Psychology for Law Enforcement

Course Coordinator: Hesta Ho, BScPsy (Birmingham); MSocSc (HKU)

Course Developer: Peter B Ainsworth, University of Manchester

LESM A203 is a compulsory course for students seeking a BSocSc or BSocSc (Hons) in Law Enforcement and Security Management. It is also of interest to students majoring in Psychology and other Social Science disciplines who wish to increase their understanding of applied psychology within a law enforcement setting.

Aims
This course aims to provide students with a basic understanding of the methods used by psychologists in their research and in the development of theories, and to enable students to assess the usefulness of a number of well-established psychological theories and principles, and as well as their applications to specific areas of police work.

The course also aims to enable students to understand some of the internal and external factors that affect human behaviour and functioning, and their applications to the work of police officers; to understand and assess the skills, competency and efficiency of police officers in a number of key areas in policing; and to comprehend the interpersonal skills of police officers in dealing with members of the public, victims, witnesses or suspects.

Contents
The course covers the following topics:

• Understanding psychology and its application to some policing situations
• Social skills and interactions with others
• Understanding aggression and violence
• Dealing with aggressive, violent and out-of-control individuals
• Understanding the nature of perception and memory
• Obtaining accurate and reliable information from victims and witnesses
• Interviewing children and vulnerable groups
• Conducting interviews with suspects
• Understanding stress and its relation to law enforcement
• Analysing crime patterns and offender profiling

Learning support
There will be 12 two-hour tutorials and two three-hour day schools.

Assessment
There will be five assignments and a final examination. Students are required to submit assignments via the Online Learning Environment (OLE).

Suggested Reading
Blagden, N. (2012). Policing and psychology. Learning Matters.