PSY596P

028799

As the title suggests, this seminar examines linkages of social cognition and criminal jurisprudence and law, building primarily upon scholarly disciplines of psychology, law, philosophy, psychiatry, and public policy. This seminar attends to issues of how legal theory and philosophy in criminal law may be informed by social cognitive science. In addition, although secondary, this seminar addresses how social cognitive psychology may be guided by developments in criminal law. Literatures from social, developmental, cognitive, and clinical psychology, psychiatry, sociology, criminology, and legal philosophy/jurisprudence, will be drawn from, and students will read important criminal law cases, as well. Some topics are: constructions of mens rea, free will, criminal culpability, diminished capacity and responsibility, affirmative defenses, retributive versus liberal constructions of juvenile justice, competence to stand trial, social development, decision making, and extra cognitive and contextual factors in criminogenic information processing. Class discussion is strongly emphasized; students will give an oral presentation and submit a final research paper. This seminar is open to law students and all graduate students (including, but not limited to, graduate students in psychology, psychiatry, philosophy, family studies and human development, sociology, and related behavioral science disciplines).

GRD - Regular Grades A, B, C, D, E

Graduate

CE - CL (Cross Listed)

Open to Psychology & Law graduate students. All other graduate students are welcomed to register with the consent of instructor.