Test #1 Flashcards
Forensic Psychology
Any application of Psychological Research methods, theory, and practice to a task faced by the legal system
Role of a forensic psychologist when testifying in a trial
to use the results of their assessment to help or to educate the court, without regard to the potential benefit to the examinee
Fact Witness
facts about the case, victim, witnessed case, knowledge about similar cases, interviewed victim
Expert Witness
forensic psychologist, interviewing and testing people
Voir Dire
“to speak the truth” – the process is mandated by both federal and state statutes – used to uncover biases
Civil Punishment
o Punishment for the responsible party is having to pay monetary award to the injured party
Criminal Punishment
Those found guilty will be deprived of freedom
What is a mediator and who can serve the role
- Helps to resolve legal disputes to prevent a trial (personal injury cases, town zoning matters, claims of age discrimination, child custody)
- Psychologists and Attorneys can be mediators
Various roles a forensic psychologist can have
- Consultant to law enforcement and other high risk occupations
- Evaluator and expert witness
- Educator and researcher
- mediator in settling legal disputes
- Trial consultant/assist with jury selection
- Consultant to judges
- Advisor to legislators on public policy
Who founded forensic psychology
Hugo Munsterberg
What are the various subfields of psychology in whciha forensic psychologist can be trained
o Clinical psychologists
o Social psychologists
o Experimental psychologists
o Developmental psychologists
Brown V. Board of Education
o Stated that school segregation was illegal
o The appendix to the case was prepared by 3 psychologists and was based on social science research
Diplomate status
indicates that the recipient is at the highest level of excellence in his or her field
Primary purpose to have a forensic psychologist testify in court
Evaluation of the suspect for witness testimony
How does psychology interact from those in the field of law when carrying out their profession
• Law is concerned with morality , social values, and social control
o Our laws reflect our values
o Values change (marital rape) leading to new laws
o The law justifies the application of abstract
principles to specific cases
o What can be proved in court
• Psychology deals with knowledge and truth, which are thought to be value-free
o We often look for reproducible phenomena and causes
o Psychology derives abstract principles from specific instances
o We espouse the empirical approach
We make changes based on scientific merit
Amicus brief
a letter sent to the court by a third party that is unrelated to the current lawsuit but have something to gain or lose based on the outcome of the trial
Difference between civil and criminal cases
Judicial system operates on the principle that those who have committed a wrong should be punished
• Civil:
o Punishment for the responsible party is having to pay monetary award to the injured party
o Could result in loss of custody
o Could result in guardianship
Ex: if you can’t take care of yourself or are a danger to yourself, someone may be assigned to be your caregiver
• Criminal
o Those found guilty will be deprived of freedom
What is the controversy over how forensic psychology is designated as a separate field within psychology
o Is erroneously considered by many as a subspecialty of clinical
•Is its own subfield equal to clinical, behavioral, social etc.