Forensic Psychology (Personality-Guided Forensic Psych, Craig)
The interface between psychology and law. Psychologists can act as
(1) friend of the court (amicus curiae); (2) consultants; (3) expert
witnesses.
Child custody evaluations: What is best for the child?
Screening applicants for police or other public safety jobs (e.g., nuclear
power plant operator): Is this person stable and reliable?
Evaluating offenders: Is this person a pedophile? Is this person likely
to re-offend?
Evaluating insanity pleas: Is this person capable of understanding the
charges and participating in his or her own defense?
Evaluating defendants in capital cases: Is this person mentally
retarded?
Providing services (e.g., treatment) to offenders and correctional staff
Providing courtroom testimony: Has this person been psychologically
damaged?
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Patient 6 days
before suicide
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Forensic Psychology
Guidelines for a test to be used in forensic practice
(1) Commercially available, with a manual
(2) Adequate reliability
(3) Relevant to the legal issue
(4) Standard method of administration that was adhered to
(5) Applicable to the population and purpose
(6) Objective scoring criteria
(7) Measures response styles
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Charge(s) Murder and conspiracy to commit murder
Penalty Death, reduced by abolition of death penalty to life in prison
Status Ineligible for parole until 2012
Leader of the “Manson Family”, a group of mostly women who followed
Manson’s pseudo-philosophical “teachings” about imminent race war and
who killed a number of people in Los Angeles at Manson’s direction.
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Charge(s) 15 murders; a further murder was not charged
Penalty 15 life terms
Status Killed by fellow inmate 3 years after arrest
Sex offender who murdered approximately one person per week in
summer 1991 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Dahmer kept parts of his victims’
bodies in his apartment: several corpses were stored in acid-filled vats,
severed heads were found in his refrigerator, and implements for the
construction of an altar of candles and human skulls were found in his
closet.
Assessment of Aggression and Lethal Violence
Possible questions: Should a person be involuntarily committed because
he or she poses a danger to him or herself or others? Should a person be
released from jail? Should a person found not guilty by reason of insanity
be released from a psychiatric hospital?
Thorough assessment includes, in addition to personality testing,
interviews with the individual and others, treatment records, and police
reports.
Best predictors of future violence are history of violent behavior, as well as
presence of antisocial or borderline personality disorder.
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
Dahmer post
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Dahmer pre
Manson
Average murderer
Assessment of Aggression and Lethal Violence
What is the “average” murderer’s personality? MMPI 34/43, 48/84, 49/94
But consider the differences among . . .
An armed robber who kills a store employee in the heat of the moment
A fired employee who commits mass murder at his former worksite
A chronically abused woman who kills her abuser out of desperation
A drug dealer who takes revenge by providing lethally strong heroin
A man who murdered someone in a bar fight while drunk
Police Psychology
Possible questions: Is a police applicant emotionally stable? Is he or she
likely to contribute to corruption and abuse?
80% of police districts require screening; failure to do so has been
construed by the courts as negligence. Thorough assessment includes, in
addition to personality testing, at least an interview with the applicant.
Certain traits are associated with successfully performing police work:
thoroughness and attention to detail
strong work ethic (dependability and reliability, low absenteeism)
sensitivity and flexibility in a broad array of situations
good decision-making skills
emotional stability
Most common offense: absence without leave
Most common complaint: abuse or brutality
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Child Custody
Possible questions: What is the mental and physical health of all persons
involved? What is in the best psychological interest of the child? What is
the parenting capacity of the parents?
Impression management and deception: The L, F, and K scales
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Present a very
positive impression
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Standard
Fake good
Personal Injury
Possible questions: Has the patient been psychologically damaged?
What are the emotional correlates of the patient’s physical disability? Is
the patient exaggerating or malingering?
Worker’s Compensation accounts for most injury claims, especially injuries
to the head and back and psychological trauma leading to emotional
disability.
There are three types of claim relevant to psychological practice:
“physical-mental”: a worker receives a severe electric shock from a
machine and then develops a fear of returning to work on that machine
“mental-physical”: a worker develops ulcers from constantly dealing with
angry customers
“mental-mental”: a worker develops anxiety after a psychologically
stressful event at work (e.g., witnessing workplace violence)
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Pseudocyesis
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Pseudocyesis
vs. pain
patients
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
L
F
K
1 2D 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0
Hs
Hy Pd Mf Pa Pt Sc Ma Si
Pseudo
Pain
Forensic Psychology
Preparation for forensic psychological practice
(1) Doctoral degree from an APA-accredited program
(2) State licensure
(3) Direct and relevant experience in the matters before the court (e.g.,
substance use, violence, parenting, PTSD)
(4) Continuing education as evidence of continuing involvement and
expertise in the matter
(5) Attainment of advanced specializations and certifications (diplomate
status, fellow status in serious professional organizations)
(6) Membership in relevant professional organizations and publication
of scientific findings in peer-reviewed journals