Class Forensic Psychology and Sexuality

Forensic psychology arises from the intersection of psychology and the legal field, and its significance is twofold. It stands out not only for its diverse and highly specialized areas of practice but also for the distinct roles that forensic psychologists assume compared to their counterparts in other branches of psychology. Within this course, we will delve into a wide array of intervention contexts, the multifaceted roles of forensic psychologists, ethical and deontological considerations, assessment techniques, and models for forensic psychological interventions, with a distinct emphasis on subjects concerning sexual violence and forensic sexology, whether engaging with offenders or victims.

Not applicable

S1. Introduction to Forensic Psychology 1.1. Historical and theoretical background 1.2. Specificities and study’s object 1.3. Fields of practice of the forensic psychologist S2. Theoretical models in Forensic Psychology 2.1. Crime theories 2.2. Conceptual framework of victimization S3. Forensic psychological assessment 3.1 Characteristics, specificities, and challenges 3.2 Assessment methods and techniques 3.3 Assessment of offenders (e.g., sexual offenders) 3.4 Assessment of victims of crime (e.g., sexual violence) S4. Forensic psychological intervention 4.1 Basic principles, models, and modalities of intervention 4.1.1 Rehabilitation programs S5. Forensic Psychology as an area of expertise of Forensic Psychology

The syllabus will be taught using a variety of methods, namely: TM1: Oral exposition with the support of audiovisual materials; TM2: Interactive Dialogue; TM3: Exercises of reading, analyses, and discussion of scientific papers; TM4: Classroom application exercises, through the analysis of practical cases; TM5: Group discussion, with lecturer feedback. The evaluation will be carried out through the following modalities: - Continuous assessment: Written test (60%); and a practical group work (30%) with oral presentation (10%) The final weighted average of the evaluation elements must be equal to or greater than 10 for approval in the CU. - Final Assessment: Written exam (100%).

APA (2015). APA Handbook of psychology and juvenile justice. APA. Beech, A. R., & Craig, L. A. (2009). Assessment and treatment of sex offenders: A handbook. Wiley-Blackwell. Grigorenko, E. (2012). Juvenile forensic psychology and psychiatry. Springer Laws, D. R., O’ Donohue, W. T. (2008). Sexual deviance: Theory, assessment, and treatment. The Guilford Press. Rijo, D., Brazão, N., Ribeiro da Silva, D. & Vagos, P. (2017). Intervenção psicológica com jovens agressores. Pactor. Scott-Snyder, S. (2017). Introduction to Forensic Psychology: Essentials for law enforcement. CRC Press. Seto, M. (2013). Internet sex offenders. American Psychological Association. Taylor, S. (2019). Forensic Psychology: The basics. Routledge. Ward, T., Devon, L. L., & Beech, A. R. (2006). Theories of sexual offending. John Wiley & Sons Ltd. Weiner, I. B. & Otto, R. K. (2013). The handbook of forensic psychology. John Wiley & Sons, Inc.