Course Catalogue

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This course addresses the contribution of Psychology to the criminal justice system.

A series of self-directed coursework and lecture recordings delivered across 14 weeks.

At least a 2:1 honours degree or equivalent

None

Coursework (100%) consisting of one 2,500 word essay. The essay topics will address the ILOs noted above.

The assessment will require students to: show high levels of understanding around the issues, an understanding of the challenges and controversies around key issues, be able to analyse research materials and apply theory to a practical setting involving criminal behaviours, structure those arguments to provide a clear and compelling assessment of the issues, provide a well-written and comprehensive account. The overall marking scheme will be aligned with the University of Glasgow scale.

The course aims to allow students to investigate and evaluate areas where Psychology has been influential in understanding and predicting criminal behavior and the role of the professional psychologist in determining the future potential for offender rehabilitation and release.

By the end of this course students will be able to:

Subject-specific/practical skills

■ Evaluate the challenges associated with the assessment of risk within forensic psychology

■ Understand structured interviewing skills within a forensic setting and be aware of the limitations and problems associated with such approaches

■ Demonstrate an understanding of the role of psychological evidence within the criminal justice system

Intellectual skills

■ Identify, conceptualise and define the challenges associated with the prediction of criminal behaviour and the problems associated with the core definitions of criminality

■ Critically evaluate the role of psychological as well as ideological and theological drivers in shaping certain aspects of criminal behaviours

■ Demonstrate an understanding of the core theoretical perspectives used with forensic psychology

■ Assess the challenges associated with the identification of hostile threat actors both within organisations (insider threats) and in wider social settings and the role of forensic psychology in that process

Transferable/key skills

■ Demonstrate skills in the use of information from multiple sources in dealing with complex ill-defined problems

■ Critically evaluate the predictive validity associated with assessments where the burden of proof is limited

Students must submit at least 75% by weight of the components (including examinations) of the course's summative assessment.