Chapter 1: An Introduction to Forensic Psychology

These flashcards cover key concepts and vocabulary from the field of forensic psychology as introduced in the chapter.

Forensic Psychology

A field of psychology that deals with all aspects of human behavior as it relates to the law or legal system.

Expert Witness

A witness who provides the court with information (often an opinion on a particular matter) that assists the court in understanding an issue of relevance to a case.

Mohan Criteria

A Canadian standard for accepting expert testimony, which states that expert testimony must be relevant, necessary for assisting the trier of fact, comply with exclusionary rules, and be provided by a qualified expert.

Eyewitness Testimony

The recollections of a person who has witnessed an event, often scrutinized for accuracy in legal contexts.

Criminal Profiling

A task that some forensic psychologists engage in to predict the characteristics of an unknown offender based on how crimes were committed.

Psychology and the Law

The relationship where psychology is viewed as a separate discipline examining various components of the law from a psychological perspective.

Psychology in the Law

The application of psychological knowledge in the legal system as it operates.

Daubert Criteria

An American standard for accepting expert testimony, which requires that scientific evidence be peer-reviewed, testable, have a recognized rate of error, and adhere to professional standards.

Clinical Forensic Psychologists

Psychologists concerned with the assessment and treatment of mental health issues as they pertain to the law or legal system.

Experimental Forensic Psychologists

Psychologists focused on the study of human behavior related to the law, often involved in research.

Trial Judge

A judge who oversees court proceedings, makes rulings on legal issues, and can determine the admissibility of evidence.

Cattell’s Research

Experiments conducted by James Cattell examining the accuracy of eyewitness memory, illustrating that eyewitness accounts can often be unreliable.

Legal Scholar

A forensic psychologist engaged in scholarly research and analysis of mental health law and policy.

Retroactive Memory Falsification

A phenomenon where people's memories can be influenced or altered by information they receive after an event, often discussed in the context of pretrial publicity.

Psychological Trauma

The emotional and mental harm caused by distressing events, which can impact eyewitness testimony and behavior in judicial settings.

Suggestibility

The degree to which a person’s memory and recounting of events can be influenced by external factors, such as leading questions.

Risk Assessment

The evaluation of the likelihood that an individual will pose a danger to themselves or others, particularly in the context of releasing offenders back into the community.