Past Programs
Law, Crime and Justice - 2002
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Lies, Lies, Lies! The Art and Science of Deception
27/10/2002
Are we humans inherently deceitful? When you get a gift that you hate what do you do? You lie of course. Is this a morally questionable thing to do or are some lies necessary for the sake of social cohesion? Clearly lying can have dire consequences and a world leader in the subtle art of lie catching argues the popular mythology around detecting deception amongst police interrogators is having frightening implications.
Schadenfreude: The Outlaw Emotion
22/09/2002
It's been called an outlaw emotion, but it's a sentiment that most of us have experienced, even if we're reluctant to admit it. The Germans call it Schadenfreude - that guilty pleasure we take in the misfortunes of others. Natasha Mitchell is joined by special guest John Portmann, author of "When Bad Things Happen to Other People", to discuss the Schadenfreude behind the sabre-rattling over Iraq, behind stand-up comedy, and more.
The Nature of Evil - Australian Science Festival Public Forum
01/09/2002
Are some people born bad? What drives ordinary people to commit extraordinary and horrifying acts of genocide and murder? "Evil" has been with the human race since its beginnings, but are we any closer to explaining how and why it exists? Leading criminologist Paul Wilson, popular crime writer Kerry Greenwood, anthropologist Rohan Bastin, and forensic psychologist Stuart Kinner take on these questions at an All In the Mind public forum.
Neuroscience and the Law
07/07/2002
Brain scanning indicates that certain frontal lobe abnormalities might be linked to certain forms of antisocial or criminal behaviour. But what are the legal implications of this? Should offenders be absolved of criminal responsibility, on the grounds that their neural makeup makes them bound to offend? Or should we be using brain scans to identify potential offenders - and pre-emptively detain them? The UK government is introducing legislation to do just that, and this week we bring you a debate from the Royal Institution of Great Britain.
