Criminology and Psychology

Core Modules

Year 1

• Understanding Individuals and Groups

  This course aims to introduce students to the basics of personality and social psychology. The course will start with an introduction to key dynamic personality theories of Freud, followed by Jung. Students will then learn about theories and research on aggression, pro-social behaviour and conformity. In addition, key fundamental topics in social psychology, attitudes and values, will be introduced, as well as cross-cultural psychology and leadership.

• Understanding Neuroscience

  The module provides an introduction to the key neuroscience cencepts and research techniques relevant to Psychology.  Topics include the basics of neural function, neuroanatomy, neurophysiology, sensorimotor processing, and research methods used.

• Criminal Justice System

  This module introduces you to the development, role, function and operation of the criminal justice system in England and Wales. You will examine the stages of the criminal justice process, and in doing so develop an understanding of the key debates around the punishment of offenders, the process of achieving justice for victims and the theoretical positions on the purpose of punishment. You will also be encouraged to think critically about the treatment of different social groups within the criminal justice process, such as youth offenders, those with mental disorders and white collar criminals. The module comprises of weekly lectures and seminars, where you will have the opportunity to discuss key debates and apply your knowledge of the criminal justice process to case studies.

• Introduction to Criminology

  This module provides you with a general introduction to criminology and forensic psychology. You will explore official, populist, sociological and psychological meanings of crime through study of the development of criminology as a distinctive field of research and scholarship. You will develop sociological understandings of crime and the history of punishment, before turning to forensic psychology and its contribution to understanding offending behaviours, punishment and rehabilitation. 

• Understanding Mental Health and Wellbeing

  This module provides an introduction to the concept of abnormal psychology. The course starts with developing an understanding and knowledge about how we define abnormality in psychology and how this has developed and changed throughout history. Different approaches to understanding abnormal psychology are covered, starting with the biomedical model of abnormality. Following this, social and cultural approaches to abnormality are covered, followed by the philosophy of abnormality. Psychodynamic, behavioural and cognitive approaches to abnormality are also covered in detail. There is a focus on psychological disorders as we currently classify them in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM). The hierarchy of evidence in clinical psychology research is also covered.

• Understanding Perception and Cognition

  This module will provide an introduction to the key theories and research findings regarding Perception and Cognition. This may include topics within perception such as sensory perception as gateway to the world; attentional modulation of perception; illusions as key to reality, brightness, perception of colour, time, motion and depth; auditory perception, touch, taste and smell; the control of eye and head movements as a link between perception and action; and memory processes (both experimental and applied).

   

• Academic Integrity

  This module will describe the key principles of academic integrity, focusing on university assignments. Plagiarism, collusion and commissioning will be described as activities that undermine academic integrity, and the possible consequences of engaging in such activities will be described. Activities, with feedback, will provide you with opportunities to reflect and develop your understanding of academic integrity principles.

   

Year 2

• Developmental Psychology

  In this module you will develop an understanding of cognitive development, including intelligence across the lifespan, language development, and number representation, and the development of social understanding, including social cognition, emotional development, prejudice, and adolescence. You will look in depth at the research techniques used in developmental psychology, as well as enhancing your ability to conduct critical analyses.

• Personality and Individual Differences

  In this module you will examine theory and research in key areas of personality and individual differences. You will explore the difference between these two areas of study, and become equipped with methods of evaluating theories of personality. You will review key topics in personality and individual differences, with consideration for the relations between them in order to develop your integrative understanding of personality.

• Key Perspectives and Debates in Criminology

  This module will enable you to develop detailed and more critical understandings of core criminological theory and key issues within the discipline. Drawing on sociological, biological and psychological perspectives as a way of understanding criminal behaviour, you will consider key issues such as drug use, organised crime, white collar crime and terrorism. Lectures and seminars promote the application of these theoretical perspectives through case studies and empirical research.

• Brain and Behaviour

  In this module you will develop an understanding of why modern psychology requires an understanding of neuroscience. You will look at neuronal structure, function and information transmission, and the organisation of the nervous system and how this reflects the principles of information processing. You will examine the methods used to study structure and information processing in the brain, becoming familiar with the brain's functional architectures and the neural basis of learning. You will also consider brain evolution, and the biology and psychopharmacology of reward, reinforcement and psychological disorders.

• Social Psychology

  In this module, you will develop an understanding of the key topics in social psychology, with a particular focus on topics that highlight over-arching debates within this area of study. You will look at how social psychology can be applied to real-world issues, examining the social psychology of relationships, the self-concept, prejudice and group conflict, attribution theory, group decision-making, situational perspectives on evil, and non-verbal behaviour and social cognition.

• Research Methods and Data Analysis for Psychologists

  The aim of this module is to introduce students to the research process, including a range of data collection methods, sampling techniques and ethical debates related to conducting research. Students will also learn how to read, interpret the results of and apply a range of qualitative and quantitative data analysis techniques. Students will cover the strengths and weaknesses of using statistical methods or qualitative approaches.
  
  This module will include a practical element using two project reports, one in each term. The reports (qualitative and quantitative) will equip students with the crucial ability to generate hypotheses, collect data, practice analytical skills and write up reports that meet psychological standards in publishing.
  
  Students will work in small groups assigned at the beginning of the term Under the guidance of the lecturer, the groups will generate ideas on the basis of previous literature, prepare the materials, and in Term II use survey software to set-up the study. They will subsequent analyse the data generated. Individual reports will be submitted by each student.

Year 3

• Cognitive Psychology

  This module will provide you with an overview of the key theoretical and empirical issues in cognitive psychology, including selective attention, multisensory perception and problem solving. You will look at reasoning, judgement and blindsight, and examine the impact of unilateral neglect and attention for action.

• Dissertation

  The British Psychological Society stipulates that in order for you to be considered for graduate membership the dissertation project must be passed and cannot be condoned or compensated. The empirical psychology project will include the following, which are derived from the criteria for independent project work listed in section 5.4 of the Subject Benchmark Statement: carrying out independent empirical research, including defining a research problem; formulating testable hypotheses / research questions; choosing appropriate methodologies; planning and carrying out a study efficiently; demonstrating awareness of ethical issues and current codes of ethics and conduct; obtaining the appropriate ethical approval for their research;  demonstrating the ability to reason about the data and present the findings effectively; discussing findings in terms of previous research; evaluating methodologies and analyses employed and implications for ethics; and where appropriate, collaborating effectively with colleagues, participants and outside agencies. Students may also undertake their empirical projects using secondary data, provided they are still able to demonstrate the above skills.

Optional Modules

Below is a taster of some of the exciting optional modules that students on the course could choose from during this academic year. Please be aware these do change over time, and optional modules may be withdrawn or new ones added.

Year 1

• All modules are core

Year 2

• All modules are core

Year 3

• Community Sentences and Community Safety

  To enable students to understand the nature, purpose and policy underlying community sentencing. Students will gain an understanding of how community safety became a major theme in the development of criminal justice policy. This course will also provide a critical understanding of the relationship between community safety and community sentences.

• Health Care: Criminological and Sociological Perspectives

  Providing an introduction to sociology of health, illness and medicine to understand the role of social factors and examine different criminological perspectives to the study of health, illness and medicine.

• Race, Crime and Justice

  At a time when issues relating to race, crime and justice are high on political, policy and academic agendas, this course draws on contemporary theory and research in order to critically analyse these debates. For example, students will assess competing explanations for the over-representation of particular ethnic minorities in the Criminal Justice System as well as under-representation as staff in the police, the courts, probation and prison services. The course aims to explore the mechanisms of discrimination and exclusion in relation to crime and justice as well as processes of mobilisation and resistance across disadvantaged groups.

• Criminal and Forensic Psychology

  This course gives an overview of the contributions from applied cognitive, social, forensic psychology and criminal psychology to the understanding of witness and criminal behaviour. It examines the evidence from child witnesses and impact of crime on victims of sexual offences and provides an understanding of the implications of forensic psychology in the justice system. You will be expected to demonstrate awareness of current theories and research related to witness and criminal behaviour. You will discuss issues related to the current state of knowledge on criminal behaviour and be critical about current incidents, research and media influences. Finally you will appreciate the contribution of psychological research in investigation of witness evidence and detection of crime within the Criminal Justice System.

• Criminologists in Action

  The module aims to consider the current theoretical conceptualisations of issues such as group decision making, performance, collaborative learning and intergroup conflict. It will look at the ways in which psychological theories relating to groups can be used to better understand and address issues across a range of applied settings, including the workplace and roles criminology graduates may enter. The course will critically evaluate the strengths and weaknesses of this application of understanding. A principal element of the course will provide a rich understanding of the range of jobs criminology graduates may enter and how students might go about successfully applying for these roles.
  Five of the lectures will provide understanding of psychological theory relating to group performance and how this can be applied to real work settings: 1) Group Performance, 2) The problem of Group Think, 3) Conformity and Influence, 4) Conflict within and between groups, 5) Social Categorisation and Social Identity Theory. A further five lectures will be dedicated to providing a rich understanding of the career paths of criminology graduates, including insight from previous graduates from the School of Law on how to develop their skills, the process of applying, what their role entails and how they will continue to work their way up within the organisation. These will include working in; the criminal justice system (police, probation, prisons and youth justice), the voluntary sector, working for government or local government or embarking on further study. There is provision within the course to tailor these towards career paths students might want to explore or understand further.
  Through a series of workshops students will work independently and as part of a group on tasks to enhance their negotiation and influencing skills, as well as dealing with conflict and increasing their self-awareness. Students will take part in team skills training, as well as workshops on developing their CV, completing applications forms, paring for an interview and assessment centres.

• Cybercrime

  Internet technologies are borderless and have enabled an increase in transnational crime and security threats. This module examines the variety of contemporary cybercrime and issues surrounding policing and enforcement. It also examines international powers of collecting intelligence and evidence (including surveillance) and computer, device and network forensics. The module would include lectures and seminars on the following topics: 1. Introductory lecture on understanding cybercrime 2. Cyber-terrorism and cyber-warfare 3. Interception and surveillance 4. Online pornography and child sexual abuse images 5. Online harassment and revenge pornography 7. Fake news and online disinformation 6. Policing cybercrime 7. Computer Device and Network Forensics. 8. International co-operation. Considering that cybercrime is a rapidly changing landscape, it is necessary to maintain an element of flexibility on this course. As a result, some content may be changed to accommodate any new developments in this field.

• Developmental Disorders

  This course uses the neuroconstructivist framework to study disorders of known genetic origin (Down syndrome, Fragile X, William syndrome) and multifactorial disorders such as ADHD, autism spectrum conditions, reading disorders, and specific language impairment. Core features of each disorder and methods for assessment and diagnosis are described. There is an emphasis on cross-syndrome comparisons and understanding the contributions of genes and environment to the wide variation in behavioural and cognitive profiles in different clinical conditions.

• Educational Psychology

  This module includes lectures and readings covering classical and contemporary approaches in educational psychology. These may include work on gender and diversity in education, learning and classroom interaction, intelligence and motivation, learning disorders and special educational needs, assessment, attainment, socio-emotional approaches to development and learning, psychological perspectives on education at different levels/ages.

• Health Psychology and Wellbeing

  This module develops understanding of how to identify research papers relevant to a health psychology topic, techniques to summarise and evaluate published evidence, relating to a health psychology, how to apply health psychology theory to a practical problem and how to describe and think critically about a number of health psychology theories, models and concepts.

• Social Psychology in the Real World

  This advanced-level social psychology module explores the application of social psychology to a range of real-world issues, including driver behaviour, persuasion and propaganda, religiosity, cyber-behaviour and the effects of media violence and pornography. Key theoretical themes drawn upon are attitudes, group behaviour and identity, and some topics are addressed using a multi-disciplinary approach encompassing anthropology, political science and sociology, as well as social psychology.

• Terrorism Studies Part 2

  The module will begin by exploring the discourses of terrorism, radicalisation, extremism and counter-terrorism and their parameters. It will explore the ideological motivations for terrorism and UK counter-terrorism responses. In particular, it will scrutinise the legislative response to terrorism and consider the extent to which civil liberties and human rights have been preserved in the response to terrorism. It will also assess the intelligence response, military responses to terrorism and the UK’s Prevent strategy. The module will go on to discuss state terror and will conclude with a conceptual discussion as to whether or not the contemporary international terrorist threat represents a new form of terrorism.

• Youth in Society: Culture, Subculture & Transgression

  In this module you will develop an understanding of youth culture and consider the key theoretical debates concerning youth subcultures. You will gain an insight into the interplay between gender and ethnicity in the formation of youth cultures and subcultures, including their representation in the media.

• Children, Society and Risk

  In this module you will develop an understanding of key debates in relation to children, society and risk, childhood, children's rights, citizenship and social harm. You will look at empirical and theoretical studies in these areas and understand the ways in which social policy, and criminal justics agencies, are adapting their responses to deal with crimes commited against children.

• Crimes of the Powerful

  This module aims to provide students with a knowledge and understanding of crimes of the powerful. It will include a wide range of crimes of the powerful with a broad focus on corporate crime and state crime. It will address the nature of corporate crime, white collar crime and state crime and conceptual discussions surrounding these concepts. It will then consider which criminological theories are most relevant when endeavouring to explain the crimes of the powerful. The course will then go on to include the following: how pharmaceutical companies have been implicated in corporate crime along with crimes against consumers; case studies of corporate crime – their causes and legacies; the nature of state political crime including state terror and corruption; genocide and international responses; conceptualisations around the concept of organised crime, with a particular focus on human trafficking and ‘modern slavery’ and responses to it; and environmental crime.

• Gender, Sexuality and Crime

  In this module you will develop an understanding of key sociological, psychological and criminal-legal approaches to gender and sexuality. You will think critically about how theories of gender and sexuality have informed the study of crime and shaped our understanding of sexual offences, and the relationship between gender, sexuality and criminal justice, from the 19^thcentury to the present day. You will look at case studies that have shaped the study of gender, sexuality, and crime historically and in the present day, such as the violations perpetrated against women through the diagnosis of 'hysteria', the development of the law of rape, sociological and psychological approaches to sex offenders, and debates about the criminalisation of pornography.

• Interpersonal violence and harm

  This module will provide students with a broad overview of violence and harm as committed by individuals or groups within society. Several forms of violence will be examined within the course including but not limited to intimate partner violence, stalking, sexual violence, and elder abuse. In addition to examining the nature and prevalence of violence and harm, the course will also examine the ways in which violence and harm are assessed, managed and communicated by professionals who work with perpetrators and victims of violence. Concepts related to violence or the prevalence and nature of violence such as psychopathy and gender will also be examined. Through a group presentation students will have the opportunity to learn about and present on an additional form of violence not covered in lectures.

• Policing Turning Points: Scandals and Reform

  This module includes a single introductory lecture on the theoretical underpinnings of the police service of England and Wales. As such a good understanding of the British Police Service and policing by consent is requried. Followed by 8 lectures on police scandals and a concluding lecture exploring the police attitude to change and what change has been achieved during this period. This final lecture may include an external guest. An outline of the course might look like this 1. Politics of the Police 2. Accoutability and Corruption 3.The Guildford Four/Birmingham Six 4. Mugging, Brixton Riots, Scarman 5. Miner’s Strike 6. Lawrence/Tomlinson 7. Hillsborough 8. The policing of Rape 9.Child Sexual Exploitation 10.Radical change and revolution?

• Prisons

  In this module you will develop an understanding of the role, function and operation of prisons in England and Wales. You will think critically about the nature of imprisonment and the effectiveness of the prison system, using research, government reports, prisoners' account and other relevant sources to analyse recent policy initiatives.

• Victims and Witnesses

  This module explores the current procedures in the UK surrounding the treatment of witnesses and victims of crime. You will examine issues surrounding vulnerable people, children, adults, and older people with respect to the different professional responses required. You will look at victims and witnesses in a historical context, identifying milestones that highlight key development. You will consider the long term consequences of involvement in the legal system, and look at research on victims and witnesses from a wide range of disciplines.