Overview

Indicative content for the module includes some of the key theories within criminal psychology (e.g., developmental, social learning theory and personality) and identify the role they may or may not part in criminally-related behaviour (e.g., general-crime etc.). It will also introduce some of the practices and principles used with the Criminal Justice System (CJS) to punish criminal offenders.

Assessment Strategy

Grade level: D- to D+: 3rd Shows a very poor coverage of the topic area. Has very poor clarity of argument and expression. Demonstrates a very poor insight into theoretical issues. Shows limited to no background reading and study. A very poorly focused answer that is unstructured, ungrammatical, unedited and not written in the required academic manner/style. Fails to show any original thought, interpretation, understanding, application, and deliberation. Fails to elaborate on or evaluate the evidence base presented, it is just an over-view without any depth. Has no or a very poor evidence base.

Grade level: C- to C+: 2:2 Shows a weak coverage of the topic area. Shows a weak level of clarity of argument and expression. Demonstrates a weak level of depth of insight into theoretical issues. Shows a weak level of background reading and study. A weakly focused answer that is weakly structured and written in some degree in the required academic/APA manner/style. Some grammatical and punctuation errors. Shows some level of original thought, interpretation and deliberation. Shows some evaluation of the evidence base presented, rather than just being an over-view. Has a lesser evidence base.

Grade level: B- to B+: 2:1 Shows a good coverage of the topic area. Shows a good level of clarity of argument and expression. Demonstrates a good level of depth of insight into theoretical issues. Shows a good level of background reading and study. A focused answer that is clearly structured and written in the required academic/APA manner/style. Some grammatical and punctuation errors. Shows a good level of original thought, interpretation and deliberation. Shows some a good evaluation of the evidence base presented, rather than just being an over-view. Has a good evidence base.

Grade level: A- to A+: 1st Shows a very comprehensive, detailed and accurate coverage of the topic area. Shows an excellent clarity of argument and expression. Demonstrates an excellent depth of insight into theoretical issues. Has a high level of background reading and study. A highly focused answer that is very well structured and written in the required academic/APA manner/style. Few to no grammatical and punctuation errors. Shows high levels of original thought, evaluation, interpretation and deliberation. Fully evaluates the evidence base presented, rather than being a shallow over-view without any depth of understanding. Has a excellent evidence base.

Learning Outcomes

• To be able to describe different bio-psychosocial theories that account for criminal behaviour

• To be able to describe psychological theories of criminal behaviour.

• To clarify how scientific and research methodologies are employed in criminal psychology.

• To develop a foundation knowledge of criminal psychology

• To identify and describe elements of the criminal justice system and its processes.