1. Theoretical Foundations Flashcards
Clinical Forensic Psychology (AU) is
the application of clinical psychological knowledge to the treatment and rehabilitation of offenders.
Criminal Psychology (UK) is
the application of psychological knowledge to the criminal justice system.
Law and Psychology (US) is
the use of psychological knowledge to assist with issues of importance to the law.
The course specific definition of Forensic Psychology is
The understanding and production of psychological knowledge that is applicable, in an integrative fashion, to issues of importance to the criminal and civil justice systems.
Psychology is
the science of behaviour and mental processes (how they act and speak).
Nature vs. Nurture
Revolves around the issue of how people acquire their behaviours and mental processes. Descartes- nature Tabular rasa- nurture
Free will vs. Determinism
Revolves around the issue of whether our behaviours and mental processes are a product of our choice or the unavoidable result of precursors.
Mind vs. Body or Attitudes vs. Behaviour
Revolves around the issue of establishing the relationship between the mind (cognitive processes) and the body (behaviour). Do we try to change the attitude or behaviour?
Name the five steps of the scientific method
- Observation 2. Hypothesis Generation 3. Hypothesis Testing 4. Theory Development 5. Replication and extension
Step one of the scientific method, Observation involves:
Noticing some abnormal aspect of human behaviour. “Well that was weird”
Step two of the scientific method, Hypothesis Generation, involves:
Producing a formal statement that represents your belief about the cause of the observed behaviour.
Step three of the scientific method, Hypothesis Testing, involves:
employing non-experimental or experimental methods to test the veracity of your hypothesis. -Data collection.
Step four of the scientific method, Theory Development, involves:
Placing your research results within a theoretical framework or model in psychology.
Step five of the scientific method, Replication and Extension, involves:
Testing additional hypothesis based on your results and the accompanying theory.
List 5 ethical guidelines for human subject research which represent a balance between zero allowance and mild tolerance, in order to progress our knowledge and research.
- Protection from harm 2. Right to Privacy 3. Deception 4. Informed consent 5. Debriefing
The Law is defined as:
The rules established by a Governing Authority to Institute and Maintain orderly coexistence.
Legal Issue: Criminal vs. Civil
Explain criminal law.
Criminal cases involve the prosectution by the state of an individual who has violated a law. (citizens do not ordinarily bring a criminal case to court)
Legal Issue: Appellate vs. Lower Court Decisions
Appellate decisions are those made by a higher court, usually regarding a claim that an individual’s constitutional rights were infringed upon during a lower court hearing. These decisions are generally recorded.
Lower court ► decision appealed ► higher (appellate) court.
Define Mens Rea and Actus Rea.
Guilty mind, Guilty act
Legal Issue: Mens Rea and Actus Rea (guilty mind, guilty act)
Two pronged common law standard for establishing criminal guilt. Based on the latin phrase “actus non facit reum nisi mens sit rea” which means the act does not make a person guilty unless the mind also be guilty.
Legal Issue: Stare Decisis
The legal principle of following Precedents in deciding a case, the idea that future decision of a court should follow the example set by the prior decisions (to establish continuity).
A clinical Forensic Psychologist is:
broadly concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental health issues as they pertain to the legal system. (must be registered in US) Eg, Assessing an offender to determine if they are a threat to the community if released.
Forensic Psychiatry is
a field of medicine that deals with all aspects of human behaviour as it relates to the law or legal system.
A research or experimental forensic psychologist is:
broadly concerned with the study of human behaviour as it related to the law and legal system.
A Legal Scholar would:
most likely engage in scholarly analysis of mental health law and psychologically oriented legal movements. Whereas in their applied work, would most likely centre around policy analysis and legislative consultation.
Psychology AND the law is:
the use of psychology to examine the operation of the legal system, questioning assumptions.
Psychology IN the law is:
the use of psychology in the legal system as that system operates, (application)
Psychology OF the law is:
the use of psychology to examine the law itself.
Legal Issue: Criminal vs. Civil Law
Explain Civil Law
Civil cases involve the settlement of a dispute between two parties where one of the parties believes that they have been harmed. (money)
