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Career in Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychology is a discipline that applies psychological principles and theories to the law and justice system, especially as they relate to criminal behavior and solving crime (Gudjonsson, Haward, 1998, p. 14). It is sometimes confused with forensic science as the two are closely related, but there are also many differences; namely, forensic psychologists investigate psychological perspectives and apply them to the criminal justice system. Contrarily, forensic psychologists often deal with legal issues, such as competency issues, new legislation, public policies, and assessment of whether a defendant’s defenses of mental states such as insanity are valid (Bloom, 2000). All of these subjects unite psychology and law topics and are significant to the discipline of Forensic Psychology.
Treating mentally ill offenders, negotiating with lawyers, analyzing a criminal's mind and intent, - these are just some issues where knowledge in Forensic Psychology is used. Careers in Forensic Psychology require courses in psychology and criminal justice basal in one’s academic studies and very few educational institutions particularly give a degree in Forensic Psychology. Individuals wishing to habilitate in this area can use the help of clinical, social, cognitive, criminal investigative, and developmental psychology. The career of a forensic psychologist may focus merely on research, wandering from examining eyewitness testimony to discovering how to improve interrogation methods (Horley, 2003). One more form of Forensic Psychology work relates to public policy, where researchers can assist in projecting correctional facilities and prisons. Chiefly, Forensic Psychology embraces area between the standard alternatives of criminal justice, such as academic training, law enforcement, and corrections. (The University of Melbourne, 2006).
Forensic Psychology first began in 1901 when William Stern conducted experiments related...