PSY 3173 Study Guide - Final Guide: Paranoid Schizophrenia, Mood Disorder, Mental Disorder
15 Jun 2018
School
Department
Course
Professor
Foresi Psholog Fial Ea Reie
The Role of Mental Illness in Court & Psychopathy
Mental Disorders
• A disode of the id that is judged epets to itefee sustatiall ith a peso’s ailit
to cope with life on a daily basis
• There are 4 categories of mental disorders that are more likely to be associated with criminal
conduct:
o Schizophrenic Disorders
o Paranoid or Delusional Disorders
o Mood Disorders (i.e. serious depression)
o Anti-Social Personality Disorder
• Some of the 4 categories aren’t admissible in court as a defence
o These idiiduals ae’t destied to oit ies, thee’s sipl a oelatios
between these mental disorders and crimes
o Haig a etal illess does’t autoatiall euse thei ehaiou
Schizophrenic Disorders
• To diagnose, you need 2/5 of the characteristics for at least 6 months
5 Characteristics:
o Delusions
o Hallucinations
o Disorganized speech
o Grossly inappropriate behaviour
o Inappropriate affect
5 Subtypes of Schizophrenia
• Disorganized Type: Inappropriate affect and marked incoherence/disorganization in thought
pattern
o Ex: laughing when something is sad
o NOT strongly correlated with criminal behaviour
• Catatonic Type: severe disturbances in muscular and voluntary movements
o Ex: tics, social withdrawal, becoming mute, talkig like paot epeatig the sae
things)
o NOT strongly correlated with criminal behaviour
• Paranoid Type: delusions and hallucinations (mostly auditory)
o MOST likely to exhibit criminal behaviour
• Undifferentiated Type: may have some of the symptoms from othe tpes, ut does’t fit
clearly into one
• Residual Type: have had at least one episode of schizophrenia
o No longer meet the criteria for schizophrenia, but still have some symptoms
o Ex: may be taking meds for it (have it, but no symptoms) or may have 1 symptom (not 2)
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• Schizophrenia not highly associated with crime, but those who do commit crime might have a
higher level of violence when committing a crime, especially for aggravated assault, homicide
or sexual assault
• Delusions (feeling like someone is after you) or those who feel persecuted are more common in
the ones who commit crimes
• Those who have hallucinations without delusions are less likely to commit a homicide than
those with delusions
• The strongest predictors of excessive violence are the offenders own history of violence and the
presence of an accomplice at the scene
Paranoid or Delusional Disorders
• Presence of one or more non-bizarre delusions that persist for at least a month
• Unlike schizophrenia, the delusions are less bizarre
o Bizarre Example: aliens are coming to get you
o Non-Bizarre Example: thinking your neighbour is spying on you and poisoning your dog,
ut thee’s o eidee of that happeig
• Persecutory Type: believing that someone is after you
o More likely to be violent
o Most closely associated type of paranoia with criminal behaviour
o Often accompanied by anger, resentment, and violence
• Paranoia or delusional disorders often accompany other mental or personality disorders
Mood Disorders (Major Depressive Disorder)
• Extremely depressed state that lasts for at least 2 weeks and is accompanied by a generalized
slowing down of mental and physical activity
• Associated with criminal behaviour because it makes the person not care about themselves or
what happens to them
• Depression is strongly associated with delinquency, especially in teen girls
• Significant role in workplace violence, mass violence (school shootings), or suicide by cop
• Still responsible for your actions
Anti-Social Personality Disorder
• History of continuous behaviour in which the rights of others are violated
• Strong relationship between having this and with criminal behaviour
• Not a brain imbalance, a personality disorder
• Most pesoalit disodes ae’t a good defese i out
• Ted to lak epath ad do’t ae fo othe people
• Excessive drinking, illicit drugs, or explicit sexual behaviour among those with this disorder
• Impaired in maintaining good relationships, and as a result generally fail to be independent
adults usually a’t e diagosed util 18
• Tend to spend their lives in institutions (i.e. correctional) or highly dependent on their families
• Much more impulsive
• Cies ae’t eessail iolet
• More frequent in males and more common in those with low SES
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3 of the Following Behavioural Patterns Must be Present (Anti-Social Personality Disorder):
• Failure to conform to social norms or the criminal law
• Irritability and unusual aggressiveness
• Consistent irresponsibility
• Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead
• Deceitfulness
• Reckless disregard for the safety of others or self
• Lack of remorse or guilt for wrongdoings
Establishing Guilt
• Actus Reus: a wrongful dead (the action)
o Objective component (not influenced by personal emotions)
o Based on evidence
• Mens Rea: criminal intent
o Subjective component
• Need BOTH to find a person guilty; the first is easier to prove
Burdens of Proof
Either beyond a reasonable doubt or preponderance of the evidence
1. Beyond a Reasonable Doubt
o Standard of proof required in all criminal proceedings
o Proof that is just shy of absolute certainty
o In the case of evidence, it means fully satisfied, entirely convinced, satisfied to a moral
certainty
2. Preponderance of the Evidence
o Need this to be not criminally responsible in the case of mental illness
o Standard of proof for civil suits
o Proof that one side has more evidence in its favour
Fitness to Stand Trial
UNFIT if ou a’t defed ouself OR ask soeoe a lae to defed ou
If ANY of the is’t peset, the the tial a’t go o. Defedat NEED“ TO:
o Understand the nature of the proceedings
o Understand the possible consequences of the proceedings
o Communicate with counsel
• When a person is UST, they remain under the authority of the review board until they are
deemed fit to stand trial or the charges are stayed
• Up until the final verdict, the trial can be stopped
• Review board will look at the case ever 40 days
• Afte eas, eie if thee’s eough eidee to go to tial the eie oad
find more resources at oneclass.com
find more resources at oneclass.com
Document Summary
The role of mental illness in court & psychopathy. Schizophrenic disorders: to diagnose, you need 2/5 of the characteristics for at least 6 months. 5 characteristics: delusions, hallucinations, disorganized speech, grossly inappropriate behaviour. 3 of the following behavioural patterns must be present (anti-social personality disorder): Impulsivity or failure to plan ahead: failure to conform to social norms or the criminal law, consistent irresponsibility, deceitfulness, reckless disregard for the safety of others or self. Establishing guilt: actus reus: a wrongful dead (the action, objective component (not influenced by personal emotions, based on evidence, mens rea: criminal intent, subjective component, need both to find a person guilty; the first is easier to prove. Either beyond a reasonable doubt or preponderance of the evidence: beyond a reasonable doubt, standard of proof required in all criminal proceedings, proof that is just shy of absolute certainty. Unfit if (cid:455)ou (cid:272)a(cid:374)"t defe(cid:374)d (cid:455)ou(cid:396)self or ask so(cid:373)eo(cid:374)e (cid:894)a la(cid:449)(cid:455)e(cid:396)(cid:895) to defe(cid:374)d (cid:455)ou.
