M.A. Forensic Psychology Comprehensive Examination - Research Paper Example

52). The lifestyle assessment will provide a basis for assessing JR’s personality, his conduct, his affective state and his cognition. This is necessary for understanding JR’s problems, conducting a more detailed assessment and directing the adjustments that will have to be made both by JR and any treatment plan. For instance if JR requires medication for underlying physical or mental maladies, it will have to ascertained whether or not JR’s medication is compatible with any underlying damages JR may have sustained to his liver as a result of substance abuse.

While the data reflects significant substance abuse, there is no medical history indicating the state of JR’s current physical condition aside from a vague reference to his diabetes and head injuries. Thus a medical assessment will have to be conducted to determine whether there is a connection between JR’s current mental pathology and his physical condition. It will also be necessary for determining whether or not JR is or should be taking specific medications for either of these physical maladies before any medical treatment can be administered for resolving his current problems.

Aside from a life-style assessment, psychological testing will also be necessary for understanding JR’s problem. These assessments would include intelligence testing, neuropsychological screening, objective personality testing and projective testing particularly with the Rorschach Inkblot test. The Rorschach Inkblot test will be particularly useful in identifying JR’s “emotional and impulsive tendencies” and deducing any “possible mental disturbance and introversion” and his overall intelligence level (Kruger et al, 2008, p. 57). In addition the Rorschach Inkblot test will be administered with the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to assess JR’s personality and how it functions, his present emotional status and whether or not there is an operational psychological pathology for formulating and administering appropriate treatment (Ganellen, 1996).

Intelligence testing would also be conducted by virtue of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV) for assessing JR’s “verbal comprehension, perceptual reasoning, working memory and processing speed” (Sattler & Ryan 2009, p. 32). WAIS-IV will be combined with an emotional intelligence test. The Bar-On which was set up to assess emotional intelligence by virtue of the Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i) will inform of JR’s ability or lack of ability to succeed in life.

Hemmati et al (2004) report that the EQ-I measures “psychopathology, depression and hopelessness” and offenders are generally expected to score at a higher level than non-offenders (p. 695). The results of the EQ-I together with the Rorschach Inkblot test and the WAIS-IV test will help to assess JR’s likelihood of recidivism and by doing so will inform of appropriate psychological treatment to aid in rehabilitation. The neuropsychological screening is necessary because of JR’s history of head injury.

The results of a neuropsychological screening will help to determine whether or not medical intervention is necessary and where and how JR should be treated by the criminal justice system in terms of work, education psychotherapy (Wettstein, 2000). Neuropsychological