Forensic Paedopsychology

Code:

MCF13_11

Acronym:

MCF13_11

Keywords
Classification	Keyword
OFICIAL	Forensic Sciences

Instance: 2023/2024 - SP

Active?	Yes
Responsible unit:	Public Health and Forensic Sciences, and Medical Education Department
Course/CS Responsible:	Forensic Sciences

Cycles of Study/Courses

Acronym	No. of Students	Study Plan	Curricular Years	Credits UCN	Credits ECTS	Contact hours	Total Time
MCF	11	Current Studies Plan	1	-	6	40	162

Teaching language

Portuguese
Obs.: Inglês

Objectives

The aim of this unit is for students to acquire a specific understanding of: (i) child development and child psychopathology, (ii) the themes of forensic psychology more directly linked to children (eg, the developmental impact of violence; psychological dynamics associated with parental conflict; dynamics of intra-familial sexual abuse); (iii) the psychological dynamics associated with the contact of the child with the justice system and the risk of secondary victimization; (iv) the specific needs of children in the judicial system and the rights to participate in judicial proceedings affecting them (specificities of some civil and criminal processes concerning children); (v) know and understand the key theoretical and methodological dimensions of forensic psychological assessment of children, the specifics of the assessment of a child victim of sexual abuse, assessment of the veracity / credibility and of the child’s ability to testify.

Learning outcomes and competences

The unit’s contents, while not comprehensively addressing all of the complexity and magnitude of the problems inherent to forensic child psychology, address the main key points in order to create a broad understanding of the topic, while allowing students to develop capabilities to deepen their knowledge according to their intervening area. We also aim to improve the students’ sensitivity and critical judgment, thus promoting their problem solving abilities and their practical skills.

Working method

Presencial

Program

1. Developmental Psychology-introductory questions.


2. Child psychopathology and psychological consequences associated with situations of violence/abuse, neglect,severe socio-risk family and parental conflict–general concepts.


3. Risk,developmental impact,trauma and resilience.


4. The contact of children with the Justice System.

4.1. Experiences,meanings,and expectations of the child.

4.2. Collecting,understanding and assessing children's testimony.

4.3. The child victim of sexual abuse.

4.4. The child and the juvenile with antisocial or delinquent behaviors.

4.5. Psychological dynamics of secondary victimization and contributions of the psychologist for the prevention of this phenomenon.

1. Forensic psychological assessment of families and children.

5.1. Ethical and methodological specificities.

5.2. Assessment of child victims.

5.3. Assessment of children in high-risk situations.

5.4. Assessment of juveniles with antisocial or delinquent behaviors.

5.5. Assessment in custody cases.

Mandatory literature

Bruck, M., Ceci, S., & Hembrooke, H. ; The Nature of Children’s True and False Narratives. Development Review

Teaching methods and learning activities

This unit aims to communicate specific knowledge about the key issues on Forensic Child Psychology and to apply this knowledge in a practical way. Being so, the theoretical and practical approach, sustained on real case work, seems the more appropriate.

Evaluation Type

Evaluation with final exam

Assessment Components

Designation	Weight (%)
Participação presencial	40,00
Exame	60,00
Total:	100,00

Amount of time allocated to each course unit

Designation	Time (hours)
Estudo autónomo	20,00
Frequência das aulas	40,00
Total:	60,00

Eligibility for exams

Written test or written assignment.

Calculation formula of final grade

Final exam =100% or written assignment = 100%