Criminal Psychology: Inside The Mind Of A Serial Killer

Are you fascinated by the dark side of human nature? Do you want to learn more about the psychology of serial killers?

What you'll learn

You will learn about the history of criminal psychology, the early theorists and understand their contribution to Criminal Psychology

You will learn the key psychological theories of criminal psychology and how they are applied to explain the violent criminal behaviour of serial killers

You will learn and understand how environmental factors and adverse childhood experiences influence violent criminal behaviour

You will learn and understand how biological factors influence violent criminal behaviour in serial killers

You will learn and understand how Neuroscience can explain violent criminal behaviour in serial killers

You will learn and understand how Personality Disorders can contribute to Violence and Serial Murder

You will learn about Behavioural Profiling, the FBI Top Down Approach and the Bottom Up UK Approach to profiling of serial murderers.

Pulling it all together: You will use your new knowledge to examine a real life case study and apply psychological theory to explain behaviour.

Requirements

No previous knowledge of Psychology is needed, except willingness to learn and a keen interest in the field of Criminal Psychology. You will learn everything you need to know as I will take you step by step through the psychological theories that explain criminal behaviour and provide insight into the mind of a serial killer.

Description

Do you love watching TV Crime Series like Cracker, Wire in the Blood, Criminal Minds, and CSI?Have you ever wondered why serial killers, kill?Have you ever wondered, how an innocent newborn child grows up to become a gruesome serial killer?Do you dream of working in the field of criminal or forensic psychology and want to study this area of psychology in further and higher education? Or maybe you already work in the probation services, police force, other blue light services, or social services and would like to learn more about the criminal mind?Then this course is for you! I will teach you step-by-step the Biopsychosocial factors that influence criminal behaviour.As a foundation course, you will learn the theories that guide and inform Criminal and Forensic Psychologists in their work. This course will provide you with solid foundations and a depth of understanding of the Biopsychosocial factors that influence crime and deviance, particularly the end of the scale-serial killers.You will learn the biological, psychological, and social theories but also the why of the mind behind such crimes; that is, the motivations, intentions, and thought processes behind the worst offenders in history.At the end of the course, you will apply your knowledge to your very own case study assignment! You will be submitting a psychological profile of a serial killer, using the psychological theories and neuroscience you have learned in this course to explain behaviour. I will be marking your assignment, you will be given feedback, and the assignment returned to you.  So, step this way, into the fascinating world of Criminal Psychology: Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer!

Overview

Section 1: Introduction

Lecture 1 Introduction to the Course - What you will learn!

Lecture 2 What is Criminal Psychology and why is it important?

Lecture 3 An Introduction to The History of Criminal Psychology - Early Criminologists

Lecture 4 Step Back in History: The First Documented Serial Killer - Gilles de Rais

Lecture 5 The Psychology of Evil - What Makes a Child Grow up to become a Serial Killer?

Section 2: The Biological Approach in Criminal Psychology

Lecture 6 Early Biological Theories of Criminality

Lecture 7 Frontal Lobe Trauma: The Incredible Story of Phineas Gage

Lecture 8 Brain Injury and Violence

Lecture 9 Simple Brain Structures and Functions

Lecture 10 Genetics and Crime

Section 3: The Cognitive Behavioural Approach in Criminal Psychology

Lecture 11 Behaviourism - Classical Conditioning

Lecture 12 Behaviourism - Operant Conditioning

Lecture 13 Albert Bandura - Social Learning Theory

Lecture 14 The Cognitive Behavioural Understanding of Violence and Serial Murder

Section 4: Child Development - The Impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences

Lecture 15 Attachment Theory - Maternal Deprivation

Lecture 16 Freud and Dann 1951 Study

Lecture 17 Case Study: The Impact of Abuse and Neglect in Childhood

Lecture 18 Adverse Environmental Impact on Brain Development

Section 5: Psychoanalytic Theory and Violence

Lecture 19 Introduction to Psychoanalytic Theory and Violence

Lecture 20 Freud's Theory of Life and Death Instincts - Eros and Thanatos

Lecture 21 The Significance of Eros and Thanatos in Criminal Behaviour

Lecture 22 Freud's Structural Theory of Personality

Lecture 23 Freud's Theory of Human Development - The Psychosexual Stages

Lecture 24 Frustration - Aggression Hypothesis

Lecture 25 The Psychoanalytic Understanding of Violence and Serial Murder

Section 6: Personality, Violence and Serial Murder

Lecture 26 An Introduction to Psychopathy and Serial Murder

Lecture 27 Psychopathy and Serial Murder Lesson 2

Lecture 28 Psychopathy and Serial Murder Lesson 3

Lecture 29 The Psychopathic Brain

Lecture 30 Anti-Social Personality Disorder

Lecture 31 Understanding the Relationship between ASPD and Violent Criminal Behaviour

Section 7: Interactionism, Reductionism and Determinism

Lecture 32 Understanding Interactionism, Reductionism and Determinism in Psychology

Section 8: Behavioural / Offender Profiling

Lecture 33 The Role of Behavioural Analysis in Criminal Investigations

Lecture 34 Behavioural Profiling - Definition, History and Process of Behavioural Profiling

Lecture 35 The Four Types of Serial Killers - Typology and Sub Types

Lecture 36 FBI profiling versus UK Profiling: Top Down, Bottom Up

Section 9: Pulling It All Together - Inside the Mind of a Serial Killer

Lecture 37 The Psychology of Evil: Why?

Lecture 38 Charles Manson - Attachment Theory

Lecture 39 Charles Manson - Application of The Biological Approach to Explain Behaviour

Lecture 40 Charles Manson - Personality

Lecture 41 John Wayne Gacy - The Killer Clown - A Freudian Analysis

Lecture 42 John Wayne Gacy - The Killer Clown - Psychopathy Primary and Secondary Traits

Lecture 43 John Wayne Gacy - The Killer Clown - Frustration Aggression Hypothesis

Lecture 44 Peter Sutcliffe - The Yorkshire Ripper

Lecture 45 Ted Bundy - Insane or Evil? Attachment Theory and Adverse Early Childhood Events

Lecture 46 Ted Bundy - Environment

Lecture 47 Ted Bundy - Offender Profiling - Organised or Disorganised Killer Profile

Lecture 48 Dennis Nilsen - Interview with Central Television

Lecture 49 Dennis Nilsen - Psychopathy

Do you love watching TV Series like Cracker, Wire in the Blood, Criminal Minds and CSI? Do you want to learn more about the psychology of crime and deviance? Do you dream of working in the field of criminal or forensic psychology and want to study this area of psychology at further and higher education?