Forensic psychology is a distinct specialization requiring practitioners to approach problems differently than in other psychological specialties. While the use of problem-based learning in the medical field is well-researched, there is a lack of literature regarding its use in forensic psychology. This quantitative survey-based study was designed to investigate the relationship between learning models and personality traits and job satisfaction in forensic psychologists. In the current study, an adaption of Vygotsky’s constructivist zone of proximal development theory and Holland’s theory of career choice were applied to forensic psychology instruction to assess the degree to which personality and learning models interrelate among forensic psychologists. Overall, the sample population of 49 forensic psychology professionals experienced moderate to high levels of job satisfaction, irrespective of personality. No statistical significance was found with regard to learning model, personality, and job satisfaction. While not statistically significant, the findings do highlight a personality typology that differed from the overarching psychology profession. Holland’s theory categorized individuals in the psychology/psychologist profession as social and artistic. In the current study approximately 37% identified as investigative, while only 4% identified as artistic. It may be beneficial to expand the inclusion criteria to international participants to provide additional statistical analysis with a larger data set. Positive social change may result from an increased awareness of which personality types are better aligned to the forensic psychology profession.

Os conflitos que acompanham a ruptura da configuração familiar têm exigido o envolvimento crescente de psicólogos e outros profissionais da saúde mental na avaliação de famílias em situação de disputa de guarda. As avaliações psicológicas devem fornecer informações objetivas e imparciais, uma vez que exercerão importante papel em relação às crianças e ao Judiciário. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as práticas que estão sendo utilizadas pelos psicólogos para realizar avaliações envolvendo disputa de guarda. Além de procedimentos e técnicas empregados, honorários e participação em audiências, os profissionais foram questionados sobre assuntos como guarda compartilhada, Síndrome de Alienação Parental e falsas acusações de abuso sexual. Participaram do estudo 51 psicólogos de diferentes regiões brasileiras, com idades entre 23 e 62 anos, com experiência em avaliação envolvendo disputa de guarda. Os profissionais responderam a um questionário disponível online, composto por questões objetivas referentes a dados pessoais e profissionais, avaliação psicológica, uso de testes e demandas atuais do Direito de Família. Foram realizadas análises descritivas das características sócio-demográficas e de formação dos participantes, bem como das demais questões contempladas no instrumento. Também foram realizadas comparações dos resultados entre as regiões do Brasil, através do teste do Qui-Quadrado. Os achados revelaram que os principais procedimentos utilizados nesse tipo de avaliação são as entrevistas com pais e com filhos. Entrevistas com terceiros e visitas à escola e residências dos pais também foram apontadas como freqüentes, da mesma forma que o uso de testes projetivos. Os testes referidos como mais utilizados foram HTP, Rorschach e Desenho da Figura Humana. Foi possível observar uma preferência e predomínio do uso de instrumentos psicológicos entre os participantes da região Sul. Em relação às demandas atuais do Direito de Família, a maioria dos respondentes mostrou-se conhecedora dos assuntos e relatou ter experiência profissional em relação aos mesmos. Contudo, a discussão apontou a necessidade de abordar esses e outros temas durante a formação dos psicólogos, a fim de que os profissionais possam manter-se atualizados diante das demandas que surgem no Direito de Família. Os principais resultados obtidos a partir deste estudo servirão como parâmetro para os psicólogos que exercem avaliações nessa área, ampliando seus conhecimentos sobre avaliação psicológica e determinação de guarda. Vale destacar a importância dessas avaliações, que servem de subsídio para a tomada de decisões judiciais que acarretarão sérias conseqüências para a vida de crianças e adolescentes filhos de pais separados. Palavras-Chave: Psicologia Jurídica, Avaliação Psicológica Forense, Disputa de Guarda. / The conflicts that follow the breakup of a family have increasingly involved psychologists and other mental health professionals in child custody evaluations. The psychological assessments should provide objective and impartial information, once they play an important role for the court and for the children’s lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the practices that have been used by psychologists in child custody evaluations. Professionals were asked about procedures, techniques, fees and participation in court trials. Questions about joint custody, Parental Alienation Syndrome and false allegations of sexual abuse were also considered. Fifty one child custody experienced psychologists from different regions of Brazil took part in the study, aged between 23 and 62. The professionals answered an online questionnaire, consisting of objective questions related to personal and professional data, child custody evaluation, use of tests and current demands in Family Law. Descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of the participants, and of the questions of the instrument as well as comparisons among the results of the Brazilian regions were carried out. The findings indicate that the main procedures in this type of evaluation are the interviews with parents and with the children. Collateral interviews and home and school visits are highlighted as a common procedure, as well as the use of projective techniques. HTP, Rorschach and the Human Figure Drawing are the most employed tests. It was possible to observe a preference and predominant use of psychological instruments among the participants of the south region. The respondents have showed to know about the Family Law topics and reported to have professional experience in this area. These data indicate that the psychologists who work in that field look for information concerning the demands which arise in Family Law. Even though, the discussion pointed out the need of studying these and other topics related to Forensic Psychology during psychologists’ education. It is expected that the main results of this study offer important guidelines for the psychologists in child custody evaluations, beyond broadening their knowledge about the issue. It is also underscored the importance of these evaluations on the judge decision, once they bring serious consequences for the lives of the children of divorced parents.

Os conflitos que acompanham a ruptura da configuração familiar têm exigido o envolvimento crescente de psicólogos e outros profissionais da saúde mental na avaliação de famílias em situação de disputa de guarda. As avaliações psicológicas devem fornecer informações objetivas e imparciais, uma vez que exercerão importante papel em relação às crianças e ao Judiciário. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as práticas que estão sendo utilizadas pelos psicólogos para realizar avaliações envolvendo disputa de guarda. Além de procedimentos e técnicas empregados, honorários e participação em audiências, os profissionais foram questionados sobre assuntos como guarda compartilhada, Síndrome de Alienação Parental e falsas acusações de abuso sexual. Participaram do estudo 51 psicólogos de diferentes regiões brasileiras, com idades entre 23 e 62 anos, com experiência em avaliação envolvendo disputa de guarda. Os profissionais responderam a um questionário disponível online, composto por questões objetivas referentes a dados pessoais e profissionais, avaliação psicológica, uso de testes e demandas atuais do Direito de Família. Foram realizadas análises descritivas das características sócio-demográficas e de formação dos participantes, bem como das demais questões contempladas no instrumento. Também foram realizadas comparações dos resultados entre as regiões do Brasil, através do teste do Qui-Quadrado. Os achados revelaram que os principais procedimentos utilizados nesse tipo de avaliação são as entrevistas com pais e com filhos. Entrevistas com terceiros e visitas à escola e residências dos pais também foram apontadas como freqüentes, da mesma forma que o uso de testes projetivos. Os testes referidos como mais utilizados foram HTP, Rorschach e Desenho da Figura Humana. Foi possível observar uma preferência e predomínio do uso de instrumentos psicológicos entre os participantes da região Sul. Em relação às demandas atuais do Direito de Família, a maioria dos respondentes mostrou-se conhecedora dos assuntos e relatou ter experiência profissional em relação aos mesmos. Contudo, a discussão apontou a necessidade de abordar esses e outros temas durante a formação dos psicólogos, a fim de que os profissionais possam manter-se atualizados diante das demandas que surgem no Direito de Família. Os principais resultados obtidos a partir deste estudo servirão como parâmetro para os psicólogos que exercem avaliações nessa área, ampliando seus conhecimentos sobre avaliação psicológica e determinação de guarda. Vale destacar a importância dessas avaliações, que servem de subsídio para a tomada de decisões judiciais que acarretarão sérias conseqüências para a vida de crianças e adolescentes filhos de pais separados. Palavras-Chave: Psicologia Jurídica, Avaliação Psicológica Forense, Disputa de Guarda. / The conflicts that follow the breakup of a family have increasingly involved psychologists and other mental health professionals in child custody evaluations. The psychological assessments should provide objective and impartial information, once they play an important role for the court and for the children’s lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the practices that have been used by psychologists in child custody evaluations. Professionals were asked about procedures, techniques, fees and participation in court trials. Questions about joint custody, Parental Alienation Syndrome and false allegations of sexual abuse were also considered. Fifty one child custody experienced psychologists from different regions of Brazil took part in the study, aged between 23 and 62. The professionals answered an online questionnaire, consisting of objective questions related to personal and professional data, child custody evaluation, use of tests and current demands in Family Law. Descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of the participants, and of the questions of the instrument as well as comparisons among the results of the Brazilian regions were carried out. The findings indicate that the main procedures in this type of evaluation are the interviews with parents and with the children. Collateral interviews and home and school visits are highlighted as a common procedure, as well as the use of projective techniques. HTP, Rorschach and the Human Figure Drawing are the most employed tests. It was possible to observe a preference and predominant use of psychological instruments among the participants of the south region. The respondents have showed to know about the Family Law topics and reported to have professional experience in this area. These data indicate that the psychologists who work in that field look for information concerning the demands which arise in Family Law. Even though, the discussion pointed out the need of studying these and other topics related to Forensic Psychology during psychologists’ education. It is expected that the main results of this study offer important guidelines for the psychologists in child custody evaluations, beyond broadening their knowledge about the issue. It is also underscored the importance of these evaluations on the judge decision, once they bring serious consequences for the lives of the children of divorced parents.

Os conflitos que acompanham a ruptura da configuração familiar têm exigido o envolvimento crescente de psicólogos e outros profissionais da saúde mental na avaliação de famílias em situação de disputa de guarda. As avaliações psicológicas devem fornecer informações objetivas e imparciais, uma vez que exercerão importante papel em relação às crianças e ao Judiciário. O objetivo deste estudo foi investigar as práticas que estão sendo utilizadas pelos psicólogos para realizar avaliações envolvendo disputa de guarda. Além de procedimentos e técnicas empregados, honorários e participação em audiências, os profissionais foram questionados sobre assuntos como guarda compartilhada, Síndrome de Alienação Parental e falsas acusações de abuso sexual. Participaram do estudo 51 psicólogos de diferentes regiões brasileiras, com idades entre 23 e 62 anos, com experiência em avaliação envolvendo disputa de guarda. Os profissionais responderam a um questionário disponível online, composto por questões objetivas referentes a dados pessoais e profissionais, avaliação psicológica, uso de testes e demandas atuais do Direito de Família. Foram realizadas análises descritivas das características sócio-demográficas e de formação dos participantes, bem como das demais questões contempladas no instrumento. Também foram realizadas comparações dos resultados entre as regiões do Brasil, através do teste do Qui-Quadrado. Os achados revelaram que os principais procedimentos utilizados nesse tipo de avaliação são as entrevistas com pais e com filhos. Entrevistas com terceiros e visitas à escola e residências dos pais também foram apontadas como freqüentes, da mesma forma que o uso de testes projetivos. Os testes referidos como mais utilizados foram HTP, Rorschach e Desenho da Figura Humana. Foi possível observar uma preferência e predomínio do uso de instrumentos psicológicos entre os participantes da região Sul. Em relação às demandas atuais do Direito de Família, a maioria dos respondentes mostrou-se conhecedora dos assuntos e relatou ter experiência profissional em relação aos mesmos. Contudo, a discussão apontou a necessidade de abordar esses e outros temas durante a formação dos psicólogos, a fim de que os profissionais possam manter-se atualizados diante das demandas que surgem no Direito de Família. Os principais resultados obtidos a partir deste estudo servirão como parâmetro para os psicólogos que exercem avaliações nessa área, ampliando seus conhecimentos sobre avaliação psicológica e determinação de guarda. Vale destacar a importância dessas avaliações, que servem de subsídio para a tomada de decisões judiciais que acarretarão sérias conseqüências para a vida de crianças e adolescentes filhos de pais separados. Palavras-Chave: Psicologia Jurídica, Avaliação Psicológica Forense, Disputa de Guarda. / The conflicts that follow the breakup of a family have increasingly involved psychologists and other mental health professionals in child custody evaluations. The psychological assessments should provide objective and impartial information, once they play an important role for the court and for the children’s lives. The aim of this study was to investigate the practices that have been used by psychologists in child custody evaluations. Professionals were asked about procedures, techniques, fees and participation in court trials. Questions about joint custody, Parental Alienation Syndrome and false allegations of sexual abuse were also considered. Fifty one child custody experienced psychologists from different regions of Brazil took part in the study, aged between 23 and 62. The professionals answered an online questionnaire, consisting of objective questions related to personal and professional data, child custody evaluation, use of tests and current demands in Family Law. Descriptive analysis of the sociodemographic and educational characteristics of the participants, and of the questions of the instrument as well as comparisons among the results of the Brazilian regions were carried out. The findings indicate that the main procedures in this type of evaluation are the interviews with parents and with the children. Collateral interviews and home and school visits are highlighted as a common procedure, as well as the use of projective techniques. HTP, Rorschach and the Human Figure Drawing are the most employed tests. It was possible to observe a preference and predominant use of psychological instruments among the participants of the south region. The respondents have showed to know about the Family Law topics and reported to have professional experience in this area. These data indicate that the psychologists who work in that field look for information concerning the demands which arise in Family Law. Even though, the discussion pointed out the need of studying these and other topics related to Forensic Psychology during psychologists’ education. It is expected that the main results of this study offer important guidelines for the psychologists in child custody evaluations, beyond broadening their knowledge about the issue. It is also underscored the importance of these evaluations on the judge decision, once they bring serious consequences for the lives of the children of divorced parents.

This study sought to investigate whether three forms of Early Maladaptive Schema (EMS) and autobiographical memory specificity mediated the relationship between abuse and attachment in childhood with Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) characteristics among forensic inpatients. The study adopted a quantitative cross-sectional design. Thirty-four male adults residing in medium secure facilities completed self-report measures. Data was analysed using bootstrapped mediation procedures. The study’s hypotheses received partial support. The EMS of “mistrust/abuse”, “entitlement/grandiosity” and autobiographical memory specificity differentially mediated the relationship between emotional and physical abuse and neglect and parental care and overprotection with BPD characteristics. The study concluded that in line with attachment theory and the functional avoidance mechanism (Williams et al., 2007), the proposed mediators are conceptualised as adaptive responses to early adversity with potential maladaptive consequences for later interpersonal functioning. Clinical implications encourage the incorporation of these mediators into clinical formulation, intervention and ward practices. It is recommended that future research replicates the study’s design with a larger sample and investigates the role of other mediators and moderators in this complex relationship.

Forensic services have been described as largely based around the needs of men who form the vast majority of in patients. However women’s offending behaviour is quite distinct from men's: they are more likely to have a personality disorder, most commonly borderline personality disorder (BPD) and to have been victims of abuse both as children and adults. Abuse and borderline personality disorder are characterised by problematic relational styles which cause the person great distress. In the forensic services admission is not based upon treatment readiness and it may be difficult for women to form healthy relationships with care staff or their peers. The recovery model has been recently applied to the forensic service and emphasises that improving relationships is a fundamental target. Women in forensic services have said that their peers can help them to feel connected and less stigmatised but also they can find each other's behaviour very disruptive and disturbing. This research set out to develop a theoretical model of the peer relationships of women with BPD in forensic care using grounded theory methodology. 12 women with a diagnosis of BPD were interviewed about their experiences in forensic care. A model was developed that characterises how women's experiences of relating with each other will depend upon ward characteristics and personal readiness for forming relationships. This will determine whether the person is interacting in a survival mode where relationships are superficial or able to attempt to engage at a deeper relational level with their peers. Such engagement may perpetuate relational difficulties, or have the potential to develop recovery through fostering hope, providing encouragement, developing insight and learning new ways to connect with others and manage problems.

Young people within the youth justice system experience three times higher rates of mental health problems than the general youth population yet are one of the least likely groups to seek help. Very little theory or research is available within this population to explain these high rates of unmet need. This study aimed to develop a theory about the barriers and facilitators that Youth Offending Team workers experience when supporting young people to access mental health services. Eleven semi-structured interviews were conducted with participants; eight youth offending team workers, two young people and a mental health worker. Interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed verbatim before being analysed using “grounded theory”. This method was chosen to allow the in depth exploration of participants experiences and the development of theory within an under researched area. The results showed that Youth Offending Team workers appeared to play a crucial role in supporting a young person’s help seeking from mental health services. A preliminary model was developed which demonstrated the complex relationships between six identified factors which influenced this role. The study concluded that Youth Offending Team workers would benefit from more support, training and recognition of the key role they play in supporting young people to become ready for a referral to mental health services. Mental health services could be well placed to provide this. Clinical implications are discussed. Further research is needed to develop our understanding of what influenced the help seeking of this vulnerable population.

Competency to stand trial cases constitute the largest percentage of forensic referrals for clinical psychologists. Furthermore, research suggests that the use of forensic measures facilitates the decisions of competency made by forensic examiners. This study investigated the construct validity of three competency measures: (a) the GCCT-MSH, (b) the MacCAT-CA, and (c) the ECST with 100 adult males incarcerated at the Tarrant County Jail in Fort Worth, TX. Construct validity was investigated via the use of a multitrait-multimethod research design for the three-prong conceptualization of the Dusky standard. Results indicated that current competency measures do an adequate job of assessing for factual understanding, but lack construct validity for two prongs: rational understanding and the ability to consult with counsel. In addition, the atypical presentation scales of the both GCCT and the ECST performed well at screening individuals for feigning. Finally, prediction of competency from clinical variables was also investigated. Psychotic symptoms and overall impairment were the strongest predictors of incompetency.

Within the discipline of sociology human olfaction is rich with social significance yet remains a poorly charted frontier. Therefore, the following discourse is aimed toward the development of a foundation for the sociological study of olfaction. It is formed by the dual goals of unearthing the social history of olfaction and of providing a viable sociological account of the manner in which smells affect human ontology. From these goals arise the following research questions: (1) Have the meaning and social relevance of odors and the olfactory sensorium changed throughout different periods of history?; (2) How have those in the lineage of eminent sociological thinkers addressed the phenomenon of human olfaction during these periods?; and (3) What is the process by which aromatic stimuli are transformed from simple chemical compounds, drifting in the atmosphere, into sensations in a sensory field and then on to perceived objects, to subjects of judgment and interpretation, and finally to bases of knowledge which form and continually reform individuals in the world? The weaving of the sociohistorical tapestry of smell is undertaken to provide examples from thousands of years lived experiences as to the fluid and sociologically complex nature of individuals' olfactory senses. This historical information is presented in a narrative format and is synthesized from data gleaned from books, advertisements, articles in popular non-scientific magazines, as well as from the findings of studies published in medical/neurological, psychological, anthropological, and sociological scholarly journals. Regarding theoretical aim of this discourse, insights are drawn from Maurice Merleau-Ponty's phenomenological theory of human perception for the generation of a framework for the sociological study of olfaction. Merleau-Ponty's theoretical notions are modified, modernized, and refitted to more specifically fit the subject of human olfaction and to include all that has been discovered about the biological specifics of olfactory perception since the time of his writing. Taken in sum, this effort is an access point to the understanding of how olfactory sensory perceptions flow toward the ontological unfolding of individuals.

Criminal profiling Abstract The purpose of my thesis is to analyse criminal profiling, one of the disciplines of forensic psychology used by law enforcement authorities in their effort to capture offender of a crime. The reason for my research is my interest in the criminal law in general, mainly in the psychological aspects of work of law enforcement authorities with individual offenders. The thesis is composed of three chapters, each of them dealing with different aspects of criminal profiling. Chapter One is introductory and defines basic terminology of criminal profiling and the essence of criminal profiling in general. The chapter is subdivided into five parts, which deals with the term of criminal profiling, its development, particular delicts suitable for profiling, the manner of creating a profile and its efficiency in the criminal proceedings in Czech Republic. Chapter Two examines the best known approaches to criminal profiling, its methods and typology. The chapter consists of five parts. Part One focuses on the different approaches to criminal profiling. Part Two investigates the deductive and inductive methods of criminal profiling. Part Three addresses the issue of the best known computer databases used in criminal profiling, ViCLAS and VICAP. Part Four focuses on geographic profiling, a...