Insanity Cases that Shaped Popular Culture

Part of the True Crime ISU lecture series.

What really happens when someone is found "not guilty by reason of insanity"? How do high-profile insanity defenses influence public perception of crime, justice, and mental illness?

Professor Tess Neal will explore landmark insanity cases that have captured headlines—and imaginations—and reveal how they’ve shaped popular culture, from news coverage to movies and television. Drawing on real cases and her experience in the courtroom, Professor Neal will demystify the legal standards for insanity, the psychological evaluations behind them, and myths that have persisted about insanity through history. Whether you’re a true crime fan, a psychology enthusiast, or just curious about the stories behind the headlines, come to gain an inside look into how mental illness and criminal responsibility intersect—and what happens when that intersection plays out in the public eye.

Professor Tess Neal is an associate professor of psychology and serves as Dean’s Professor at Iowa State University. She is a scientist; a licensed clinical psychologist trained to assess, diagnose, and treat mental and behavioral disorders; as a forensic psychologist trained to bring psychology into legal contexts. She studies the nature and limits of expertise - especially in legal contexts - and has published more than four dozen scientific papers. She is a fellow of both the Association for Psychological Science and the American Psychological Association, and she currently serves as Editor-in-Chief of the journal "Psychology, Public Policy, and Law." In 2022, she completed a Fulbright Scholarship in Australia.

This lecture recording can be found on the Available Recordings page approximately two business days after the event and will remain accessible for three weeks.