Forensic Psychology Paper

Over the last hundred years or so, there have been several historical events that has contributed to the recognition of forensic psychology. The birth of forensic psychology began with the study of courtroom testimony. In 1893, researchers were investigating the accuracy of eye-witness testimony. Researchers found that confidence does not correlate to correctness and heightened emotions caused inaccuracy when recalling events. A German psychologist named Huge Munsterberg is considered the “father of applied psychology”. In 1908, his work on the witness stand was critical in exploring the phenomenon of false memories and why eyewitness testimony was often considered unreliable. In 1918,

In recent years, Forensic Psychology has grown to be a very fascinating and popular sub discipline of psychology. If you are a frequent watcher of television programs like; CSI, Criminal Minds, Cracker or Law and Order, you perhaps think you have the ideal perception of who a forensic psychologists is and what their job description entails based on these shows. Well, you might just need to double take. Maybe you have acquired a trick or two on how to mask or disguise crimes that you have committed or will commit, but for the greater part, you may have some huge misconceptions about Forensic psychologists. The reality is that these television programs are idealistic and the truth about these individuals is much more complex and challenging.

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

Fulero, S. M., & Wrightsman, L. S. (2009). Forensic psychology (3rd ed.). Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning.

In the late 1800’s Professor James McKeen Cattell was at the forefront of forensic psychology. Intrigued by the validity of eyewitness accounts, he conducted an informal study among 56 college students. Students were questioned regarding events from

Forensic science has various influences on crime, investigation and the people that are involved. Forensic science has a connection with the courts to ensure crimes are getting solved and justice is being served to those that commit crimes. With the help of forensic science, crimes are being solved from a human and technological aspect. This paper highlights numerous discussions on how forensic science plays a role in criminal justices system, security, media and the law.

Have you ever wonder how the police solve a murder? Well, the police are not the only people to solve it, it also involves a bunch of other people. A Forensic Psychologist is not like TV shows or the movies, it has more paperwork than shooting guns. A major role in this process deals with a forensic psychologist. A forensic psychologist will study the evidence that they are given and decide on how something happened. They do not go out and go find the “bad guys” instead they will find their patterns and track them down and the police will catch them. They will question people, work with attorneys, and look for specific details about the accused criminals’ mental health to see if they are suffering anything severe. If the criminal is suffering

Forensic psychology is the connection between psychology and the justice system. The word forensic derives from the Latin word “forensic” meaning “forum” the place where trials were accompanied in Roman times. There are many definitions that exist for forensic psychology but the more narrow definition applies to the intersection of clinical psychology to legal matters.

Investigative psychology is a fairly new part of applied psychology, an expert field within forensic psychology working within the criminal justice system to thoroughly study, analyze and assist in solving crimes. The goal of using the investigative psychologist is to help identify the offender based on the behavioral evidence gathered from crime scene analysis. In earlier times at the start of offender profiling and crime scene analysis during the 1970’s there was an issue as there was no use of empirical evidence and therefore the information found that could lead to a conviction of an offender was not substantiated (Laureate Education, 2009). Forensic psychologist within the subspecialty of investigative psychology work with law enforcement

Forensic Psychology is a field that tends to get over looked and over shadowed by the false pretenses given to it through social media and television series such as CSI, Silence of the Lambs, Criminal Minds, and other crime shows. The field itself is very broad, giving those who pursue a degree in it a wide variety of options to choose from, rather than the stereotypical detective most people think about. With that being said, the field of forensic psychology as a whole is very competitive. It is a highly sought after job field, especially with the growing love of crime shows and movies, even if they don’t adequately depict the job in real life. Because of the competitiveness, an applicant must make themselves more marketable and give themselves

One type of psychologist is a forensic psychologist. Some of the activities that a forensic psychologist would encounter would be both in the civil and criminal matters. They often evaluate mental competency in a criminal court. Forensic psychologists also have a job of working with children that get involved with the court system. They also can testify in court as an expert witness. When you are a forensic psychologist you would always deal with the legal system and be there to evaluate the choices that are made in court.

Forensic psychology is so interesting to me it collects all forensic evidence, examines and evaluates for the purpose of all investigations. They question witnesses and gather all their testimonies. The need to increase, though, accuracy also efficiency, psychology has played a big role in achieving the increase. Psychologist can become bias this can cause a big stir and a case can pend for some time which can become detrimental. In these circumstances

A forensic psychologist must have outstanding communication skills, emotional stability, and a good listening ability. Their traits are just as important as their certifications. Because they specialize in forensics, forensic psychologists will commonly work in civil and criminal matters. They make evaluations based off of criminal behavior and provide assistance to those involved in the cases. While delivering support to everyone in the courtroom, they aid lawyers in preparation (Careers).

“Forensic mental health defined more broadly is an area of specialization that, in the criminal sphere, involves the assessment and treatment of those who are both mentally disordered and whose behavior has led, or could lead, to offending (Mullen, 2000).” Remarkably specifically what a forensic psychologist does in comparison to a regular psychologist or psychiatrist is they are involved with the way more than a regular psychologist or psychiatrist does. So working on the forensic field, they would deal a lot more with pressure than a regular psychiatrist. Depending on crimes or offences committed will

A forensic psychologist has many tasks that they might be involved with on any given day. One factor that is appealing to many in this career is the nature of the work is never routine. First, those who are committed to assist those in solving crimes by providing evidence must be familiar with the minds of those who would commit crimes. According to _____, “A forensic psychologist assesses the mindset of an individual who has committed a crime. They often work independently and are called upon to testify in court to provide evidence. In addition to providing expert witness testimony, they may consult with court officials, prepare written psychological reports, interview criminal defendants and make determinations as to whether a criminal can stand trial. A criminal psychologist must also be familiar with laws concerning mental health and criminal behavior. Maintaining this knowledge might involve keeping current on any upcoming changes to existing legislation” (Criminal Psychologist 1). Through this explanation of the duties of the forensic