This module will enhance your understanding of the key processes that underpin prosocial and antisocial behaviour. You will gain understanding of how biopsychosocial processes can impact on the development of criminal behaviour and neurodevelopmental disorders. You will extend your understanding of the organisation of prisons and forensic mental health services and will achieve some understanding of the assessment and treatment of offenders. You will also learn to evaluate the evidence that supports psychological and biological treatments for those with mental disorders which will enable you to consider its application to forensic psychology practice.
On successful completion of the module, students will be able to:
Lectures will be for 2 hours over teaching blocks 1 and 2. The first hour of the lecture is designed to provide an overview and introduction to the topic. The second hour is designed to be interactive in nature in order to provide students with opportunity to consolidate and discuss the information delivered.
| Definitive UNISTATS Category | Indicative Description | Hours |
|---|---|---|
| Scheduled learning and teaching | 22 x 2 hour lecture | 44 |
| Guided independent study | 256 | |
| Total (number of credits x 10) | 300 | |
The assessment strategy for this module is designed to enable students to demonstrate critical appraisal skills, knowledge and understanding relevant to progression to forensic psychology practice. Formative activities within the interactive lectures (for example; critical appraisal of the extant literature, student led presentations, and debates), and summative assessments (outlined below) will enable students to evidence their understanding and progress throughout the module and meet the learning outcomes.
This module will be assessed by one 3,000 word Case Report and one 2,500 word Treatment Plan. Each piece of coursework will be worth 50% of the module.
| Learning Outcome | Assessment Strategy |
|---|---|
| Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of the major concepts and debates in the criminal justice system and forensic mental health services | Formatively throughout interactive lecture activities. Summatively via case report and treatment plan. |
| Understand the developmental process of criminal behaviour from a psychological and criminological perspective and demonstrate critical appraisal of the extant literature in the field | Formatively throughout interactive lecture activities. Summatively via case report and treatment plan. |
| Demonstrate a critical understanding of different approaches to assessment and formulation in relation to assessing individuals, groups and/or organisations. | Formatively throughout lecture activities. Summatively via treatment plan. |
| ) Demonstrate the knowledge and skills to continuously modify their academic and clinical practice throughout their careers as indicated by new scientific evidence. | Formatively throughout lecture activities. |
| Demonstrate the skills necessary to conduct empirical research in forensic settings | Formatively throughout lecture activities and via summative assessments. |
| Description of Assessment | Definitive UNISTATS Categories | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
| Coursework | 3000 word case report | 50 |
| Coursework | 2500 word Treatment Plan | 50 |
| Total (to equal 100%) | 100% | |
It IS NOT a requirement that any major assessment category is passed separately in order to achieve an overall pass for the module.
American Psychological Association. (2009). Publication manual of the American psychological association. American Psychological Association (APA).
Adler, J.A., & Gray, J.M. (2011). Forensic psychology: Concepts, debates and practice (2nd ed). New York: Routledge.
Barlett, A., & McGauley, G. (2010). Forensic mental health: Concepts, systems, and practice. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Bartol, C. R., & Bartol, A. M. (2014). Introduction to forensic psychology: Research and application. Sage Publications.
Towl, G. J. & Crighton, D. A. (2010). Forensic psychology. Chichester: BPSBlackwell
Bradley, K. J. C. B. (2009). The Bradley Report: Lord Bradley's review of people with mental health problems or learning disabilities in the criminal justice system. London: Department of Health.
Prince M., Stewart R., Ford T., & Hotopf M., (2003). Practical psychiatric epidemiology. Oxford: Oxford University Press
Bosick, S. J., Bersani, B. E., & Farrington, D. P. (2015). Relating Clusters of Adolescent Problems to Adult Criminal Trajectories: a Person-Centered, Prospective Approach. Journal of Developmental and Life-Course Criminology, 1-20. Online first
Douglas, K. S., Guy, L. S., & Hart, S. D. (2009). Psychosis as a risk factor for violence to others: a meta-analysis. Psychological bulletin, 135(5), 679.
Wallace, C., Mullen, P. E., & Burgess, P. (2014). Criminal offending in schizophrenia over a 25-year period marked by deinstitutionalization and increasing prevalence of comorbid substance use disorders.
Yang, M., Wong, S. C., & Coid, J. (2010). The efficacy of violence prediction: a meta-analytic comparison of nine risk assessment tools. Psychological bulletin,136(5), 740.
Students will be directed to primary sources prior to lectures