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CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Mnemonic, Similarities

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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)
VU
Lesson 23
CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE
Objectives:
To understand the relationship of Borderline personality disorder and legal
issues.
To know about differences/developmental similarities of ASPD and BPD
To understand the Narcissist Personality Disorder
To understand the Paranoid Personality Disorder
To get an insight about the changeability vs predictability debate
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD)
Borderline Personality Disorder is a typically female disorder,
Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) is a pervasive pattern of
instability in interpersonal relationships, self-image, emotional
adjustments, and marked impulsivity demonstrated in a variety of
contexts. Studies suggest that individuals with BPD tend to
experience frequent, strong and long-lasting states of aversive
tension, often triggered by perceived rejection, being alone or
perceived failure. Individuals with BPD may show changeability
between anger and anxiety or between depression and anxiety and
temperamental sensitivity to emotive stimuli. The negative
emotional states particularly associated with BPD have been grouped into four categories of:
1. Extreme feelings in general
2. Feelings of destructiveness or self-destructiveness
3. Feelings of disintegration or "identitylessness"
4. Feelings of victimization
Individuals with BPD can be very sensitive to the way others treat them, reacting strongly to perceived
criticism or hurtfulness. Their feelings about others often shift from positive to negative, generally after
a disappointment or perceived threat of losing someone. They are slaves of mood, if they are in anger no
one can escape and if depressed can even commit suicide. Self-image can also change rapidly from
extremely positive to extremely negative. Impulsive behaviors are common, including alcohol or drug
abuse, unsafe sex, gambling, prostitution and recklessness and rocking relationships in general.
They are victims not abusers
Women with certain kinds of disorders, like borderline personality disorders, tend to be attracted
to and hook up with men who manifest symptoms of psychopathic personality disorder .BPD are
completely opposites of anti social personality disorder. Attachment studies suggest individuals with
BPD, while being high in intimacy- or novelty-seeking, can be hyper-alert to signs of rejection or not
being valued and tend towards insecure, ambivalent, preoccupied or fearful attitudes towards
relationships. They tend to view the world generally as dangerous and malevolent, and themselves as
powerless, vulnerable, unacceptable and unsure in self-identity. So they are easy prey of anti social
personality as their main characteristic is to exploit of vulnerable people. Females with BPD make a
combination with anti social personality males by allowing them to exploit them.
BPD plays a major role in many issues of legal system such as:
Substance abuse
Domestic violence,
Gambling shop lifting
Prostitution
AIDS
Homelessness
Suicides
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Forensic Psychology (PSY - 513)
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A significant number of people with BPD can be found in forensic settings (such as prisons or jails).
Because BPD are heavy users of mental health services because of frequent hospitalizations and
emergency room visits due to suicide attempts.
Main characteristics of Borderline Personality Disorder
Dysregulation
Self dysregulation
Relationship dysregulation
Emotional dysregulation
Behavioral dysregulation
Cognitive Dysregulation
Typically females
History of abuse
Abusive relationships
Parasuicidal behaviors
Suicide attempts
Internalized violence
Diagnostic criteria for BPD:
1. Frantic efforts to avoid real or imagined abandonment (fear of abandonment)
2. Unstable and intense interpersonal relationships (alternating extremes of idealization
and devaluation)
3. Identity disturbance (a feeling that one doesn't exist or embodies evil)
4. Impulsiveness (in such areas as sex, substance abuse, crime, or reckless driving)
5. Recurrent suicidal thoughts, gestures, or behaviors (depressive loneliness)
6. Emotional instability and/or mood swings
7. Chronic feelings of emptiness (boredom)
8. Inappropriate displays of intense anger (temper tantrums)
9. Transient, stress-related paranoia, dissociation, or doubling
This is a rather unusual set of symptoms, so let's explain them one by one. Fear of abandonment is not
the same as fear of rejection. People who suffer from a fear of abandonment cannot stand to be alone.
People who suffer from a fear of rejection cannot stand getting close to anyone else. In fact, BPDs and
need people badly to get constant feedback, reassurance, and advice. They may not always follow the
advice of others, but they will keep asking and at least have others around for that. Sexually, they
always seem to have a partner handy, and will usually be stringing along a "stable" of boyfriends or
girlfriends (serial monogamy). They are often socially inept, and don't know how to act in pleasant or
polite company.
Borderlines will love you one minute and hate you the next. This is the clearest way of describing their
alternating extremes of idealization and devaluation. Interaction with them is severely straining in
this regard. They seem to wish for a clinging, dependent, and exclusive relationship with you, then
almost the next minute they are putting you down, discrediting your achievements, accomplishments,
and personal significance. To manipulate you, they will use anger, threats, sadness, or complaints about
physical ailments. They always fail, however, to see the "big picture" and focus in on details such as
being able to reach you by phone at all times.
There's a general proneness to dysphoria, or a generalized feeling of ill-being. They can't quite put their
finger on it, but it's due to an unstable self-image, a feeling that one doesn't exist or embodies evil in
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some way. They view the whole world as "all good" or "all bad". All people, all experiences, and their
self are viewed in extremes. They cannot grasp the concepts of moderation or something being "all
right", OK, average, or ordinary.
Impulsiveness is a trait commonly associated with criminal tendencies. Impulsives deal with stress and
the unexpected by acting more unpredictably, almost as if they were trying to outwit unpredictableness
itself. They'll start to get nervous, and then agitated, then "bang", they'll do something like hit
somebody, break something, hurt themselves, or at the drop of a hat, initiate a brief, impersonal, sexual
encounter. Needless to say, such people are typically at risk for alcoholism, drug addiction, sexual and
eating disorders.
Recurrent suicidal thoughts, gestures, or behaviors are part of the borderline's manipulative self-
destructive habits. They are a continual burden for the police and hospitals. Constantly calling forth a
"saving" response from others, the borderline operates on the principle that the best help is obtained
from those they can discomfort the most. So, they will alienate and resist those they want help from, and
will do this by finding and invading a caregiver's personal number or home address, calling at odd hours
or showing up at the house unexpectedly. If they are involved in a crime under investigation, they will
taunt the police with calls, tips, and clues.
There will be instances of emotional instability and mood swings, in the form of depression or
irritability, but no hallucinations, delusions, or severe thought disorders. Most of these episodes will be
for attention (histrionic) and last no more than a few days, most likely a few hours.
They will experience chronic feelings of emptiness and boredom. This will manifest itself in
sleeplessness (insomnia), loss of appetite, unplanned road trips, and sexual affairs. There will also be
temper tantrums displayed at times which seem just for the sake of getting angry, in other words,
inappropriate displays of intense anger. When asked why they are angry about something that a
moment ago made them happy, they'll say they were trying to put things right, or something like that.
Mnemonic
A commonly used mnemonic to remember some features of borderline personality disorder is PRAISE:
P - Paranoid ideas
R - Relationship instability
A - Angry outbursts, affective instability, abandonment fears
I - Impulsive behaviour, identity disturbance
S - Suicidal behaviour
E - Emptiness
In short Borderline Personality Disorder can look like.....
Schizophrenia (hallucinations, illusions, paranoia)
Bipolar Affective Disorder ( mood changeability and anger)
Major Depressive Disorder (suicidal, depressed)
Antisocial Personality Disorder (legal problems)
Antisocial Personality Disorder Vs Borderline Personality Disorder
Antisocial Personality Disorder
Borderline Personality
Disorder
Male
Female
Violence for others
Violence towards one's self
Criminal
Suicidal
externalization
Internalization
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Similarities
But when we come to the development of these both disorders we can find striking similarities like both
have following factors in common:
Early trauma
Inconsistent Parenting
Early Attachment issues
History of abuse
Childhood abuse, trauma or neglect
Numerous studies have shown a strong correlation between childhood abuse and development of BPD.
Many (but not all) individuals with BPD report having had a history of abuse, neglect, or separation as
young children. Patients with BPD have been found to be significantly more likely to report having been
verbally, emotionally, physically, and sexually abused by caretakers or trusting figures of their life.
They were also reported to have failed to provide needed protection, and neglected their child's
physical care. Parents (of both sexes) were typically reported to have withdrawn from the child
emotionally, and to have treated the child inconsistently.
Narcissistic Personality Disorder
Narcissistic personality disorder is characterized by extreme focus on oneself, and is a maladaptive,
rigid, and persistent condition that may cause significant distress and functional impairment. People
who are overly narcissistic commonly feel rejected, humiliated and threatened when criticized. To
protect themselves from these dangers, they often react with disdain, rage, and/or defiance to any slight,
real or imagined.
To the extent that people are pathologically narcissistic, they can be controlling, blaming, self-absorbed,
intolerant of others' views, unaware of other's needs and of the effects of their behavior on others, and
insistent that others see them as they wish to be seen
The interpersonal relationships of patients with NPD are typically impaired due to the individual's lack
of empathy, disregard for others, exploitativeness and constant need for attention. They frequently select
as mates, and engender in their children, If they like any think they will get that because they like it, no
matter whether it damages some one else's rights or not.
As opposed to patients with the Borderline Personality Disorder, the self-image of the narcissist is
stable, he or she are less impulsive and less self-defeating or self-destructive and less concerned with
abandonment issues.
Main characteristics of Narcissistic Personality
Overlaps with Anti Social Personality Disorder
Some times narcissists appear as Anti Social Personality Disorder as narcissists also do not count
and regard other individual's rights, emotions and feelings. Have a tendency to exploit others.
Extreme extension of personal boundaries.
Narcissists do not have set and defined boundaries like other normal human beings rather they have
very vast and extended boundaries of conduct.
So have a tendency as to engulf /absorb/ swallow everyone else
Intense self-love (only "I" am important and fulfillment of "my" needs is essential.
May be caused by excessive spoiling but no real affection. Like father buy a fifty thousand
mobile for his child but do not spare few hours for him and do not give him the true love and
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attention. So absence of real and true parental love and affection can cause Narcissist
personality disorder.
Non-criminal? Psychopath
Why non criminals? The notion that there is a population of uncaught individuals who have faithlessly
conned and have committed crime/ violence, fraud such individuals have following characteristics:
High IQ ( high intelligence help them in doing crimes with less cues behind)
Conman (typically fakers and hoax)
Tells lies as a habit
Social climber (use friends as for getting things and benefits)
Takes no prisoners
Commits many crimes and frauds but never gets caught.
Makes tall claims
Knows everyone
Propels himself to high positions
High proportion of politicians can be placed in this category.
Subverts legal system (corrupts and weakens the legal system of country)
Finds loopholes
Paranoid Personality Disorder
It is characterized by an exaggerated sensitivity to rejection, resentfulness, distrust, as well as the
inclination to distort experienced events.
Neutral and friendly actions of others are often misinterpreted as being hostile or contemptuous.
Unfounded suspicions regarding the sexual loyalty of partners and loyalty in general as well as the
belief that one's rights are not being recognized is stubbornly and argumentatively insisted upon.
Such individuals can possess an excessive self-assurance and a tendency toward an exaggerated
self-reference. The use of the term paranoia in this context is not meant to refer to the presence of
frank delusions or psychosis, but implies the presence of ongoing, unbased suspiciousness and
distrust of people. Paranoid Personality experience following types of delusions:
Delusion of grandeur
This delusion is characterized by fantasies of exaggerated estimation of wealth, power, or status.
Delusional conviction of one's own importance, power, or knowledge or that one is, or has a special
relationship with, a divinity or a famous person. It includes an obsession with grandiose or
extravagant things or actions.
Delusions of reference
Involve a person having a belief or perception that irrelevant, unrelated or innocuous things in the
world are referring to them directly because they are very important and special. Delusion of
grandeur is the cause of this delusion.
For instance few boys were standing at the corner of the street .they laughed at some joke but a
person who had delusion of reference, thought they were talking, infact planning against him and
laughed at the completion of their plan.
Some time they can have experiences such as:
Feeling that people on television or radio are talking about, or talking directly to them
Believing that headlines or stories in newspapers are written especially for them
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Having the experience that people (often strangers) drop hints or say things about them behind
their back
Believing that events (even world events) have been deliberately contrived for them, or have
special personal significance
Seeing objects or events as being deliberately set up to convey a special or particular meaning
Delusion of persecution
A delusion that one is being attacked, harassed, persecuted, cheated, or conspired against.
Perceives attacks on his/her character or reputation that are not apparent to others and is quick to
react angrily or to counterattack.
Seductive Delusions
False believe that other women or men are sexually attracted.
Delusion of jealousy
Constantly anxious, concerned and having a frantic feeling of being great. So other people are
jealous and want to kill, so many times they stop visiting relatives and do not eat anything from
relative's houses and ultimately become completely lonely. Some time they have false believe that
one's spouse or lover is unfaithful, based on erroneous inferences drawn from innocent events
imagined to be evidence.
Predictability vs changeability
If a person has Anti social personality disorder, a Forensic Psychologist can predict that in what
type of circumstances this person can be dangerous. But the opposing view holds that human beings
can change. (Changeability)
Can humans change? We know from our own experiences and religious history that yes human
beings can change some time under influence of "Wali Ullah" and some times other things help a
person to transform. But other psychologists argue that such instances are rare. Usually people's
personalities are stable. But I am one of those psychologists who believe that human beings can
change and psychotherapy and treatment can help such people to change. But what do you think?
What is your opinion about this debate of changeability? Can human beings change? Can
psychotherapy/psychological treatment help such people? Can legal system take some steps to help
such people change? Because if you start thinking; you are on your way to become a forensic
psychologist.
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Table of Contents:
  1. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Future of Forensic Psychology
  2. INTRODUCTION TO FORENSIC PSYCHOOGY:Way of police investigation
  3. FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY AND POLICE:Violent Criminals
  4. POLICE PSYCHOLOGY:Use of excessive force, Corruption, Personnel Selection
  5. POLICE PSYCHOLOGY:Fitness-for-Duty Evaluation (FFDE), False Confessions
  6. INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY:For instance, Empirical and logical approach
  7. INVESTIGATIVE PSYCHOLOGY:Crime Scene Investigation, Staging
  8. PSYCHOLOGY OF VIOLENCE:Law of Conservation of Energy, Super ego
  9. PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Fixation at Oral Stage
  10. PSYCHOANALYTIC MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Defense Mechanism, Rationalization
  11. JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY AND VIOLENCE:Freudian Methods, JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY
  12. JUNGIAN PSYCHOLOGY AND VIOLENCE:Religion and mental illnesses
  13. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Shadow’s violence, Child’s violence
  14. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Operant Conditioning
  15. BEHAVIORIST PERSPECTIVE AND VIOLENCE:Schedules of Punishment
  16. SOCIAL LEARNING MODEL AND VIOLENCE:Observational learning, Vicarious punishment
  17. MORAL DEVELOPMENT AND VIOLENCE:Symbolic functioning, Formal operational stage
  18. BIO-PSYCHO-SOCIAL MODEL:Mental hospitals are factories of abuse
  19. ISLAMIC PERSPECTIVE ABOUT VIOLENCE:Morality is essential
  20. ISLAMIC MODEL:Nafs al-Ammara, Nafs al-Lawwama, Nafs ul Naatiqa
  21. TREATMENTS FOR THE SOUL:Tawba, Sabr o Shukr, Niyyat o Ikhlaas, Taffakkur
  22. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY:Personality Disorders, Common Crimes
  23. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Mnemonic, Similarities
  24. CRIMINOGENIC PERSONALITY AND VIOLENCE:Terrorism and Psychopaths
  25. LEARNING DISABILITIES/MENTAL RETARDATION AND VIOLENCE
  26. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS:Reasons for referral, Personality Inventories
  27. ASSESSMENT OF PERSONALITY DISORDERS:Different cutoff scores
  28. RISK ASSESSMENT:Violence reduction scale, Stability of Family upbringing
  29. TREATMENT OF VIOLENT BEHAVIOR / PERSONALITY PSYCHODYNAMIC PSYCHOTHERAPY
  30. JUNGINA THERAPEUTIC MODEL:Limits of re-parenting, Personality Typologies
  31. GROUP THERAPY FOR OFFENDERS:Learning in Groups, Humanistic Groups
  32. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Narrative Therapy
  33. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Solution Focused Therapy
  34. PSYCHOTHERAPIES IN FORENSIC SETTINGS:Avoiding reactance, Externalization
  35. PSYCHOTHERAPY IN FORENSIC SETTINGS AND SPECIAL CHALLENGES
  36. FORENSIC PSYCHOTHERAPY:Exploring therapeutic alliance, Music Therapy
  37. VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Target Population, Lack of motivation
  38. VIOLENCE REDUCTION PROGRAM:Criminal attitude, Interpersonal Aggression
  39. VICTIM SUPPORT:Main features of PTSD, Emotional Support
  40. VICTIM SUPPORT:Debriefing, Desensitization, Eidetic Therapy, Narrative Therapy
  41. SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM:Marijuana, Unconventional drugs
  42. SUBSTANCE MISUSE TREATMENT PROGRAM:Stages of Change, Homosexuality
  43. EXPERT WITNESS:Insanity Pleas, Sexual Offence Risk, Instructions
  44. COUNTER TERRORISM:Misconceptions, Psychologists & Propaganda war
  45. SUMMING UP FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY:Problems with Risk Assessment, Expert Witness