HOSA Forensic Science: Psychiatry/Psychology, questions and answers

HOSA Forensic Science: Psychiatry/Psychology, questions and answers Actus Rectus The guilty act Mens Rea "Guilty Mind" A person's awareness of the fact that his or her conduct is criminal; the mental element of a crime. Competency The determination by the state about whether a person is capable to stand trial. Crime Scene Staging When a crime scene is altered in such a way that it would send investigators off course and away from the perpetrator Diminished Capacity An offender who could not or did not form the specific intent or could not act in a knowing and purposeful manner Disorganized Offender Offender who commits a crime with little or no planning. This criminal lacks control over the victim and is easily traced through evidence. Dissimulation A conscious and deliberate attempt to minimize or deny symptoms of a mental disorder Insanity A mental state in which the individual could not or did not know what he or she was doing or that what he or she was doing was wrong Internally Inconsistent Occurs when a scene as been staged. All parts of the scene do not fit together in a logical manner. Malingering Conscious attempt to feign a physical or mental disease McNaughton rules Cognitive test for insanity. A state test to determine if a person can be found guilty or if they were insane during the commission of the crime. Modus Operandi A criminals method of operation. Based on the principle that a criminal is likely to use the same technique repeatedly in a series of crimes Organized Offender A perpetrator who exhibits a great deal of though/planning into their crimes. This criminal maintains control over the victim and leaves little to no evidence to indicate themselves. Overkill When someone is killed with more force than was necessary to end their life. Typically indicates that they killer knew the victim and was angry at them Personality inventories Psychological tests that evaluate personality, psychopathology and mental functioning Profiling A psychological investigation of a violent unsolved crime. Covers victomology, MO, crime scenes, and characteristics of the offender Projective Psychological tests that present a person with an ambiguous stimulus and assumes that their responses will indicate aspects of their personality Psycholegal Pertains to legal issues or questions that are addressed by psychologists or other mental health professionals Signature The specific way a killer distinguishes the murders they commit from all others Souvenir A victim's personal item that is taken by the offender to remember the crime. It usually indicates an the offender feels inadequate and will keep it for a long time. Thematic Appreciation Test A test in which a person is shown a picture depicting various everyday situations and is asked to create a story based on the picture. Victimology Victims history that impacts the analysis of a crime Eyewitness testimony What is the most prevalent area of forensic psychological research? Jenkins vs. United States 1962 When were psychologists recognized in court?