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Forensic Psychology Webinar - Katherine Ramsland - notes - conclusion

Linkage Analysis: MO and signatures Criminal Profiling Jun 14-27. Maybe also psychological autopsy. When death scene is ambiguous, potential for staging (undermined) when not known. Graphic photos. Man stabbed 83 times. It was concluded as homicide. It was actually stab wound, hesitation wounds. He also drank drain cleaner. Another photo - stabbed three times. Ambiguous - this is suicide. Missed so many aspects of this case. Very unlikely a suicide. Bathtub - Erotic accident. Found sexual magazines. Anyone doing this investigation of Suicidology has to know the data if investigating. Staging - revising a scene to deflect investigators toward a different scenario. Indicators 911 calls. (Look between teeth and not in calling in). Gliniewicz -had been searching for three suspects because no one believed he committed suicide to make it look like a homicide. Legacy of him being a great guy. Tunnel vision here very much in place. CSI effect: One Police Officer had watched a CSI episode where a guy wanted suicide. His wife was ill. Used balloons found away with gun. Investigators believe if there is a suicide note, it is but that’s not true. They did a suicide check list - not tested. A whole other study. Fantasy of torturing. Coercive Paraphlic addictions (needs to harm or kill someone). Picture of head on chest. The Psychopathic brain ( is different). Studies demonstrate that unintentionally when some psychiatrists are hired by one of the attorneys they show biases for their case. (Snakes and Suits - book) How many psychopaths are highly manipulative and charming. Serial killer from Japan and after that couldn’t eat chicken salad but did this for 25 years and not affected. Mind of a Murderer - There are going to be different clinical opinions. Police had wrong idea about a murderer who killed two people and on suicide note said PS. So this person got to kill another person. It is impossible to answer is it nature or nurture. There is a collection of behaviours - deception detection. Dr Ramsland was watching a five hour interrogation. For the first few hours the suspect barely moved and hands were clasped. Afterwards, raw gestures, touching face. Now we have a collection of behaviours that he may be lying. But don’t know for sure. Three cases of this. He had raped and killed. Doesn’t feel unsafe but probably should. Hard to stop are Psychopaths, sex offenders (addiction), need to survive on the street. The younger the better. There is protocol - ethics - to a certain point if worked for one side or the other. Sometimes an attorney hires you and you don’t do anything so you don’t go to the other. Concluded. Any errors here I take responsibility for. I was very impressed by this professor and it is the States gain, and our loss. I would have loved to have studied her courses. Too bad, so sad.

For Love of Country Military Police Woman (for your signed copy order from me directly at www.silvaredigonda.ca) I accept invitations for readings, book stores etc...

I awoke at five to Rebecca’s knocking at the door. We spent some time reminiscing and talking about our future aspirations. Sally came to the house at 6: 30. About 15 minutes later, we departed to take Rebecca home. Sally would be driving me to the Toronto Base. My mother stood by the doorway waving goodbye. She tried to hide her sadness, but the tears flowed. It made me very nervous. Sally drove me to the Toronto Base, leaving me at the Recreation Centre. Now I was completely alone. I walked up to the second floor, which had a snack bar with a huge serving counter where I ordered a coffee. There weren’t too many people there. I didn’t have long to wait before an old green bus with “Canadian Armed Forces” printed on it in white paint arrived to take me to Trenton. The ride was quiet, with only a few on the bus. On arriving at Trenton I met two women who had also just joined: Marie and Rose. They were going to the same place as me for basic training – Cornwallis. I spent the day walking the grounds and found a post card to mail home. As nightfall slowly approached, I walked to the military airport to await my flight. I looked around me and again noticed that there weren’t a lot of people waiting. An elderly couple was walking with a woman about my age to a bench a little ways from me. The young woman wore glasses, had mousy-coloured hair and was horribly dressed in shades of brown, but she glowed with happiness. Another new recruit, I presumed. I heard her address the elderly couple as her aunt and uncle. Her parents must be dead, I thought. At 8: 55 PM, 11 October 74, I found myself on a military plane flying to Ottawa. Surprisingly, I was not afraid, though I had never been on a plane before. (I had once turned down a trip to Europe for fear of crashing.) “I’m a photographer,” the huge woman who sat beside me remarked. Her hair was cropped short and she appeared very masculine. Stories of how homosexual women were attracted to the military entered my mind. “I’m six feet tall,” she stated matter-of-factly “How tall are you?” “Five foot six,” I responded. Actually I was five foot five and three-quarters. One-quarter short of the required height. I had stood nude on the weight/height scale. As the doctor focused on my weight, I stood on my tiptoes in an attempt to obtain the minimum height. I believed I had fooled him at the time. “I would like to photograph you in the nude, some time,” she remarked. I thought I was going to die. So it was true what they said about military women! Her manner was as casual as if she had asked me to join her for tea. “I don’t think so,” I replied. “I don’t let just anyone see me in the nude.” I refrained from encouraging further conversation. It was about a half-hour flight. We had a brief stop at Ottawa before continuing to Nova Scotia. My thoughts dwelled on the future and all the prospects that were open to me. The rest of the trip to Cornwallis was pleasant. Excerpt From: Silva Redigonda. “For love of country : military policewoman. www.silvaredigonda.ca

MY DESCENT INTO HELL - Paper I submitted in Eschatology class regarding this book by Howard Storm

By Silva Redigonda Every once in a while one may read a book, that can touch her heart. My Descent into Death by Howard Storm does much more than that. It takes hold of your soul. Reading this book has been a challenge because it brought tears, laughter and soul searching. This book could not be read and set aside and yet this book could not be read in one sitting because it is too overwhelming, at least it was for this reader. To provide a formal paper for this book is to do it injustice because it is a call to each person to take notice that there is God and Jesus and angels and devils. To write formally regarding someone who wrote so much from his heart might take away from what I believe is the intent of this book so I will take a chance and just speak from my heart as well. I opened this book during reading week. I was feeling sick, battling some cold and had slept for about two days while trying to stay awake reading dry material. I was just starting to feel better and began reading Howard Storm (I did not read a book. I read a man). As I began I was grateful that after weeks of formal jargon, I could just sit and actually enjoy what I was reading. Tears began to run down my cheeks and I felt that I might still be sick. Why else would I be crying? I decided that I would lend this book out to everyone before the course even ends because I want to know their reaction. I finished reading Howard Storm and realized I had done so in four segments. I had only the Pilgrim left to read and after I did, I began to type. I did not read other material from my mountain of required reading during the breaks from Howard Storm because I wanted to remain totally absorbed with what I was experiencing. For over a year I have been reading everything I have been told to read but finding God or Jesus in it has been somewhat confusing. The Bible has become more of a historical text to me than inspiration. Listening to people outside of our school in other courses has made me question how some can call themselves ministers in their self righteousness. Reading Howard Storm I felt God and Jesus and the angels and the devils. I felt Howard’s pain but mostly I felt the pain of God. Not for a second did I doubt what Howard Storm was revealing. I believed all of it. Because I believed it, I suffered. Why do I believe Howard Storm? Because to me My Descent Into Hell makes sense. Howard Storm was a bono fide atheist who apparently had a dislike for any type of religion or spirituality. It must have been pretty bad, for him to experience hell. It is raw emotion that Storm is experiencing. He takes you on his journey. Being held by Jesus and beginning to understand our world, what an experience! It appears farfetched yet it is believable because of the man he was. Why would he make all this up? He was well positioned and respected in his field. He had no belief in God. He was even annoyed by it. What I find comforting is that God does intervene in the world (p 43). I sometimes feel that we are very helpless as individuals when it comes to changing the world. We seem to be under the control of a select group of people who make national decisions and those same groups are somewhat controlled by other sub groups. Even in free nations I must ask how free are we? With God intervening there is hope. Yet that intervention also causes fear because it may mean death for many. I also have comfort, knowing I have a guardian angel because I sense someone with me at times (pp52, 140, 141). Though I very much believe Howard Storm I do argue a few statements. By the quotation, “Parents can never stop loving their child no matter what”…(p62) I disagree. I think there are some very nasty people out there. People have beaten and killed their children with no remorse. If this is Storm speaking I can understand. This would not be Jesus speaking because he knows better. I also am surprised that Storm uses the analogy of doubting our parents as we may doubt God.(p 66). Parents can be seen. They are physically there. Howard did not believe God until he saw God so I do not understand his reasoning here. I think that faith is required to believe in God unless someone does experience something outside of our rationale as Storm did. There is so much to talk about this book and how it can effect. This book has helped me decide that I will not refuse pastoral care to anyone who will come to me for it. If I am too busy I would refer them to others but never because I find the person repulsive. As I read about Storm crying out to Jesus to save him (p 25) I crossed out my question to another professor for another class. I read salvation 8 times in one page of the Vatican 11 and thought it overkill. Suddenly it made sense. I understand now what the purpose was of our first assignment. This is hope. There is something after this life that is good. We just need to be reminded at times. Sometimes some of us just need a little help with our faith. Howard Storm has been that help for me.

Forensic Psychology continues (2)

Even though there doesn't appear to be much of an interest in this topic, I want to continue to provide my notes, not only because I love the topic, but because I think it is important. Please note that any errors would be mine and not that of Dr Ramsland. Forensic Psychology Webinar - Katherine Ramsland - notes Violent Mind - 1976 Assessment of Ted Bundy. Paranoid Schizophrenic can be violence. Are afraid; have delusions. Religious Disturbances - killed her five children; demonic possession idea. With Personality Disorders - Usually don’t think there is anything wrong with them. Psychotic people have been able to represent themselves. Assessing Psychopathy (Canadians created - FBI use it. 1. Conduct a comprehensive interview. 2. Review collateral info. Lack of remorse, guilt, or empathy. Shallow emotions, grandiose. PLC R Assessment - 20 items 0, 1, 2 (a different assessment) 30-40 score - psychopath. Psychologists will make recommendations on how dangerous. Jury, Corrections, Police Training, death investigations (her favourite. She teaches a course on that). Tunnel Vision, Confirmation bias, Diagnosis Momentum. All of these distort investigations. Not all police want this. If they do -Behavioural Analysis - Is there a crime? What type of crime? Suspects? Reconstruction; Predator. What was done? How? Evidence of planning/staging. Degree of organization. Evidence of motive………. Criminal Profile “is not a blue print.” List of traits and behaviours. Narrow down leads. Diminish potential pool of suspects. Developing a Profile: Start: Victimology; Evidence of Psychopathology; Signature analysis} Potential for future attacks. continues…..with Linkage Analysis

Forensic Psychology , Katherine Ramsland (notes)

I thought I had already written about this because I enjoyed it so much. However, it appears I didn’t. It is slightly dated but I believe she is still teaching at an American University and has written lots of books. I was impressed with her lecture and Americans are lucky to have her. When I studied Psychology we didn’t have Forensic Psychology because that would have probably been my passion. We were behind the States because all my books were American at the time and when I questioned it, the answer was we hadn’t written any. Ok. When I was thinking of doing my Masters they were only accepting seven that year and when I heard a brilliant student I knew was rejected, I didn’t even bother. However, so much would have been research and statistics and that simply wasn’t my interest. The States had so much more and it was easier, but more than I could afford. What would my advice be now? Go for it!!! Even if they are selecting only one person - go for it. In one of my careers, I was selected from I believe it was either 200 or 300, tomatoes or tomatos. Many were upset because I was female and when I was asked why me of all the applicants, I spoke merely the truth - I am the best! So go for it always no matter the obstacles. You are just as good as anyone else. I remember one student applying for Harvard just to see if he would be accepted. He was probably the worse student I happened to know and he made no qualms about it. He knew. Anyhow, he was accepted at 50,000 a year tuition (at the time). So, go for it…….Now back to this Forensic Psychology and I am so sorry I am late but there is so much to post. Dr Katherine Ramsland said she used to be a therapist but didn’t like it very much ( now this was at the time. Time changes us). Here is where I tell you that during my first day of providing therapy, I had such a horrible headache after the second client,that I was devastated. I couldn’t believe that after all my studying to reach where I was (I had completed my psychology degree, was enrolled in my Masters and was starting my Internship) I had decided that I hated this work on my first day. One senior student told me that this feeling was normal and I bought it. Anyhow, going back to Forensic Psychology and Dr Ramsland. She explained what a Forensic Psychologist does. A typical case: school and hospital records; work appraisals; military record; crime scene, photos, reports; and witness statements. She is there to answer a specific question, not as a therapist. The shorter the better. You need to remember what your role is. Assessment - Mental state at time of occupancy. Sometimes the court does it. Any evidence before IQ lower than 70 is not competent. She is talking about different testing. Projective, organic/motor skills (brain scans) Malingering/Deception - Faking a disorder to get acquitted etc… Special tests (suicide, depression, PTSD). DSM’s (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders) to be continued………..Next: Violent Mind

If I could live it over by Nadine Stair at 86 years of Age (A poem to inspire)

I sometimes read this poem and wonder what I would do differently? I often hear others saying what they would do and it is something like "I would do the same all over again". My view is I am living the life I chose to live. There are times and situations which of course may have altered where I was going. However, if I were to live my life again, I would try new things that I simply do not have the time to do in this life time. I would try a different career to see what that is like. I would try different hobbies etc....There is so much to do in one life time and there are so any possibilites. What would you do? What are you doing now? Are you happy? Why not? Why not read the poem by Nadine Stair and take time to reflect? Are you doing what you want to be doing? Can you see yourself in Nadine? What do you think?