ID#: UD71637HCL80792
TOPIC: Forensic Analysis of the Human Mind and Crime Tendencies
Program: Doctorate Degree in Clinical Psychology
SCHOOL OF SOCIAL & HUMAN STUDIES
Atlantic International University
April 30, 2021
Table of Contents
Overview of Forensic Psychology 7
On Crime and Criminal Tendencies 9
Psychological Factors Related to Criminal Tendencies among Individuals 11
Criminal Tendencies and Mental Health of Individuals in Society 13
Theories Related to Forensic Psychology and Criminal Tendencies 14
Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior 14
Bio-social and biological theory 17
Application of Forensic Psychology in Controlling Criminal Tendencies 18
Global Perspective of Forensic Psychology 22
A Discus on Forensic Psychology and its Implementation in Africa and Nigeria 23
Introduction
One of the phases of life and a significant building block of societies is human growth by mental activity. Owing to the effects of socio-cultural, psychological, and environmental forces, different characters, structures, aspirations, and temperaments have been expressed in their lives. When it comes to describing the relationship between individuals and crime, well-known Indian sociologist Ram Ahuja (1996) said, “crime orchestrated by people results from grievances and deprivations arising from a failure to achieve ambitions, desires, and expectations.”Individuals’ social relations with communities that regulate their social activity are broken or weakened due to these grievances. The breaking/weakening of social ties, on the other hand, is determined by an individual’s personality structure. One who adheres to social norms remains attached to his kin, and since he can adapt to any circumstance, he is unlikely to sever his ties with his social groups. As a result, a person’s criminal activity is caused by the fracturing or weakening of social ties.
Recent research has focused on crime, which is a relative concept that differs from society to society, country to country, and also within the same society from time to time. As a result, giving a standard definition of crime is challenging. According to Dubey (2009), crime is deviant conduct against prevailing norms and societal expectations that dictate how humans act in everyday situations. This approach considers the complexities surrounding crime tendencies as a concept. It attempts to unravel how socio-political, mental, and socio-economic factors can affect the human perspective of crime and criminal tendencies, including the legal means of enforcing laws that bring criminals to justice. This is where the forensic analysis of the human mind comes into the picture, as there is a need to analyze individuals’ behavioral and personality traits concerning criminal tendencies. Therefore, this paper attempts to holistically evaluate the connection existing between the human mind and criminal tendencies using scientific methods in forensic psychology. The concepts of forensic analysis of the human mind will be analyzed alongside conceptual and theoretical frameworks of crime and criminal tendencies among individuals in society. Also, the implementation of forensic psychology using a global perspective will be discussed and looking at forensic psychology within the African and Nigerian space.
Justification
This study will formulate policies on crime control using scientific methods of mental analysis since the mind is the source of every behavioral trait displayed by individuals in their ambient environment. In addition, the fact that the legal and criminal justice system needs to be drastically improved to combat the overwhelming cases it receives is a pointer to the need for applying the knowledge of this study. As a result of the study’s findings, stakeholders in the legal system and correctional facilities will actively connect the forensic analysis of the human mind to criminal behaviors displayed by individuals.
This study will also enable individuals to recognize the relationship between the mind and behavioral tendencies that tend towards crime and criminal activities, especially for young people of adolescent age. The hypothesis from this research will be useful to future researchers to minimize the occurrence of negative tendencies in people’s behavior and social lives due to their involvement with crime.
General Analysis
Concept of the Human Mind
Many scientific endeavors have been guided by a desire to understand the biggest enigma of all – our minds – leading to the creation of hypotheses and experiments to understand the mechanics of becoming human. Human thoughts, emotions, and behaviors originate in the brain, where a complex network of cells absorbs input from the internal and external environment and transforms it into our perceptions of ourselves, the people around us, and our interactions with it. The mechanism for this is still being investigated. (Leonard, 2013)
The mind is an abstract term that describes emotions, feelings, emotional states, and self-awareness, all of which originate in the brain. For decades, the mind has been a source of discussion. Rene Descartes, a philosopher, was the first to establish dualism, a dichotomy between the mind and body or mind and matter that has perplexed philosophers, physiologists, and psychologists ever since. The mind’s products are highly abstract, and many people have refused to accept that these abstract concepts, thoughts, values, and emotions could derive directly from the brain’s very concrete functioning. (Fishbein, 2000)
However, most people now believe that the brain creates the mind, but this is far from universal agreement. Some religions stress the soul’s primacy as a source of the mind, while some philosophers contend that the brain alone cannot adequately account for the mind’s actions. Though conscious mental states can now be mapped on the brain to some degree, it is still challenging to know what a person is thinking using brain imaging.
Psychology and the mind
Psychology’s primary focus is on the subconscious. It is heavily involved in the study of the mind, from correcting dysfunctional thought patterns to uncovering the workings of memory, mental illness, and emotions. For centuries, philosophers were the primary researchers in psychology, but much of the philosophy of mind has now been absorbed into psychology. The relationship between brain and mental states is of particular interest to cognitive psychologists and neuropsychologists. (Glass et al., 2006)
Many mental health practitioners recognize that the mind has consciousness levels and is interested in learning more about how the mind works. For example, Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung spent much time thinking about the unconscious mind and how it affects the conscious ego.
Overview of Forensic Psychology
Matters involving the rule of law, justice, investigations, be it civil or criminal, are termed forensics. Therefore, forensic psychology, according to Bartol&Bartol (2004), is the scientific application of techniques in analyzing human behavior concerning the law and criminal or civil justice. Forensic psychology can be evaluated from two different perspectives- the compressed view and a much broader view. From the compressed view, the forensic analysis of the human mind can be described as simply executing and implementing psychological concepts in the legal system for upholding justice and human rights. This viewpoint focuses on the medical practice of psychology that involves clinical assessment, treating patients, and carrying out counseling in therapeutic interventions. (Nagel, 2012)
However, some psychologists extend the scope of forensic psychology beyond medical practice to areas involving police psychology, victimology, correctional psychology, and the psychology of crime and delinquency. It is also notable to point out that all the extensions of forensic analysis of the human mind overlap each other in a way in which there is interaction and interdependence among them.
The psychology of crime and delinquency, also known as criminal psychology, is the study of an adult or juvenile offender’s behavioral and emotional processes (Bartol&Bartol, 2009). It is mainly concerned with the acquisition, elicitation, maintenance, and modification of criminal conduct. Recent studies have focused on the offender’s cognitive versions of the world, especially his or her feelings, opinions, and values, and how they can be modified if necessary. It is assumed that different criminal habits are acquired through daily living experiences, in accordance with learning principles, and are interpreted, coded, processed, and remembered in a specific manner for each person: criminal psychology studies and analyses youth delinquency and criminal conduct prevention, intervention, and treatment methods. Criminal psychologists are also involved in researching individual crimes and the people who commit them. Murder, sexual harassment, and aggravated assault, such as those associated with hate crimes or domestic violence, have been the subject. Psychological concepts and beliefs related to violence, reinforcement, and de-individuation, for example, will help us understand the causes of these violent crimes and assist in their prevention.
In addition, forensic psychologists have looked at the roots of substance addiction, burglary, fraud, and other nonviolent crimes and how to avoid them. Criminal psychopathy is a subject that has gotten much attention from psychologists in recent years. A psychopath is anyone who exhibits a distinct pattern of psychological, emotional, interpersonal, and neurophysiological characteristics that set them apart from the universal population. The word “violent psychopath” refers to psychopaths who participate in a broad range of antisocial activities that are detrimental to others regularly.
One of the most exciting and recent trends in criminal psychology is the current interest in incorporating positive psychology studies and concepts. Psychology has traditionally centered on psychiatric disorders, abnormality, and maladjustment. Instead, positive psychology, which has only been around for a decade, focuses on human qualities and makes people mentally secure (Seligman, 2002). The recent interest in resilience in children and teenagers subjected to adversity in their lives and who have been considered good candidates for delinquency is an excellent example of positive psychology. On the contrary, research shows that many of them grow up to be productive, pro-social adults. Positive psychology also assists us in comprehending how crime victims can become survivors and how inmates can benefit from recovery services. Positive psychology concepts are also fundamental to both psychiatric practices in corrections and forensic study of the human mind related to criminal tendencies.
On Crime and Criminal Tendencies
In legal terms, crimes are actions or omissions prohibited by statute and are punishable by imprisonment and fines. Murder, murder, arson, rape, drink driving, child abuse, and failure to pay taxes are all examples that come to mind. However, as many eminent criminologists have recently stated (e.g., Sampson and Laub 1993; Gottfredson and Hirschi 1990), the secret to understanding crime is concentrating on the essential characteristics of all criminal behaviors rather than individual criminal actions. Rather than explaining murder, theft, rape, arson, embezzlement, and heroin use individually, we need to figure out what they all have in common. Much previous crime study has been muddled by its emphasis on politico-legal rather than interpersonal concepts. The behavioral concept of crime concentrates on criminality, a personality trait that leads to the most heinous crimes. To gain material or symbolic resources, all criminal behaviors include intimidation, deception, or stealth. According to Gottfredson and Hirschi (1990), criminality is a form of strategic activity characterized by self-centeredness, indifference to others’ distress and needs, and a lack of self-control. More impulsive individuals are more likely to find crime appealing since it can offer instant gratification, primarily through simple techniques.
This view of crime explains why criminal activities have several different forms and why people do not want to specialize in one form of crime. It also fits with people’s well-documented propensity to be persistent in the frequency and nature of crimes they commit over long periods. Moreover, professionals who engage in sophisticated crimes perpetuated in official capacities are more likely to be impulsive, self-centered, and unconcerned with other people’s misery than those who do not take advantage of similar opportunities.
Throughout human existence, criminal tendency results from a systemic process involving complex interactions between human, social, and ecological factors. To put it another way, our intellectual, emotional, and physical qualities are heavily affected by our activities and physical processes, experiences with the physical world, and interactions with other individuals, communities, and institutions from the moment we are born. These systemic mechanisms affect the transmission of traits linked to increased criminal activity from generation to generation.
Psychological Factors Related to Criminal Tendencies among Individuals
Specific psychological components factors allow the criminal tendencies of individuals to be fully accelerated, and these factors notable among them include impulsivity, aggressiveness, inferiority, sociability, anxiety, hyperactivity, risk-taking capacity, etc. these factors are in the form of personality traits and two of them- namely impulsivity and aggressiveness would be discussed subsequently.
Impulsiveness
From a clinical perspective, being impulsive defines behaviors in which people behave almost instinctively and rarely consider the effects of their acts. Among criminologists and forensic psychologists, this process of “acting without thought” has found a receptive audience as a new way of understanding why certain people commit a crime while others do not. Glueck and Glueck (1950), for example, were early proponents of this theory, believing that a lack of self-control contributed to impulsive and sometimes criminal behavior. The public’s view of the raging, out-of-control criminal aligned with these concepts as well.
The modern-day adolescent is often referred to as a “hooligan,” which conjures up memories of roving gangs of apparently rebellious youths. Large-scale civil unrest and demonstrations contribute to the perception that people are out of power. Early sociologists questioned whether there were discrepancies in the willingness of people from different social groups to defer gratification – people from higher social classes were thought to be able to prepare for the future and set a course to reap greater rewards in exchange for sacrificing earlier benefits. Attending higher education classes, for example, was seen as deferring immediate work benefits in order to gain access to better-paying positions in the future. Similarly, offenders are presumed to behave in a way that maximizes their immediate needs without regard for the possible long-term repercussions of their acts, such as incarceration. As a result, criminals are believed to have weak control systems, leading them to seek immediate gratification of their desires. Longitudinal studies that track people over time, or even their whole lives, have shown that this is a relatively enduring and stable characteristic among criminals.
Aggressiveness
Violence and crime are often viewed as aggression (Feshbach, 1964 & Anderson, Bushman, 2002). According to Anderson and Bushman (2002), even though violence is defined as aggression, it is not always considered aggressive. Bushman, Huesmann, and others define aggression as “overt actions carried out deliberately to hurt another individual who is motivated to escape harm” (Bushman et al. 2010.). Several mechanisms have been proposed to connect violence and violent behavior. According to the evidence, social scientists have long been interested in aggression, especially in studies involving abuse.
According to Buss and Perry (1992), physical and verbal aggression represents the instrumental or motor aspect of aggression, which is typically conceived as a premeditated means of achieving specific objectives and harming the victim. Kicking, punching, and injuring are examples of physical violence (Trninic et al., 2008). Shouting, threatening, and abusing others are examples of verbal violence (Trninic et al., 2008). The cognitive aspect of the Aggressive Model is the second dimension (Buss & Perry, 1992). Hostility is a cognitive aspect of violence that includes negative feelings aimed at others, such as ill will, opposition, and injustice. Hostility differs from instrumental aggression in that it is a cognitive response to a perceived threat or insult. Emotional aggression is the third aspect of aggression (Buss & Perry, 1992). Rage is reflected in this emotional aspect. This emotional component of aggression is typically conceived as impulsive, thoughtless, and motivated by indignation, according to Buss, Perry (1992). This emotional aspect of violence is thought to be the product of perceived provocation, motivating the victim to hurt. Anger is often a psychological link between instrumental and cognitive components in AM (Buss & Perry, 1992).
Criminal Tendencies and Mental Health of Individuals in Society
The problem of crime and violence among people with mental illnesses has long been a health and policy concern. Many researches have been done in the last 15 years on the connection between mental illness and crime and abuse. As a victim of crime, a person may be affected in a variety of ways. One way is through the financial loss suffered as a direct result of property theft. In addition to direct financial costs, there are indirect costs such as medical expenses and lost wages due to time spent in court. Victims of violent crime can sustain physical injuries of varying degrees of seriousness, resulting in short- or long-term consequences. Fear, anxiety, and social isolation are some of the less apparent symptoms of victimization (Shapland& Hall, 2007).
There is now a substantial evidence linking victimization to poor physical and mental health in the international literature. This connection has mainly been investigated in studies of women’s perceptions of interpersonal violence (IPV), with fewer studies looking at the impact on men or victims of property crime. Depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, drug misuse, and decreased social functioning are among the mental health issues linked to becoming a survivor of violence (Bonomi et al., 2006). Although there is a link between becoming a victim of violence and having poor mental health, there are many plausible explanations for the link: (1) that exposure to violence causes a decline in mental health, (2) that people with poor mental health are more likely to be victims of violence, and (3) that there are common risk factors for both mental health problems and being a victim of violence. Because of previous research’s methodological flaws, such as the use of cross-sectional designs and insufficient control for essential mental health correlates, we have been unable to reliably establish the essence of the relationship between victimization and mental health.
Theories Related to Forensic Psychology and Criminal Tendencies
Several theoretical frameworks can be used to analyze the concept of forensic analysis of the human mind concerning criminal tendencies.
Theory of Reasoned Action/Planned Behavior
This theory combines two models of reasoned action and planned behavior, which explain the predictability and understandability of human behavior in critical terms. Deductions from the theoretical model show that the behavior of individuals is under the influence of certain factors, including behavioral attitude, reasonable behavioral control, and subjective norms, which result in greater perceived control and increase the likelihood of intentions governing changes in behavior.
The idea of behavioral psychology, which has been evolved into behavioral philosophy, is another theoretical underpinning that supports social psychology. The behavioral theory explores how an individual’s environment affects his or her behaviors or behavioral characteristics. Behaviorism is a theory of psychology focused on the proposition that all things that organisms do, including doing, thought, and feeling, can and should be considered behaviors. It is also known as the learning viewpoint—the operant conditioning theory of B.F. Skinner was used in this analysis.
The behaviorist school of thought holds that behavior can be objectively explained without relying on internal physiological events or abstract constructs like the subconscious. The stance of behaviorism is that all hypotheses should have observational equivalents but that there are no philosophical distinctions between publicly observable processes like behaviors and privately observable processes like thought and feeling. Furthermore, the boundaries of behavior theory awareness were extended to include internal reinforcements such as thoughts and emotions in the stability of such behavior in a person. To put it another way, internal motivation aids in the maintenance of a positive attitude. In other words, the internal reinforcement helps to maintain and sustain the external rewards and punishments. (Seruvorno, 2017)
Social Learning Theory
Social learning theories agree with behaviorists that behavior is learned and influenced by the environment, but they disagree with mechanistic views that altered behavior is a mindless reaction to stimuli. The role of cognition and environmental factors in development is emphasized in Social Learning Theory. We are all thinking beings with some degree of self-determination, not just robots who respond with a ‘B’ when presented with an ‘A’ stimulus. We should consider what is going on, assess it, and adjust our responses accordingly.
Albert Bandura, a Stanford University psychologist, is regarded as one of the most influential proponents of social learning theory. Children learn by watching, imitating, and modeling the actions of others, according to Bandura (Grusec, 1972). Social learning theorists support behaviorists’ theory that behavior is learned and influenced by the environment, but they dismiss the mechanistic view that changed behavior is a mindless reaction to stimuli. The role of cognition and environmental factors in development is emphasized in the social teaming theory. Albert Bandura (1977), a psychologist at Standard University, is one of the most prominent contemporary proponents of the theory.
Rationale Choice Theory
The criminal justice system is heavily influenced by a classic criminology philosophy known as rational choice theory, which suggests that the decision to commit a crime is based on reasoned cost-benefit analysis. This theory emphasizes punishment as the most effective method of deterring people from committing crimes: if the cost of crime outweighs the benefit, people will conclude that it is not worth it. On the one hand, it seems rational, even evident. However, several factors complicate such a simplistic view of crime and human behavior, including:
Adolescents’ brains are still developing, and they cannot fully comprehend the implications of their actions.
Emotions have a more significant effect on people than cold logic.
Criminals also lack the facts or perspective necessary to make an informed decision.
To put it another way, the historical understanding of rational choice presupposes a fully rational actor, but humans are never entirely rational. Furthermore, modern theorists contend that those who will be “scared straight” by punishment are still averse to committing crimes. According to today’s criminologists, strategies focused on rational choice philosophy should have more modest, concrete goals.
However, though the rational choice theory has progressed in academia, policy based on its principles has lagged. The following are some examples of policies based on out-of-date theories of rational choice theory:
- Laws imposing a three-stroke penalty
- Punishments that are “tough on crime” to the extreme
- Juvenile criminals are sent to adult prisons.
Bio-social and biological theory
Classical biological theories of criminality claimed that people are “natural criminals” who cannot be stopped from committing crimes: criminals cannot learn to restrain themselves, whether due to mental or physical disabilities. On the other hand, new biological hypotheses emphasize biosocial rather than purely natural causes. Some contemporary criminologists take genetic predispositions into account (such as testosterone and I.Q. levels), but they concentrate on the interaction of these factors with a person’s social environment rather than on apparently immutable characteristics. These criminologists believe that we will reduce the likelihood of criminal activity triggered by biological differences by emphasizing social factors.
Policies based on this theory often begin at the source of the issue, such as parents-to-be in high-risk groups (such as single parents, teens, and low-income individuals) being educated about preventing situations that could stifle a child’s healthy growth.
Discussions
Application of Forensic Psychology in Controlling Criminal Tendencies
In the twenty-first century, the truth of forensic psychology differs from what is portrayed in the entertainment industry. Though they are busy, their responsibilities do not stop tracking serial killers who leave cryptic clues. Forensic psychological practitioners are behavioral and mental health experts whose findings are often used to make legal decisions, as the name suggests. These experts can deal with cases, perform studies, provide rehabilitation services, or provide advice.
In addition to taking behavioral science into the courtroom, forensic psychology is becoming a bigger and bigger part of the criminal justice system. Judges, attorneys, police officers, city administrators, school officials, mental health facilities, correctional institutions, military forces, and the private sector all need the services of forensic psychological practitioners.
When it comes to prosecuting and avoiding crimes, forensic psychology is also used. The term “forensic” means “scientific method for criminal investigation.” As a result, forensic psychology is often referred to as a mix of law and psychology. This field of psychology focuses primarily on offenders. Professionals in this field are often charged with the heinous task of deciding why certain people commit crimes, what types of crimes they commit, and how to prevent people from committing crimes.
The responsibilities and duties of forensic psychological practitioners place them in various settings ranging from the court system to law enforcement agencies and from correctional institutions to medical treatment facilities. A Forensic psychological practitioner, who can also be called a ‘Criminal Profiler,’ works with law enforcement personnel to build a brief profile of criminals based on standard or common psychological traits. Their line of work requires that they study the behavior of criminals and address anything from psychological theories to legal issues. Other than forensics, a Forensic psychologist will study clinical psychology and criminal justice.
A criminal psychologist, as one would imagine, works closely with the legal system. They have duties such as conducting inmate screenings or tests, investigating psychiatric conditions among criminal and civil court inmates, and examining offenders’ mental states to determine whether they can stand trial. Forensic psychological practitioners consult for law enforcement authorities and are often called to appear in court on the defendant’s behalf to support a hypothesis that the police or prosecutors have about the criminal defendant’s motive.
If the police are involved or there is a court order, criminal psychologists also build relationships with their clients by having one-on-one counseling sessions. These sessions are not only for testing and analysis but also for the patient’s therapeutic benefit. It may be necessary for psychologists to engage in tasks that are at times uncomfortable. People who are imprisoned face much tension, and they may develop mental health problems when under the care of a prison counselor. The Forensic psychological practitioner may suggest group sessions in some cases.
The methods used in forensic analysis of the human mind can also be used in civil cases. In civil cases, plaintiffs sometimes claim that a defendant’s conduct or omission caused them emotional distress or mental health damage and that they are entitled to monetary compensation as a result. Criminal psychologists evaluate plaintiffs in these cases to ascertain the merit of their arguments. These psychologists are often called upon to have an opinion on both causation (whether the defendant caused the accident or distress) and damages (what the plaintiff is entitled to for the injury or distress suffered). As a result, forensic examinations include determining the plaintiff’s baseline level of functioning before the alleged accident or distress, as well as their current state.
Forensic psychological practitioners must carefully evaluate plaintiffs’ history of pre-existing medical problems, illnesses, or predisposition to those disorders. Clinical/psychiatric causation is a complex phenomenon that can be bio-psycho-social. Plaintiffs must generally show that the incident or accident for which punitive damages are sought induced or aggravated an established medical condition.
After conducting a psychiatric evaluation/assessment, forensic psychological practitioners formulate a professional judgment based on the statute rather than on clinical terms of psychological injury. Forensic counselors who serve in civil litigation also offer the following resources in addition to independent mental health evaluations:
• Psychological autopsies (investigates a person’s death by reconstructing what they think, felt, or did before they died).
• Expert testimony
• Consultation on the case
• Training and trial of witnesses
• Document review and analysis
Forensic psychological practitioners’ professional opinions are based on the following:
Collecting evidence: Forensic psychological practitioners must sift through data, including medical, clinical, and psychological information from before, after, and after the incident/circumstances. They search for records of previous emotional distress, underlying medical problems, and other conditions that may have caused emotional symptoms in the aftermath of the incidents in question.
In addition to researching and examining evidence, these practitioners interview plaintiffs to learn about their personal, educational, work, academic, family, marital, medical, and legal backgrounds.
Testing: After an in-depth interview, forensic psychological practitioners conduct and assess psychological testing and then interpret the findings. Their differential diagnosis is either confirmed or contradicted by the analysis of test results.
Psychological and neuropsychological tests offer an objective way to rule out the possibility of the plaintiff embellishing, minimizing, or exaggerating his or her claim. Competent forensic psychological practitioners will sort through this data to assess how often the underlying personality structure influences the plaintiff’s symptoms.
In civil litigation, forensic psychological practitioners utilize several self-report personality tests, such as:
- Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory
- Personality Assessment Inventory
- Rorschach Inkblot Test
The work of forensic psychological practitioners in civil litigation provides a great deal of insight regarding the severity, veracity, and causes of psychological damage.
Global Perspective of Forensic Psychology
In developed countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom, and Australia, forensic psychologists play an important role in criminal investigations and prison systems. They are concentrating on determining why such activities exist and assisting in the reduction and prevention of such crimes (Carson & Bull, 2003; Wrigthsman, 2001). Their responsibilities include creating criminal records, testifying as expert witnesses in court, interrogating suspects, psychological profiling of offenders and crimes, and victim recovery and treatment (Ainsworth, 2000). Forensic psychology tests such as the Polygraph or Lie Detector, Psychological Stress Evaluator, and others are used (Carson & Bull, 2003; Wrigthsman, 2001).
These aid police investigations and criminal cases in the courtroom. Mental wellbeing problems are well-cared for. Forensic psychologists interview suspects objectively before referring them to mental health providers like clinical psychologists or psychiatrists. Furthermore, forensic psychologists are familiar with their respective country’s legal system, allowing them to assist courts efficiently. Forensic psychologists operate in various environments, including the courtroom, law enforcement departments, prisons, and medical care facilities. They are valued as valuable members of the multidisciplinary team who work cooperatively.
A Discus on Forensic Psychology and its Implementation in Africa and Nigeria
The reality of general psychology is a relatively new discipline in African nations, especially in Nigeria, has made forensic psychology still at its theoretical form within the Nigerian criminal justice system. Blueprint (2018) stated that the virgin nature of forensic psychology in Nigeria, as confirmed by Professor Amaechi Nweze. The Professor who served as national director of the country’s recognized forensic psychologists’ body made the situation glaring and perplexing.
According to his assertion, the national body was trying to make arrangements for conferences and seminars to create public orientation about forensic analysis of the human mind. An article published by Vanguard (2020) analyzed the importance of using forensic science in the Nigerian legal system. This article will help the police solve crime cases and drastically reduce delayed justice in Nigeria. However, the legal luminaries have not yet adopted forensic psychology in the nation’s criminal justice system due to local prevailing conditions in the system, notable corruption.
Methods
Secondary data on forensic analysis of the human mind concerning crime tendencies were collected from academic sources, journals, and newspapers across the health sector for this study. The aim of collecting this data was to look into the crime tendency trend in developing countries and the psychological, behavioral, and social action of the mind on criminal tendencies. In essence, the data in this report can be used to establish a benchmark for setting concrete targets for implementing the use of forensic psychology in the criminal justice system of Nigeria, which served as the study area. Even though the reports given here represent the current state of the nation, their review should be approached with caution because the data was gathered from newspapers and academic journals and was mainly limited to violence and aggressiveness as a result of crime tendency reported in police facilities within the public domain of Nigerian legal system.
Results
Using data from local Nigerian societies, this study’s findings revealed a major societal issue emerging from the influence of forensic analysis of the human mind on criminal tendencies, especially involving youths. The study also found out that certain psychological factors and behavioral traits trigger crime tendencies and these personality traits include impulsiveness and aggressiveness.
Actualization
The study’s findings can be utilized to evaluate the mental health capacity of individuals and how forensic analysis of the human mind can be used to control the criminal tendencies of individuals in society. This research will aid organizations that operate rehabilitation centers as well as correctional facilities, law enforcement agencies, and other stakeholders in the criminal justice system, in order to help them identify crime tendencies among individuals and to use forensic science techniques to alter behavior and personality traits.
Conclusion
As complex as the operations of the mental faculties is, they are liable to be scientifically and systematically analyzed. The process of evaluating the mind’s strengths and weaknesses and extending this evaluation to legal and civil matters in society is seen as forensic psychology. The concept of forensic analysis of the human mind and its influence on criminal tendencies served as the foremost outlook of this paper. In the light of the study’s results which showed that certain psychological factors and behavioral traits serve as triggers for crime in the mind of individuals, recommendations on applying this information were proffered to ensure that the art of forensic psychology is practically implemented in the criminal justice system of developing countries in collaboration with the health sector. This is because the knowledge of forensic analysis of the human mind can be used in clinical evaluation, testing, and prosecuting juveniles and adult offenders.
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