Overview

This unit introduces students to the main types of personality and psychiatric disorders often linked to criminal behaviour. It helps students understand how different psychological factors can contribute to why people commit crimes or continue offending. The unit also explores how forensic mental health professionals assess, treat, and manage individuals who have both mental health issues and needs related to criminal behaviour.

Requisites

Teaching periods
Location
Start and end dates
Last self-enrolment date
Census date
Last withdraw without fail date
Results released date

Unit learning outcomes

Students who successfully complete this unit will be able to:

  1. Explain the role of forensic mental health professionals in providing services focused on individuals with dual mental health and criminogenic needs.
  2. Discuss the key signs and symptoms of various personality and psychiatric disorders often linked to crime.
  3. Illustrate how personality and psychiatric disorders have historically and currently factor into Australian legal decisions around mental fitness, mental impairment, and sentencing mitigation
  4. Critically evaluate public perceptions and research evidence linking personality and psychiatric disorders to crime.
  5. Discuss how personality and psychiatric disorders are considered within the assessment and treatment of offending behaviour.

Teaching methods

All applicable locations

Activity Type Activity Total Hours Number of Weeks Venue Type and Activity Detail
On-campus Lecture 24 12 weeks On campus Lecture: 2 hour synchronous timetabled lecture each week, for 12 weeks
On-campus Practical 12 12 weeks Tutorial
Online Independent Learning 18 12 weeks Independent study using online resources and online discussion threads
Unspecified Activities Various 96 12 weeks Assigned and recommended readings and assessment preparation
Total Hours: 150  

Assessment

Type Task Weighting ULOs
Online Discussion Threads Individual  30% 1,2,3,4,5
Reflective Essay Individual  35% 1,2,3,4
Oral Presentation Individual/Group  35% 1,4,5

Hurdle

As the minimum requirements of assessment to pass a unit and meet all ULOs to a minimum standard, an undergraduate student must have achieved:

Nil

Content

  • Introduction to the field of forensic mental health and psychology 
  • Common personality and psychiatric disorders often linked to crime
  • Relevant case law on how personality and psychiatric disorders factor into psycho-legal issues such as mental fitness, pre-sentencing mitigation, and defenses of mental impairment
  • Historical and current research findings on when and under what circumstances personality and psychiatric disorders may be primary risk factors for crime.
  • How personality and psychiatric disorders can influence a person's risk of reoffending and guide their treatment
  • Common approaches and current trends in treating personality and psychiatric disorders to help reduce criminal behaviour

Study resources

Reading materials

A list of reading materials and/or required textbooks will be available in the Unit Outline on Canvas.