Kenneth Padowitz - Fort Lauderdale Criminal Defense Attorney

Crimes of Obedience

In a previous post, we discussed a psychological term, the fundamental attribution bias, and were able to determine how it affects the way people make judgments about others. To recap, the fundamental attribution error is a term, which refers to the common human error in which people tend to underestimate situational influences and overestimate individual personality factors, when explaining behavior. This post will focus on the phenomenon of crimes of obedience, which is defined as: an act performed in response to orders from authority that [...]

Crimes of ObedienceKenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T20:21:07+00:00

Capgras Syndrome | Is Delusion a Defense?

Capgras Syndrome Capgras syndrome is a delusional disorder, which results in those afflicted believing an impostor has replaced someone or something close to them. Capgras syndrome (CS) is one of four variations of delusional misidentification syndrome, a group of disorders in which the identity of someone or something close to the patient is believed to have changed. Capgras syndrome, the focus of this post, will be explored in greater detail in terms what it may be like to live with this condition and will [...]

Capgras Syndrome | Is Delusion a Defense?Kenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T20:16:14+00:00

Is Identification Reliable?

Eyewitness Testimony: Identification One of the main goals for law enforcement is to solve crimes; police strive to "clear" these crimes. They have a much higher chances of clearing the crime if the offender is caught within a few minutes, or an eyewitness provides specific information that is considered relevant to the case. Researchers have shown that if neither of these are available to police, there is less than a 10% chance that the crime will be solved, or "cleared". This is the first of many [...]

Is Identification Reliable?Kenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T20:09:31+00:00

Risk Factors For Criminal Behavior | A Child’s Preschool Experience

Preschool Experience Over the last forty years or so, children have been gradually shifting from parental home care, to nursery school or other types of day care. The percentage of mothers with children under the age of 6, and working full time jobs outside of the home, increased from 12% in 1947, to over 70% as of today. About 15-20% of these children are actually in two or more different forms of day care throughout the week. Due to the high employment turnover and [...]

Risk Factors For Criminal Behavior | A Child’s Preschool ExperienceKenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T20:05:00+00:00

Deep Connection Between Terrorism and the Criminal Personality

The Wide Scope of Terrorism Terrorism to the average Joe takes a racial and ethnic dimension. Technically, though this is a misrepresentation and terrorism is far more expansive. According to the U.S. Code, terrorism, regardless of its form refers to acts with intent to coerce or intimidate a civilian population. Going by this definition, most criminals operate as terrorists. The victims they terrorize may be as specific as one person or as widespread as an entire country. Terrorism takes different forms. A man guy [...]

Deep Connection Between Terrorism and the Criminal PersonalityKenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T20:01:05+00:00

Frustration Hypothesis of Criminal Behavior

What Role Does Frustration Play in Criminal Behavior? Frustration and criminal behavior may be related, but the relationship between the two is complex. It is hypothesized that the more intense and frequent the periods of frustration are in a person's life, the more sensitive they may become to future frustrating events. When various animals, including humans, are unable to respond in a way that has previously produced a reward, their behavior may often become frantic, energetic, or aggressive. For instance, animals may bite, growl, [...]

Frustration Hypothesis of Criminal BehaviorKenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T19:56:29+00:00

The courts take a jab at civil detention practices: What about professionals?

The trend in the courts In the last three months, two consecutive court decisions have deemed the civil commitment program to be unconstitutional. Which is insightful because 20 states and the federal government uphold some form of the civil commitment laws also called “SVP” laws. To put it simply, the laws permit authorities to confine indefinitely, sex offenders expertly assessed to have mental diagnosis that makes them more likely to engage in future sexual violence. In retrospect, the laws have had several dates with [...]

The courts take a jab at civil detention practices: What about professionals?Kenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T19:50:27+00:00

Forensic Psychologists Examine Why Criminals Post Crimes on Social Media

For those of us who live quiet, law-abiding lives, it seems difficult to imagine why anyone would incriminate themselves by posting videos of a crime in progress, or activity leading up to a crime. Yet an article in the Guardian reports that crime connected with social media have risen 780% over the last four years. The posts ranged from grooming, stalking, and preparatory statements to “selfies” of violent crimes in progress. Police are challenged with having to walk a fine line between allowing freedom [...]

Forensic Psychologists Examine Why Criminals Post Crimes on Social MediaKenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T19:45:52+00:00

The Unflinching “Super-Optimism” of Criminals

The Supervillains of the Underworld You practically cannot be as super-optimistic as criminals can. It is almost as though it is a super power. However, it is one super power that has made many lose their freedom and complete liberty. The bloated population in the country’s prisons is a testament to this assertion. This super power is in one called super-optimism. Criminals always expect to achieve success in any endeavor. They plan meticulously, gather resources, and when it is time to go hot, they [...]

The Unflinching “Super-Optimism” of CriminalsKenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T19:40:51+00:00

What Constitutes a Criminal Assault?

Forensic psychologists are often called upon to provide an expert opinion in assault cases. They may be required to assess the overall state of a person facing assault charges or the assault victim. It is therefore important to first understand what constitutes a criminal assault charge before a psychological assessment is done. For most people, the term criminal assault often brings up violent images of fights, brawls, and battery. However, assault and battery are two different legal concepts with distinct elements. An assault can [...]

What Constitutes a Criminal Assault?Kenneth Padowitz2024-07-29T19:37:07+00:00

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