John Hochman
Encyclopedia
John Ira Hochman is an American
forensic psychiatrist
and surgeon who has written about the psychology of "cults", abuse and false memory syndrome.
, one of the detectives involved in the O. J. Simpson murder case
. He was hired by the Los Angeles Police Department
to interview Fuhrman in 1981, and the defense later filed his report in the Simpson case. Hochman had concluded that Fuhrman may have been trying to exaggerate his problems in order to qualify for a disability pension.
Hochman was also consulted during a 2004 lawsuit involving Michael Jackson
, and assisted the defense during the case. In a different case in 2006, Hochman examined Heather Tallchief, an armored car
thief, and determined that she had been subjected to undue influence from Roberto Solis
, after Tallchief claimed she had been brainwashed.
Hochman has been quoted in the media as an expert on cult
s. When asked why there is a prevalence of cults in California
, he responded: "If you're going have a cult you might as well come where the weather's nice." After a mass suicide
incident, Hochman was interviewed by CNN
on the inherent characteristics of a cult leader.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
forensic psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and surgeon who has written about the psychology of "cults", abuse and false memory syndrome.
Education
- Secondary Specialty, Forensic PsychiatryForensic psychiatryForensic psychiatry is a sub-speciality of psychiatry and an auxiliar science of criminology. It encompasses the interface between law and psychiatry...
- Board Certification in PsychiatryPsychiatryPsychiatry is the medical specialty devoted to the study and treatment of mental disorders. These mental disorders include various affective, behavioural, cognitive and perceptual abnormalities...
, American Board of Psychiatry and NeurologyAmerican Board of Psychiatry and NeurologyThe American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology, Inc. is a nonprofit corporation that was founded in 1934 following conferences of committees appointed by the American Psychiatric Association, the American Neurological Association, and the then Section on Nervous and Mental Diseases of the American...
, 1976 - Residency, Psychiatry, Los Angeles County-USC Medical CenterLos Angeles County-USC Medical CenterLos Angeles County+USC Medical Center, also known as County/USC, by the abbreviation LAC+USC, or by the name Los Angeles County General, is a 600-bed public teaching hospital located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, California...
- Residency, Huntington Memorial HospitalHuntington Memorial HospitalHuntington Hospital is a 635-bed not-for-profit hospital in Pasadena, California. It is named for Southern California businessman and booster Henry E...
, Flexible/Transitional Year Internship - NYU School of Medicine, MDDoctor of MedicineDoctor of Medicine is a doctoral degree for physicians. The degree is granted by medical schools...
Career
Hochman has been practicing medicine since 1970. Hochman is Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, UCLA. He has testified in over 100 depositions, and 90 trials and arbitration since 1980. Hochman analyzed Mark FuhrmanMark Fuhrman
Mark Fuhrman is a former detective of the Los Angeles Police Department , known for his part in the investigation of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman and his subsequent felony conviction for perjury...
, one of the detectives involved in the O. J. Simpson murder case
O. J. Simpson murder case
The O. J. Simpson murder case was a criminal trial held in Los Angeles County, California Superior Court from January 29 to October 3, 1995. Former American football star and actor O. J...
. He was hired by the Los Angeles Police Department
Los Angeles Police Department
The Los Angeles Police Department is the police department of the city of Los Angeles, California. With just under 10,000 officers and more than 3,000 civilian staff, covering an area of with a population of more than 4.1 million people, it is the third largest local law enforcement agency in...
to interview Fuhrman in 1981, and the defense later filed his report in the Simpson case. Hochman had concluded that Fuhrman may have been trying to exaggerate his problems in order to qualify for a disability pension.
Hochman was also consulted during a 2004 lawsuit involving Michael Jackson
Michael Jackson
Michael Joseph Jackson was an American recording artist, entertainer, and businessman. Referred to as the King of Pop, or by his initials MJ, Jackson is recognized as the most successful entertainer of all time by Guinness World Records...
, and assisted the defense during the case. In a different case in 2006, Hochman examined Heather Tallchief, an armored car
Armored car (valuables)
A common meaning of armored car is as an armored van or truck, used in transporting valuables, such as large quantities of money . The armored car is a multifunctional vehicle designed to protect and ensure the well being of the transported individuals and/or contents...
thief, and determined that she had been subjected to undue influence from Roberto Solis
Roberto Solis
Roberto Solis is an armored car robber, convicted murderer and poet. He has more than 30 aliases including Pancho Aguila, a pen name he used in prison while writing poetry....
, after Tallchief claimed she had been brainwashed.
Hochman has been quoted in the media as an expert on cult
Cult
The word cult in current popular usage usually refers to a group whose beliefs or practices are considered abnormal or bizarre. The word originally denoted a system of ritual practices...
s. When asked why there is a prevalence of cults in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, he responded: "If you're going have a cult you might as well come where the weather's nice." After a mass suicide
Mass suicide
- Examples :Mass suicide sometimes occurs in religious or cultic settings. Defeated groups may resort to mass suicide rather than being captured. Suicide pacts are a form of mass suicide unconnected to cults or war that are sometimes planned or carried out by small groups of frustrated people...
incident, Hochman was interviewed by CNN
CNN
Cable News Network is a U.S. cable news channel founded in 1980 by Ted Turner. Upon its launch, CNN was the first channel to provide 24-hour television news coverage, and the first all-news television channel in the United States...
on the inherent characteristics of a cult leader.
Professional affiliations
- Advisory Board member, FMS Foundation, Advisory Board Profiles
- Editorial Board, Cultic Studies JournalCultic Studies ReviewInternational Journal of Cultic Studies is a peer-reviewed academic journal published by the International Cultic Studies Association.- External links :* , Don Lattin, San Francisco Chronicle, Religion Writer, February 13, 2001...
Awards, honors
- John G. Clark Award for Distinguished Scholarship in Cultic Studies, 1990 (with Steve K. D. Eichel, Ph.D.Ph.D.A Ph.D. is a Doctor of Philosophy, an academic degree.Ph.D. may also refer to:* Ph.D. , a 1980s British group*Piled Higher and Deeper, a web comic strip*PhD: Phantasy Degree, a Korean comic series* PhD Docbook renderer, an XML renderer...
)
Publications
Articles- "A Forensic Psychiatrist Evaluates ESP", February 2003, John Hochman, M.D., Assistant Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Biobehavioral Sciences, University of California Los Angeles
- "Recovered Memory Therapy And False Memory Syndrome", Skeptic vol. 2, no. 3, 1994, pp. 58–61.
- Review, "Leaders and Followers: A Psychiatric Perspective on Religious Cults", Formulated by the Committee on Psychiatry and Religion, Group for the Advancement of PsychiatryGroup for the Advancement of PsychiatryThe Group for the Advancement of Psychiatry is an American professional organization of psychiatrists dedicated to shaping psychiatric thinking, public programs and clinical practice in mental health. Its 29 committees meet semi-annually and choose their own topics for exploration...
. Report No. 132. American Psychiatric Press, Washington, DC, 1992, 70 pages., Reviewer: John Hochman, M.D. - "Miracle, Mystery and Authority: The Triangle of Cult Indoctrination" , Psychiatric Annals, April 1990