Competencies and objectives

 

Course context for academic year 2025-26

The course Psychopaths and Multiple Murderers offers a scientific and structured approach to the growing interest in the figure of the psychopath within contemporary Criminological Psychology, particularly due to the potential and overt destructiveness that characterizes the behavior of some psychopaths and multiple murderers.

The syllabus covers the psychological, neurobiological, and social factors involved in these behaviors, as well as the main assessment tools and intervention strategies. This training is especially relevant for students interested in forensic psychology, violence risk assessment, and intervention with offender populations.

 

 

 

Learning outcomes / Course competencies (verified by ANECA in official undergraduate and Master’s degrees) for academic year 2025-26

General Competences (CG)

  • CG.1 : Capacity to find, analyse and synthesise information.
  • CG.2 : Capacity for teamwork: collaborating with others and contributing towards a common project.
  • CG.3 : Capacity for self-learning and adapting to new situations.
  • CG.4 : Capacity to take decisions, putting one's knowledge into practice and handling technical instruments.
  • CG.5 : Capacity for criticism and self criticism.

 

General Competences acquired at University of Alicante (CGUA)

  • CGUA.2 : Ability to use information and communications technologies in one's professional life.
  • CGUA.3 : Capacity for oral and written communication.

 

Specific Competences (CE)

  • CE1 : Be able to describe fundamental concepts in the fields of psychology, sociology, law and natural sciences that are needed to provide a global analysis of criminal phenomena and deviation.
  • CE10 : Be able to explain and summarise empirical information and results of research into crime, victimisation and response to crime and deviation, and evaluate the methodology used (identify which methodology is the most appropriate, its ethical principles, results, etc.).
  • CE11 : Be able to draft a criminological report.
  • CE2 : Be able to describe the fundamental theoretical approaches to criminal acts, victimisation and responses to crime and deviation.
  • CE4 : Be able to describe and evaluate social and political processes of victimisation and criminalisation in the light of criminological theories (dynamics existing between the victim, crime, deviant conduct and the main agents and institutions related to the response to criminal acts and deviation).
  • CE5 : Be able to provide an analytical explanation of diversity and social inequality, as well as its consequences relating to criminal acts, victimisation and responses to crime and deviation.
  • CE8 : Be able to argue and describe different points of view and debate them in a logical and coherent manner and present conclusions in an appropriate academic format when dealing with questions of criminal policy, victimisation, criminalisation and responses to crime and deviation as well as on the perception and interpretation of the same by the communications media, public opinion and official reports.
  • CE9 : Be able to create prevention strategies in the fields of criminology, victimology and marginalisation, etc., guaranteeing public safety, fundamental rights and the solution of social problems.

 

 

 

Learning outcomes (Training objectives)

No data

 

 

Specific objectives stated by the academic staff for academic year 2025-26

  • Understand from a scientific perspective the nature, concept, diagnosis, prognosis, and main intervention strategies aimed at psychopathic offenders and multiple murderers.
  • Analyze the psychological, cognitive, emotional, psychobiological, and behavioral factors involved in the behavior of psychopaths and multiple killers.
  • Identify and critically assess the main tools and techniques used in the psychological evaluation of psychopathic and homicidal behavior.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of clinical, penitentiary, and psychosocial interventions applied to the rehabilitation and reintegration of psychopathic offenders and multiple murderers.
  • Promote an integrative understanding of these phenomena, considering their psychological, criminological, and social impact dimensions.

 

 

General

Code: 18545
Lecturer responsible:
Albaladejo Blázquez, Natalia
Credits ECTS: 6,00
Theoretical credits: 1,40
Practical credits: 1,00
Distance-base hours: 3,60

Departments involved

  • Dept: Health Psychology
    Area: Personality, Evaluation and Psychological Treatment
    Theoretical credits: 1,4
    Practical credits: 1
    This Dept. is responsible for the course.
    This Dept. is responsible for the final mark record.

Study programmes where this course is taught