Vol 31, Part I - forums.sou.edu • Index page - Southern Oregon ...

ABSTRACTS – Symposia
frequently involved in a key role during prevention, profiling
and intervention as part of a multidisciplinary team. At a
minimum, the role and responsibilities of a mental health professional
by default requires advanced clinical skills, knowledge
of the criminal justice system, as well as competencies
for appropriately responding to cultural, ethical and forensic
mental health issues emerging from Lone Wolf Terrorism
cases. For example, are their forensic mental health standards
for profiling practices that might be sufficient to compel
police and public safety personnel to consider in their potential
actions This forensic mental health science symposium
presents a conceptual framework of the issues that surround
forensic practices in Lone Wolf Terrorism (LWT) cases. The
symposium uses forensic psychology as a platform to examine
several mental health factors related to LWT. A question
and answer period follows a counter-point discussion of each
paper presented. This presentation offers more informative
questions than answers relative to the mindset of a terrorist.
It also provides profiling caveats related to conceptualizing
a terrorist. For example, is there a maladaptive cognitive
schema or classification format (e.g., GRIPE Model) that
might allow security experts to better understand terrorists
An internalized homeland security directive to “think like a
terrorist” is instructive for antiterrorism efforts. What is lacking,
however, is a clearer understanding of the motives behind
strategic options terrorists are exercising and possible antiterrorism
responses. Effective counterstrategies are difficult to
craft without understanding the logic that fuels acts of terrorism.
The presenter provides advice on ways a reasonable
assessment may be employed as a way of organizing knowledge
or disaggregating a largely new behavioral frontier.
22 Forensic Psychology Cultural and Ethical Considerations
in Homegrown Lone Wolf Terrorism Cases, KRIS-
TEN N GREIDER*, CHRIS WEHRLE, NICK BOYD,
and RONN JOHNSON (Clinical Mental Health Program,
School of Leadership and Education Sciences, University of
San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA, 92110; kgreidero@gmail.com,
ronnjohn@sandiego.edu).
The role of forensic psychologists in international and
national security related work has been a long debated ethical
concern amongst the American Psychological Association
(APA). Many government agencies are utilizing the expertise
of forensic psychologists to aid in the interrogation, profiling,
and psychological analysis of homegrown lone wolf
terrorism cases. Depending upon the agency and capacity of
the forensic psychologists work, one may ask the question,
“Whose ethics do we follow” The APA has developed a special
task force to address psychological ethics and national
security concerns in the wake of 9/11. This paper discusses
the ethical obligations forensic psychologists must adhere
to when engaging in security related work. Vignettes as outlined
in APA’s Presidential Task Force Manual are thoroughly
examined through case scenario perspective. The authors also
address cultural considerations when developing psychological
evaluations of homegrown lone wolf terrorists.
23 Identifying, Securing, Organizing and Reviewing Mental
Health Data in the Norway Killer Case, RONN JOHNSON*,
CHRIS WEHRLE, and , KRISTEN GREIDER (Clinical
Mental Health Counseling, School of Leadership and Education
Sciences, University of San Diego, 5998 Alcalá Park,
San Diego, CA, 92110; ronnjohn@sandiego.edu).
When a mental health professional becomes involved in
what some have labeled a Lone Wolf case like the Norway
Killings, there is information that must be taken into consideration.
This forensic psychological data is relevant for evaluating,
treating and making clinical judgments (i.e., mental state
at the time of the offense MSO) regarding the accused. Before
any mental health professional can determine what information
is required, clearly defined roles must be established
because the information needed may vary depending upon the
mental health professional’s role as an expert witness, a consultant,
or a therapist. Once roles are defined the mental health
professional must have an understanding of legal and behavioral
issues regarding the case. They must also determine the
information they will need to fulfill their roles and gather that
information. School, psychiatric, psychological, criminal, and
employment records need to be secured in order to review relevant
background information regarding the accused. Once
information is gathered, mental health professionals must
organize it in a relevant, informative, and defensible manner
in order to serve their intended psycho-legal purpose. Mental
health professionals must craft a forensic report that is relevant
to the forensic questions being raised (e.g., insane or
sane, competent or incompetent to stand trial). The forensic
standards vary from country to country as well as state to
state. Forensic work in these cases can be extremely time-consuming
for mental health professionals. This paper examines
the pertinent information relating to the Norway Killer case.
Some attention is given to an effort to forensically analyze
material developed by Anders Behring Breivik. Understanding
what is needed before court proceedings begin can help
mental health professionals to better manage their time and
resources during often lengthy and high profile trials.
24 Opposing Psychological Reports on the Norway Killer
Case, NICK BOYD*, LINH TRAN, and RONN JOHN-
SON (Clinical Mental Health Counseling, School of Leadership
and Education Sciences, University of San Diego, 5998
Alcalá Park, San Diego, CA, 92110; ebessen@sandiego.edu,
ronnjohn@sandiego.edu).
When Anders Behring Breivik, the Norway Killer, was
found in connection with mass murder that shook Europe
and its Norwegian community, many questions followed as
to his motives, ideology, background, and mental state. With
the case currently on trial, new developments, questions, and
answers continue to unfold. As we look to interpret Anders
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