Aspects of Forensic Psychology.

ASPECTS OF FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY.

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Aspects of Forensic Psychology.

In November of 1978, 913 people out of 1,100 people committed suicide in Guyana in a
settlement called Jonestown. This settlement was ruled by a person named Jim Jones. He
held psychological control over the inhabitants. If Jim Jones had been profiled before
Senator Leo Ryan and members of his party were killed, would there have been such an
incident? Discuss the following in your response:

Would there have been a mass suicide?

Generally, Mr. Jones had won accolades basing on the fact his institution had received much

recognition in the country. He had been named one of the 100 outstanding clergymen in the

country, at some point he was offered appointment at the Human Rights Commission, he worked

at the Housing Authority Commission and had a good rapport with the political figures of the

day. Basing on his personality, no one would have thought someone of his caliber would engage

such a heinous act. However, Mr. Jim Jones had a very unstable background regarding his

psychological stability and morals. Mr. Jones had cases of mental illness, substance abuse, and

increased paranoia. Russell, G. (2012).

Things changed when he relocated his congregation to Guyana. He influenced his groups

behavior and attitude because he used violence as a form of discipline. Suddenly, his group

became more vulnerable to violence. Jones started preaching about some sort of impending

doom which risked their welfare and freedoms. This inflicted fear upon his followers who were

inclined to follow his advice so as to be saved from the doom.

Mr. Jones was growing very paranoid that his followers would forever follow him and never

rebel, so he started testing their loyalty by staging mock suicides referred to as the White

nights. The temple members were told to drink a red liquid that apparently contained poison.

They would distribute cups with the red liquid then Mr. Jones would say they will all be dead in

forty minutes. Jones would observe how many of his followers would comply unhesitatingly.
Aspects of Forensic Psychology.

Therefore, the threat of a potential suicide was ever present amongst his followers. This was a

mind control method employed by Mr. Jones so that at the time of his convenience, his followers

would comply with his demand and commit suicide. He had pre-planned the execution of the

death massacre and even went to the extremes of accustoming members of the Peoples Temple

to the idea. This implies that the occurrence of a mass suicide was inevitable by all means.

What would cause hundreds of people to willingly take poison?

Mr. Jones was charismatic and a very influential figure in the country. He enjoyed a good

network and popularity. In 1977, he received the annual Martin Luther King Humanitarian of the

year award. Russell, G. (2012). His personality won him inspiration and loyalty to the vulnerable

followers. He also employed unconventional strategies such as relying on propaganda and

persuasion as a way of inducing people to join his group. The structure of his groups comprised

of a very diverse group of individuals from all walks of life. Many of them were people who had

lost hope in life, very desperate and hopeless. There many drug addicts, homeless individuals or

people who were escaping abuse from their families or the society. His followers perceived him

to be a messiah of some because he always provided unique guidance that his followers couldnt

find anywhere else in their lives. The Peoples Temple was perceived as a safe haven where

everyone was unconditionally welcomed, valued and protected.

It was believed that Rev. Jim Jones would give avenues for the followers to start reshaping their

lives and establishing their value once again. Jim Jones' dark character would be manifested as

time went by. Jim Jones instilled some form of mind control that made his sort of puppets and

slave of his ideology. He also employed severe punishment as a way of enforcing discipline
Aspects of Forensic Psychology.

ensuring absolute devotion to his demands. Dissent wasnt tolerated at the temple. It is believed

that members of the temple always lived in constant fear of being severely punished, brutally

beaten and public humiliated for committing trivial offenses. Social psychology researchers have

attested that the authority has to be explicitly threatening so as to induce unconditional

compliance, and this is exactly what was observed in the Peoples Temple. Brown, J., &

Campbell, E. A. (2010). Anyone with a different opinion to the reverend was perceived to be

committing treason. Thats how much Jim Jones had brainwashed the masses, and this can

sufficiently explain why 913 people were convinced by and individual to take the poison.

What would have been the constitutional ramifications of profiling Jim Jones before such
an incident?

The constitutions Fifth Amendment outlines the legal requirements for search and seizure. It

should also be noted that no warrant is required for engaging surveillance that does not

necessarily intrude a potential expectation of privacy. In 1977, the U.S Customs Service reported

illegal gun shipments and other contrabands to the Johnstown. There were cases of more than

170 weapons transferred to the Peoples Temple. The investigation was carried out in a very

sensitive way because Jones political influence in San Francisco. When Congressman Ryan

expressed interest in visiting Guyana to investigate the growing stories that people from his

constituent were being abused at the Peoples Temple, a discussion on the need to review the

Privacy act was initiated. Russell, G. (2012).

The was increased confusion to the role of the Privacy Act and the Freedom of Information that

inhibited sharing and exchange of vital information on the Jonestown case. Ryans legal

representatives and advisers argued that the States departments interpretation of the Privacy Act
Aspects of Forensic Psychology.

was unreasonably very narrow, quite restrictive and was coupled with ramifications on what the

Ryan Codel wished to accomplish. In light of the States departments interpretation of the act,

Ryan was denied access to vital information about the Peoples Temple. Mr. Ryan could have

avoided this if only he had followed States Departments advice to obtain a letter from the

Foreign Affairs department authorizing Mr. Ryan to access the information that he needed under

the exemption clause. This exemption clause permits disclosure of investigation and information

to any committee of the Congress- to an extent of a matter within its jurisdiction.

Could there have been a cursory profile based on newspaper accounts of the People's
Temple?

After the massacre, the body count initially started at around 200, the following day, newspapers

reported about 363 bodies. The death toll eventually escalated to a total of 913 bodies. The

official explanation the changing statistics was that apparently, the adult bodies laid on top of the

childrens, this means that about 500 bodies were hidden on the previous recorded 363. This

information contradicts what was initially said by the first doctor who visited the scene.

Guyanas chief medical doctor reported that the very first eighty-three bodies to be recovered

were those of the children. Sherman et al., (2012). Therefore, the media took a cursory glance at

the scene and established the bodies were about 363. The chief medical examiner took specimens

on the bodies and established that about 700 bodies had punctured wounds on the shoulders

indicating that this was a homicide, not a suicide scene. This contradicts the suicide story that

was running in most newspapers.

REFERENCE.

Brown, J., & Campbell, E. A. (2010). The Cambridge handbook of forensic psychology.

Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.

Russell, G. (January 01, 2012). The left's great crime: Jim Jones, Marxist mass-murderer.

Commentary, 133, 1, 38-41.

Sherman, J., Vaillot, B., Berthillier, C., Wolochatiuk, T., Biggs, T., History Channel (Television

network), Sky (Firm: N.Z.),.. New Video Group. (2012). Jonestown: Paradise lost. New York: A

& E Home Video.