96640 Forensic Psychology
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Subject handbook information prior to 2025 is available in the Archives.
Credit points: 6 cp
Result type: Grade and marks
Requisite(s): ((48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10477 Bachelor of Psychology OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C10478 Bachelor of Psychology Bachelor of Criminology OR 48 credit points of completed study in spk(s): C09169 Bachelor of Psychology (Honours)) AND 96630 Introduction to Psychology A AND 96632 Introduction to Psychology B)
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.
Subject learning objectives (SLOs)
| 066. | Construct arguments clearly and concisely from evidence-based psychological concepts and theories. |
|---|---|
| 067. | Organise ideas to fit a project's purpose and length. |
| 112. | Identify theories, psychological research, methods, and debates within forensic psychology. |
| 113. | Evaluate research and theories on eyewitnesses memory, expert testimony, lie detection, policing, and judicial decision making. |
| 114. | Critically reflect on crime as a mental health issue. |
| 115. | Critically reflect on the impact of the criminal justice system on people from diverse cultural backgrounds including Indigenous Australians. |