Fall 2018 - PSYC 379 D100
Clinical Forensic Psychology (3)
Class Number: 2910
Delivery Method: In Person
Overview
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Course Times + Location:
Sep 4 – Dec 3, 2018: Thu, 2:30–5:20 p.m.
Burnaby -
Exam Times + Location:
Dec 14, 2018
Fri, 3:30–5:30 p.m.
Burnaby
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Instructor:
Adam Blanchard
ajb8@sfu.ca
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Prerequisites:
PSYC 201 and 268. PSYC 241 is recommended.
Description
CALENDAR DESCRIPTION:
Clinical approaches to the understanding of behavior in criminal and civil forensic settings. Topics related to the assessment, treatment, and management of people suffering from mental disorder.
COURSE DETAILS:
The course will examine the leading approaches used in clinical forensic psychology and discuss the role that clinical forensic psychologists play in assisting the legal system at various stages. Clinical forensic psychologists conduct psychological assessments and treatment in a number of legal, correctional, and forensic settings. Forensic assessments include criminal responsibility and competency evaluations, risk assessments for different types of violence, identification of treatment needs of offenders, and specialized psycholegal evaluations. Clinical forensic psychologists also conduct research on a variety of psycholegal topics. This course is designed to provide students with an overview of the primary areas within clinical forensic psychology, with an emphasis on the assessment and management of violence risk in criminal and civil forensic settings. The course will also examine some of the key challenges and debates currently facing the field. Specific topics that will be covered include the assessment of various forms of violence (e.g., physical violence, sexual violence, intimate partner violence, stalking), major risk factors for violence (e.g., psychopathy, substance abuse, prior violence), criminal responsibility and competency evaluations, treatments aimed to reduce violence, and specialized populations. A primary aim of the course is to demonstrate the role that clinical psychology plays in various legal and correctional matters, as well as the role that scientific research plays in guiding psycholegal practice. This course operates under the assumption that students have taken introductory courses in forensic psychology or criminology.
Grading
- Short Paper: 10%
- Midterm Exam: 35%
- Ratings for Risk Assessment Report: 5%
- Risk Assessment Report: 15%
- Final Exam: 35%
NOTES:
There are two exams in this course: a midterm exam and a final exam. Exams will consist of multiple choice, short answer, and long answer questions. The final exam is not cumulative. All material covered in the lectures and assigned readings may be included in the exam questions. Students will be provided with a list of potential long answer questions prior to
each exam to help prepare in advance.
As a general rule, late submissions will not be accepted without a penalty. Unless a prior
arrangement has been made with me, all late assignments will receive a 10% per day late
penalty (i.e., 10% of the total marks for that assignment per day that your submission is late,
including weekends and holidays).
Materials
REQUIRED READING:
There is no required textbook for this course. Instead, students are assigned 1 to 2 articles per week that will be available online.
Registrar Notes:
SFU’s Academic Integrity web site http://students.sfu.ca/academicintegrity.html is filled with information on what is meant by academic dishonesty, where you can find resources to help with your studies and the consequences of cheating. Check out the site for more information and videos that help explain the issues in plain English.
Each student is responsible for his or her conduct as it affects the University community. Academic dishonesty, in whatever form, is ultimately destructive of the values of the University. Furthermore, it is unfair and discouraging to the majority of students who pursue their studies honestly. Scholarly integrity is required of all members of the University. http://www.sfu.ca/policies/gazette/student/s10-01.html
ACADEMIC INTEGRITY: YOUR WORK, YOUR SUCCESS