96640 Forensic Psychology

Description

According to the American Psychological Association, there is a misconception that “criminal profilers have an almost psychic ability to give elaborate personality and behavioural descriptions of perpetrators”. Students in this subject learn that forensic psychology involves the application of scientific research from other areas of psychology (e.g., cognitive psychology, social psychology) to the legal arena. Students critically reflect on crime as a mental health issue and explore the impact of the criminal justice system on people from diverse cultural backgrounds including Indigenous Australians. Psychological knowledge and research is applied to evaluating eyewitness memory, expert testimony, lie detection, policing, and judicial decision making. Students also gain an understanding of how forensic psychologists conduct psychological assessment of individuals who are involved with the legal system. Industry guest lecturers demonstrate how forensic psychology contributes to child protection, family services, alcohol and other substance abuse services, rehabilitation services (such as pain clinics or head injury services), and research.