Behavioral Forensics: Using Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Court Evaluations

Behavioral Forensics: Using Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Court Evaluations presents the first compendia on the application of behavioral principles for the assessment and analysis of criminal behavior in court-ordered psychological evaluations. The book explains criminal motivation, risk behaviors, custody, criminal responsibility, and competence to stand trial. BFA employs principles and techniques of standard behavioral assessment in deducing causal evidence from interview and psychometric data. Sections cover evidence-based concepts and principles of BFA vs. obsolete forensic evaluation models, also including ten case studies that illustrate BFA in pre and post-sentencing evaluations that demonstrate how to determine risk of criminal recidivism or competency.

Considering the unprecedented numbers of psychologists turning to forensic work and influx of graduate programs offering degrees in criminal behavior analysis, this book is a timely resource for a variety of readers.

Presents the advantages of using Behavioral Forensic Assessment (BFA) over personality theoriesExplains criminal motivation, risk behaviors, custody, criminal responsibility and competence to stand trial from a natural science (behavioral and interbehavioral) perspectiveIncludes case studies that illustrate BFA in pre-sentencing and post-sentencing evaluationsOffers the most scientific, evidence-based approach to criminal (forensic) psychological evaluations

Section 1: Concepts of Behavioral Forensic Assessment 1. What is Behavioral Forensic Assessment (BFA)? The role of Applied Behavior Analysis in Psychological Evaluation 2. The paradigm shift from Traditional Models of Forensic Psychological Assessment to Behavioral Forensic Model

Section 2: Case Studies in Behavioral Forensic Assessment 3. Behavioral Predictors of Sexual Proclivity in a Sexual Offender 4. Misentitlement of Thrill-Seeking Sexual Assault in Individuals with Unregulated Urges (Motivating Operations) 5. Intracontingency Variables in Criminal Responsibility Evaluations 6. Risk of Alcohol Recidivism in Evaluating Reinstatement of a Driver’s License 7. Behavioral Forensic Analysis of Competency-to-Stand Trial in the Evaluation of an Offender Accused of Car-Jacking and Breaking and Entering 8. Social Contingencies Potentiating Vandalism and Violence 9. Insularity Effects of Self-Reinforcement under Concurrent Variable Interval Punishment Schedules in the Assessment of Repeated Embezzlement 10. Cultural Contingencies of Survival Intermingled with Domestic Violence: A case of Evocative Effects of Metaphorical Extension 11. Contingencies of Vicarious Conditioning Resembling Munchausen by proxy in the Assessment of Parental Competence 12. Intrafamily Contingencies Exposing Contradictory Testimony and Parental Incompetence in Two Parents Vying for Child Custody 13. Avoidance/Escape (Operant) Conditioning and Respondent Biophysical Arousal in the Behavioral Forensic Assessment of an Adolescent Arsonist 14. Effective Communication of Psychological Evaluation Findings for the Court