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

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

Charge(s)Murder and conspiracy to commit murder PenaltyDeath, reduced by abolition of death penalty to life in prison StatusIneligible 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

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. Charge(s)15 murders; a further murder was not charged Penalty15 life terms StatusKilled by fellow inmate 3 years after arrest

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

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

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

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

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory: Pseudocyesis vs. pain patients

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