Sexual Murder - Justicia Forense

Table 2.3TermsMalingering(simulation)Dissimulation(defensiveness)PseudomalingeringGanser’s syndromeRationalization andjustificationDirect lyingPathological lyingVarious Types of Deception SyndromesDefinitionsA conscious attempt to feign (mental) illness.A conscious attempt to minimize or deny symptoms of mentalillness.A conscious attempt to feign the illness that the individualactually has.A tendency (most often observed in prisoners) to respond toquestions with approximate answers, such as 2 + 2 = 5. Subjectsmay also manifest a dazed sensorium, hallucinations, andbizarre behavior.A conscious attempt to make behavior appear reasonable whenotherwise its irrationality would be evident; an attempt to givea plausible explanation for what would otherwise seemirrational or inappropriate conduct.A conscious attempt to falsify, prevaricate, or misrepresentinformation, usually to avoid punishment for wrongdoing.Lying as a result of underlying psychopathology — for instance,lying to enhance one’s sense of self (pseudologia fantastica) orto gain a sense of domination or control over others.settings, however, subjects may distort and exaggerate symptoms in the hopethat their “aberrant mental condition” will provide an excuse for unacceptablebehavior (for instance, in insanity cases), or help them avoid sanctions(in the sentencing phase), or will enable them to obtain entitlements (suchas compensation for disabilities or personal injuries) (Melton et al., 1997, p.54). Malingering, however, is not a black-and-white occurrence. In fact, itcan consist of a complex set of behaviors, which may include traditionalmalingering, pseudomalingering, Ganser’s syndrome, rationalization andjustification, or just direct lying (see Table 2.3).2.3.1 MalingeringMalingering (also referred to as simulation) is the conscious attempt to feigna (mental) illness. It should be distinguished from dissimulation, or whatRogers (1988) refers to as defensiveness: the conscious and deliberate attemptto minimize or deny symptoms of a (mental) illness. There are a number ofways to detect malingering, including structured clinical interviews (Rogers,1984), psychological testing (Schretlen, 1988), and the use of independentthird-party information. In some cases, it is easy to detect malingering onclinical grounds and by listening with the “third ear.” For example, offenderswho malinger commonly develop symptoms following an arrest but seldomprior to the commission of the crime. The malingerer overreacts and often“sees less than the blind and hears less than the deaf.” The simulator believes