Week Twelve - Forensic Psychology

Question 1

What is forensic psychology?

Answer 1

Application of psychological knowledge to legal issues.

Question 2

What are the three factors of the trichotomy in forensic psychology?

Answer 2

Clinical, experimental, legal

Question 3

What context to forensic psychologists work in?

Answer 3

Criminal justice, civi law, family and children’s law

Question 4

What type of work is involved in criminal justice?

Answer 4

Risk assessment; reports for court; expert testimony; behavioural profiling

Question 5

What type of work is involved in civil law?

Answer 5

Assessment of emotional factors in sexual harassment and discrimination; counselling for post traumatic stress disorder, anxiety, phobias related to traumatic events, etc.

Question 6

What type of work is involved in family and children’s law?

Answer 6

Evaluations of juveniles; child custody evaluations; adoption readiness; counselling; anger management

Question 7

What is the difference between psychology and law?

Answer 7

Rehabilitation vs. punishment; empirical vs. authoritative.

Question 8

What are the ethical issues involved in forensic psychology?

Answer 8

Limits to confidentiality; mandatory reporting; reporting past criminal behaviour; reporting future criminal behaviour: Duty to warn

Question 9

What does the ethic issue of limits to confidentiality revolve around?

Answer 9

As a psychologist within Corrections, there are numerous circumstances under which information must be disclosed to third parties; e.g. subpoena, risk of harm, sufficient information to warrant investigation

Question 10

Any legal requirement within a contract of employment will what?

Answer 10

Take precedence over the code of ethics and ethical guidelines.

Question 11

What safety and security measures are in place for forensic psychologists?

Answer 11

Physical; duress alarms, radios, cameras

Privacy; non-disclosure of any personal info to clients, unlisted number/address, protected license plates