191-414 Psychology and Criminal Justice

Usually 37.5 points of second/third year criminology subjects for third year, or admission to the postgraduate diploma or fourth year honours in criminology.

This subject aims to provide criminology students with an introduction to psychology as it has been applied to crime and criminal justice. The first part of this subject examines psychological perspectives on the offender. These range from examinations of how offenders' individual characteristics, such as intelligence, are associated with criminal behaviour through to integrated psychological theories of offending. The second part of the subject turns attention to psychology's relationship with justice and law, including examinations of police interrogation, recovered memories of child sexual abuse and multiple personality disorder. By the end of the subject students should be familiar with the psychological perspective on human behaviour and be able to critically evaluate the contribution of psychological theory to understanding criminological and legal phenomena.

• have highly developed cognitive, analytical and problem-solving skills;

• have an advanced understanding of complex concepts and the ability to express them lucidly in writing and orally;

• have an ability to plan work and to use time effectively;

• have sophisticated awareness of cultural, ethnic and gender diversities and their implications.

An essay of 2000 words (3000 words for fourth year students) 50% (due during semester), a 1-hour class test of 1000 words 25% (due mid-semester) and a 1000 word take-home exam 25% (due on the first day of the examination period).

A subject reader will be available from the University Bookshop