question 32

True or False: Media often accurately represents the link between mental illness and crime.

Answer 32

False.

Question 33

What percentage of prisoners have a mental health disorder?

Answer 33

Over 90%.

Question 34

What small percentage of crimes are directly linked to mental disorders?

Answer 34

Only a small % of crimes, with specific percentages for psychosis (4%), depression (3%), and bipolar (10%).

Question 35

What are some stronger predictors of crime than psychiatric symptoms?

Answer 35

Substance misuse, social factors.

Question 36

What is a mental disorder?

Answer 36

Cluster of abnormal thoughts, emotions, behaviours.

Question 37

What are the four tendencies of mental disorders?

Answer 37

* Statistically infrequent * Violate social norms * Cause distress - maladaptive * Cause impairment (socially, life, job)

Question 38

What is the purpose of classifying disorders?

Answer 38

Grouping disorders by shared attributes.

Question 39

What are the pros of classifying mental disorders?

Answer 39

* Common vocabulary * Guides treatment/prognosis * Needed for insurance & interventions

Question 40

What are the cons of classifying mental disorders?

Answer 40

* Validity issues * Heterogeneity * High comorbidity * Can impair people without diagnosis

Question 41

What does DSM-5 define as a mental disorder?

Answer 41

Clinically significant disturbance in cognition, emotion regulation, or behaviour reflecting dysfunction.

Question 42

What is the purpose of ICD-11?

Answer 42

Systematic recording, analysis, interpretation, and comparison of mortality and morbidity data.

Question 43

What are the limitations of ICD-11?

Answer 43

* Considers all mental disorders categories * Limited reliability * High co-occurrence/comorbidity

Question 44

What does RDoC focus on?

Answer 44

Research framework focusing on continua, not categories.

Question 45

What is HiTOP?

Answer 45

Hierarchical taxonomy of psychopathology.

Question 46

What are some examples of disruptive behaviour disorders?

Answer 46

* Oppositional Defiant Disorder (ODD) * Callous-Unemotional (CU) traits * Conduct Disorder

Question 47

What neurodevelopmental conditions are mentioned?

Answer 47

* ADHD * Autism * Communication disorders * Learning difficulties * Intellectual disability * Motor disorders

Question 48

True or False: Many adult disorders start in childhood.

Answer 48

True.

Question 49

What characterizes personality disorders?

Answer 49

Difficulties of degree rather than kind, inflexible traits causing impairment or distress.

Question 50

What are the three clusters of personality disorders?

Answer 50

* Cluster A: Odd/eccentric * Cluster B: Dramatic/erratic * Cluster C: Anxious/fearful

Question 51

What is a defining trait of Paranoid Personality Disorder?

Answer 51

Suspiciousness in almost all situations with almost all people.

Question 52

What is a key feature of Borderline Personality Disorder?

Answer 52

Poor self-identity and erratic mood.

Question 53

What is the prevalence of psychopathy in the general population?

Answer 53

1%.

Question 54

What did Cleckley describe in relation to psychopathy?

Answer 54

The 'mask of sanity' characterized by charm and intelligence but irresponsibility.

Question 55

What is the fearlessness hypothesis related to psychopathy?

Answer 55

Poor fear conditioning and low anxiety lead to crime.

Question 56

What is the gender ratio for psychopathy prevalence?

Answer 56

1 female for every 10 males.

Question 57

What are the two types of externalising psychopathology?

Answer 57

* Antagonistic externalising: conflict, hostility, callousness * Disinhibited externalising: impulsivity, lack of control

Question 58

What are Moffitt's two types of antisocial behaviour?

Answer 58

* Life-Course Persistent (LCP) * Adolescence-Limited (AL)

Question 59

True or False: Mental illness is an automatic risk for crime.

Answer 59

False.

Question 60

What are the key takeaways regarding mental illness and crime?

Answer 60

* Mental illness ≠ automatic crime risk * Classification debates: categorical vs dimensional models.

Question 61

What does mental illness imply regarding crime risk?

Answer 61

Mental illness ≠ automatic crime risk; relationship is complex and mediated. ## Footnote This indicates that not all individuals with mental illness are predisposed to criminal behavior, and other factors play a significant role.

Question 62

What are the two models debated in classification?

Answer 62

Categorical vs dimensional models. ## Footnote These models represent different approaches to understanding and diagnosing psychological disorders.

Question 63

Which disorders show the strongest links to serious offending?

Answer 63

Personality disorders & psychopathy. ## Footnote These conditions are often associated with more severe and persistent criminal behavior.

Question 64

What developmental approach helps explain different offender pathways?

Answer 64

Moffitt's developmental approaches. ## Footnote Moffitt's theory categorizes offenders based on their developmental history and patterns of antisocial behavior.

Question 65

What might account for the differences in self-reports vs. convictions?

Answer 65

Differences in self-reports vs. convictions may be influenced by various psychological and social factors. ## Footnote This could include factors like stigma, self-perception, or external pressures.

Question 66

What accounts for the high rates of offenses in 'adolescence-limited' participants at age 26?

Answer 66

High rates of offenses in 'adolescence-limited' participants may be due to environmental influences and peer relationships. ## Footnote This suggests that social context plays a critical role in the continuation of offending behavior.

Question 67

What is a significant area of concern regarding other forms of antisocial behavior?

Answer 67

Digital crime. ## Footnote This refers to crimes that are committed using digital technologies, which may differ in motivations and consequences from traditional crimes.

Question 68

What are the clinical implications of this work?

Answer 68

Clinical implications include the need for tailored interventions based on individual risk factors and psychological profiles. ## Footnote Understanding the complexities of mental illness and crime can lead to more effective treatment strategies.

Question 69

What are the justice or policy implications of this work?

Answer 69

Justice or policy implications involve re-evaluating criminal justice approaches to mental illness and serious offending. ## Footnote This could lead to reforms in how offenders with mental health issues are treated within the legal system.