LEGAL-FORENSIC DIAGNOSTICS

1. Knowledge and Understanding (Dublin Descriptor 1)

The course provides fundamental theoretical and methodological knowledge of psychological assessment in legal and forensic settings, with reference to the legal question, the formulation of the forensic question, the investigation methodology, and the different roles of the psychologist.

The main areas of intervention, the characteristics of expert consultation and expert assessment, and the areas of assessment in civil, criminal, juvenile, and correctional settings will be explored, with attention to constructs and capacities of legal relevance. Particular attention will be devoted to neuropsychological and psychopathological aspects of forensic relevance, including personality disorders and psychopathy, neurological disorders, ageing, addictions, criminal responsibility, the capacity to understand and control one’s actions, testimonial capacity and legal capacity, and the assessment of personal injury and psychological damage.

Forensic psychodiagnostic assessment, malingering and falsification behaviours will also be addressed, together with the main ethical and professional issues concerning psychological activity in judicial settings.

2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding (Dublin Descriptor 2)

At the end of the course, students will be able to recognize the characteristics of psychological assessment in different forensic settings and distinguish the purposes, functions, and responsibilities of the professionals involved. They will be able to analyse a legal question, identify its psychologically relevant aspects, define the main areas requiring further investigation, and understand the criteria for selecting and integrating sources of information and assessment instruments.

They will also be able to apply the knowledge acquired to the analysis of basic situations concerning criminal responsibility, dangerousness, testimonial capacity and legal capacity, personal injury and psychological damage, and parenting capacity, integrating psychopathological, neuropsychological, and contextual aspects.

3. Making Judgements (Dublin Descriptor 3)

Students will develop the ability to critically evaluate information collected during a forensic psychological investigation, taking into consideration the question, the quality of the sources, the methodology, and the limits of the conclusions.

Through examples and case discussions, they will learn to distinguish data, observations, hypotheses, and conclusions and to evaluate the relationship between psychopathological or neuropsychological conditions and legally relevant consequences. They will also be able to recognize the limitations of forensic assessment, avoiding automatic associations between diagnosis, behaviour, and legal conclusions and maintaining a rigorous approach consistent with the question.

4. Communication Skills (Dublin Descriptor 4)

Students will acquire the ability to correctly use the technical and scientific language of legal and forensic psychology, psychopathology, and forensic neuropsychology.

They will be able to describe roles, functions, assessment methodologies, expert consultation and expert assessment, as well as the main psychopathological and neuropsychological issues of forensic relevance.

The discussion of cases and examples will also promote the ability to substantiate their considerations in relation to the question, the data collected, the instruments used, and the conclusions formulated.

5. Learning Skills (Dublin Descriptor 5)

The course will develop skills useful for independent learning and further study of legal and forensic psychology, neuropsychology, and forensic psychopathology. Students will be guided in consulting textbooks, guidelines, scientific documentation, and professional materials, identifying the information relevant to understanding and analysing a case.

The skills acquired will provide a foundation for further education in psychological, clinical, neuropsychological, and forensic disciplines and for the study of assessment and intervention methodologies in judicial settings.

The course integrates lectures, interactive activities and exercises, linking the theoretical foundations of legal and forensic psychology to assessment practice in different judicial settings.

The main theoretical and methodological concepts, the formulation of the forensic question, the roles of the psychologist, expert consultation, expert assessment, and psychopathological and neuropsychological issues of forensic relevance will be explored.

Through the analysis of cases, questions, interviews, observations, and psychodiagnostic instruments, students will develop the ability to integrate different sources of information and to connect the legal question, individual characteristics, methodology, and conclusions.

The teaching activity aims to develop theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and applied competencies relating to the main methodologies and areas of intervention of the legal and forensic psychologist.

The course assumes the acquisition of basic knowledge of general psychology, clinical psychology, psychopathology, neuropsychology, and psychometrics, with particular reference to the main cognitive processes, the fundamental characteristics of psychopathological conditions, and the general principles of psychological assessment.

This knowledge constitutes the necessary basis for understanding the specific features of assessment in legal and forensic settings, the legal implications of psychopathological and neuropsychological conditions, and the methodological principles of expert consultation and expert assessment.

Attendance is strongly recommended, given the presence of pratical activities that will allow students to engage directly with examples of questions, cases, instruments, and assessment situations typical of different legal and forensic settings.

Participation in teaching activities will therefore promote the integration of theoretical knowledge, analytical skills, and practical application of forensic assessment methodologies.

The course introduces the foundations of legal and forensic psychology, with particular reference to the role of the psychologist in different judicial settings and to the characteristics of the assessment requested by the judicial authority.

The course begins with the relationship between psychology and law, psychology in legal proceedings, and the definition of the role of the legal and forensic psychologist. The main areas of intervention and the different professional roles will then be addressed, with particular reference to expert consultation, expert assessment, and activities carried out in civil, criminal, juvenile, and correctional settings.

The methodological principles of forensic investigation, the formulation of the forensic question, interviewing, observation, the use of assessment instruments, and the integration of different sources of information will be explored. Particular attention will be devoted to forensic psychodiagnostic assessment and to the specific characteristics of assessment instruments in judicial settings. Personality disorders and psychopathy, neurological disorders, ageing and its legal aspects, substance-related and behavioural addictions, and specific psychopathological phenomena of forensic relevance will also be addressed. The main areas of forensic assessment will be explored, with particular reference to the capacity to understand and control one’s actions and criminal responsibility, dangerousness, testimonial capacity, fitness to participate in legal proceedings, legal capacity, and the assessment of personal injury and psychological damage.

The course will also address malingering of mental illness and other falsification behaviours, as well as issues relating to the assessment of parenting capacity and psychological interventions in family and juvenile settings.

Finally, the ethical, deontological, and professional aspects associated with the psychologist’s activity in legal settings will be considered, with particular reference to the principles that should guide professional practice and to the psychologist’s responsibility in carrying out their functions.

Furthermore, the course will contribute to the achievement of several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) of the 2030 Agenda. The topics addressed are particularly connected to the following goals:

Goal 3 – Good Health and Well-being. Through the acquisition of knowledge concerning psychopathology, neuropsychology, and assessment in judicial settings, the course contributes to the development of competencies aimed at scientifically grounded assessment and respect for the individual’s well-being.

Goal 4 – Quality Education. The course contributes to the development of scientific, methodological, and professional competencies in legal and forensic psychology, promoting the ability to critically understand assessment methodologies, instruments, and procedures.

Goal 10 – Reduced Inequalities. The course promotes individualized and methodologically rigorous assessment, attentive to the characteristics of the individual and the context, contributing to reducing the risk of inappropriate or discriminatory assessments.

1. Passanante, M. C., Tucci, S. (a cura di) (2024). Psicologo giuridico forense. Ambiti, interventi, prassi di una professione. Pacini (except for Part 4 – all chapters, and Part 6 – all chapters).

2. Bolognini, N. (a cura di) (2024). Manuale di neuropsicologia e psicopatologia forense. Il Mulino (except for chapters 22, 23, 24, and 25).

Learning will be assessed through an oral examination on the main contents of the course. Students’ knowledge of the foundations of legal and forensic psychology, the roles and contexts of intervention of the psychologist, the main psychopathological and neuropsychological conditions of forensic relevance, and the issues relating to criminal responsibility, capacities, dangerousness, personal injury and psychological damage, and parenting capacity will be assessed.

Knowledge of forensic psychodiagnostic assessment, malingering, the neuroscientific approach, and ethical and professional aspects will also be considered, as well as the ability to apply knowledge to the analysis of basic forensic questions and cases.

The final grade will be expressed on a scale of 30. The assessment criteria will be as follows:

1. Theoretical understanding of the contents (40%)

Assesses mastery of the foundations of legal and forensic psychology, assessment methodology, and the main roles and areas of intervention of the psychologist, as well as knowledge of the main psychopathological, neuropsychological, and forensic assessment issues addressed during the course.

2. Clarity of expression and command of disciplinary language (25%)

Concerns the ability to present the course contents clearly, coherently, and rigorously, using appropriate technical and scientific terminology and demonstrating command of the language specific to legal and forensic psychology, psychopathology, and forensic neuropsychology.

3. Ability to apply knowledge (25%)

Measures the ability to apply the knowledge acquired to the understanding of basic forensic questions and situations, the identification of the main areas of assessment, and the selection of the most appropriate approaches for further investigation. The ability to integrate psychopathological, neuropsychological, and contextual information in the discussion of a case will also be considered.

4. Personal elaboration and critical thinking (10%)

Assesses the ability to establish connections between the different topics of the course, to critically compare different assessment approaches, and to formulate independent considerations concerning methodological limitations, professional implications, and the correct interpretation of information in different legal and forensic settings.

1. What is meant by legal and forensic psychology, and what are the main functions of the psychologist in judicial settings?

2. What are the characteristics of the legal request and the forensic question addressed to the psychologist?

3. What are the differences between the court-appointed technical consultant, the party-appointed technical consultant, and the expert?

4. What are the main characteristics of the interview in forensic settings, and how does it differ from the clinical interview?

5. What are the main instruments and sources of information that can be used in forensic assessment?

6. What are the main characteristics of forensic psychodiagnostic assessment?

7. What contribution can neuropsychology make to assessment in forensic settings?

8. What relevance may personality disorders and psychopathy have in forensic assessment?

9. What is meant by the capacity to understand and control one’s actions, and what is its relationship with criminal responsibility?

10. What is meant by dangerousness, and what elements may be considered in its assessment?

11. What are the main characteristics of the assessment of testimonial capacity, particularly with regard to minors?

12. What are the main issues concerning the assessment of legal capacity?

13. What is meant by personal injury and psychological damage, and what aspects should be considered in its assessment?

14. What are the main characteristics of the assessment of parenting capacity?

15. What psychopathological and forensic issues may be associated with stalking, crimes of passion, and filicide?

16. What is meant by malingering of mental illness, and what problems does it pose in forensic assessment?

17. What contributions can neuroscience make to the assessment of criminal behaviour and forensic activities?

18. What are the main ethical and professional aspects that must be considered in the psychologist’s activity in judicial settings?