Introduction to Forensic Psychology

Flashcards for Forensic Psychology Lecture

Forensic Psychology

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 (Process)

Criminal investigation – Profiling, Lie detection, Identification parades, Eyewitness testimony, Repressed/recovered memories, Interrogations and confession evidence, Pre-trial – Fitness to stand trial, Pre-trial publicity, Jury selection

Topics Studied in Forensic Psychology (People)

Victims of Crime, Offenders of Crime, Jurors, Judges, Witnesses

James Cattell (1895)

The earliest research investigated eyewitness memory, asking people to explain different things they saw in their daily lives and found that they were often inaccurate.

Alfred Binet (1900)

Showed children objects and then asked them questions about the object. After asking them misleading questions, the majority of children would answer with poor accuracy.

Von Liszt (1902) and Stern (1910)

Conducted reality experiments with staged events during the Aussage period of eyewitness research.

Varendock (1911)

Called to be an expert witness in a case involving the murder of a young girl; described as the “father” of forensic psychology.

Hugo von Munsterberg

Called into question legal assertions that eyewitness memory is necessarily accurate.

Wigmore (law professor)

Criticised Munsterberg’s book; WWI prevented further research in Germany; rise of behaviorism.

Robert Buckhout

Wanted to change the legal system; found that a low percentage of viewers correctly identified the purse snatcher when tested with different faces.

Functions of an Expert Witness

Aid in understanding a particular issue relevant to the case and Provide an opinion. Expert witnesses are allowed to speculate based upon their knowledge.

Elizabeth Loftus

Studied malleability of memory + Postevent misinformation paradigm

Admissibility Criteria for Expert Testimony

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

Challenges of Providing Expert Testimony

The lack of ecological validity of psychological research, psychologists may become advocates and lose their objectivity and Psychology can intrude upon the legitimate activities of the legal system

Ecological validity

Refers to the extent to which research findings can be generalised to real-world settings and situations, ensuring that the study reflects the behaviours, conditions, and stimuli of the natural environment.

Study (2011) Investigated Identification of Fingerprints

Fingerprint experts were very accurate but not perfect.

Expert Evidence (Hair Analysis)

Confirms long-suspected problems with subjective pattern based forensic techniques

Problems with Subjective Pattern Based Forensic Techniques

Techniques are not standardised and not consistently applied by practitioners.