Topics

Law and Crime

PTSD, DSM 5, and Forensic Misuse

By Allen J. Frances, M.D. on February 9, 2012 in DSM5 in Distress

In preparing DSM IV, we worked hard to avoid causing confusion in forensic settings. Realizing that lawyers read documents in their own special way, we had a panel of forensic psychiatrists go over every word to reduce the risks that DSM IV could be misused in the courts. Read More

Want to Escape Blame? Be a Victim!

By Nathan A. Heflick on February 8, 2012 in The Big Questions

Say you do something good. Then, you do something immoral. Are you going to get less blamed because you did that "good" thing? Read More

Fatal Fathers

By Katherine Ramsland on February 8, 2012 in Shadow Boxing

When stress builds up in families, overwhelmed fathers might ponder suicide. As with Josh Powell, deadly thoughts can include the children. What makes some men decide to kill their kids? Read More

Ventilate This!

By Joe Navarro, M.A. on February 7, 2012 in Spycatcher

Ventilating behaviors allow us to deal with heat but also with psychological stress. Rodney Dangerfield, the comedian, had it right but there are other ventilators including one you never thought about. Read More

Josh Powell, Dangerous Men, Child Visitation and Joint Custody Laws

By Katherine S. van Wormer, MSSW, Ph.D. on February 7, 2012 in Crimes of Violence

This essay calls for stronger safety measures by the courts in cases of domestic violence and suspected homicide. Read More

Dr. David Eagleman's New Dream Project

By Maureen Seaberg on February 7, 2012 in Tasting the Universe

Top synesthesia researcher Dr. David Eagleman wants to replace himself... Read More

Insider Trading: Putting the "Con" in Congress

By Dr. Dale Archer on February 6, 2012 in Reading Between The (Head)Lines

Senate Ban on Insider Trading: Noble Intent or PR Genius? Read More

How Super Is Superhero Justice?

By Mikhail Lyubansky, Ph.D. on February 6, 2012 in Between the Lines

Like speculative fiction in general, superhero stories are ultimately about ourselves. The fictional universes allow the writers to manipulate the circumstances to better examine the most complex aspects of the human experience, none more so than the issues of morality and justice. Read More

Baiting Predators

By Katherine Ramsland on February 6, 2012 in Shadow Boxing

If your child wanted to correspond with serial killers, what would you say? The answer might seem simple, but in some cases, it’s complicated. A unique look at serial killers through the eyes of a young man with a brain injury raises intriguing questions. Read More

Forensic Sleep Medicine: Sleep Driving

By John Cline, Ph.D. on February 6, 2012 in Sleepless in America

In a previous blog I discussed the relatively new field of forensic sleep medicine. This has become a more recognized and important area of study and practice as sleep related crimes have come to greater attention. Dr. J. Steven Poceta recently published an interesting series of clinical and legal cases in the Journal of Clinical Sleep Medicine. Read More

Classroom Sexual Predators: A Perfect Storm of Trust and Betrayal

By Steve Albrecht, DBA on February 5, 2012 in The Act of Violence

Recent cases of sexual abuse by educators point to a continuing and disturbing trend. Read More

You're a Whore

By Annette Hanson, M.D. on February 5, 2012 in Shrink Rap Today

A reader recently sent me this comment: "Frankly, I have little respect for Forensic Psychiatry these days. It is a whore subspecialty until proven otherwise, as it is doing what is financially convenient for the MD and just making general psychiatrists pick up the messes." Read More

Why Are Men So Violent?

By Jesse Prinz, Ph.D. on February 3, 2012 in Experiments in Philosophy

Are men warriors by nature? A new evolutionary account may be wrong about the source of male violence. Read More

Sneaking Hebephilia Into DSM 5

By Allen J. Frances, M.D. on February 2, 2012 in DSM5 in Distress

Dr. Ray Blanchard, of the DSM 5 sexual disorders work group, has written a misleading blog that portrays the introduction of 'Hebephilia' into DSM 5 as no more than a minor change. In his rendering, DSM IV already permits the diagnosis of pedophilia if victims are 13 or younger and DSM 5 is just raising the age threshold to 14. No big deal.  Read More

Your First Home Cooked Meal Together – A Psychological Perspective

By Jack Schafer, Ph.D. on February 2, 2012 in Let Their Words Do the Talking

The psychology of food preparation is as crucial to making a meal as the measure of ingredients used. Read More

"I Think, Therefore I Feel": The Primacy of Thinking

By Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D. on February 2, 2012 in Inside the Criminal Mind

Many mental health professionals emphasize having their clients/patients "get in touch with their feelings" and "express their feelings." With certain types of problems, this may work well. However, in working with offenders, it is counterproductive. Read More

Addicted to Lies

By Katherine Ramsland on February 1, 2012 in Shadow Boxing

We're often surprised when people lie easily and persistently, even when it's clear they'll be exposed. Casey Anthony gained as much attention for this behavior as for her status as an alleged child-killer. What's behind it? Read More

How New Jersey Can Reduce Bullying With No Extra Budget

By Izzy Kalman on January 31, 2012 in A Psychological Solution to Bullying

All the money in the world will not make the New Jersey anti-bullying law successful. It is a Catch-22: the more money we throw at enforcing it, the more the bullying problem will grow. Read More

Superbowl Sex Trafficking Increase? Super Nonsense

By Marty Klein, PhD on January 30, 2012 in Sexual Intelligence

Sex trafficking--the real thing, not the political consumer product or object of sloganeering--involves kidnapping or manipulating someone out of their community, forcing them to engage in sex acts somewhere else, and not allowing them to leave at will.

It's horrendous. Read More

Why Does the United States Lock Up So Many People?

By Karen Franklin, Ph.D. on January 30, 2012 in Witness

The statistics are shocking: One out of every 99 adults is quarantined behind bars in the United States, with larger and larger swaths of the civilian work force deployed as a captor class. Read More

Essential Reads: Editor's Picks

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Law and Crime Blogs

  • Robin Sax

    Crime Time

    Justice for all.
    By Robin Sax
  • Katherine van Wormer, MSSW, Ph.D.

    Crimes of Violence

    Analysis of high-profile crimes of violence of psychological significance
    By Katherine van Wormer, MSSW, Ph.D.
  • Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Ph.D.

    Disturbed

    Criminal profiling and the deviant mind
    By Deborah Schurman-Kauflin, Ph.D.
  • Stephen Diamond

    Evil Deeds

    A Forensic Psychologist on Anger, Madness and Destructive Behavior
    By Dr. Stephen Diamond

  • Friction

    How radicalization happens to them and us.
    By Sophia Moskalenko, Ph.D. and Clark McCauley, Ph.D.
  • Dr. Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D.

    Inside the Criminal Mind

    Understanding the Dark Side of Human Conduct
    By Dr. Stanton E. Samenow, Ph.D.
  • John R. "Jack" Schafer, Ph.D.

    Let Their Words Do the Talking

    Verbal Cues to Detect Deception
    By John R. "Jack" Schafer, Ph.D.
  • Katherine Ramsland

    Shadow Boxing

    A Blog that Probes the Mind's Dark Secrets
    By Katherine Ramsland
  • Joe Navarro

    Spycatcher

    An ex-FBI agent on deception, espionage, interrogation, and reading people.
    By Joe Navarro
  • Kathy Seifert, Ph.D., D.A.B.P.

    Stop The Cycle

    Predicting and preventing youth and family violence
    By Kathy Seifert, Ph.D., D.A.B.P.

  • The Act of Violence

    Aggression in the workplace.
    By Steve Albrecht, Ph.D.

  • The Justice and Responsibility League

    What makes for an upstanding citizen?
    By Key Sun, Ph.D.
  • David F. Swink

    Threat Management

    Keeping Schools and Workplaces Safe
    By David F. Swink
  • Karen Franklin, Ph.D.

    Witness

    A blog about forensic psychology.
    By Karen Franklin, Ph.D.