Adler School of Professional Psychology Catalog 2008 – 2009

eliability and the fundamental issues of test construction will be presented. In
addition, students will learn the more prevalent psychological instruments used
in the hiring, assessment and promotion of police personnel. Concepts
underlying personality assessment, projective tests, and intelligence testing will
be presented. Ethics of test development and issues of race, gender and other
cultural considerations will be presented.
753 Psychology of Critical Incidents and Trauma 3 Credits
This course applies psychological theory to both the human impact of being
involved in critical incidents and trauma and the associated operational
procedures, within the law enforcement community. Discussion will focus on
the nature of trauma as it relates to law enforcement events: line-of-duty
death, use of force, hostage incidents, post-event debriefings, bombings, and
response planning. Students will learn a working model of how to handle
effectively stress from the individual level, small groups and throughout the
police organization. This course will utilize discussion, lecture, scenario training,
video and self-directed projects.
754 Psychology of Evil and Criminal Behavior 3 Credits
This course is designed to explore abhorrent, anti-social and violent human
behavior by examining how theories of evil, criminal behavior and psychology
have attempted to explain such conduct. The course will look at how police
organizations have historically responded to incidents of serial murder, mass
killings, cults, riots, organized criminal enterprises and other acts of extreme
violence. Intervention strategies will also be discussed.
755 Psychology of Terrorism 3 Credits
This course will introduce students to the concepts, goals, strategies,
ideologies, and psychological theories associated with terrorist groups.
Emphasis will be placed on terrorist motives and on how terrorist actions have
affected the course of history and current foreign and domestic policies.
Different types of terrorist organizations will be examined, based on various
criteria – motives, means, objectives, geography and others. Students will learn
from this course why terrorism continues to be chosen as a mechanism for
change in the United States and around the world, and how governments can
work to limit its effects. Students will choose relevant topics for original
research and will present information in small group presentations and a
research paper.
756 Social and Community Psychology 3 Credits
This course introduces students to the sociocultural factors that impact
personality development, the formation of attitudes/values and group
behaviors. Issues of bias, prejudice, authority, conformity, stereotyping, gender
roles, race/ethnicity, poverty and culture will be discussed. Strategies for
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