Joni E Johnston Psy.D.

About

Joni E. Johnston, Psy.D, is a clinical/forensic psychologist and private investigator who has done criminal and civil work since 1991. She has worked in a maximum security prison and for prosecutors, criminal defense attorneys and corporations. She often conducts competency to stand trial and insanity evaluations as well as risk assessments of mentally disordered offenders. She has conducted over 200 independent investigations of harassment/discrimination complaints. She is the host and producer of the YouTube channel, "Unmasking a Murderer." She also consults with true crime television shows and has been featured on Investigation Discovery's A Crime to Remember. She is the author of numerous articles and books, including The Complete Idiot's Guide to Psychology, the Complete Idiot's Guide to Anxiety, and Appearance Obsession: Learning to Love the Way You Look.

Books by Joni E Johnston Psy.D.

Recent Posts

Avoiding the "Last Straw" in Cases of Bullying

Some teens who are bullied become bullies themselves. But why do some victims choose this path and not others? New research suggests that the inner world of the victim has clues.

Deceived and Manipulated by a Fake Mental Illness

Movies like "Split" sacrifice truth for drama, relying on negative stereotypes about violence and mental illness. Here's how one predator used this to his advantage.

Strangulation, Sadism, and Closing in on the Alphabet Killer

New research, DNA technology, and the body of a young victim may help us determine who targeted her 50 years ago.

Getting Pleasure From Someone Else's Pain

The dark mirror of everyday sadism.

What Happens When a Staged Suicide Is Missed?

Few things are more devastating to a family that a loss by suicide. It's tough for first responders, too. Is it any surprise that some murderers take advantage of this?

The Hidden Danger of the Homicidal Narcissist

Alex Murdaugh. Bryan Kohberger. Larry Millette. These men are on trial for murder and have repeatedly been labeled "narcissists." What is the relationship between the two?

Murder and Mental Illness

When the hand you're dealt includes severe mental illness, the symptoms are treatable but the stigma and superstitions around them are sometimes not.

How Many Chances Should a Serial Killer Get?

Serial killer Colin Pitchfork was released from prison after almost thirty years. Two months later, he was back behind bars after violating parole. Did the system work or fail?

What Kind of Son Would Murder His Mother?

Why would a young adult with a close-knit family and every financial opportunity kill his mother and then himself?

Anger, Depression, Violence, and Lost Children

There's a saying that those who don't learn from history are destined to repeat it. The story of a 1920s murder-suicide shows just how true that is.