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Summary Criminology third year notes. part B, psychocriminology. Study unit 4 - chapter 8.
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- University Of Pretoria (UP)
Third Year Criminology notes. Psychocriminology - study unit 4 - Crime and Mental Disorders
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PSYCHOCRIMINOLOGY.CRIMINOLOGY 310: PART B. STUDY UNIT 4.
CHAPTER 8: CRIME AND MENTAL DISORDERS.
Define the concept “mental illness”.
Mental illness is a disorder of the mind that is judged by experts to interfere substantially
with a person’s ability to cope with life on a daily basis. It presumably derives the person of
freedom of choice. But even a seriously disordered individual has some decision-making
ability.
Mental illness is manifested in behaviour that deviates notably from normal conduct.
Serious mental illness (SMI) not only deviates from normal conduct but also severely
impedes, or has potential to impede, a person’s functioning.
An alternative term, mental disorder, need not only imply that a person is sick, to be pitied,
or even necessarily less responsible for his or her actions. Therefore, although “mental
illness” is still used in the psychological, psychiatric and legal literature, as well as in both
civil and criminal law, the less restrictive “mental disorder” is also often used.
Another term that must be distinguished is intellectual disability, formerly known as mental
retardation. This is a cognitive deficiency that cannot be cured. Intellectual disability was
traditionally measured by standardized “IQ” tests, but these are increasingly being
supplemented by other measures and by observations and interviews. Though intellectual
disability cannot be cured, intellectually disabled individuals can be provided training and
support services to lead productive and independent lives. They are sometimes charged with
primarily minor offenses that result in arrests, being detained in jail and even serving time.
Misperceptions about the intellectually disabled are perhaps not as strong as misperceptions
about the mentally disordered, but they represent a population whose needs may go
unrecognized by the criminal justice system.
Mental disorders are manifested in a variety of behaviours, ranging in severity from
dangerous, harmful acts to conduct that is essentially innocuous.
Briefly discuss the DSM and ICD classification systems.
The concept of mental disorder connotes a wide range of bizarre, dramatic, harmful, or
mildly unusual behaviours whose classifications are published in the Diagnostic and
Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The DSM (now in its 5th edition) is the
guidebook for clinicians seeking to define and diagnose specific mental disorders. It is used
by mental health professionals to guide diagnosis and to justify third-party reimbursement for
treatment. Some prefer to use an alternative classification system, the International
Classification of Disease (ICD) – published by the World Health Organization (WHO) – it is
,important to note that the DSM-5 is in closer alignment with the structure of the ICD than it
has been in the past.
Regardless of the system used, diagnoses often appear in official records, such as court
documents and prison files, and they are commonly seen in noncriminal matters such as
disability determinations and child custody preceding.
The specific mental disorders that are most likely to be associated with criminal conduct,
though not necessarily serious criminal conduct. It must be stressed: however, that (1)
persons with these disorders are not “crime prone”, and (2) even if an individual is diagnosed
with these disorders, he or she still can be held responsible for criminal conduct.
Identify the specific mental disorders that are most likely to be
associated criminal conduct.
The specific mental disorders that are most likely to be associated with criminal conduct are:
1. The schizophrenia spectrum and other psychotic disorders.
2. Bipolar disorder.
3. Major depression
4. The personality disorder called “antisocial personality disorder” (APD).
Individuals with the first three are overrepresented in the criminal justice system, often
detained in jails. APD is a catch-all diagnosis given to individuals with a long history of
antisocial behaviour. These four categories are relevant because they are most likely to be the
diagnoses received by individuals charged with serious criminal, or antisocial, behaviour,
assuming that a mental disorder is at issue. With the exception of APD, they are the disorders
most often cited to support an insanity defence to criminal charges or claims of diminished
capacity.
Give an exposition of the characteristics associated with
schizophrenic behaviour.
Schizophrenia is the mental disorder that people most often associate with “crazy
behaviour”, since it frequently manifests itself with highly bizarre actions.
Characterized by disturbances in cognition, emotional response, and behaviour.
It is a mental disorder that continues to be extremely complex and poorly understood. The
disorder generally begins early in life, often leads to social and economic impairment, and
leaves traces on its victims for the rest of their lives. Behavioural manifestations of
schizophrenia are varied, but these are some common characteristics. It has features in
common with the other psychotic disorders mentioned above. These features are delusions,
hallucinations, disorganized thinking, and grossly disorganized or abnormal motor
behaviour. In addition, persons with schizophrenia have other negative symptoms that the
other disorders herein do not necessarily have; such as diminished emotional expression.
, Psychoactive drugs to treat these disorders have improved significantly. They still have side
effects; they often have to be adjusted until the proper dosage is identified. However, without
such medications people who have these disorders often experience severe breakdowns in
thought patters, emotions and perceptions. Spells of extreme social withdrawal from others
are also typical. The thoughts and cognitive functioning of the person with schizophrenia
become disorganized and fail to correspond to reality, and his or her speech will reflect this.
The most common example is the loosening of associations, in which ideas shift between
totally unrelated and only obliquely related subjects. Though becomes fragmented and
bizarre, and delusions- false beliefs about the world – are common. Example, believing an
alien is listening in on your phone calls and plotting against you.
The person with schizophrenia is typically inappropriate in emotion or affect (e.g.
indiscriminate giggling and crying), or reflects emotional flatness, where very little – if any –
emotional reaction is exhibited. This may occur even with medication. The voice is
monotonous and the face immobile and expressionless. The major disturbances in perception
are various forms of hallucinations, which involve sensing or perceiving things or events
that others do not sense or perceive. The most common hallucinations are auditory, with the
individual hearing voices or sounds that no one else can hear.
The proportion of violent crimes committed by people with schizophrenia and other
psychotic disorders is small; however, when they do commit violent crimes, the level of
violence may be higher than that of the “typical” violent offender, particularly with respect to
homicide or aggravated assault. Delusions which are improbable beliefs or ideas, particularly
persecutory ones, are common in those schizophrenics who commit violent offense.
Other researchers also found that hallucinations alone (without delusions) are rare at the time
of crime among homicide offenders.
Describe the characteristic symptoms of the various types of
schizophrenia and indicate to what extent the committing of
crime is associated with each type.
From PowerPoint video:
- Thought disorder: may be a delusion of persecution, person believes he/she is being
persecuted and others are out to harm them, e.g. this is when they might react in a violent
way and commit crime.
Delusions of grandeur – believe that they are someone special (the queen), have
exceptional talents etc.
- Perceptual disorders: hallucinations (common amongst schizophrenics), therefore
hallucination = sensory perception without the presence of an external stimulus; auditory
hallucinations, visual hallucinations, olfactory hallucinations etc.
- Sensory disorders: objects seen as bigger or smaller than they actually are.
- Emotional disorders: emotions can be excessive or unrealistic, inappropriate, indiscriminate,
flattened effect.
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