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Flashcards on Forensic Psychology

Forensic Psychology (Narrow Definition)

The direct provision of psychological information to the courts, that is, to psychology in the courts.

Forensic Psychology (Broad Definition)

The application of psychological knowledge and theories to all aspects of the criminal and civil justice systems, including the processes and the people.

Topics Studied in Forensic Psychology: Pre-trial

Fitness to stand trial, pre-trial publicity, and jury selection.

Topics Studied in Forensic Psychology: Trial

Defence of mental impairment, expert evidence, judge instructions, jury deliberation, and sentencing.

Topics Studied in Forensic Psychology: Post Trial

The prison experience, treatment of offenders, and risk assessment.

Topics Studied in Forensic Psychology: The People

Victims of crime, offenders of crime, police, jurors, judges, and witnesses.

James Cattell (1895)

Earliest research investigated eyewitness memory and found that answers were often inaccurate.

Alfred Binet (1900)

Showed children objects and asked them questions. Found that highly misleading questions resulted in poor accuracy.

von Liszt (1902); Stern (1910)

Conducted "reality experiments" with staged events.

Varendonck (1911)

Called to be an expert witness and concluded that children’s memories are inaccurate and suggestible.

Hugo von Munsterberg

Called into question legal assertions that eyewitness memory is necessarily accurate and has been described as the father of forensic psychology.

Robert Buckhout

Wanted to change the legal system, “Nearly 2000 witnesses can be wrong”.

Elizabeth Loftus

Studied malleability of memory: Postevent misinformation paradigm.

Functions of an Expert Witness

Aid in understanding a particular issue relevant to the case and Provide an opinion.

The Legal System’s Criticisms of Psychology

The lack of ecological validity of psychological research, Psychologists may become advocates and lose their objectivity, Psychology can intrude upon the legitimate activities of the legal system, It’s all common sense

Admissibility Criteria

Experts must satisfy the judge that they have special knowledge above and beyond that of the average juror, and that this expertise will assist jurors.

R v Turner 1975

Even if experts are highly qualified, it doesn't guarantee their helpfulness to the jury, and there's a risk that the jury might overvalue their input. Psychologists and psychiatrists are only necessary when mental illness is a factor; otherwise, psychological knowledge is considered common knowledge.

R v Skaf (2006)

Psychologists allowed to give expert evidence regarding the reliability of certain aspects of eyewitness testimony

Fingerprints

Analysis of patterns on fingertips for identification.

Facial Mapping

Using facial features to identify individuals, often through technology.

Hair Analysis

Microscopic analysis of hair strands to link individuals to a crime scene.