Chapter 1 Review Questions

Question 1

Contrast narrow and broad definitions of forensic psychology.

Answer 1

broad:
-production of psychological knowledge and its application to the civil and criminal justice systems

narrow definition:

• limits FP work with civil & criminal courts and legal systems
• limits FP to clinical practice
• does not recognize research psychologist contribution
• does not recognize work with law enforcement or victims
• does not recognize psychologists who study psych of crime and criminal behavior

Question 2

Contrast forensic psychology and other forensic sciences.

Answer 2

-forensic psychology is production and application of psychological knowledge to the civil and criminal justice systems
-forensic entomology studies insects as it related to legal issues
-forensic pathology and antropology work together to identify skeletal remains, the means of death
-forensic engineering
-forensic linguistics
-forensic medicine
-forensic archaeology
-forensic investigation
-forensic social work
-forensic document examination
-forensic data recovery
(they are all sciences that apply their skills to the legal system, both criminal and law)

Question 3

Describe the 3 levels of the forensic psychologist (otto & helibrun)

Answer 3

1-“legally-informed clinician”-base education in law relevant to practice

2-“proficient clinician”
-mid-level expertise gained from academics, professional training, and supervised experience. Knowledge of law, procedures, and ethics as it applies to their forensic practice

3-“specialist clinician”
-highest level of expertise gained through formal training in graduate, post-graduate levels. In-depth understanding of relevant law and legal procedures, as well as knowledge of a range of relevant psychological procedures and issues.

Question 4

Identify 5 sub-specialties in forensic psychology. Provide examples of their contributions

Answer 4

Police Psychology
-applies psychological principles and clinical skills to law enforcement and public safety
JOBS: creating schedules for PO, pre-employment assessments, fit-for-duty evaluations, criminal profiling, eyewitness hypnosis, special-units evaluations, hostage negotiations, counseling for PO, informing PO about the mentally ill, psychological autopsies, handwriting analysis

Psychology of Crime and Delinquency
-science of behavioral and mental processes of juvenile and adult offeners
-researches how criminal behavior is acquired, evoked, maintained, modified
JOBS: intervention effectiveness eval, research of psychopathy, consultation, develop risk assessments for mentally ill

Victimology and Victim Services
-research, evaluation, treatment of crime victims or witnesses
JOBS: victims and death counseling, educating and training service providers, assessments for injury matters disaster relief services

Legal Psychology
-behavioral research of various topics that reflect the close relationship between psychology and law
JOBS: consulting with judges and attorneys, competency eval, jury selection, child custody/abuse eval, visitation risk assessment

Correctional Psychology
JOBS: program/systems evaluations, fit-for-duty evaluations, inmate placement, psychological services to prisoners, consulting, corrections research

Question 5

What occurred in these historical benchmarks?

1893, 1908, 1917, 1931, 1968, 1972, 1974, 1978, 1991, 2001

Answer 5

1893
-1st “psychology of testimony” experiment

1908
-1st professional book on FP “On the Witness Stand”, published by Hugo Munsterberg (father of FP)

1917

• 1st modern polygraph developed by William Marston
• 1st A Psych. to use psych tests in screening of law enforcement personnel, Louis Terman

1931
-1st texbook in Forensic area written by a psych. “Legal Psychology” by Howard Burtts

1968
-1st full-time Police Psych. in U.S., hired by LAPD, Martin Reiser

1972
-AACP, recognized correctional psych. as a professional career

1974
-1st interdisciplinary Psych & Law program, Uni. of Nebraska-Lincoln

1978
-ABFP began professional certification of Diplomates in FP

1991
-AAFP & APLS published “Specialty Guidelines for Forensic Psychologists”

2001
-APA recognized Forensic Psychology as a specialty

Question 6

What...
-degrees
-licenses
-careers
...are available to psychologists at MASTER's level?

Answer 6

DEGREES: clinical, counseling, school, I/O, experimental, bio, cognitive, developmental
LICENSES: LPA, mental health counselor, MFT, psychotherapist
CAREERS: mental health centers, state corrections or courts, private in-patient or out-patient, university or college, nonprivate agencies

Question 7

Explain difference between PhD and PsyD

Answer 7

PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

• research-based
• producers of research
• degree includes a dissertation (original research)

PsyD (Doctorate in Psychology)

• practitioner-based
• consumers of research

Question 8

What are the 5 branches of applied psychology?

Answer 8

• clinical psychology
• counseling psychology
• industrial/organizational psychology
• school psychology
• forensic psychology

Question 9

How has the APA responded to the need to provide service to a diverse client population?

Answer 9

1993 APA created “guidelines for providers of psychological service to ethnic, linguistic, and culturally diverse populations”

Question 10

Where do those with new doctorates in psychology find employment?

Answer 10

• higher education (schools, professors)
• human service settings (hospitals)
• business
• government
• private practice