Categories of motive and purpose in criminal law and forensic psychology

The article examines the psychological assessment of motive and purpose in unlawful behavior within the context of comprehensive forensic psychological and psychiatric evaluations. Currently, inquiries by investigative and judicial authorities into the motives of the examinee concerning the alleged act are regarded as misguided, with responses to such questions considered outside the scope of a psychologist-expert's competence. The article delves into the concepts of motive and purpose within criminal law, forensic psychology, and other psychological disciplines. It highlights that evaluating the motivational and meaning dimensions of behavior, consistency of behavior with motive and with purpose, remains one of the least explored areas in forensic psychology, despite its crucial link to conscious-volitional regulation. The article underscores the importance of expert psychological evaluation of motives and purposes in upholding the principle of subjective imputation. Additionally, it identifies the development of evidence-based and scientifically rigorous methodologies for such assessments as a promising direction for advancing the field of legal psychology.

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