The Mind Behind Abnormal and Deviant Behaviors

Instructor: Dr. Jaymi Goetze

Duration: 2.5 Days

Professional Development Hours: 20 PD hours

Cost: $525.00 (excluding tax)

Course Overview

This comprehensive training program enables law enforcement officers to develop a deeper understanding of atypical and abnormal behaviors, mental health conditions, and crisis intervention techniques. Participants will learn how to effectively identify individuals experiencing mental health challenges or emotional disturbances in the field, assess their needs appropriately, and determine when professional mental health intervention or crisis response is warranted.

Core Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this course, instructors and participants will be able to define atypical behaviors, examine societal norms and expectations regarding normal conduct, understand mental health detention procedures, recognize sexual deviant behaviors, address intrusive thoughts, and respond to suicide threats and attempts. The training emphasizes proper crisis approach techniques and decision-making regarding appropriate detainment versus referral to mental health professionals.

Day 1: Deviant Behaviors

• Definition and characteristics of atypical behaviors, including those that are undesirable, self-harmful, other-harmful, or contrary to societal expectations
• Common abnormal and atypical psychological diagnoses, including schizophrenia, schizoaffective disorder, bipolar disorder, antisocial personality disorders, and distinctions between sociopathic and psychopathic presentations
• Psychosis overview covering hallucination types, command hallucinations, and stimulus analysis
• Collaborative discussion of mental health professional involvement and crisis teams, including detainment criteria, Designated Crisis Responder (DCR) utilization for grave disability, self-danger, danger to others, or property endangerment
• Assessment of suicide risk factors including lethality evaluation, identification of plans and means, review of individual history, safety evaluation, and resource identification and discussion
• Basic human needs assessment using Maslow's hierarchy of needs framework, addressing food, shelter, water, and sleep requirements

Day 2: Sexual Deviant Behaviors

• Exploration of paraphilias, paraphilic disorders, and perversions with case study analysis and class engagement
• Examination of fantasy patterns and need-driven behaviors including stimulus responses
• Comprehensive overview of specific paraphilic disorders: voyeuristic, exhibitionistic, frotteuristic, sexual masochism, sexual sadism, pedophilic, fetishistic, and transvestic presentations
• Interactive case studies and group discussion

Day 3 (Half Day)

• Community-based discussion regarding local normality standards and current environmental or situational factors that may contribute to atypical behaviors
• Examination of substance use (drugs and alcohol) and environmental stressors as behavioral contributors
• Personal self-care strategies and coping skills specifically designed for law enforcement officers
• Assessment examination covering abnormal behavioral concepts