What is forensic psychology?

Forensic psychology is the area that brings together both psychology and law. The field has grown a lot in recent years as more and more students take an interest in this applied field of psychology. Popular movies, television shows, and books helped popularize it, often featuring brilliant heroes who solve crimes or find killers using psychology.

While such portrayals of the forensic psychologist are popular in the media, they are certainly exaggerated, not really showing an accurate profile of the work done. However, forensic psychologists play an important role in the justice system, and this can be an exciting career path for those who are interested in applying psychological principles in the legal system.

Typically, forensic psychology is defined as the intersection of psychology and law, but forensic psychologists can play many roles, so this definition can vary. In many cases, people working in the field are not necessarily “forensic psychologists”. They may also be clinical psychologists, educational psychologists, neurologists or therapists who use their psychological knowledge to give testimony, analysis or advice in criminal or legal cases.

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What is Clinical Psychology?

What is Educational or School Psychology?

For example, a clinical psychologist can provide mental health services such as counseling, diagnosis and treatment for individuals who are in contact with the criminal justice system. They may be asked whether a particular suspect suffers from a mental illness, or offer treatment for individuals suffering from mental disorders such as substance use and abuse.

Another example is the educational psychologist. While most of these professionals work in schools, an educational psychologist working in forensic psychology can evaluate children who may have suffered some form of abuse, prepare children to testify or participate in cases where there are parental disputes over child custody.

Other typical roles of the forensic psychologist include:

• Competency assessment;

• Sentence recommendations;

• Assessments of the risk of recidivism in crimes;

• Witness by virtue of his knowledge;

• Custody assessment.

How does forensic psychology differ from other areas?

Typically, the forensic psychologist’s activities are limited in scope and time. A forensic psychologist can play a specific role in an individual case, determining whether a suspect is liable to suffer the penalties of the law, that is, whether or not his sentence should be reduced due to mental disorders.

Unlike clinical psychology, where the client voluntarily seeks assistance or evaluation, a forensic psychologist typically deals with clients who are not at liberty. This can make everyday work much more difficult, as the person often refuses contact, diagnosis or treatment.

Original text in English by Kendra Kerry

Translation – Felipe de Souza

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