Mental Disorder and Crime
PostgraduateGRF-CCJ7132025
Investigate the legal constructs of insanity and the psychiatric constructs of intellectual disability and mental disorders. Evaluate the relationship between crime, dangerousness and mental disorders in the context of forensic mental health.
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- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- Part of a degree
- Duration
- 13 weeks
- Start dates
- 3 Mar 2025
- Loan available
- FEE-HELP available
Mental Disorder and Crime
About this subject
After successfully completing this subject you should be able to:
- Delineate the key issues surrounding definitions of mental disorder and criminal behaviour;
- Describe the major models of mental disorder and models of criminal behaviour, and the relationship between the two;
- Summarise the fundamental debates surrounding views of criminal behaviour and mental disorder, including free will versus determinism, nature versus nurture, and person versus situation;
- Describe the main classification systems of mental disorder and identify the strengths and weaknesses of these systems;
- Describe the relationship between mental disorder and concepts of dangerousness and the legal responses to dangerousness;
- List the main categories of mental disorder and explain how these disorders may lead to criminal behaviour; and
- Critically evaluate the relationship between various criminal behaviours and types of mental disorder, and in particular, the extent to which there is a special relationship between mental disorder and crime and its implications for practice.
- Introduction to Mental Disorder and Crime, and Models of Mental Disorder
- Models of criminal behaviour
- The classification of mental disorder
- Psychopathy and Crime
- Mental disorder, dangerousness and the law
- Mental disorder and crime
- Personality disorder and crime
- Psychosis and crime
- Dual diagnosis: Substance use, mental disorder and crime
- Violence and mental disorder
- Sexual offending and mental disorder
- Gender, crime and mental disorder
This subject examines the relationship between mental disorder and criminal offending. The subject aims to increase students' knowledge and understanding of models of criminal behaviour and mental disorders, and the potential interaction between the two. The subject aims to develop in students a critical appreciation of the issues involved in defining both mental disorder and criminality, and an evidence-based understanding of the extent to which criminal behaviour is caused by mental disorder. The subject also addresses specific mental disorders, in the context of their potential relationship with criminal offending. The subject aims to develop students' knowledge and critical thinking skills applicable in a forensic mental health setting.
Assessment details will be advised at the beginning of the subject offering.
- Annotated Bibliography (30%)
- Major Essay (50%)
- Online Quiz (20%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
With a network of campuses spanning three cities in South East Queensland, Griffith University is committed to progressive multidisciplinary teaching and research and a valuable online provider with Open Universities Australia. Already attracting students from over one hundred countries, Griffith's dedication to academic excellence is available across Australia through OUA.
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Entry requirements
Part of a degree
To enrol in this subject you must be accepted into one of the following degrees:
Core
- GRF-FMH-GCE-2025 - Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health
Elective
- OUA-PSU-GCE-2025 - Postgraduate Single Subjects
- GRF-MCJ-MAS-2025 - Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice
- GRF-FMH-MAS-2025 - Master of Forensic Mental Health
Equivalent subjects
You should not enrol in this subject if you have successfully completed any of the following subject(s) because they are considered academically equivalent:
GRF-MCCJ7103 (Not currently available)
Additional requirements
No additional requirements
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Related degrees
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Graduate Certificate in Forensic Mental Health
PostgraduateGRF-FMH-GCE
PostgraduateOUA-PSU-GCE
Master of Criminology and Criminal Justice
PostgraduateGRF-MCJ-MAS
Master of Forensic Mental Health
PostgraduateGRF-FMH-MAS