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Criminal Psychology

Criminal Psychology. Chapter 7 “Syndrome Evidence” Talbot Kellogg Community College. What is a Syndrome?. Definition: Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS). The Battered Woman Syndrome. Definition:. Components of BWS. Learned Helplessness Lowered self-esteem

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Criminal Psychology

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  1. Criminal Psychology Chapter 7 “Syndrome Evidence” Talbot Kellogg Community College

  2. What is a Syndrome? • Definition: • Battered Woman Syndrome (BWS) • Rape Trauma Syndrome (RTS)

  3. The Battered Woman Syndrome • Definition:

  4. Components of BWS Learned Helplessness Lowered self-esteem Impaired functioning Loss of the assumption of invulnerability, optimistic outcome, and safety Fear and Terror Anger/ Rage Diminished Alternatives The cycle of abuse Hypervigilance Increased tolerance for cognitive consistency.

  5. BWS or PTSD? • Is it the same thing? • Is it different? • What does the text imply?

  6. BWS in the courts • Battered woman who kill. • More than 10% of the homicides in the U.S. are committed by women. A majority of these are reportedly women who kill an abusive partner (Browne and Williams, 1989).

  7. Why do some kill and other not? • _ • _ • _ • _

  8. Possible defenses • BWS is not a defense but part a defense. • 2 options • Self-defense – • Insanity defense –

  9. The Problems with BWS use as a part of a defense. • Many do not kill in the moment. • BWS is not a mental illness. • BWS may imply pathology for the battered woman. • Expert witnesses will often disagree causing the defense expert to appear more an advocate than objective observer. • Jurors’ reactions are mixed.

  10. Rape Trauma Syndrome • Common responses reported by women who had been recently raped. • Acute Crisis Phase – SNS activation

  11. Rape Trauma Syndrome • Long-Term Reaction Phase • Begins 1 – 3 months following the rape. • _ • _ • _ • _

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