PSY 255/ADJ 247: Forensic Psychology & Criminal Behavior

PSY 255/ADJ 247: Forensic Psychology & Criminal Behavior

Section 001a TTh11:30-12:15

Instructor: Dr. Amy E. Coren

Email address: (this is BEST way to contact me)

Phone: 703.845.6242

Office Location:Bisdorf A 427

Office Hours:MW11:00am – 12:00pm andby appointment

Reading materials: We will be using the following textbook:

1. Costanzo & Krauss (2nded) Forensic & Legal Psychology. This book is available at the bookstore and from online stores such as Amazon.com

2. Selected weekly readings. These readings will be located online, on our course Blackboard under the file Course Documents  Readings.

3. **OPTIONAL** (Recommended but NOT required): APA’s DSM-5

Course Description and Objectives:

This course is designed to provide you with an overview of forensic psychology and in particular the psychology of criminal behavior. We will cover topics such as violent and nonviolent crime, sexual offenses, insanity, terrorism and extremism, white-collar crime, and other criminal behaviors. We will also cover aspects of the law relevant to criminal behavior.

Course Format:

The course will be primarily lecture-based. I will post the lecture slides before the beginning of each class. Students often find it useful to print the slides out to make notes as we discuss each slide. You are expected to have read the assigned reading materials before each class period.

We will also engage in class discussions, small group activities, and watch short videos in an effort to solidify understanding of the concepts covered. Often I will use your assigned weekly readings as a starting point for discussion

You will have several short essays assigned over the course that we will discuss in class. Your two, in-class exams will draw heavily on the material presented in class and from the readings.

Course Requirements & Assignment Descriptions:

You are expected to have read the assignment reading materials before each class period. All grades will be posted on Blackboard in Grade Center. Your grade will be based on a combination of your essays, attendance and participation, 1 case study, and 2 exams.

Your course grade will be determined by the following assignments and based on the following scale:

Assignment / Points
2 exams @ 200 points each / 400
1essay @ 100pts / 100
Film project / 100
Attendance & Participation / 25
Total / 625
Grade / Points / Percent
A / 562-625 / 90-100
B / 500-561 / 80-89
C / 437-499 / 70-79
D / 375-436 / 60-69
F / 0-374 / 0-59

Argumentative Piece (100 points)

For your argumentative/persuasive essay, you will be given a discussion prompt which you will write about. The essay promptwill deal with the material we coverin class and will usually involve aprovocative question related to the material.

Each paper should be around3-4 pages double spaced, in 12 point font. You should have a page for references and use APA format. Your essay prompts will located on the course’s Blackboard site, in the Assignments folder  Essays.

Your essay should not to be a simple description of a disorder but a persuasive piece in which you present you own thoughts and opinions supported with outside references.

Late assignments will be accepted for a reduced grade (i.e. 1 day late = -10%, 2 days late = -%20). No papers will be accepted 5 days after the due date.

Criminal Profiling Exercise: A film analysis (100 points)

You will have the opportunity to try your hand at criminal profiling a movie character.

More detailed information this project is located in ASSIGNMENTS MOVIE ANALYSIS

Attendance and Participation (25 points)

You are expected to attend every class and be on time. We will cover material in class that is not in the text and you will be responsible for class and text material. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to get class notes from a classmate. If you are frequently absent, this may impact your grade.

I encourage all students to participate and will reward you for doing so. There will be many opportunities to voice your opinions and ask questions. I will occasionally break the class into small groups so that people will have a greater chance to participate.

Exams (2 exams, worth 200 points each)

You will have 2 exams – a midterm and a final. They will cover the assigned reading materials and lectures. The tests will be a combination of multiple choice and short answer questions. For the multiple choice section,please bring a scantron and a No. 2 pencil.

There will be a study guide posted well in advance, for each exam. This guide is intended to help focus your studying but is not a substitute for coming to class and reading the material.

Please note that make-up exams will NOT be given, except for medical emergencies (doctor’s note required). Make-up exams for medical emergencies must be taken at the testing center within 1 week of the date of the original exam.

Extra Credit

TBA

See Assignments  Extra Credit

Cheating & Plagiarism:

Cheating and plagiarism will not be tolerated in this class. Cheating includes dishonesty of kind on test or assignments. Plagiarism includes the failure to give credit to another’s work. Giving and/orreceiving unauthorized help on tests or assignments are both considered cheating. NVCC and I regard these as serious offenses. The minimum sanction for such behavior is an F on the assignment; the maximum sanction by NVCC is dismissal from the college. Refer to the full policy on academic dishonesty in the Student Handbook.

Special needs and accommodations:

Please address with me any special problems or needs at the beginning of the course. If you are seeking accommodations based on a disability, please provide a disability data sheet, which can be obtained from the counselor for special needs (Bisdorf 185, 703-845-6208).

Schedule of readings & homework assignments

This schedule may change and I will notify you of any changes in advance. You are expected to have read the assigned reading materials before each class period, so that you can participate in the class discussions.

Article titles/links/pdfsin Italics are located in the folder for that week.Chapters refer to your textbook.

WEEKLY TOPICS, ASSIGNED READINGS, & HOMEWORK DUE DATES ON FOLLOWING PAGE

WEEK / TOPIC / ASSIGNEDREADINGS / ASSIGNMENTS
Introduction to forensic psychology
1 / Jan 10 / Course introduction; What is forensic psychology? / Course Syllabus; What is forensic psychology; Criminal profiling
2 / Jan 17 / Forensic psychology / Bartol chapter 1 – Introduction to forensic psychology;
Psychology & the law
3 / Jan 24 / Psychology and the law / Costanzo CH1
4 / Jan 31 / Criminal Profiling & Psychology Autopsies / Costanzo CH5
5 / Feb 7 / Interrogations & confessions / Costanzo CH2
6 / Feb 14 / Competency to stand trial & Insanity defense / Costanzo CH8&9
7 / Feb 21 / Predicting violent behavior / Costanzo CH14
8 / Feb 28 / The death penalty / Costanzo CH17
9 / March 6-12
SPRING BREAK
The psychology of criminal behavior
10 / March 14 / NO CLASSTUESDAY;
MIDTERMTHURS / Review assigned readings & slides / STUDY FOR MIDTERM
11 / March 21 / Introduction to criminal behavior
12 / March 28 / Psychopathy / Argumentative essay due on SUNDAY March 5thby 11:59pm
13 / April 4 / Crime and mental illness
14 / April 11 / Psychology of Modern Terrorism
15 / April
18 / Sexual Assault
16 / April 25 / “White collar” offenses / FILM PROJECT DUE TH. 4/27 at 11:59pm
FINALS PERIOD
PSY 255/ADJ 247 FINAL – 5/2/2016 RM 462 11:30am

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