LSO 802 Mental health disorders that are correlated with criminal psychology

For this assignment, students will create a scientific research paper of 8 pages on ONE of the topics described below. The 8 pages will be formatted in Word (font size 11 points, 1 ½ space between lines). In addition, the paper will include about ¾ of a page of academic references. The total number of pages will correspond to 8 ¾ of pages to 9 pages.

TOPICS

Topic 1: Developmental pathway towards a psychopathic personality disorder

A) Describe the essential characteristics of a conduct disorder, an antisocial personality disorder, and a psychopathic personality disorder (killer psychopath, and non-killer psychopath (e.g., corporate, con artists)). Specify the differences between these personality disorders

B) Using a bio psychosocial approach analyze and discuss 3 risks factors in the developmental pathways of one disorder.

C) Explain the developmental relationships between the types of disorder (e.g., do conduct disorders lead to an antisocial personality disorder or psychopathy necessarily? Are there precursors of psychopathic traits during childhood). Provide one example that shows this (or these) relationship(s).

Topic 2: Neurodevelopmental basis of psychopathy

A) Discuss 3 factors (e.g., hormonal, traumatic, toxic such as alcohol) that are known to affect brain development during prenatal development.

B) Describe the plausible role of three brain structures and two neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain, such as dopamine) in the development of psychopathy or in adult psychopathy.

C) Explain the relationships between the above biological components to support the hypothesis of a neurodevelopmental basis of the psychopathic personality.

Topic 3: Biopsychosocial factors that may predispose non-psychopathic individuals to commit violent or otherwise antisocial acts.

A) Describe 3 biological risk factors known to affect the brain development or the personality of an individual who commits violent acts.

B) Discuss 3 psychological risk factors known to affect the personality and behavior of the individual.

C) Explain 3 psychosocial risk factors that may further predispose some people to commit violent crimes or antisocial acts.

Topic 4: Mental health disorders that are correlated with criminal psychology

A) Provide a general definition of two types of violent criminals (e.g., a mass murderer (school shooter), and a serial killer), a possible motive of their murders, and their types of victims.

B) Distinguish four etiological pathways of mass school shooters: a) “the traumatized school shooter”, b) the psychotic school shooter,  c) the psychopathic school shooter, and neuropsychological dysfunctions of school shooters (see Langman 2009, Rampage school shooters: a typology, see textbook; see also Harris, Rice, and Lalumière, 2001, p.262, textbook).

C) Discuss how the above four etiological pathways can (or could) also apply to serial murderers. Specify the differences if any.

Topic 5: Neurobiological basis of the affective symptoms of the psychopathic personality

A) Describe empathy (cognitive and emotional), and the stages of moral development as they occur in normal human development. Specify if this development occurs in the psychopathic personality. Indicate if psychopaths lack cognitive empathy and emotional empathy or whether they can have only the former type of empathy.

B) Discuss the reasons why lack of empathy and moral consciousness can lead to violent or antisocial behavior.

C) Explain 3 biological factors that could explain the characteristics of empathy and moral consciousness in the psychopathic personality.

Topic 6: Integration of theories of psychopathic personality development

A) Describe and integrate three theories that have contributed, in an important way, to our understanding of the psychopathic personality development. Consider one theory from each of the following perspectives: biological (one theory), psychological (one theory), and psychosocial (one theory).

B) Explain one limitation of each of these theories in explaining the psychopathic personality development.

C) Discuss one approach (or solution) to help overcome these limitations in explaining the psychopathic personality. For example, a combination of perspectives may provide an integrative solution.