Psychological Aspects of Criminal Behavior

Please be aware that this class is a 16-hour training. Therefore, the training will be 8am-5pm local time each day.

Course Overview:

This course introduces, identifies, and evaluates the concepts of normal and abnormal behavior leading to dangerousness. Focuses on the psychological, neurological, and sociological aspects of criminal and other deviant behavior patterns. We will analyze the latest research data on social, psychological, and neurological risk factors associated with crime and delinquency.

The course covers the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders and how to immediately identify them. We will explore psychopathy and enter the mind of a serial killer. This class combines practicality with the major theoretical viewpoints on crime and the dominant methods used to measure it. We will identify the risk factors employed in assessing violent criminal behavior.Upon Completion of this course, participants will be able to: Explain biological, neurological, psychological, and sociological factors that contribute to criminal behavior. Emphasize that criminal behavior has multiple causes, manifestations, and developmental pathways. Identify the different perspectives of human nature that underlie the theoretical developments and understanding of criminal behavior.Identify the schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.Examine the psychological aspects of common occurrence of aggression.Stress the connection between cognitive abilities and delinquency and crime.Discuss attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), conduct disorder (CD), and oppositional defiant disorder (ODD) as possible contributors to delinquent and criminal behavior.Summarize the current research on environmental neurotoxins that present the greatest risk for healthy neurodevelopment. Summarize recent research on child and adolescent brain development, including fetal exposure to nicotine and drugs, effects of malnutrition, and traumatic brain injury and their relationship to antisocial and criminal behaviorEnter the mindset of a “Serial Killer” Present a special type of offender (the criminal psychopath), who differs emotionally, cognitively, and behaviorally from other offenders.Review the various measures of psychopathy.Summarize the original four core factors and two new core factors of psychopathy.Review the evidence for juvenile psychopathy.Examine the neurobiological aspects of psychopathy.Introduce the dual-process model of psychopathy. Discuss representative research on treatment strategies used with adult psychopaths and juveniles with psychopathic features.Define mental disorders and provide an overview of the DSM and the diagnoses that are most relevant to criminal behavior. Define and review issues relating to competency to stand trial. Review the insanity defense rules and standards. Define risk assessment and identify the risk factors employed in assessing violent criminal behavior. Explore the relationship between mental disorder and violence. Present the research on family violence, its dynamics, and its causes. Describe risk factors that influence the development of sexually assaultive behavior and discuss research relating to recidivism of sex offenders. Discuss sex trafficking and its prevention. Summarize the effects of the psychoactive drugs that have been most connected to crime and delinquency.