Fascinated by the criminal mind?
Want to know why perpetrators act the way they do?
Criminal psychologists, also known as “profilers”, are experts in understanding the psychological motivations behind crime. They evaluate crime scenes, evidence and witnesses, integrating any material connected with the suspect. They help police identify and understand the nature, patterns and motives of perpetrators, and some also provide locality profiles to help police categorise the area where an offender lives and works.
Today, some crimes have become increasingly bizarre and more extreme, and we are constantly amazed by the psychology of the offenders and the acts they commit. This course examines the behaviours and psychology behind such acts, using case studies, and how psychology is used in law enforcement and crime prevention.
AIMS OF THIS COURSE
Specifically, the course aims to develop students’ understanding of the criminological theories of offending and the psychology behind various types of unlawful behaviour, such as sexual offences, stalking and serial murder, using relevant case studies.
This course is aimed at those with an interest in criminology and psychology, who want to examine how the science of psychology can further an understanding of offending behaviour, improve policing and victim services, as well work with criminals to reduce re-offending.
COURSE CONTENT
There are ten (10) lessons consisting of:
LESSON 1: INTRODUCTION TO CRIMINAL PSYCHOLOGY
Definitions of crime, the Consensus View, the Conflict View, the Interactionist View, the constituents of a crime, criminal psychologists and what they do, case study.
LESSON 2: PSYCHOLOGICAL APPROACHES TO UNDERSTANDING CRIME
Biological explanations of crime, biological models – phrenology, eugenics, the XYY chromosome and genetics, twin and adoption studies, nature versus nurture, environmental explanations of crime, agency explanations, Rational Choice Theory.
LESSON 3: PSYCHOLOGY AND UNDERSTANDING SERIOUS CRIMES
Different types of aggression, theoretical approaches, social learning theories, biological and evolutionary theories, aggression in humans, environmental influences, familiarity, reinforcement, aggression and culture, other factors in aggressive acts, murder, sexual assault, stalking, pursuit behaviour, false stalking syndrome.
LESSON 4: MENTAL DISORDER AND CRIME I – LEARNING DISABILITIES AND CRIME
What we mean by learning disabilities, IQ testing, crime and intelligence, the Jukes and Kallikaks case study link, modern intelligence testing, learning disability and crime in general, sex offences and people with learning disabilities.
LESSON 5: MENTAL DISORDER AND CRIME II - PSYCHOPATHY
Classifications of mental illness in the Western World, psychopaths and how they evolve, treatment.
LESSON 6: GENDER AND CRIME
Rates of crime, murder and violence, prostitution, case study – women offenders in prison, victims of murder, domestic violence and sexual abuse.
LESSON 7: YOUTH AND CRIME
Risk factors – mental health, conduct disorders, Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), cumulative effect of risk factors, prevalence of offending, case study – youth crime in Canada and the UK, young people as victims.
LESSON 8: PSYCHOLOGY AND THE POLICE
Social construction of reported crime, various scenarios, eyewitness testimony, early research, schemas and EWT, police line-ups, everyday uses of psychology by the police.
LESSON 9: PSYCHOLOGY IN THE COURTROOM
Social cognition, behaviour, appearance, expectations, the primacy effect, attribution, schemas and social perception, central traits, stereotypes, social inference and decision-making, psychology and the law, effect of the media.
LESSON 10: PSYCHOLOGY AND CRIME PREVENTION
Punishment in psychology, types and reasons for punishment, deterrents, punishment and impartiality.
COURSE DURATION: Approx 100 hours
This course is also available in CD-ROM format – click here for more details.
EXPERT TUITION
Even though you are studying at a time and place convenient for you, you still benefit from expert guidance and tuition. Your tutor for this course is experienced in how the minds of criminals work, and will provide valuable feedback on each assignment you submit.
WRITTEN BY EXPERTS
All courses offered on the Lifestyle Learning Direct website have been written by industry experts and are regularly updated to ensure that the information is accurate and relevant.
EASY-TO-UNDERSTAND LESSONS
Don’t worry if you have never studied before; all the lessons are set out in easy-to-understand language, taking you step by step through the course. If you need additional assistance, simply contact Student Services and help will never be far away.
STUDYING ONLINE IS SIMPLE
With online training you have the advantage of being able to study anywhere you have access to a computer and the Internet. All your lessons are available on the website for you to view as you need them, or you can save them to your computer and print them so you can take them with you wherever you go.
At the end of each lesson is a self-assessment quiz, so you can test your knowledge straight away. Once you are comfortable that you understand everything contained in the lesson, simply complete your assignment and upload it to the website for your tutor to mark. Once your tutor has marked your assignment you will receive an email notifying you that it is ready for collection.
Part Payments Available
Initial deposit : $375 inc GST
2nd payment : $375 inc GST
Total Cost : $750 inc GST
We thank our affiliate ACS for supplying the content for this course.
