The growth of forensic psychology as a science in the recent decades represents an evolution in profiling and crime detection. Understanding the causes and characteristics of deviant actions – commonly known as abnormal behavior – is crucial in determining diagnoses, planning intervention strategies and answering forensic referral questions.
In this course, students will acquire a broad understanding of psychopathologies related to crime. They are provided with an extensive overview of the main topics, such as criminal profiling, psychology in the criminal courts, the links to legal systems and related topics. Furthermore criminal behavior will be examined and challenges in the field will be discussed.
Moreover, special issues such as cybercrime, family violence, victimology, and police psychology will be covered.
The course is law oriented, which means the roles that forensic psychology professional could have in the court system will be explored and basic psychology knowledge will be delivered.
Literature:
- Dennis Howitt – Introduction to Forensic and Criminal Psychology, 2018, 6th Edition
- Sandie Taylor – Forensic Psychology: The basis, 2015
The course will be a block lecture but conceptualized as a seminar including group work and student presentations. Many case studies will be examined and a lot of media (videos/
podcasts) will be used.
Examination type: essay paper. The final grade will be based on active participation in class, the presentation and the final paper that students have to submit.
Open to incoming bachelor and master law students and bachelor + master students from any other faculty at the University of Mannheim and full time Uni Mannheim Students.
The course will take place mostly online and if the situation with the pandemic allows it, it might take place on campus (mixed presence + digital) as well.