Forensic Psychology

Throughout my educational journey, my interest and attention was always captivated by classes which had even the slightest tendency towards Forensic Psychology. Yet, my passion remained unconscious until I took a class of Criminal Law in Business, class which seemed to hold the answer for the consuming question “What am I going to study at University?” From there, I began putting the puzzle pieces together, determined to find the source of the spark- Law, Criminology, Forensic Science all seemed to bring me closer to the right one for me: Forensic Psychology. Reading the first few lines of the field description was enough to assure me that there is no other subject could fascinate, intrigue and motivate me to give by best to apart from this. I became infatuated with the evidence that evil in a human being can be so incandescent, transparent and mischievous that it could bring down any barrier of normality. I became absorbed by its power to grow into the mind and punish the

In addition to education, is the importance of training in this field. It takes specialized qualifications to have the ability to do this job. In the column “Criminal Psychologist Career: Job Duties, Skills, and Education,” the author writes about some of the qualifications needed to do this job. “Criminal psychologists must be adept at communicating effectively with others, including listening actively, and empathically. As a result, they must be experts in psychology, law, and oftentimes forensics as well,” (“Criminal Psychologist Career: Job Duties, Skills, and Education” 3). The people who decide to work this job must have the ability to listen and communicate with the criminals set before them. When the need arises the

The Insanity defense is mentioned as confusing to the psychiatric and legal concept. Furthermore, it is explained that the word “insane” is more of a legal word, then a medical term, and therefor to prove a person or a criminal insane, one must find the mental condition, of a criminal, severely impaired to the point of losing one’s free will. A psychiatrist may be or may not able to determine such illness, and a jury’s decision solely based on a psychiatrists’ opinion may be grounded on unreliable evidence. Retrieved from; West's Encyclopedia of American Law, edition 2 (2008).

It is no secret that forensic psychology is an example of an area where psychologists apply their knowledge of psychological approaches, methods and treatments to a specific problem. However, before assessing the implications, it is crucial to establish the research methods used in criminal

According to the American Board of Forensic Psychology 2015 brochure,"Forensic psychology is the application of the science and profession of psychology to questions and issues relating to law and the legal system.” Forensic psychology refers to scientific theories and methods used to solve situations in the legal sector. It focuses upon linking psychology to the law. This is done through analysis of human behaviour during legal situations. As Zaky( 2009) stated ‘An important part of forensic psychology is the ability to work in court as a witness and discussing the psychological findings in the courtroom, providing information to those involved in the investigation of legal situations.’Although this is the definition, there are many cases

Hello, My Name is Danielle Odom and I am a freshman at Valdosta State University. I want to be a forensic psychologist. For starters, I have always known that I wanted to do something that dealt with psychology due to my family’s “mental” state. It was not until my 11th grade year that I realized I had a passion for forensic psychology. There are a multitude of reasons why I want to enter into this career. Aside from the fact that forensic psychologists are financially taken care of, they also are able to get to the root of major crimes by talking to convicted felons and seeing why they committed the crime, this very sentence alone is the main reason why I want to enter into this field. Forensic psychologists are able to ask questions like:

1). Forensic Psychology is the application of the theories of psychology to law and the legal system. Issues of violence and its impact on individuals and/or groups delineate the main and central concerns in Forensics within the adult, juvenile, civil, and family domains. Forensic psychologists provide advice to legislators, judges, correctional officers, lawyers, and the police. They are called upon, for example, to serve as an expert witness, diagnose and treat incarcerated and probationed offenders, and screen and evaluate personnel in the law enforcement and judicial systems. Forensics encompasses a wide range of academic orientation. Synonyms for Forensic psychologists include criminal psychologist,

Psychology has always had a direct impact on my life for many years for example, I myself have had counselling sessions for anxiety. Experiencing this has given me a desire to work with people in understanding their behaviour and how their minds work to be able to empower individuals to lead better lives. My own personal experience with anxiety has also intrigued me into thinking why I think the way I do and what can be put into action to improve my circumstances.

In order to understand how this may be done, allow me to define Forensic Psychology. You see forensic psychology is the practice of psychology related to the legal system. This involves relationships with federal, local, and state law enforcement agencies; attorneys and the court; corrections and treatment facilities; and working with people whose behavior or situation leads them into involvement with the courts.

Are also matters that are handled from someone working in the forensics of psychology. Becoming a successful forensic psychologist requires at least the solid clinical psychology training and experience. Firm grounding in scientific theory and empirical research “understanding of scientific validity, research design, statistics, and testing” critical thinking skills thorough knowledge of social and cultural issues legal knowledge “including mental health law, case law, and courtroom procedures” excellent writing skills strong oral presentation skills and the ability to maintain one's composure under stress. Forensic Psychologists apply psychology to criminal justice. Although similar in some aspects, forensic psychology is different than forensic science.

As field, psychology was born of ancient philosophy and philosophers, and began to take root and grow in the 19th century (Candalis &Neal, 2014, p. 20). Psychologists started working with, and within, the courts in the early 1900’s (DeMatteo, Krauss, Marczyk & Burl, 2009, p. 185), however, the first big strides for forensic psychology were not made until 1954,

Forensic (criminal) psychology is a job field that deals with both psychology and law. The field has experienced dramatic growth in recent years due to the role of popular movies, television programs and books popularizing the field. Often these individuals are depicted as vivid components in solving vicious crimes or timing out a criminal’s next home. While these depictions of certainly entertaining, yet these portrayals are not necessarily precise. Forensic psychologists play an instrumental role in the criminal justice system while applying psychological principles to the legal system. The crossover of the two spheres is best decided in the Encyclopedia of Psychology,

A Forensic Psychologist focuses on “why people do bad things, why they commit crimes, lie to police officers, and treat their children abusively” (AllPsychologyCareers). There is this fascination with criminals and the psychopathy behind their actions and thoughts. According to All Psychology Careers, this field of study focuses on all types of research in psychology including clinical, developmental, social, clinical, behavioral and neuropsychological to blend together ideas and studies to apply to criminal action. The major focus of forensic psychologist is criminology and law because there needs to be a broad understanding of how the judicial system works and what statutes apply in what states. This type of work can be applied in many different settings such as prisons, correctional facilities, court systems, government agencies, parole boards and research.

In addition, whereas in clinical psychology, there is one 'client' (the subject being treated or analyzed), in forensic psychology, there are many 'clients' (the court, the prosecution/defense, the jury, etc.). Therefore, although by constitution forensic psychological assessments do not vary greatly from clinical forensic assessments, by nature and by virtue of the role they are expected to play in the legal system, they are very different.

Forensic psychology deals with both the offenders of the law, and the victims (AGCAS). Although many people think of a forensic psychologist as what they see on television shows, profiling and finding the actual offenders is a tiny part of what the title actually works as (AGCAS). The majority of forensic psychologists work in prisons, probation services, hospitals, and the National Health Service (AGCAS). Those who work in the Prison Service offer one on one sessions with offenders. They also assess whether they are at risk to themselves, others within the prison, or the public, if they have the possibility of being released, by instituting rehabilitation programs, probation programs, and any other mental and emotional therapy they require (AGCAS).