6 ECTS credits
150 h study time

Offer 2 with catalog number 1016546ANR for all students in the 2nd semester at a (A) Bachelor - preliminary level.

Semester
2nd semester
Enrollment based on exam contract
Impossible
Grading method
Grading (scale from 0 to 20)
Can retake in second session
Yes
Enrollment Requirements
Volgtijdelijkheid: De student is ingeschreven in de Bachelor Criminologische Wetenschappen en heeft reeds 20 studiepunten verworven binnen de Bachelor Criminologische Wetenschappen. Hiernaast is de student tevens ingeschreven op het studiedeel "Psychologie". Of de student is ingeschreven in de bachelor Criminologische Wetenschappen met studieduurverkorting. Of de student is ingeschreven in de Master in de Rechten en heeft reeds 20 studiepunten van de opleiding Master in de Rechten verworven. Voor studenten uit de Bachelor Psychologie die dit vak als keuzevak kunnen opnemen, gelden verder geen specifieke volgtijdelijkheidsbepalingen.
Taught in
Dutch
Faculty
Faculty of Law and Criminology
Department
Criminology
Educational team
Katarzyna Uzieblo (course titular)
Activities and contact hours
26 contact hours Lecture
50 contact hours Independent or External Form of Study
Course Content

In criminological psychology we study (serious) transgressive behaviours from both a fundamental and an applied scientific angle, insofar as it is determined by psychological processes (cognitions, feelings, goals, motivations, and regulatory processes, …) which -by definition- occur in continuous interaction with psychologically relevant situational characteristics, and are also situated in developmental psychological trajectories.

The course consists of two parts: the development of transgressive (violent) behaviour (Part I) and the application of criminological psychological insights to criminal investigations and prosecution (Part II).

PART I. The first and main part of the course deals with various biopsychosocial theories to explain the development of transgressive behaviour while taking into regard the interaction between biological (e.g., neurobiological deviances), psychological (e.g., cognitions, emotion processing), and social risk factors (e.g., family factors) as well as the developmental psychological perspective. These themes are addressed through exemplary discussions of various forms of norm-breaking behaviour with a strong focus on violent offences such as sexual violence, partner violence, and stalking.

Part I offers insights into:

  • Prevalence of violent behaviour,
  • Psychological motives and explanatory models of violent behaviour, 
  • The possibilities and limitations of the psychological treatment of perpetrators of such behaviours, and
  • The factors that increase (risk factors) or decrease (protective factors) the risk of recidivism.

PART II. In the second part, we discuss the added value of psychological insights in criminal investigations, including police investigations (e.g., vulnerable suspects and witness statements). Relevant legal psychological insights will also be discussed.

Criminological psychology presupposes the integration of nomothetic and idiographic research methods. This is illustrated throughout the course by means of concrete cases and applied methods to identify, understand, treat, predict and/or help prevent transgressive behaviour in individuals.

The translation of theoretical insights into practice is a central component of the course. We will rely on several cases and on one or more guest lectures to illustrate how criminological-psychological issues are dealt with in practice. 

Course material
Digital course material (Required) : Syllabus with slides, Canvas
Additional info

Slides will be made available via Canvas.

Where necessary or desired, these slides will be supplemented with additional English or Dutch articles that complement or critically examine the content of the slides. These articles will be made available in Canvas, before or after the respective class.

The papers to be read in advance are placed on Canvas.

The course material provided by the guest lecturer(s) is considered compulsory literature.

For more information about the concrete organization of the course: see Canvas.

Learning Outcomes

General competencies

Domain-specific learning objectives:

  1. Knowledge and understanding of the criminological and criminal law reference frameworks and of the role of the various actors within criminal justice. 
  2. Basic knowledge and understanding of the theories and scientific research relevant to the scientific approach to criminological facts, phenomena, and the judicial and non-judicial reactions to these. 
  3. Knowledge and application of the relevant quantitative and qualitative methods and techniques of scientific criminological research.
  4. Theoretical as well as practical critical analysis of criminological facts, phenomena and (non-)judicial reactions based on scientific argumentation. 
  5. Presenting and reporting in writing about a criminologically relevant question in a clear, concise, and scientific way. 
  6. Acting as a criminologist with integrity and respecting deontological norms. 
  7. Being aware of the importance of continuous professional and academic development of knowledge within one’s own and related fields of expertise. 

Grading

The final grade is composed based on the following categories:
Written Exam determines 100% of the final mark.

Within the Written Exam category, the following assignments need to be completed:

  • Written Exam with a relative weight of 100 which comprises 100% of the final mark.

Additional info regarding evaluation

A final written test in which, using a closed-book exam covers two elements:

  1. in-depth theoretical questions that test understanding of the material covered;
  2. the analysis of concrete case histories, propositions or policy measures in which a number of practical questions have to be answered on the basis of the knowledge and insights acquired during the (guest) lectures. This final evaluation represents 100% of the points to be obtained.

The exam consists of multiple choice questions and an open question. The multiple-choice section will be graded by positive scoring with Higher Pass Mark (see additional information on CANVAS). Thus, no points will be deducted for a wrong answer. On the other hand, gaining points by guessing will be incorporated into the final point by increasing the pass mark. The pass mark for the exam and the exact conversion table will be communicated in a timely manner on Canvas and in the exam instructions. The exam strategy by this method is simple: do your best on all of the exam, questions you don't know or partially know, you can guess to the best of your ability, without worrying about possible point deductions.

At the start of the course, there will be more info about the evaluation made available on Canvas. At the end of the course and thus before the exam, students will also receive sample questions and model answers. This information will also be made available on Canvas.

The same evaluation method will be used:

  1. for both day and work students;
  2. for the first and second sessions. 
Allowed unsatisfactory mark
The supplementary Teaching and Examination Regulations of your faculty stipulate whether an allowed unsatisfactory mark for this programme unit is permitted.

Academic context

This offer is part of the following study plans:
Bachelor of Psychology: Profile Profile Work and Organisational Psychology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Psychology: Profile Profile Clinical psychology (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Social Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Profile Cultural Studies (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Adult Education: Initial track (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Criminology: Standaard traject (only offered in Dutch)
Bachelor of Criminology: Verkort traject (only offered in Dutch)
Master of Psychology: Afstudeerrichting arbeids- en organisatiepsychologie (only offered in Dutch)