Chapter 1: Forensic Psychology 🧠⚖️
Introduction
Forensic Psychology deals with the psychological aspects of law and legal processes, especially in courts. "Forensic" means anything related to law. It's not just about criminals; it includes courts, police, lawyers, crime investigations, child custody, victim support, jury selection, police training, and criminal behavior.
Wrightsman: forensic psychology = applying psychological knowledge to tasks faced by the legal system.
Bartel & Bartel: it's both research (like eyewitness memory, jury decisions, criminal behavior) and professional practice (criminal & civil law, legal consultations).
Applications
- 🧒💔 Child custody & child abuse
- ⚖️ Competency to stand trial
- 🤝 Victim support
- 🏛️ Jury selection
- 👮♂️😓 Reducing police burnout
- 🧑⚖️ Expert witness
- 🏢 Advising lawmakers
- 🔄 Treating chronic offenders
What a Forensic Psychologist May Do
- 🔍 Apply psychology to criminal investigations
- 🕵️♂️ Understand criminal behavior
- 🏥 Treat criminals & implement programs
- 🔄 Modify offender behavior
- 😌 Reduce stress for staff & prisoners
- 📊 Provide research evidence
- 🗂️ Profile prisoners & do crime analysis
- 🏛️ Give court evidence
- 📝 Advise parole boards & tribunals
History 🕰️
The legal system used medical experts for insanity 🏥
Forensic psychology started around 1908 with Hugo Münsterberg's On the Witness Stand 📚
Early contributions: J. McKeen Cattell (testimony experiments), William Healy (Juvenile Psychopathic Institute, 1909)
Insanity defense: M’Naghten case 1843 ⚖️
APA created forensic psychology division in 2001 ✅
Courts now need psychologists for assessing mental states of criminals, as judges cannot evaluate psychological disorders themselves. Only trained psychologists (not psychiatrists) can work in forensic psychology.
In Pakistan 🇵🇰
Forensic psychology is very new and still developing. Globally, the field is growing:
- 📈 Research, consultation, clinical practice continue to rise
- ⚖️ Demand for work with courts, lawyers, and lawmakers increases
- 🎓 Doctorate degrees open more opportunities
- ❌ Bachelor’s degree alone is usually insufficient
Path to Become a Forensic Psychologist
- 🏥 Become a clinical psychologist first
- 🎯 Specialize in forensic psychology
- 📚 Study psychology + criminal justice
- 🏫 Few institutions offer forensic psychology degrees or diplomas
- 🧠 Relevant fields: clinical, social, cognitive, criminal investigative, developmental psychology
Focus Areas
- 👁️🗣️ Research: eyewitness testimony, interrogation methods
- 🏛️ Public policy: designing correctional facilities & prisons
- ⚖️🚓📖 Forensic psychology bridges criminal justice, academic training, law enforcement, and corrections
Key Milestones, Figures, and Researches
- 1843: M’Naghten case - Insanity defense
- 1908: Hugo Münsterberg’s On the Witness Stand - Start of forensic psychology
- 1909: William Healy - Juvenile Psychopathic Institute
- 2001: APA creates forensic psychology division
Important Figures: Hugo Münsterberg, J. McKeen Cattell, William Healy, Wrightsman, Bartel & Bartel
Important Researches: On the Witness Stand, testimony experiments, Juvenile Psychopathic Institute