The Fantastic Field Of Forensic Psychology

facility that will help her with her mental issues. The involvement of psychologists was requested by the judge to determine her mental state and any mental disorders so they would know the best way to prosecute Kristen. This was to ensure that she received a fair trial and determined that she was able to understand the charges against her and help her attorney in her own defense, and help her to receive an appropriate sentence (Bartol & Bartol, 2014). This allowed the victims, public, prosecution and her defense to understand why she killed and behaved the way she did. Otherwise, it could have been deemed an unfair trial and given her a reason to appeal. A forensic psychologist will be used to determine if the defendant has the ability

I chose to learn about forensic psychology. Working as a forensic psychologist you have many responsibilities, you must carry out one-on-one assessments, often to assess the risk of reoffending (for lifers being released into the community or sex offenders after a treatment program) or of suicide, self-harm or other high-risk behaviour. You can undertake the bullying going in the jail or analysis for client profiling or undertake projects to evaluate situations affecting prisoners. In order to become a forensic psychologist you need at least a bachelor’s degree in psychology and criminology, but usually a bachelor’s is not enough to pursue forensic psychology career. Master’s or a doctorate are necessary for this field. I didn’t realize that

When thinking about a career path after conducting my research in the various fields available in the area of psychology, I have taken an interest in becoming a Marriage and Family Therapist. This is partly due to my exposure to working alongside with clinicians in community based settings, particularly family’s that have been affected one way or another by county systems such as the Department of Children and Family Services and Department of Probation. After attaining direct experience working with families, I am interested in working in upper management supervising other clinicians, offering support and guidance with regards to their families. I have some interest in forensic psychology but have not obtained enough information on the field in order to determine if it is area that I would like to pursue.

Compas, Bruce, & Gotlib, Ian. (2002). Introduction to Clinical Psychology. New York, NY: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

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

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,

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).

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,

From time immemorial, man has been fascinated with behavioral deviations from the normative particularly in the context of crime, or more generally, morality. In fact, classical playwrights and novelists such as Shakespeare and Dostoevsky owe their literary success to their incredible ability to glare into socially and morally deviant minds and weave stories around them. We see a similar trend today. Much of primetime television is filled with shows that have experienced psychoanalysts chasing sophisticated and grossly deviant criminals or some variation of this general theme. The general public tends to relate to the job of a forensic psychologists to that of a cat chasing a mouse. Forensic psychology, however, is a far less

I have decided to study Psychology after having looked in more depth at the course content. Although I have a particular interest in studying Forensic Psychology I am wanting to study Psychology to gain a wide perspective in all types of psychology and I am keeping an open mind in case any other types of psychology attract my interest more. I am looking forward to the analysis, research and exploration of these all in greater depth. I particularly looking forward to learning the Physiological & Cognitive Psychology as they will open my understanding to the processes of the mind, emotion and behaviour as well as the functions and anatomy of the Nervous

My interest in forensic psychology goes back into my early elementary years. As a child, my main dream was to become a profiler or a crime scene detective. I loved reading crime books and watching shows about it. I wanted to be like the people I read in those books and the people I saw on television. However, when I got to college, my mindset changed, but not for long. During my freshman year, I was a biology major wanting to be a Veterinarian. My passion at that time in my life was to help animals.

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).

Ever since I was little I was extremely observant of the people surrounding me. I would watch and study their behaviors, always trying to figure out their thoughts and emotions. Recently I have realized that I could put my childhood play into a real life paying job, only instead of my peers I would get to study criminals. I don’t know much about Forensic Psychology other than the fact that I must achieve a PsyD, and I would be assigned different cities to live and work in. I want to learn about what is necessary for me to get the job, what the pay is, and what is required of me once I get the position.

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,

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.