Course Objectives

To obtain knowledge about forensic psychology and various psychological investigative tools.

Learning Outcomes

After completion of this course student will be able to ;

The overview of forensic psychology and its applications.
The legal aspects of forensic psychology.
The significance of criminal profiling.
The importance of psychological assessment in gauging criminal behavior.
The tools and techniques required for detection of deception.
The critical assessment of advanced forensic techniques like polygraphy, narco analysis and brain electrical oscillation signatures.

Course Syllabus

Module I:
Basics of Forensic Psychology
Definition and fundamental concepts of forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry. Psychology and law. Ethical issues in forensic psychology.
Assessment of mental competency. Mental disorders and forensic psychology.
Psychology of evidence – eyewitness testimony, confession evidence. Criminal profiling.
Psychology in the courtroom, with special reference to Section 84 IPC.
Module II:
Psychology and Criminal Behaviour
Psychopathology and personality disorder. Psychological assessment and its importance.
Serial murderers. Psychology of terrorism.
Biological factors and crime – social learning theories, psycho-social factors, abuse.
Juvenile delinquency – theories of offending (social cognition, moral reasoning),
Child abuse (physical, sexual, emotional), juvenile sex offenders, legal controversies.

Module III:
Detection of Deception
Tools for detection of deception – interviews, non-verbal detection, statement analysis, voice stress analyzer, hypnosis.
Polygraphy – operational and question formulation techniques, ethical and legal aspects, the guilty knowledge test.
Narco analysis and brain electrical oscillation signatures – principle and theory, ethical and legal issues.

Forensic Psychology Lab
• To cite a crime case where legal procedures pertaining to psychic behavior had to be invoked.
• To prepare a report on relationship between mental disorders and forensic psychology.
• To review a crime case involving serial murders. Comment on the psychological traits of the accused.
• To cite a crime case involving a juvenile and argue for and against lowering the age for categorizing an individual as juvenile.
• To study a criminal case in which hypnosis was used as a means to detect deception.
Text Books:
1. R. Saferstein, Criminalistics, 8th Edition, Prentice Hall, New Jersey (2004).
Reference Books:
1. A.A. Moenssens, J. Starrs, C.E. Henderson and F.E. Inbau, Scientific Evidence in Civil and Criminal Cases, 4th Edition, The Foundation Press, Inc., New York (1995).
2. E. Elaad in Encyclopedia of Forensic Science, Volume 2, J.A. Siegel, P.J. Saukko and G.C. Knupfer (Eds.), Academic Press, London (2000).

Session Plan

Session 1

Basics of Forensic Psychology: Definition and fundamental concepts of forensic psychology and forensic psychiatry.

Basics of Forensic Psychology

Session 2

Psychology and law

Session 3

Ethical issues in forensic psychology.

Ethical issues in forensic psychology

Session 4

Assessment of mental competency.

assessment of mental competency

Session 5

Mental disorders and forensic psychology.

Mental Disorders and Forensic Psychology

Session 6

Psychology of evidence – eyewitness testimony, confession evidence.

psychology of evidence - eyewitness and confession

Session 7

Criminal profiling.

Session 8

Psychology in the courtroom, with special reference to Section 84 IPC.

psychology in the courtroom

Session 9

Psychology and Criminal Behaviour
Psychopathology and personality disorder.

Psychopathology and Personality disorders

Session 10

Psychological assessment and its importance.

Session 11

Serial murderers

Serial Murderers

Session 12

Psychology of terrorism.

Psychology of terrorism

Session 13

Biological factors and crime – social learning theories, psycho-social factors, abuse.

bIOLOGICAL FACTORS AND CRIME

Session 14

Juvenile delinquency – theories of offending (social cognition, moral reasoning),

Juvenile delinquency

Session 15

Child abuse (physical, sexual, emotional),

Session 16

juvenile sex offenders

Session 17

Detection of Deception
Tools for detection of deception – interviews, non-verbal detection,

DETECTION of deception

Session 18

statement analysis

Session 19

voice stress analyzer,

Tools for detection of deception – voice stress

Session 20

hypnosis.

Session 21

Polygraphy – operational and question formulation techniques,

Polygraph

Session 22

ethical and legal aspects

Session 23

the guilty knowledge test.

Session 24

Narco analysis - Principle and theory, ethical and legal issues

Session 25

Brain Electrical Oscillation signatures - principle and theory, ethical and legal issues

Case Studies

Case Studies